Monson Academy - Pharetra Yearbook (Monson, ME)

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The Solitary Rat It was dark in the long corridor as guard Ivan Peters led the convict down, down, down He was taking him to solitary, solitary confinement that would be a living hell Few men could stand the dingy, vermin infested cells of Blackgate Prison or the beatings of the guards A large rat with bright eyes scurried across their way As he trudged downward, Peters thought, nThat new warden a fool No solitary confinement in the prison anymorein says he to me 'What are we to do with these jerks when they get out hand? I'll show him I'll take this stooge of his down to soli tary, no matter what he says Oh well, here's the door, only two flights of stairs left to go, then I can beat this guy to a pulp I'l1 show that warden that I can put anybody I want into solitary Humphll Look at that big rat ' The pair of men, one guard, one prisoner, came to the soli tary cell The stench was terrible, water dripped from the cracks in the moss covered granite walls, light came from a small grating sev eral stories up, the bed was a bunch of vermin infested rags, a short length of rubber hose hung on the wall and a large rat sat in the corner, looking at the two men with small bright eyes Peters threw a rock at the rat but it wouldn't move This made him all the angrier, so he turned and knocked the prisoner The rat in the corner just sat and watched with his little beady eyes The prisoner remained motionless where he had fallen, and the guard advanced upon him with the hose in his hand 'You slimy crook, I'll show that warden that he can't stop me from knockin' your teeth out,' Peter screamed, as he lashed the convict with the hose n'No solitary or beatings for the prisoners Ha' that milksop' That's what he thinks W Peters struck the prisoner again and again, screaming as he hit him The prisoner's screams were drowned out by his own The rat with bright eyes watched quietly There was the sound of rubber hitting flesh, then the sick ening crunch of bone, then silence Peters turned and walked out Peters felt good as he walked up the stairs toward the big iron door He reached for the knob There was a smell of burn ing flesh and a scream as Peters touched it It was red hot The door was red hot all the way around at the edges, for it had been welded shut The bright eyed rat sat on the still convict and watched him 'The warden! The warden has had it welded shut as he prom isedl I didn't hear them and they d1dn't hear me when they welded it, for no one can hear a sound from in here,n thought Peters He grasped the small peep hole and slid it open A small piece of cement came through The warden had made doubly sure, he had had the door cemen ted over A O is .. of to the floor. . 0' 0

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Peters looked at his watch, it was seven thirty, he had been down there an hour beating the prisoner He sat down and looked up the long air shaft to the grating that supplied light The rat looked at him and the convict looked at nothing 'Help' Help! Save me' I'm locked in Oh dear God, save me Oh, what's the use, no one can hear me Peters rushed down the stairs and picked the bloody prisoner up into his arms The rat moved to one of the convicts legs and watched the proceedings with his small bright eyes 'Wake up Wake up and help me! Help me get out of here! Peters dropped the A guard, a corpse, with death glazed eyes, ing at each other stiffening corpse that had once been a and a rat one with fear filled eyes, one and one with small bright eyes sat look Charles Milton '52 Enchanted One day as Sue was roaming the fields and woods of the ram bling old estate that adjoined the Blenden property, she acci dentally came upon an opening, partly covered and hidden by weep ing willow trees, with branches hanging low The sun was setting in the west and she knew she should start for home, but the sound of a babbling brook, tumbling over sticks and stones, and birds sweetly chirping in the trees, came singing to her ears She sat on a moss covered stump, intending only to rest a moment before starting home, but the babbling brook and singing birds somehow seemed to call to her The longer she sat there the more sweetly the birds sang Finally she knew she could not go home without at least one look at the brook Quickly she leaped from the stump, carefully brushed aside the branches, and crawled on her hands and knees trying hard to keep on what she knew was once a trail, winding steeply downward, until she came to a clearing She got to her feet, and there directly in front of her was the brook On a large stone about in the middle was a turtle, snapping at flies that passed by him Awed, she looked around her, various birds of many sizes, shapes, and bright colors were gaily chirping and fluttering among the tree tops The willows lining the brook on both sides were all bending low over the water Many flowers bloomed in the clearing, and squirrels, chipmunks, and other small animals scampered through the tall grass and over fallen trees, chattering in their excitement to reach their hollowed stumps. As she came closer, frogs leaped from the banks into the water, and she could see dozens of trout, large and small. swimming in the water and disappearing under rocks. Enchanted by the scene, she stood staring, while an appar- ently friendly fawn appeared on the opposite bank. She watched for some time unseen, while it came down to drink. After it had gone, she slowly retraced her steps to the path, determined to come here often. Suddenly she realized why tourists visiting the old estate were awe stricken and enchanted at the sound of sweetly 0 O .n O O OO . n man-a convict-but still a man.