‘Good heavens! Where have you been Ronnie? I’ve been so worried again. You’ve been away for three whole hours. When your father was alive…’
The boy said nothing as he sat down by the kitchen table. His mother’s voice droned on. Soon he knew it would rise to a hysterical pitch. Then she would start crying and come and hug him and tell him how much he meant to her. Ronnie looked up at her. Why does she never smile? Perhaps it is all this work: the dishes, cooking, making the beds. The wrinkles on her face have got so deep and made her look so ugly. Why doesn’t she try to understand and be like other mothers?
Ronnie looked out of the window. Now that the sun was setting, the lower slopes became deep purple. It was the moment that Ronnie loved best. Soon it would be
dark and the whole mountain would be nothing. But the sun would bring it back again in the morning. In the morning…He would try again. This time…
The morning sun gleamed on the hard brown rocks and on the trees below which completely hid the valley. Ronnie looked up at the overhanging ledge above him. Soon the middle of it ran a deep crack which looked like a streak of lightening which had been turned into stone. The boy had never gone beyond this point.
Now or never, thought Ronnie as he reached up for the jagged piece of rock that was pointing up above his head. The rock was firm and the boy pulled himself on to it. Then he looked around trying to decide which would be the best way up. Just to the right of him there was a small stone wedged firmly in the crack. He tested it with his foot. As it did not move, he pressed on it with his whole weight. The stone slithered away silently and Ronnie’s foot remained firmly wedged in the crack. He clung desperately to the rock, hardly daring to breathe. His hands felt wet and sticky and sweat trickled into his eyes. The ledge shut out the sun. Everything was suddenly cold and dark. Ronnie rested there motionless for what seemed hours. After he had regained his breath, he pushed his left knee into the crack and freed his foot. Soon, he was clambering up the crack like a mountain goat. Suddenly, the crack became a thread and then disappeared altogether. For the first time, the boy raised his head. He could hardly believe it he had reached the top.
In the bright sunlight Ronnie trembled uncontrollably but he felt happy. Yes happy because he had eventually fulfilled his dream. He sat above the ledge and look round. Just behind him he saw the path which led to the village. This was the ‘easy’ way up. At least, he would not have to climb down that dreadful crack. Below he could see the whole village. What was his mother doing now, he wondered.
Mrs. Nashe had just finished sweeping the parlour. ‘I must not get so anxious’, she thought. ‘I must try and be nicer to Ronnie. He doesn’t even speak to me anymore. I nag him too much, I know. I’ll just tidy my hair before he comes in.’
She was still sitting at her dressing table, when Ronnie arrived. He broke a smile when she turned round: she looked too much younger, so different! ‘It must be her hair’, he thought. No, she’s put on lipstick! And she’s smiling’.
‘Had a nice time, dear? asked Mrs. Nashe.
‘Yes, I just went for a short walk, sorry Ronnie, and he went up to his mother and kissed her.
He Felt Himself in the Nirvana written by Cristina Nuta for FamousWhy.com
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by Cristina Nuta -