Blast from the Past

English Period 8
December 2, 1999
Memory Narrative Final Draft

The Horrors of Automatic Lock Cars

Imagine coming back from a party, on a cold, dark night as a young child. Imagine how frightening it could be to be left in the car. That, is what happened to me on a cold, dark night, when I was young child.

I was five years old, a shy, and soft-spoken little girl. While my aunt was getting out of the car, I tried to tell her to unlock the door for me. But unfortunately, she and my cousin stepped out the door, with all the remnants of the party and somehow, forgot me in the car.

At first, I thought they were just going to step out and then help me out. By the time I realized that they had forgotten me, they were up the blacktop driveway and going through their white, garage door. As small as I was, I knew that all I had to do was undo the lock, and step out the door. But that day, luck was against me. My cousins had a blue Volvo where the doors opened only if the engine was on. Only then, did I realize that I could be stuck there the whole entire night.

I sat there in the pitch-black darkness, listening to the silence, The skinny, bony, skeleton-like branches seemed to be monsters hearing the insects buzz, and smelling the cooking from inside the house, and other figments of my imagination creeping towards me. Then, I started to cry. I was truly afraid, for the first time I remember. After crying for a while, I somehow, pulled myself together, and between sniffles tried to think. The warm, lights in the house somehow gave me courage, and hope. I could feel my heart beating, and heard the occasional roar of a motor, on the road. Suddenly, I had a great idea.

In my own car, I used to sometimes climb in and out of the window just for fun. If I could do the same thing here, then I would be free. I tried to find the window operator, but it was too dark. I almost gave up in despair. Then, I saw a figure walking towards me. I was so happy, I wanted to scream with joy, almost immediately, the figure slowly looked around, and not seeing me in the car turned around and went slowly back into the house.

Finally, my head hit something on the ceiling and the light in the car turned on. But as I said, luck was really against me that day and the window opener was the kind that opened only with the engine on. After waiting in tears for what seemed like eternity: I saw my father walking down towards me. I was so happy. My dad opened the door, and I ran out to him in delight. After that, we walked into the house where I could smell delicious food cooking, and the merry laugh of my family.

After that day, I was a lot less shy. I also decided I did not like Volvos. This silly event will always stay in my mind. Nowadays, if I were that quiet I would be eating, drinking, and sleeping in cars.