Odds Against Me

Excerpts From The Book:Odds Against Me By Mina Scheller-Wildfeuer Part 1: Tranquility Childhood Bruckenthal Evokes My Fondest Memories. With Nostalgia I Recall Walks Through Immense Wheat Fields - A Huge Yellow Ocean With Slight Ripples Of Waves Gently Swaying In The Summer Breeze A Glorious Intense Orgy Of Colorful Wildflowers Interspersed Throughout It: The Vivid Blues Of Cornflowers Brilliant Reds Of Poppies Immaculate Whites Of Daisies. I Was Surrounded By Nature'S Best. The Sweet Fragrance The Breathtaking Beauty Of It Filled Me With Overwhelming Joy. Carried Upon The Currant Of Happiness I Dang Out Loud. On Lazy Summer Days When The Atmosphere Became Heavy With The Heat I Lay Down On The Cool Dark Rich Earth Looking Up Into The Translucent Blue Sky Through Hot Simmering Air. Made Drowsy By The Monotonous Buzz Of Bees I Let Myself Overflow With A Child'S Dream. It Was The Loveliest Corner In The World. Part 2: War Refugees Hour After Hour I A Twelve Year Old Shuffled Behind The Wagon Battling Harsh Howling Winds Gust Of Snow And Sleep. Sometimes When Slowing Down I Could Feel The Steamy Warm Breath And Hear The Occasional Snorting Of Following Horses Near My Ears. What If I Should Fall Down? Would I Be Trampled To Death Rolled Over By The Churning Wheels? The Trek Came To A Hold. I Was Fatigued Beyond Endurance Almost Hallucinating. An Overturned Wagon On The Side Of The Road The Casualty Of Mortar Fire Beckoned Me. Next To Its Dead Horse Still In Harness Was Leaning Against An Embankment With Its Head Grotesquely Twisted And Its Legs Stiffly Sticking Upward. Large Lumps Faintly Bearing Human Shape Were Half Buried In A Snow Tomb. I Climbed Onto The Deserted Wagon And Curled Up Between Baggage. It Snowed Heavier. Big Beautiful Snowflakes Floated Silently Down. Soon Everything Would Be Covered Softly Just One White Serene Wonderland. I Would Be Asleep Finally Blissfully Asleep Maybe Forever. My Eyes Closed. I Felt Myself Drifting