I was on a 4 mile training run. While near some railroad tracks along the
Merrimack river, I heard, "Help! Help! ..." I stopped running, listened and
looked in the direction of the railroad tracks. There was thick brush with
thorns and poison ivy between me and the tracks. I ran back a few hundred yards
to a path that got me to the tracks. I ran down the tracks back to where I heard
the calls for help. I saw nobody and nobody answered my calls. I did see a
freight train coming toward me in the distance. I left the tracks and searched
the woods between the tracks and the river. Still nothing. After the train
passed I returned to the road and resumed running. I think it might have been an
animal or a bird, but I can't think of any that might make that sound except for
an escaped parrot.

Toward the end of my run I saw a teenage girl cross the street and enter a
house. As I was running past the house I heard a blood curdling scream. Thinking
that someone was hiding in the house waiting for the girl to come home from
school I ran over to the door hoping that I could stop the attack and survive. I
looked in through the window and saw two teenage girls talking to each other.
They were surprised to see me. They explained that they always scream as loud as
they can when they get home. Teenagers? I'm glad mine grew into adults.

Shalom,
Chuck