ABOVE THE INFLUENCE

5:21 P.M

I believe it was once said by Albert Einstein, that if you travel faster then light, that everything around you will appear slower. Perhaps time itself will stop.

Walking down the sidewalk from the school to the patrol cars, it seemed as if I was nothing. I'm swimming in some odd dimension where it was people I know, and didn't know just staring. Their faces a blur, but their features sharp. It was quiet, but I could see their mouths move.

I stared down at my feet, as I ducked into the car. With it closing, I laid my head against the warm leather. I rolled my head toward the window, and my eyes caught Stephanie in the car across from me. She caught my glance, and nodded her head. Her car began to drive off. Turning my focus straight ahead, I could make out Lynn. She had a tear rolling down her face. As her car drove off I saw her clutch her stomach.

With a shut of the door, the officer who drove "my" car didn't even look in my direction. The engine groaned, then set the car in motion. I pulled my ski hat over my eyes, so I couldn't see the faces around me.

It seemed like only hours before I was sitting in Knowles classroom, getting hit with trash bags. Now I'm in a tiny room, sitting on a orange plastic chair, while a secretary goes over my files. Tomorrow will be the court hearing.

Glancing out the tiny window in the room, I watch as a light snow falls. "Excuse me." An officer with bright red hair enters carrying a note in his hand. "There was an accident."

5:38 P.M

He only wanted a place to be safe. Safe away from his abusive father. Ziggy finally is. For twenty minutes or so, the officer told me what happened on the roof. He said Rodney held a knife to Jackson's throat, while Lester pointed the gun at him. They said the snipers where on stand by. If anybody interfered, they had the right to shoot.

He explained that Ziggy saw the red light on Lester's neck, and knew they were going to shoot him. Ziggy ran toward Lester, and they shoot him.

5:59 P.M

After the officer left, I was allowed to go. On the way home, Mamma and I didn't say a word. I only glimpsed at her face a couple of times, to see tears falling down her cheeks. I ran to my room, and hid under the covers. Crying, I fell asleep.