Where the Sidewalk Ends by Bronzehairedgirl620
Reviewed by ImwithPattz
*This story is no longer available*
*This story is no longer available*
Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella
Summary: Some men aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." These were the inmates of Alcatraz. But Edward Masen, wrongly accused, just might dare to defy it all.
I have to admit that what first caught my eye about this story is the title. I love Shel Silverstein and everything he represents. The Giving Tree might just be my motto for life. So when I saw there was a FF with the title Where the Sidewalk Ends…Well, I stopped everything and read.
This is not a love story. I repeat – not a love story. It may end up being a love story but I can’t imagine how, and since BHG620 seemingly only updates once monthly, it may be a long time before we see anything resembling a citrus fruit. So if that is what you are looking for, look elsewhere. What this story is – an amazing and unique story line with well developed characters and a mystery to boot! We all love a good mystery, right?
Where the Sidewalk Ends starts off with a newsflash of a murder in the small town of Forks, Washington in 1941.
Forks, Washington: 2:17 A.M on January 30th, three local boys were taken into custody on the Quileute reservation and charged for the murder and intentional desecration of Emily Young, 16. They were identified as members of the upcoming graduating class of Forks High School. It is currently unclear why the boys were on the reservation or why the attack took place.
Among those brought to the county jail were Edward Masen, 18, Eric Yorkie, 17, and Jacob Black, 18. Each was charged with one count of first degree murder, intentional manslaughter of an individual, and one count of kidnapping. The Forks Police Department responded to a call made by a member of the reservation at 2:08 in the morning, who claimed they could hear a young girl screaming deep within the forest surrounding First Beach. There were obvious signs of struggle. Three testimonials confirmed the boys were seen disappearing into the woods several hours prior.
Young had been reported missing by her parents, John and Laura Young, mid-day on January 29th. She was walking back from the reservation's high school after attending a choir rehearsal, but according to her mother, never made it home. Once it grew dark, they called the police.
"She'd never done anything like that before," claimed John Young. "Few behavioral problems, always returned home on time. Immediately we knew something was wrong."
Following an hour long investigation, Young's destroyed body was found beneath a pile of debris collected from a fallen tree several feet away. Her clothing was ripped in various places, her face mauled with a series of deep scratches, and it appeared that she was stabbed repeatedly. Those living near the scene of the crime say they heard no gunshots, although a gun was found next to the body.
After that first paragraph, I was pulled in. We soon learn that all three boys were convicted and sent to various correctional institutions. Edward Masen is sent to Alcatraz. The reader soon learns that Edward is innocent, but we only learn hints of what happened that night and who was really there. Only small snippets of his childhood are discussed and we learn that he was a wild child with a heart. One who loved his family and feels remorse for disappointing them.
Isabella Swan moves to Forks with her Father when he is offered a Chief of Police position. She describes herself as borderline genius and socially defunct. Her inner musings are hilarious and her character is well developed. This is not your typical Bella. They move into the Masen’s former residence after they were run out of town, following their son’s conviction.
Braving the cold, I exited the car and lifted one of the bags, the wind twirling my dress around my legs and threatening my balance. Scowling, I righted myself and took hold of as many items as I could, determined to make the least amount of trips as possible. Charlie came up behind me, holding a stack of crudely labeled cardboard boxes, his perfected smile trying to conceal the grimace he so desperately wished he could show.
I should know. I was trying to do the same. The only difference was, he was almost succeeding. My attempts were only laughable.
"What do you think?" he asked, admiring the front of the house. "It could use some work, but it has a nice foundation. The structure is solid."
I looked back at the house. I didn't see a nice foundation or a solid structure. I saw what may have been a nice house during its glory days, but was now nothing more than a shed intended for horses. Even better, they should've just leveled the house and used it as a nice plot of new land. It had fallen so deeply into disrepair that I didn't see how we would ever patch it up.
"How long has this house been vacant?"
"Four months," Charlie answered, "but they weren't able to maintain the up-keep prior to that, either. The man was a banker. After the Stock Market crash, he didn't have two nickels to rub together. It's been said that once they left, the townspeople attempted to destroy it."
"Well, we gave it our best shot," I said, trying to move back toward the car, spooked. "We came, we saw, we conquered. Or something. Let's go home."
The story really begins when Edward writes a letter home proclaiming his innocence and requesting his family’s assistance in clearing his name. What he doesn’t realize is that his family does not live there anymore. Isabella receives his letter and responds to let him know that his family has moved on. They begin a correspondence and the story begins.
Bronzehairedgirl has such a unique storyline here. Her characters are different, and while she has taken creative license with Alcatraz, she has done an amazing job developing her characters. Isabella is sharp and strong and I enjoyed reading how her mind worked. The reader can feel the defeat in Edward’s inner voice. We want to scream and cry with him when he reads Isabella’s letter telling him his family no longer lives there.
Where the Sidewalk Ends is something different in a fandom with a lot of similar story lines. It is not your typical Edward meets Bella and they fall in love Fan Fiction. The reader is not even sure of a HEA, which in itself is a rarity in our fandom.
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