Putney Mountain: A Short Story

“Fine, but only this time, the last time. I swear, and if we don’t win, I’m done for

“If I were to keep my word on not saying anything about you, you shall keep yours?”

In “The Mountain” Eli Clare addresses the plight and disadvantages of the disabled in society using a metaphorical mountain and her own climbing supercrip experience. In the opening metaphor section Clare explains how the little sympathy the empowered and able have for the disabled. With the supercrip section, Clare asserts that when stories of crippled people “overcoming” their disabilities gain publicity they simply support and reinforce stereotypes, continuing the discrimination of the disabled community (Clare 1999). Due to her cerebral palsy, Clare cannot finish her hike with her friend Adrianne to the top of Mount Adams. Following her disappointment, Clare considers the difference between impairment and disability. According to the article, an impairment refers to the objective inability to accomplish a task resulting from a faulty limb or bodily function. On the other hand, a disability is a product of a structures refusal to account for the impaired (Clare 1999). In the final section titled “Home,” Clare reminisces on the depressing parts of his life: his father raping him, the inconsiderate and harsh slurs, and his impairment. Then, he ponders the body as a home and its functions. Finally, he accepts that he will never be able to call the mountain home, but yearns for a society where ableism is absent, the concept of the supercrip is extinct, and the impaired can live normal lives (Clare 1999).

“I am aware of that. As I was saying, I grow tired of standing here on this old dresser. I long for someone to caress my gracious curves and squeeze out my fragrant moisturizer to rub all over themselves.”

Over the train tracks, there's an alcohol store on the left side and a low-price store on the right. At the red light, there're a gasoline station and a bank next to it on the right, and a tax helper building on the left with the post office next to it. These are a few of the buildings in the village, but they're not important.

“I hope you are a better listener when I explain what job I have for you.” He added. “It’s clear you are better than the rest of us, rich boy and all that. But, in here your life is in my hands. If I say the word, you’re dead. If I don’t say anything, you will sign your own death warrant sooner than later.”

“Even when you hate me, I still love you, and I will be loyal to you until the day I die. I would do anything for you and pay any price out of loyalty and love; you must realize that by now.”

Mount Zion, Washington, located just north of Rock Island, where the rain was soft, the fog was thick, and, if you were lucky enough to live near one of its many orchards, the air was rich with the perfume of apple blossoms. Known as the Liminal Capitol of the Pacific Northwest, Mount Zion earned itself a reputation for various hauntings, UFO sightings, disappearances, and a plethora unexplained events. It eventually became a novelty town, every shop catering to tourists, however, I do believe that under the lively rural exterior, something dark is lurking in the massive forest surrounding the town. Fortunately, I do not, nor have I ever lived in Mount Zion, Washington.

“Reed! I’m bored,” I yelled. I heard a faint laugh and boots hitting wood floors. He opened the door and looked at me. His black hair was slicked back like normal with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

Knowing she wouldn’t answer still he said, “Do you remember me telling you a local contractor built several tract homes east of our house, near Sandy Gap? Well, there are only a few families left the others sold their homes. Something about the screams and lights on Putney Mountain but the people in town didn’t believe them, said it was buyer’s remorse. I never bothered getting acquainted with any of them and I don’t know. Now I’m alone except for Claude, and he’s getting old, I might not have him too much longer. Guess I can’t blame anyone for my shortage of friends.”

pleads and tries to reason by asking “Why should you take by force that from us which you can

The man looked at her with an almost confused look on his face before he nodded and got in the passenger seat.

"Get in? This isn't an official car, you could be leading me to my murder for all I know," she replied. He rolled his

“Yeah, I don't need your attitude on top of all this shit. I-” She cut herself off as she barely avoided rear ending a parked van. “The hell? Whose the dipshit who parked in the middle of the road?”

They would fear many things such as planes, the cold, or even eating certain things since they became cannibals during their time on the mountain. Those little fears all add up and very well influence their daily lives. This would be very hard for them to overcome, and would become more challenging as the days went on. The cannibalism cane soon, sooner than they thought people died, and then they were the only source of food left. It hurt them, they looked at the bodies every day, then turned around and ate them the next