MymindwentblankwhenIsawthegunpointingagainstthecarwindowaswepulledoutofthegarage.Thiscan’tbehappeningtome.ThenIfeltthegun,cold,againstmyhead,andIheardmyfriendJeremysaying,“Whatdoyouwant?Takemy

　　MymindwentblankwhenIsawthegunpointingagainstthecarwindowaswepulledoutofthegarage.Thiscan’tbehappeningtome.ThenIfeltthegun,cold,againstmyhead,andIheardmyfriendJeremysaying,“Whatdoyouwant?Takemywallet,”butatthetimeIthoughtofnothing.

　　Irememberbeingalittleannoyedwhenthegunmanpulledmefromthecarbythehair.Irememberthewalktothehouse---Jeremy,me,thetwomenwithtwoguns.Irememberthefearandangerinthegunmen’svoicesbecauseJeremywasbeingslow,andIrememberwonderingwhyhewasbeingslow.IdidnotrealizethatJeremyhadthrownthekeysintothebush.ButIrememberthatsoundofthegunhittingJeremy’sheadandthefeelingasthemanwhohadholdofmyhairreleasedme.AndIrememberthesplitsecondwhenIrealizedhewaslookingatJeremy,andIrememberwonderinghowfarIcouldrunbeforehepulledthetrigger.ButIwasalreadyrunning,anduponreachingthecaracrossthestreet,Ididn’tcrouch(蹲伏)behinditbutscreamedinstead.

　　Irememberthinkingtherewassomethingridiculousandillogicalaboutscreaming“Help,help!”ateighto’clockonaTuesdayeveninginDecemberandchangingmyplea(恳求)tothemorespecific“Help,letmein,pleaseletmein!”Butthehouseswerecold,closed,unfriendly,andIranonuntilIheardJeremy’sscreamsbehindmeannouncingthatourattackershadfled.

　　TheneighborswhohadnotopenedtheirdoorstouscameoutwithbaseballbatsandhelpedJeremyfindhisglassesandkeys.Inagrouptheywereverybrave.Wewaitedforthepolicetocomeuntilsomeonesaidtosomeoneelsethatthenoodlesweregettingcold,andIsaidpolitely,“Pleasegoandeat.We’reO.K.”

　　Iwashappytoseethemgo.Theyhadbeentalkingofstrictersentencesforcriminals,ofbringingbackthedeathpenalty(处罚)andhowthePresidentisgoingtocleanupthecountry.Iwasthinking,theycouldbesayingallofthisovermydeadbody,andIstillfeelthatstiffersentenceswouldn’tchangeathing.InarushalltheangerIshouldhavefeltformyattackerswasdirectedagainstthesecontentedpeoplestandinginfrontoftheirwarm,comfortablehomestalkingaboutallthegunstheyweregoingtobuy.WhatgoodwouldgunshavebeentoJeremyandme?

　　Peopleallovertheneighborhoodhadcalledtoreportourscreams,andthepoliceturnedoutinforc