Snowflake

A Visit And A Gift

Carla and her best friend Tabbi were walking home from school. Tabbi had been worrying over today's test, whereas Carla had been awfully laid back about it. "Can you at least help me study for our exams next week? Please?" Tabbi begged. In Tabbi's disappointment, Carla replied "Sorry, I'm going to my Oma's house this weekend. I haven't seen her in a year!". Frustrated, Tabbi stared at the ground and kicked some rocks. "Why now of all times do you have to go?" Tabbi whined, as if trying to get her friend out of it. "Sorry Tabs, but my parents don't trust me to stay home alone" Carla sighed while rolling her eyes "besides, I love the mountains". Carla's parents were taking a vacation to the Icelandic hot springs, Carla declined, fully knowing that she would be the only 14 year old there. "Why couldn't you just stay with me for the week?" Tabbi said with big eyes. "You know our mom's dont get along" Carla argued, knowing it was useless trying to reason with her "oh, this is my stop. I'll see you next Monday".

Tabbi sadly hugged Carla goodbye and walked on. Carla however was ecstatic with excitement. Carla loved the smell of the mountains, the glorious view, the delicous cookies her grandmother made. Right before she entered her house, her grandmother burst open the front door. She was wearing a deep purple toque, grape sweatpants and a knit petunia purple sweater. "Carly, Darling!" Her grandmother said with a thick German accent. She smiled brightly as she gave Carla an enormous hug. Carla returned the gesture, kissing her grandmother on the cheek. "Oma! I missed you so much!" Carla exclaimed, bursting with happiness. "I missed you too my little schneeflocke" her grandmother said soothingly, "let's get going Carly".

Carla was just managing to not explode with excitement. She hasn't been to the mountains since she was a little kid and she wasn't planning to waste the week. After climbing into her grandmother's deep royal purple car, she was already oozing with ecstasy. She remembered the mountain trail, the pesky goats always going through their trash, and the nightly stories her grandmother had made up. She missed everything about living in the mountains, and now she's going to resubmerge herself in the memories she made there as a child.

The trip was a few hours long, considering driving up the mountains is quite difficult. Carla didn't know how long she had been asleep, but it was long enough to make a giant red mark on her face from sleeping against the window. "We're here!" Her grandmother sing-songed. Carla instantly awoke when she saw the small lavender house. She ran inside, reminiscing in memories. "Wait up dearie, I can't fly like I used too" her grandmother called after her. After the both were inside, they sat down as Carla was already scarfing down her grandmother's honey cookies. "My little schneeflocke, I have a gift I've been meaning to give you" her grandmother said softly, standing up. She walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a small container. It was covered in a dark military blue velvet and looked like it held a sparkling piece of jewellery. 'Why was it in the fridge?' Carla thought with a hint of suspicion. Carla didn't question it further, thinking this is what people did with jewellery in the old days of Germany. Carla watched her grandmother sit back down in the poorly painted dining chairs that were strayed around the table. "My dear schneeflocke, when I was young, I had a destiny, a job that absolutely had to be fulfilled" her grandmother spoke softly, as if remembering something painful "I never fulfilled it, considering how young and naive I was, so I am passing this down to you, my strong schneeflocke, in hopes you will be our next savior". Carla was overwhelmed with confusion and surprise. What was her grandmother trying to tell her? A million thoughts drive through Carla's head. What does the necklace signify? Why did her grandmother speak as though she were becoming a knight? What did she mean by 'savior'? Nonetheless, Carla took the small box and opened it. What Carla saw was an artistry of intricate detail. What was placed inside was a snowflake necklace, seemingly made of ice, filled with an unexplainable energy. Carla couldn't help but adorn the masterpeice before her. As she basked in the necklaces beauty, she placed it around her neck. "I- oh my gosh, my-" Carla sputtered. She was speechless, nothing could match what just happened. "Thank you Oma, I will cherish this forever" Carla finally managed to spit out. Her grandmother smile sweetly "Now that that has been taken care of, can you go out and feed Penny please?". Carla nodded, eager to see her grandmother's pet goat once again.

Eager, she threw on her coat and raced out the door just to find it snowing out.
Carla thought this day couldn't get any better. She twirled around as snowflakes danced around her. Eventually, she fell into a snowbank with a plop, snow scurrying everywhere upon impact. She felt as though something was off. The necklace had just become increasingly below average. She thought it was just the snow that had fallen onto her chest, so she thought nothing of it.

Suddenly, snowflakes started swirling around her. She was caught in the middle of a freezing tornado. Carla was washed over with confusion, panic and surprise. A moment later when the snow fogged away and rested, she found herself in the middle of a small snowy town of igloo's.