Eyewitness to a Crime
By Michelle Rowlson
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Spring 2007

Gnome 1: Come on it is time to go bother the Bergen children!

Gnome 2: Yeah lets go

Gnomes take the short walk to the Bergens house and began listening in on the conversation between Hansel and Gretel Bergen. Just as they walk up to the window they hear Hansel saying All I hear are those annoying Gnomes!

Gnome 1: What did you do to the children already?

Gnome 2: Nothing. I swear.

Gnome 1: Where is that music coming from then?

Gnome 2: I dont know.

The Gnomes hear Gretel rushing through the house

Gnome 1: Where do you think she is going?

Gnome 2: I am not sure but it looks like she might be headed to the front yard lets get in the bushes and see what is going on.

Gretel comes running by the Gnomes and knocks one of them into the bushes. She acted as though she did not even see him. Then before Gretel hits the edge of the yard she just stops and stares.

Gnome 1: she just ran right through me like she didnt even see me, I am going to give her a piece of my mind.

Gnome 2: I dont think she saw you at all. Look at the look on her face!

Gnome 1 quickly agreed: I think you are right about that. But look the children up and down the street are doing the same thing.

Gnome 2: Do you still hear the music?

Gnome 1: Yeah and I think the girl hears it but I am not sure that her brother does, as he points toward Hansel.

Gnome 3 pops up from behind another bush. Startling the others, I am sorry to startle you but I was just at the Stouts place and the children were talking about this music and they seemed to be lured by it.

Gnome 1: Yeah the Bergen children are too.

Gnome 3: What do you think is going on?

Gnome 2: I am not sure but a lot of the village children are now headed up the hill.

Gnome 3: Is it odd that we are the only ones that seem to be noticing this? Should we try to get the parents?

Gnome 1: The parents dont trust us why should we tell them anything? Plus they are all in church surely someone else will notice this.

As the children get closer to the top of the hill the Gnomes realize that the parents are not going to notice.

Gnome 2: I am getting the feeling that no one is going to notice this.

Gnome 3: Who is that at the top of the hill? He seems to be the one the children are heading towards.

Gnome 1: Isnt that the man who came to rid the town of rats.

Gnome 3: Yeah and I heard the Mayor wouldnt pay him.

Gnome 2: It looks as though he is getting his payment anyway.

All three Gnomes sigh as the children disappear over the hill.

For Reflection:
Have you ever noticed something, and wanted to tell an adult about it, only to be ignored? Can you write a memoir of such an event?

Have you ever had the courage to speak up when you know you might be laughed at, but you do it anyway? Can you write the autobiographical moment out? Will you choose to do it in an essay format, or a diary format, or a letter format? How does the format of the writing style change or enhance the writing? Maybe the audience is the determining factor in making the writing style choice. What do you think?

If you were to continue the Gnome story started above, how do you think the story might continue?