(512) A Close Call Poem by Melvina Germain

Blistering cold, chilled to the bone, I took my fur collar
and wrapped it around my neck, loosely so I wouldn’t
perspire. Waiting patiently for the midnight bus but
nothing in sight. Oh it’s just too cold, I would be
better off walking I thought to myself. That’s it, I’m
going to walk, the moving will keep me warm.

I started up Eglington Ave. toward McGowan, no one
else on the street, I was all alone with very little
traffic also. I prayed and asked God to help me make
home safely. At that moment I saw some figures in
the distance and wondered who they might be. As
they got closer, my stomach was telling me, I was in
trouble, then the inner thoughts told me to prepare
myself.

I knew I should have stayed home this evening but I
really didn’t want to miss sewing class. For that reason
I had a scissors in my pocket, now I was clenching
onto it tightly. I prayed for help, I knew there was going
to be a confrontation.

Sure enough, one of the five young men approached me
and pushed me backward slightly as if to toy with me.
I yelled at them and pulled out the scissors taking a
stance that shocked them all the while yelling as loud
as I could. I told them I may not get them all but I
would surely take down one of them and which one
was it going to be.

At that moment, the young man that pushed me stepped
back and another one said, hey leave her alone, let’s
get out of here and they walked on as if nothing happened.
I was certainly afraid, couldn’t believe I acted that way.
well then I realized, God was once again in the midst of
it all.

Written: Sept.30,2007


Note: It is said, “That life is tough but I’m tougher because
I draw my strength from God.