Frost

An Unwanted Visitor

I walked inside and brushed off the snow around my shoulders. It was the second week of November and it was already snowing. I swore that we actually lived in Russia, since in Russia, like Frysta, it was almost like winter for about nine months out of the year. However, our winters tend to start early and by late March, everything was getting warm. But, even during winter and spring, there would be periods of warm and suddenly it would be absolutely freezing. Frysta was strange, but it was home. 

"Grand child! Where have you been? I need help in the kitchen!" Grandma's voice rang out.

"I was taking care of the garden! There was a lot to do today." I explained as I put my things away and went to the kitchen to help prepare supper. Grandma had her hair pulled up in a bun and was wearing an apron. She was hovering over the stove cutting vegetables and dumping them into the pot. Judging from the smell, I assumed we would have chicken pot pie for supper.

"Anya, cut up the beef. We are having sheperd's pie, tonight." She commanded.

Well I was wrong about the pot pie, but I washed my hand and got to work.

"How was your day?" I asked her.

"It was good. People were coming into the shop and asking for advice as usual." She said.

"That's good."

"I also saw the new pastor today." 

I paused. 

"Really? What was he like?" 

"He came upon my shop and the door opened, and a cold chill came into the shop. His eyes were blue and cold as his soul, his hair dark as night. He was tall and bellowing, and he had harsh features and a cruel, strong body. I had a feeling that he was a harsh, strict and cold man. He asked about my shop and what I sold, and things like that. I answered as I usually did, but I kept a watchful eye on him. He then started asking about my beliefs and I didn't answer him, telling him it wasn't his God damn business and I'll be damned if he tried to get in."

"Grandma! That was harsh!"

"Anya, you know that I don't preach my beliefs or opinions in public. I may be asked if it is relevant, but not to strangers. I hardly know the man! And I had a feeling, call it sixth sense, that he was going to use my beliefs against me."

"I guess he has something now."

"Heh. Not much I tell ya. People in this town know how I am. They'll laugh." 

"I'll agree with you on that."

"So Anya, how was your day? Did anything strange happen?"

Grandma always asked me that, but today I felt my stomach drop. I took and deep breath and told my tale. Grandma was silent, interrupting me to give instruction. After I was done, the pie was in the oven and Grandma motioned me over to the table, and we sat down. She got up and poured two glasses of tea. I wondered what was up. She rarely did this, and when she did, it was very serious.

"Anya, listen to me. You are no longer a child. You are a young woman. Listen to everything and take heed to what I am about to tell you. You may dismiss this as rubbish now, but later it will come in handy." She started. I nodded.

"Where do I begin?" She muttered. 

"Anya, these things that have been happening to you, aren't all of a sudden, or randomly occurring. They have happened to you for years, ever since you were a child. When you were younger, you didn't pay much attention to it, but now you are. Feeling cold, the frost patterns and such have always happened to you, Frost Child." Grandma said, calling me her nickname for me.