The Gift

Daydream

 All I see are those big eyes... pupils as black as night, as calm as a midnight sea, haunting my thoughts forever. The eyes of the fox. I can't keep my mind off them. With a light blue icy iris, the familiar eyes remind me of frozen lake, bathed with millions of stars; eyes that could just freeze you to the spot with a flow of emotions. The eyes despite their frosty gaze, give me warmth and wonder. These eyes are the windows to the soul. Out of nowhere, a faint faraway voice that I can half hear calls to me.

"Eleanora?" The voice calls. Is it Mother? I think to myself. No, Mother has a voice like leaves brushing softly in the breeze. This voice is more like sugar.

"Eleanora!" Mrs. Marlowe says it louder this time, and it snaps me out of my thoughts. Oh no! Was I daydreaming again? Why can't I control it? A fizz of anger sparks inside of me.

"Yes, Mrs. Marlowe," I reply timidly. My new english teacher seems okay, but something about her makes me feel uncomfortable.

"Can you answer the question I asked please?" Mrs. Marlowe is calm, but inside something tells me she's annoyed. Her voice is forced to be as sweet as possible. Like oozing honey, sweet but at the same time sticky with unpleasantness. Which question did she ask?  I hesitate. Wasn't she talking about what personification is, and how to use it in poetry? Bah, way too easy. I answer confidently.

"Personification is an abstract way of thinking of something in human form. Applying it to poetry is useful in many ways. It mostly helps express something in the poem in an abstract, creative way." Sometimes english can be annoying. I know all this stuff already! But then, something surprising happens. I hear stifled snickers, and then come the whispers. Everyone around me is chittering like tidings of magpies. I glance around. Have I done something wrong? Then I notice Mrs. Marlowe. Her arms are crossed and she does not look very happy. Everybody's giggling now... well except for Mrs. Marlowe. Not a good sign.

"Haven't you been listening?" She demands, her voice on edge. I gulp. Uh-oh! "Eleanora, on your first day already, you're already daydreaming too much. I really hope it won't happen throughout the year," she sighs, eyeing me.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Marlowe, I really can't help it." I mutter, and suddenly my feet are interesting.

"It's okay," she's back to herself again, that sweetness trickling out of every word. She comes over to me and bends down to face me. Her eyes are crispy brown like an autumn leaf. She brushes her thick chestnut hair out of her face. Our eyes lock. This time, when she speaks, her voice is her own voice. Not that honeyed voice. Her real voice. It sounds like water gently lapping on rocks in a river.

"Just try,"

As she walks away, her warm breath is still tingling on my cheeks.

"Umm... Mrs. Marlowe?" I ask.

"Yes?" She turns around.

"Why can't we go into the forest?" Out of the corner of eye, I see kids exchanging glances. So everybody know's something I don't. I look around. Everybody has that uncontrollable sentiment of fear. Everybody is frightened. I wonder why...

"Because it's too dangerous," she replies, smiling in a fake manner.

"But... what's the real reason?" I ask pleadingly.

"I already told you the real reason," she says, a little annoyed.

"No... please, Mrs. Marlowe. Everyone knows something I don't. I have the right to know too,"

She looks really annoyed now. Is she scared... too? Hesitating, she takes a deep breath. "The forest is full of evil. Full of dangerous creatures. Understood? You'll know soon enough what's lurks beneath the shadows."

I gulp. "Yes, Mrs. Marlowe," I say. I need more information, but Mrs. Marlowe doesn't look like she wants another question from me.

Whatever's out there, I'm ready for you.

I'll come.

Just wait.