Evan Jackson

Leslie’s lived her entire life in fear! One town after another, running and hiding from Evan Jackson! He was her next door neighbor when she was five years old. They would walk to kindergarten together and play after school. They were the best of friends until Evan started acting crazy. She remembered that afternoon playing when Evan caught the lizard. It was fun and cute until it’s tail came off. She ran home crying. Her mom told her that’s what lizards do, it’s a defense mechanism. Whatever it was it was gross to Leslie. Evan on the other hand didn’t think it was so gross, he actually described it as neat!

Something happened to Evan that day. The lizard losing its tail had changed him into a little monster. He would leave dead bugs in gift wrapped boxes on their front porch. Leslie didn’t want to be his friend anymore. She would run home and lock the door and stay in the house. She would often see Evan in his back yard with a magnifying glass burning the ants and blowing up grasshoppers and other bugs with his firecrackers. She would complain to her parents and their response was , “boys will be boys.” When he crossed the line and pulled the whiskers off her kitten, that was it! She hated him!

That summer when her mother told her they were moving, Leslie was elated. She was ready to get away from Evan. Her junior high years were uneventful and Evan free, but the first year she went to high school her nightmare started all over. She would find rotting fruit and lewd notes in her locker. It took a few days but she finally saw him at school. He harassed her in everyway. She would tell teachers and school administration and they would tell her to stay away from him. It wasn’t until he lit her hair on fire walking down the hallway that they finally called the police.

He was questioned and charged with harassment and then at the trial she told all the things that he did to her growing up. His lawyers plea bargained some deal and Evan was sent to a home for the mentally insane. He may have stayed in there for a year or two, long enough for Leslie to graduate high school and move on to college, where she thought she was safe.

During her senior year of college, she got back to her dorm late at night and Evan was there. He held her captive for three days and nights. He tortured her as if she was one of his insects or animals. He pulled her hair out, burned her with a magnifying glass and cigarettes. He cut hearts and stars all over her legs and arms. He stuck duck tape all over her body and ripped it off with layers of her skin. On the third day her roommate returned and when she couldn’t open the door she called the Resident Assistant and then Campus Police, Evan just laughed as they took him away. Leslie was a mess after that. After moving again, it took her another year to finish college and she just left. Her parents tried to help, but there was only so much that could be done. She thought about changing her name and moving out of the country, but the police and lawyers assured her that he would not get out of the hospital he was in. “Hospital? Why not jail, he should be in prison!” But he had good lawyers who would always bargain with his mental competencies and he would go to another hospital.

Leslie was in a meeting all day and was unable to answer her phone, but she did feel it vibrate in her pocket at least a dozen times. As she was gathering her papers and notes to leave the secretary handed her a package.

 "This was left for you today,” she said as she handled Leslie a little blue box tied with a ribbon.

“Thanks.” Leslie said has she took the box and put it on top of her papers and purse. 

She gathered the rest of her things and was in the elevator when she tried to listen to her voice mails. She had no reception in the elevator so she slipped the phone back in her pocket. Once at her car she put her things on the hood and reached over for the box as her phone started ringing. She leaned her head over and held the phone with her shoulder, “Hello?”

She knew before the caller said anything! As she opened the box, screamed and dropped it at the same time, as the dismembered bird’s wings fell to the ground.

Evan Jackson had found her again!

image is courtesy of +Rose Bissinger