My tears never slowed as I crashed into the school doors and threw them open. They banged like a gun as they flew all the way open. My knees pumped like a well-designed machine, but had I not been crying so hard, I might have been able to run even faster.

I was totally intent on running all the way to my grandparents’ house, but when I neared the park, I had to slow down to catch my breath. I stopped near the entrance to the park and leaned against a lamppost. I was panting hard as I wiped the snot from my nose and the tears from my face with the sleeve of my shirt. Only then did I realize I was still holding the wooden bathroom pass. I actually chuckled when I saw it in my hand.

As I stood there, wearing pee soaked pants and no jacket, the chill in the air became quite apparent. Then, that feeling that I was being watched occurred again and I’m sorry, but three days in a row is too creepy to dismiss! In an instant I all but stopped crying and I wanted to quickly look around. However, this time I dropped to one knee. Under the guise of tying my shoe, I scanned the area in all directions. From out of the corner of my eye, I saw some kids head poking out from around a large tree on the other side of the street.

Whoever it was, they didn’t want me to know, that they were spying on me. At first, I was a bit scared. I hadn’t made any friends. Heck, except for Stacks, I hadn’t met anyone that could remotely be considered a possibility for becoming a friend.

I stood back up, stuffed the bathroom pass into my back pocket, adjusted my shirt and started to walk slowly at first, while trying to keep a watchful eye on the tree. Though I couldn’t see it clearly, I mean I didn’t want to give away that I knew someone was there, I did see someone move out from behind the tree. Whoever it was, they were trying to keep pace with me, while still slipping behind bushes, trees and parked cars.

I decided I wanted to see if I could get this guy to follow me away from my usual route so I ducked into the park entrance and walked along the paved road a ways. Sure enough I caught a glimpse of my pursuer cross the street and enter the park. I didn’t go all the way into the park. Not too far in there was a walk path that lead off to my right. I decided I’d take that way as it appeared to go fairly perpendicular to the road I normally walk down.

However, about a block or so in the trail took a sharp turn to the left. I decided that since I’d be out of sight of the other guy for a moment I’d take advantage of that and try to run ahead to find a place to hide.