title: The Race Towards the Light: Hardscrabble
author: Ember Nelson
description: Ember Nelson has a graduate degree in Family Development Counseling from Cornell University with NYS FDC Credentials. She has worked in the mental health field for ten years and has helped many people with the rehabilitation of medical and mental health issues.Ms Nelson resides in Buffalo, New York with Randy Greenspan.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  Perilous Play  
    
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  * * *
  
  # Perilous Play
  
  
  ### Louisa May Alcott
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  If someone does not propose a new and interesting amusement, I shall die of
  ennui!" said pretty Belle Daventry, in a tone of despair. "I have read all my
  books, used up all my Berlin wools, and it's too warm to go to town for more.
  No one can go sailing yet, as the tide is out; we are all nearly tired to
  death of cards, croquet, and gossip, so what shall we do to while away this
  endless afternoon? Dr. Meredith, I command you to invent and propose a new
  game in five minutes."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "To hear is to obey," replied the young man, who lay in the grass at her feet,
  as he submissively slapped his forehead, and fell a-thinking with all his
  might.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Holding up her finger to preserve silence, Belle pulled out her wa