1978 a true story
L AUREN MARSHALL
It was a typical Friday night in the summer of 1978. My parents were out and I had every light on in the house. Foreigner was blasting from the speakers in my living room. At just 14, I felt like a king, talking on the phone with my friend Chris, with the house all to myself.
I was just hanging out on the couch, waiting for Mom to come home.
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The foundation in this room was slanted, and the double door either fell open or closed. It had been open for hours.
I get what you’re trying to say, I just think it’s dumb
Hey Chris, I’ll be right back.
As soon as the door slammed shut, all the power went out in the living room.
1
I ran out the sliding door in silence, headed for the garage.
It wasn’t uncommon to trip a breaker in this house.
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I heard the music turn back on.
Hey I’m back. Yeah I just had to rese—
I’m gunna have to call you back...
2
This time, I walked back through the house and the double doors.
I heard my music.
I grabbed the knob.
The power went out for the 3rd time.
By this point, I was nervous. I tip-toed back towards the garage, when...
All the lights at the north end of the house went out. I couldn’t believe it. . WFS YT YMJ XTZYM JSI YT ƳSI WJKZLJ in my room. I no longer cared about ƴNUUNSL YMJ GWJFPJWX
I ran and my heard raced.
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My head pounded with
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every panicked footstep
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I walked past the living room door, and turned down the hall to my room. I could see the door, and I felt an urge to sprint and hide under my covers. But as soon as I rounded the corner...
The power went out at the south end of the house. The hallway went dark. I willed my eyes to adjust in the blackness as I stumbled towards the kitchen door.
I could make out the outline of the door. The kitchen lights were still on.
Here were the last two lights on in the whole house. They were on the same breaker, so if it tripped they would both go out. I walked towards the kitchen table to hunker in the light.
4
Impossible. As soon as I sat down, the single bulb above the table went dark. I sat facing the last light. In the RNIIQJ TK YMJ ƴTTW NY QJKY F RJSFHNSL LQT\NSL HNWHQJ
I tried calling my Mom — I got a busy tone. I called my Dad — busy tone. My friend Kelly —
I punched in random numbers in the area. Even area codes across the state. All busy.
busy tone. Elton — busy. Jon, Joe, Martha, Carl, Hal — every number I knew was busy.
I was shaking in panicked terror. I had never felt so vulnerable. The phone mocked me.
5
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7
I realized I hadn’t tried calling Chris, who I was on the phone with when this all began.
just please I don’t know the don’t hang up parents phone. Wait, my g up — might be drivin
I willed her voice to come through the headset. She picked up.
Out the window I could see headlights coming up the road. I held my breath as they turned up the driveway.
CHRIS! I’m so happy to hear your voice, you won’t even believe what is happening to me right now. You’ve gotta help me, I have never been so scared. Please. I have no idea. I’m just as confused as you. No! It just
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My parents were home, I was saved. As soon as they got up to the house...
All the power came back on.
8
Like nothing ever happened.
Based on the true experiences of
Scott T. Marshall