1978 School Magazine

elongates and the skin ripples with the smooth muscular power beneath. Twigs rarely snap under him, leaves do not rustle as he glides past. He springs as though shot from a gun- suddenly and without warning. The cougar is the best athlete among the big animals of the mou- tains. As I had feared for the {awn, I now thought of my safety. I must f ind decent shelter and a permanent source of food if I were to survive in this beautiful creatures'world. Bear trails are well-beaten paths, but hard to follow as they lead under fallen trees and through low tangles of brush; yet they invariably lead to berry patches, drinking water, or places where fishing is good. I successfully discoved and followed a trailwhich ended near a crystal- clear stream with fast-running water. I dived in and found the chilling sensation quite exhilarating. As I floated lazily with the current I felt the purity of the clean water glide over my body and cleanse and sanctify my soul. All hateful memories of my previous days had been washed downstream, and I could now think of my past life without pain. I was born in a ghetto in New York- the illegitimate son of a negress who earned her living by selling herself. As soon as I was old enough to understand the truth, a bitter resentment toward her developed within me. The hatred in my heart was nurtured further by the cruel, heartless jokes and ridicule ol which I was the subject for many years. Even as an adult, when I could not find employment, I continued to blame my circumstances and the fact that I was fatherless. I despised my mother and everything she represented- the heartless loving she sold, and the lack of pride in herself which allowed her to perform these immoral acts. I could finally see no reason for living, yet could not take my own life, so I left the Bronx and travelled wherever my wanderings took me. I finally arrived here in this beautiful haven in the Appalachian mountains where people do not venture. And now, as an onlooker, I can see everything in a clearer light. Only now, do I realize my mother's love for me which forced me to battle for survival in a cruelworld instead of deserting her unappreciative son. Yes- the ghetto was indeed a hard place to live in- it finally killed even my mother. But I know I will return, to fight for my brothers in similar situations. For I am a negro - unashamed of my origin and with a fierce deter- mination. The place and tranquility which I have experienced here with God and nature has shown me that there is beauty left in the world which is worth fighting forl Clare Beveridge,6E.

The brilliant afternoon light was fading rapidly as the sun dropped lower behind the mountains. A group of blackening clouds hung brooding about the tops of the peaks as if waiting for their cue to enter upon the stage. The scene that was about to be performed before me was the most dramatic and awe-inspiring occurrence I was ever to witness. As I hurried to find shelter from the oncoming storm, sharp rocks cut into my bare feet and branches scratch- ed across my dark skin leaving f resh red streams in their wake. I stumbled many times as I pressed on further, desperate in my search for a cave where I might escape the wild fury. The wind, which had until now been still, suddenly picked up energy and joined the spectacular howling and shrieking atmosphere around the crags and down in the valleys between. At this signal, the clouds spread out, and were a dark and menacing mass. As though from the very depths of the earth a deep gut- tural growl rumbled majestically across the sky until it completed the journey with an almighty ear-splitting crack in a f inal cadenza which split the sky into fragments and sent rain gushing down in torrenls. ln a never-ending cascade, the water thrashed the earth mercilessly and sent wild streams rushing toward the river which ran below. It seemed that nature, and even God, were rejecting me until, by a brilliant flash of lightning which lii the entire sky, I discovered an overhang of rock which provided a relatively sheltered area. Despite the fact that I was thoroughly drenched and chilled, I collapsed from sheer exhaustion and slept soundly on my hard bed. An uncanny silence and the physical discomfort of my body pierced through my subconscious and I awoke to find that around their edges, the clouds were glowing with pink and orange hues as the rising sun struggled to climb above them. I was feeling tired and weary until the sun fell over the top of the clouds and spilled its glorious light across the land, as if apologising for the wrath of the previous night. The tiny insects of the {orest had been busy early that morning and sparkling cobwebs hung like suspended jewels fronr the bushes as the raindrops caught the sunlight and reflected it in a thousand tiny mirrors. A solitary bird sang a clear sweet melody, then the others joined in; and the world was awakening. Towering over the garden valley and enclosing it, forests of giant evergreens rolled across the mountains, and held within them a silence so profound and magnificent that one could easily imagine oneself to be the sole sur- vivor on this planet. Yet hidden within this virgin wilderness were the true inhabitants of this region. A spotted fawn stood motionless, watching me - un- noticed, until, with a twitch of his white tail, he bounced out of sight on his long, spindly legs. From some far-off rocky ledge, I heard a mysterious wailing shriek which broke the silence, and I thought anxioudly of the fawn's safety, forgetting for a moment that he had no scent to betray hlm. The cougar is one of the most beautiful creatures that ever lived, but he is the terror of all other animals. When he prowls, his lithe body

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