Free Edward's Dilemma by Paul Adan Page A

and pickles, and olives.  Everything tasted so good, and smelled heavenly.  To top it all off, his mom brought out a huge apple pie and a half gallon of vanilla ice-cream – Edward’s favorite dessert.  By the time the family retired to the living room, everyone was completely stuffed.
    After watching TV for awhile, Edward went upstairs to his bedroom.  He grabbed the book he’d just started reading the day before – “Journey to the Center of the Earth” – and crawled into bed.  Before long, he was completely immersed in the story.  When his brother came in later to go to bed, Edward hardly even acknowledged him.
    Sometime after midnight there was an unusual noise downstairs.  Everyone had already gone to bed, and Edward was the only one who seemed to be awake.  At first he dismissed the noise as an anomaly.  Maybe it was the wind, or just a far-off sound.   He looked up from his book for a second or two, but then resumed reading.  Suddenly, there was another noise, a kind of cracking sound – and then another noise.  The hairs on his neck and arms instantly stood up, and his heart began to pound.  There’s an intruder in the house! he thought.  He knew he had to do something – anything – before it was too late.  But there was a problem!
    When he tried to sound an alarm, he was horrified because he couldn’t speak!  The words were stuck in his throat, and wouldn’t come out no matter how hard he tried.  He struggled to get some air into his lungs, but he couldn’t breathe.  Gasping for air, he frantically tore at the blanket which was tangled around his head and neck.  Once free, he again screamed – but still, nothing came out.
    Edward was paralyzed with fear.  He tried to get up out of bed, but his arms and legs refused to move.  He felt weak and helpless, yet his mind continued to scream.  Move it, Edward.  Move it!   A feeling of impending doom clamped down on his thoughts.  Meanwhile, a short distance away, his brother continued to sleep like a log.
    The noises downstairs could still be heard, and were now getting closer.  Edward could hear the creak of the stairs as the intruder began to ascend.  For each creak, he counted off another stair.
    “Creak...”
    “Creak...Creak.”
    “Creak...”
    At first, the creaking noises were slow and measured.  But then, the pace quickened.
    “Creak...Creak...Creak”
    “Creak...”
    “Creak...Creak...Creak...Creak.”
    Edward knew the intruder had to be near the top of the stairs.  He was petrified with fear, and dying insid e.  His thoughts were screaming.  God help me!  HELP!!  HELP!!  HELP!!  Someone, PLEASE HELP!!
    Suddenly, as if in answer to his silent c alls for help, a light switched-on in his parent’s bedroom, and the creaking noises came to an abrupt halt.  Edward could hear his dad beginning to stir from his sleep, and then came more sounds as he fumbled around in the nightstand for his gun.  Oh, thank God.  Thank you!   He was overcome with relief and gratitude.  He hardly even noticed the sounds of the intruder as he hurriedly bounded down the stairs and out the front door.
    “SLAM!”
    And then, quiet.
    Edward cautiously walked over to the top of the stairwell.  He could hear his dad in the living room, and then several lights came on.  Glancing down, Edward noticed a toothpick on one of the stairs.
    Five or ten minutes later, the walls and ceiling of Edward’s bedroom were lit up with red and blue lights.  In the driveway, he could hear the barking of police dogs, and the crackle of walkie-talkies.  His father’s reassuring voice could be heard, downstairs, talking to a policeman.  The policeman’s voice was stern – almost angry.
    ♦   ♦   ♦
     
    Stuart Co. Jail, the Hole
    2 September, 3:53 AM
     
    EDWARD AWOKE from his dream.  For a few minutes, he didn’t move.  His hands trembled, and his clothing was soaked in sweat.  Around his torso, a gray blanket was wrapped like a