Its Been 20 YearsA Story by John McGrael a short story i wrote for the "your story" contest in writers digest.... this month's prompt is, "seven people board a small boat for a tours of the islands, but when the boat returns only six people remains onboard" (i didnt really follow the prompt al
Previous Version This is a previous version of Its Been 20 Years. "The prosecution calls Margaret Thomas to the stand." "No need to take the oath again, Ms. Thomas." The scene replayed in her mind, as it had every sleepless night since that fateful day. "Is it true that you and these five men," the prosecuting attorney pointed to the defendants table, "boarded your boat on September 24th to go on a tour of the Lake Amolad Islands?" "Yes, i already told you..." She said apprehensively. "No need to use that tone Ms. Thomas, it won't get you anywhere. Just a few simple questions," Margaret rolled her eyes, "and then you can go on home." "Ok, whatever." She said, putting emphasis on every syllable. "Good. Now is it also true that along with you and these five men, there was a certain..." he glanced at his notes, trying to pronounce the name that came next, "Goferaland Abiglanda." He still failed to pronounce it correctly. "Yes, and its go-fer-a-land a-bee-glaan-da." Margaret answered with a subtle note of disdain. "Ok, describe the scene on the boat." "Again!? I just described it to the other lawyer!" She exclaimed, trying with all her will to avoid having to describe it again, but not to raise suspicions. "Just to clear up any details." At this Margaret breathed heavily, trying desperately to remember how she had described it just a moment ago. She hadn't counted on having to do so again. She could remember the scene clearly: it had been a very cool morning, the soft September rain had echoed through the boat, and left a haunting, ghost like mist suspended over the lake. She started to speak, but hesitated, hesitating as she changed the story from her memory: "We were on our way back from the islands, when I ducked under the deck for a second to grab something. I heard a peculiar splash, like someone falling overboard, so I returned to the deck. Doing so just in time to see that man," she pointed at the second man from the right at the defendants table," throwing a gun overboard. He did not see me, so I decided to not handle anything myself, but to have the cops meet us at the dock. So I texted my friend, telling her to have the police ready, because if i made a call while on the lake it would look suspicious." "Sounds like a reasonable thing to do, in the situation, but did you hear the gun shot?" "No." "So its possible that the thing you saw being thrown overboard was not a gun? Because a gun would have been easily heard." Looking suddenly flustered at the hole in her story, Margaret said, "The gun had a silencer on it." "We found the gun that Goferaland was killed with Ms. Thomas, it cannot have possibly had a silencer on it." "Ok" She could feel her heart rate soaring, her vision blurring. "You're lying" She let herself go numb as the guards came up to the stand, handcuffed her, and escorted her away. She knew she was now a suspect in the murder trial. She stared at the bars on the windows, trying to force the scene out of her mind, so she could rest enough to sleep, and maybe enjoy peace for one night. But the scene continued, days and days of freedom passed in front of here eyes, mocking her with their not quite tangible reality. "I know what you did." The shady man said from an alley, and then disappeared into the darkness of her mind. "You killed her! You monster!" The prosecuting attorney screamed while fading into the haunting mist. "Everyone knows," said the darkness. "You did it." whispered the mist. "You cannot hide it any longer." "I DID IT!" Margaret Thomas screamed into the walls of the prison, as she awoke from her half conscious slumber. She cried, and wrapped her fingers around the cold, iron bars. "You gotta get over it," her cell mate said, almost habitually, "its been 20 years." © 2009 John McGraelAuthor's Note
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6 Reviews Added on September 23, 2009 Last Updated on October 1, 2009 Tags: its been 20 years, your story, writers digest Previous Versions Author
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