Autobiography In Five Chapters

1. I walk down the street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I fall in. 

I am lost … I am hopeless. 

It isn’t my fault. 

It takes forever to find a way out. 

2. I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I pretend I don’t see it. 

I fall in again. 

I can’t believe I’m in the same place. 

But it isn’t my fault. 

It still takes a long time to get out. 

3. I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I see it is there. 

I still fall in … it’s a habit. 

My eyes are open. 

I know where I am. 

It is my fault. 

I get out immediately. 

4. I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I walk around it. 

5. I walk down another street. 

PORTIA NELSON