Heavy Footsteps on the Levee

Name:            Bonnie J. Duckworth
Email:           earthquacks@msn.com
Location:        Ottumwa, Iowa
Type:            Angel
Date:            Saturday, June 03, 2000
Time:            03:38 PM

My sister and I, ages 8 and 7, stopped by to swing in the park on our way home from school. We had been told this was off limits and the rule was to come directly home after school, but being tempted, we thought just a few minutes wouldn't matter.

Seeing who could swing the highest, I spotted two teenage boys coming towards us. This park was usually deserted this time of day, so until then, we were the only ones there. I immediately felt it wasn't safe to stay any longer and told my sister we needed to go home.

About that time, the boys hollered to us about having some fish they wanted to give us. My sister, thinking she could tell our dad that she caught them, insisted on following the boys to the place where they had left the fish.

I knew they didn't really have any fish, but were going to harm us. I kept lagging behind hissing in my sister's ear, trying to convince her, but she was too stubborn to listen. I was afraid to leave her alone, fearing she might be killed, so I followed along, my fear growing stronger each time the boys changed their mind as to the place the "supposed" fish were.

Finally finding the most secluded spot, they stepped off the path on top of the levee and down to the riverbank below. My sister followed them excitedly and I very fearfully.

We barely caught up with them when one boy grabbed my sister, pinned her arm behind her back and held a knife at her throat. The other boy threw me on the ground after baring me from the bottom down and was just about to plunge down on me when I heard heavy footsteps on the levee above.

The thought ran through my mind, "Maybe they'll think it's my dad." Without thinking of the threat to cut my sister's throat, I screamed, "Dad! Dad! We're down here!"

The boy hovering over me looked up like he had seen a ghost, grabbed his pants and ran up the path as fast as his feet would travel. His buddy had dropped his knife and was hot on his heels.

I shakily collected myself together and my sister ran into my arms sobbing. We cautiously climbed back up the path leading to the levee and when on top, all there was to be seen was the two boys, still running full speed way down the levee. No one else was around anywhere.

I have always felt it was my guardian angel that had made the sound of heavy footsteps on the levee above us which only the boys were allowed to see. The fear in their eyes was too obvious. They had to have seen something.

It has been 56 years since that terrifying experience, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I praise God for His protection in my life. I have always had a strong belief in God. He has been there for me more times than I even know about, I'm sure.