The Stranger

By: Becca, 6th Grade

“Why do I have the feeling that I am being followed by somebody? And not the normal kind of feeling” That’s me, talking to my friend Kristy. My name is Madison. We’re walking home from school since my house is just 5 minutes away. Today is Friday, the day of my party. So Kristy is going to spend the night at my house.

            “Look, Madison, you have had this feeling for 3 weeks in a row. And it’s getting kind of old now. The first week, it was Bella. Then the next week, it was Sara. And just last week, it was Johnny. So just drop it…….. FOR GOOD!!!!!” I have never heard her say that in her entire life. It almost scared me to death that I stood there, in silence for 5 minutes. Then I heard my mom yelling for me at the door.

            “No Mom. You have to spread the balloons out all over the floor.” Whoosh. There was that sound again. The sound that sent chills  all up my arms. The sound that kept coming and coming for the whole day. The sound that me-and only me- could ever hear.

“Madison, Madison! Sweetie, where do you want these?” I faintly saw a group of balloons bouncing up and down in my mom’s hand. I could feel the room spinning around and around as I stood there in silence. And I could feel myself about to fall at any second.

“Um...…just put them on the mailbox so people know where to go when they come up on our street.” I was so nervous that I could hardly speak. Now Kristy was staring at me in a look of disbelief. She knew that I could not let this go. And I knew that she was very disappointed with me.

“Why do you always have to bring up that feeling every second of the day? You know that sometimes it might just get a little boring.” This is not what I wanted to hear come from her. I felt embarrassed, I felt humiliated, I felt… Whoosh. What was that? I know that this time she would not believe me. She would just think that I was kidding and that I was making this up. But I wasn’t. I was the only one that knew that the feeling was real and alive.

Ding, Dong. That was the sound of the doorbell. I knew that I had to leave this feeling alone for just a little bit. Then I could keep worrying about this later….Whoosh. This is going to be harder than I thought. Why oh why does this always happen to me and not anyone else.

“Madison, Amy is here. MADISON!!!!!” Kristy was right beside me and felt the need to yell at me when I could hear her just fine. Now I was standing in between my mother and my two friends. Now what am I going to tell Amy. She was staring at me like I was a total idiot.

“Hey. Do you feel okay? You look like you were just walking out of a horror movie?’’ That was Amy. I have no clue why I didn’t tell her the truth right then. All that I could make come out of my mouth was this.

“No. Why would you think that? It’s not like I have this feeling that someone is watching me or something.” That was a TOTAL mistake.

“You’re right. That is stupid. What was I thinking? Now let’s go have some fun!!!!” Amy ran into the living room. The music got turned up and Amy started dancing. Just a few minutes later, there was a whole group of girls dancing in my living room. And me, stuck in a corner while everyone was having the time of their lives. At my party.

“Madison, come and join the party. You know, this is the only reason why everyone is here.” Kristy was standing in front of me with a drink in her hand and her arm out in front of me to get a hold of.

When we went out onto the dance floor, I had that same feeling again. And this time there was a man standing in front of my face between me and Kristy.

“Who are you and why are you at my party? I don’t even know you???!!” I was in astonishment. I didn’t know him and I didn’t even hear the doorbell ring. Let alone a knock.

“I am your birth father.” The man had a deep voice and on a black cloak. “I am the feeling that you have been having for the last 3 weeks. The first week I put this girl Bella behind you so that you wouldn’t know. The second week I put Sara behind you. And the last week I put Johnny behind you. I wanted to surprise you today so that on your 13rth birthday you could have all that you’ve wished for.”

“Thank you so much for this surprise. But I just wish that you would have done this at a better time. And not in front of all my friends. But at least they get to meet you. Have you told mom yet?”

“Actually, this was my idea. I wanted you to meet him. And this was the only time that was good for him with business. And we have two more surprises for you. The first one is that we are getting back together. The second on is is that your father is moving back in with us.”

“Thank you sooooo much! I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday!” I was jumping up and down hugging both mom and dad. Next thing I know it’s 2 weeks later and dad is fully moved in now.

This has been the most fun-filled and crazy birthday. The worst part was that I had all those crazy feelings all the time. Whoosh. Oh no. I hope that this is not another relative. Let alone another father!