Still screaming, I broke loose.
With a hard, desperate tug, I tore myself from my brother’s sickening grasp. I lowered my shoulders, and with another cry, with scream after scream
bursting from my lungs—I tore through the ring of chanting kids.
And hurtled toward the stairs. The foul smell floated with me, heavy and rank. The cold mucus stuck to my hands. My brother’s words repeated in my
whirring mind: “They’ve forgotten you too… They’ve forgotten you too…”
No, I’m not! I told myself as I forced my trembling legs up the stairs. I’m not forgotten! I’m not!
“I’ll make Mom remember!” I shouted down. “Somehow, I’ll make Mom remember, Peter!”
I reached the top of the stairs, my chest heaving, my lungs aching.
I slammed the basement door shut and started down the back hall.
The floor spun beneath me. The walls appeared to close in until I felt as if I were running through a dark, narrow tunnel.