Call of the Wild

Charlotte rest in her quarters amist her window bay, already predicting the nightly visitor she had become familiar with. That night the rain drips loud - heavy against the windowpane. So heavy, Charlotte is reminded of her father's hallow guitarre he used to play sounding her and her little brother off to bed. Trying to fall asleep, she secures herself beneath the dingy quilt that her mother had given her. However, she is unable to relax for too long because Uncle Pete would show up soon for his usual "night cap" - at least that's what he'd call it.

With each raindrop, a memory surfaces. She sees the Sheriff arrive to her Ant Francis' front door where she stood in the corner holding her little brother's hand. Another raindrop made her think of the smell of her mother's pancakes early Saturday mornings. Charlotte's mouth watered as she envisioned the sweet syrup. An even harder raindrop against the midnight air, caused her to giggle to herself when her Pa sang his guitarre song. "Up and away the wind blows . . . ", Charlotte sang to herself . . . is the way the mosquito must go".

Charlotte loved when it rained. Made her think pleasant thoughts. Mama and her would sometimes sit and just listen to the rain. Mama said when it rained God's heart was beating louder and the faster it beat, the more lives he was saving. Since Mama and Pa died, Charlotte pleaded for rain. Rain was like home for her. It was rainy nights like tonight that made Charlotte surrender to the meek and unfamilar house that she and her brother now resided. Not too often did sleep defeat her except when the rain came.

Then the undesired sound came, the sound of the doorknob jiggling. That sound, came to be called the The Call of the Wild. Every time Charlotte heard the doorknob jiggle, she knew it was Uncle Pete. Upon his sneaky entrance, she grit her teeth and clutched hold of her quilt as he towered over her. His coarse hands wrestled through the covers trying to find her budding body. One paw blanketed Charlotte's mouth and the other paw gripped her frail body, positioning her in a fair angle before Uncle Pete abruptly entered her. Charolotte used to scream, but her child-like body had become numb to his "night caps". Instead, she pleaded that God would save more lives and end the The Call of the Wild tonight.