Newton E Streeter

"Although we may not notice it in our everyday lives, horror clings to us like a shadow -
sometimes trailing out behind us, sometimes looming far ahead... sometimes barely
indistinguishable from ourselves. And then comes along someone like Newton E. Streeter,
who captures that shadow in all its guises and offers it to us. Daring us to look. From
predators to prey, from dreams of twisted glory to nightmares that will never end,
Streeter's well crafted shadow creeps over that which we think of as reality and darkens it
to something else.

Welcome all ye who enter here."

- P.D. Cacek, Author of Leavings

It has rained everyday for the last two weeks. I hate gray days. Father says I'm too serious for
my age, and I'm quick to tell him how ten-year-olds married back in the time of Moses. He
laughs most of the time. Mother says its blasphemy. Truth is, Mother is too serious for any age.
I've watched her running around the house for the last two weeks packing clothes and hiding
jewelry. Fathers says she just wants everything in its proper place before we take our trip south.
I have to admit I am looking forward to our trip. Father says that the weather down there will be
clear and dry. No more gray days. We're leaving tomorrow at noon.

There are more people here than in the whole of our town. Father says the rain has made most
the people in the area flock to the sourthern countries. He says this, then looks away with worry
showing on his face . I think it's the rain getting to him too. There are army men with guns and
some trucks and tanks, but Father says they are here to keep order. I see that worried look
again; maybe I am too serious for ten. While Mother and Father talk to the family in line ahead of
us, I allow the last of the gray days to fall on my face. After today the sun will shine and children
will play the rest of the summer away. The boys in our building say I'm a great striker for a girl.
Football is my game. The boys used to make me play goalie, but now they pick me first as a
striker. It really doesn't matter what I play tomorrow; I just can't wait to get out of the rain. I let
the rain touch my face more so I can enjoy the sun when it comes. I look into th dark clouds to
remember what I love most about the bright blue sky.

I see Father and Mother both looking worried as they talk to one of the army men. Our names
are not on some list, the man says and puts a mark on some papers and gives them to my Father.
The rain falls hard as the army men take us to our train. They place Star of David shapes on our
clothes as we board. Father says they do that to know where we come from and where we are
headed. Mother cries some but I think its because she will miss home for a while. The trains are
going to three different places. There is a sign that reads Auschwitz, Dachau and Buchenwald.
Before the army men close our car, I ask Father where on the sign are we going. He just shakes
his head and holds Mother to calm her . I really don't care where we go. Just as long as there are
no more gray day, I hate gray days.