Sample 14

Sample 14
1 It was a dark night. Although the cold weather made me shiver in my bones without wearing a second layering of clothes, I wasn’t going to bed early on New Year’s Eve. Our family was poor, therefore we had no television. The cost of raising children was high enough, and we barely had enough to eat. I was listening to the radio, eagerly waiting for the countdown like a hyperactive child. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, - we are sorry to interrupt the following program. All citizens kindly refrain from going to Skypark hotel. A bomb has been found there, and all citizens in the following area are requested to evacuate.”
2 Skypark hotel? It sounded familiar, yet I forgot why….. Suddenly, a thought hit my head. That was where my aunt was staying! Earlier in the night, I had taken her back to the hotel after she came to visit me. She was extremely tired, and even before I left, she had fallen asleep. I got into the rented car and started driving towards the hotel. It was a 1 and a half hour drive, and I had do idea of the bomb squad could stop the timer in time. I accelerated and sped off into the night.
3 I parked about 1km from the hotel. I had no idea if the bomb had gone off or it had stopped. Running at full speed towards the hotel, I went into the hotel. Strangely, nobody stopped me, and the hotel seemed deserted. A thought went through my head. The bomb squad couldn’t have given up hope already? I ran up the stairs to the second floor. The door was still locked. I barged through the door and charged in.
4 I picked my aunt up and rushed towards the exit. In my head, I could almost hear the timer of the bomb ticking. As I ran out, I ran straight into… a crowd? It was a blur as it struck me. The timer had been cut, and the bomb was removed, so when I went into the hotel, the police were just clearing up the area! I put down my aunt as she woke up. After making sure that she was alright, I went back to the rented car and went back home.
5 I woke up and found myself in the car. I had been so tired out that I had fallen asleep the second I parked the car. As I looked into the bright, warm light of the sun, I whispered:” Happy New Year.”. “ Jack, where are you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” I turned and saw my wife holding a rolling pin and waving it about as if she was going to kill someone with it. And I had no doubt that the first person that she would kill is me. (474)