childhood

American Childhood In her remembering event essay, Annie Dillard a professor of English and writer at Wesleyan College, recalls the time when her and her friends where chased by a stranger that wouldn’t give up. At the age of seven, Dillard felt that nothing girls did could compare to the trill and excitement she experienced while playing football and baseball with the boys. She was somewhat of a tomboy and had what some people like to call a boy’s arm. She loved the two sports, from the thought of new strategies whispered among one another and throwing her body mightily at someone’s legs to the concentration and courage it took for a chance at victory. Once winter arrived there wasn’t any baseball or football; however, in the winter, they made and threw snowballs at the oncoming/outgoing vehicles as they drove by. One cold and cloudy morning after Christmas, Dillard and the boys strayed away from their homes in search of potential traffic to throw snowballs at. On Reynolds Street, a black Buick was headed in their direction. They spread out quickly made snowballs, aimed, and launched at the approaching vehicle. As usual they hit their target, but this particular time was different from all the other times. The driver pulled over, jumped out, and began chasing after the young juveniles. Without saying a word they all split up, with the exception of Dillard and one of the young boys, Mike Fahey. The angry man continued the pursuit, following the two kids without any signs of giving up. Block after block, through backyards and over picket fences Dillard and Fahey fled with the man trailing closely behind. Before being caught, they ran ten blocks and were extremely exhausted. Dillard admits to being terrified, but did not want the glory to end.