The Human Chronicles
Those days before it came.
My name is Jacqueline. Most people think that earth is safe. Most people think that the worst thing that can happen to them is to die. I used to believe that with all my heart. Guess What?
I was wrong.
My vision of safety was shattered when I was nine years old. I had a normal family, a dad, a mom, two older sisters. I lived in a normal house on a normal street. My biggest fear was the monsters on TV. Normal. Easy. I complained about life to my diary when I was forced to do chores, or when I had a fight with my friends. I had no idea how hard life would be so soon.
One thing was abnormal about me. I never cried. Not once in my life had I shed a tear. I never became overly excited or worried about anything, good or bad. Not even what happened that day…
My whole family was sitting in the living room, watching TV, when my dad turned to me.
"Jackie, your Mom and I have decided that, now that you and your sisters are old enough, we have something very important to talk to you about."
"Dad.." complained Deirdre, " I've already had the talk."
"Not that talk," Mom cut in quickly, " Something more important than that."
I will remember the next five minutes for as long as I live. I was a red-headed nine year old, my sisters, Deirdre a 13 year old blond beauty, and Ashley a 14 year old blond skeptic. My mother, with her curly brown hair and big brown eyes, and my father, with his black hair and strong hands.
Those five minutes started when my dad said:
"Girls, the enemy has come. The Yeerks are here."
Those days before it came.
My name is Jacqueline. Most people think that earth is safe. Most people think that the worst thing that can happen to them is to die. I used to believe that with all my heart. Guess What?
I was wrong.
My vision of safety was shattered when I was nine years old. I had a normal family, a dad, a mom, two older sisters. I lived in a normal house on a normal street. My biggest fear was the monsters on TV. Normal. Easy. I complained about life to my diary when I was forced to do chores, or when I had a fight with my friends. I had no idea how hard life would be so soon.
One thing was abnormal about me. I never cried. Not once in my life had I shed a tear. I never became overly excited or worried about anything, good or bad. Not even what happened that day…
My whole family was sitting in the living room, watching TV, when my dad turned to me.
"Jackie, your Mom and I have decided that, now that you and your sisters are old enough, we have something very important to talk to you about."
"Dad.." complained Deirdre, " I've already had the talk."
"Not that talk," Mom cut in quickly, " Something more important than that."
I will remember the next five minutes for as long as I live. I was a red-headed nine year old, my sisters, Deirdre a 13 year old blond beauty, and Ashley a 14 year old blond skeptic. My mother, with her curly brown hair and big brown eyes, and my father, with his black hair and strong hands.
Those five minutes started when my dad said:
"Girls, the enemy has come. The Yeerks are here."