My Little Mouse - Izzy Konasine

The Beggar Challenge

It was a very cool evening- rather gorgeous too. The musty grey autumn air was sprinkled with small floating orange leaves and silver and white snowflakes.

The snowflakes danced like ballerinas across the eve sky, then landing on the ground and vanishing into the thin layer of snow, gradually growing the quantity of it already on the ground and creating cold blankets for the ground.

A cool breeze wandered around the town like a lost soul, brushing its hands against buildings and creating frosty, fresh air. The fresh smell of damp tree bark lingered with the cold, dawn air. The sun was peaking over the hills like a pesky neighbor spying over the fence, but the sun created little to no light on the ground below.

It had rained this morning, but the cold sensation throughout the autumn day still remained. It was very muggy, and no one was out an about this evening. No one wanted to freeze their tits off! No way!

Instead, everyone was at home, snuggling comfortably in the inviting warmth of blankets, hot chocolates, teddies, fireplaces and the whole toot. Or, well, everyone should be at home and doing so and such a cold time.

But there was just one person.

Just one stray soul who was out and about in the ice streets of the neighborhood. The only soul who seemed pretty much forbidden to go home.

Yes, forbidden. And this is not an over exaggeration.

This particular soul wandering the streets at this hour was none other than Vlyad. He and his brother Zane were playing truth or dare with each other. Until Zane took it a bit too far and started getting harsh with his little brother.

Zane seemed especially cruel towards Vlyad lately, because it was just the other day that Vlyad accidentally broke one of Zane's belongings; a little toy soldier.

But Jesus Christ, dude, Vlyad really can't believe that Zane is almost an adult and still cares for that thing. Vlyad threw out all his toys as soon as he hit the age of sixteen, and now he's eighteen.

Despite Vlyad's small height, he is eighteen. Not many people would believe him unless he'd whip out his ID to show them. Vlyad is under five feet, but he's okay with that.

But whatever, he still couldn't believe that his older brother- who is practically an adult- is having a silent tantrum over a piece of plastic. People never really grow up, do they?

Alas, Zane still had his revenge by daring Vlyad to stay out of the home for a whole night. He was not allowed to pack any things to maintain himself; no food or water or anything. Zane had called it "The Beggar Challenge".

In addition, Zane even put in the effort to contact all the neighbors and tell them not to let Vlyad in. Zane's excuse was along the lines of him saying, "Oh, he's doing the Beggar Challenge. He's going to pretend to be a tramp, and don't let him in if he chickens out, thank you."

When Vlyad protested, Zane just shoved him and told him to "man up". Pfft, says him. He was the one who fretted over a damn toy.

And that is why Vlyad is straying across the cold streets. His fluffy brown hair and his clothes riddled with small particles of snowflakes. He cuddled himself and looked around desperately.

His breathing became rather stiff as the cold numbed his little frame. His throat became rather raw from the overwhelmingly cold air, and he started to gulp repeatedly to try warm up, it wasn't very effective, but it worked slightly.

Vlyad surveyed the desolate neighborhood. Each of the homes had a warm light escaping through their windows. Chimneys were bellowing with black smoke that soared high into the sky like a huge swarm of black dragons.

And Vlyad could only wish with all his heart to just be huddled up in front of a warm fire, tucked away from the cold night horrors. He could only wish to feel the warm taste of hot chocolate running down his throat and warming him up from inside out. He longed to be curled up on the couch, on the brink of falling asleep. He just kept wishing.

"If I really was a beggar, I'd probably only last two minutes," Vlyad murmured to himself.

Vlyad let out a sad sigh and a white puff of steam spewed out his mouth in the process. He looked up, watching the steam slowly rise and vanish, just like the smoke from the chimneys of the snuggly houses.

He looked at all the houses again, oh so longingly. His heart even squeezed up tightly like a crumpled piece of paper as he yearned to be in his home.

His eyes sparked with a little tinge of hope. Surely, someone would let him in their home. He could just tell them that it was a joke, but then again, probably no one would believe him. But that doesn't mean that it isn't worth a shot, you must always try first. Zane couldn't have phoned everybody, could he have?

Vlyad stumbled down the icey streets, and set off in search for someone who would actually be volunteering and kind enough to let him in. He decided that he should knock on every single door, whether or not they even answer him.

This was going to be a very long night for Vlyad.