Sam Rutledge

An American Marigold

An American Marigold A Short Story by Sam Wilson Part I: A Family History The boy began walking down the driveway as if his shadow were attempting to hurt him. His pace quickened and he found himself panicked in a way he wasn’t prepared to be. His mother had just told him to go play outside. Her exact words, “go find something meanwhile to do”, rang between his ears. He headed right out of the driveway as he decided to walk down the dead end street and into the cornfield west of his house to Schlabaugh Farm. There was a feeling, something in his lungs as he drew each breath, pulling him towards the farm. He felt a sort of subtle energy dragging its way through his body, limb by limb. It felt thrilling somehow. At 14, Tanner didn’t have much going for him besides a curveball that made his elbow hurt all the time. He helped his baseball team win the local 2007 14U championship. He was named the tournament MVP. He was the oldest sibling of his family, his younger sister, Sarah, was 11. She was away for the day at a nearby amusement park, riding roller coasters and swimming. Summer though, had now reached the point where the thought of fall had overwhelmed everyone’s minds. Baseball would sleep until April of the following year.