The Newest Normal

Chapter Two: Morgan

My mother took Conner to tutoring when the light downstairs catches me off guard. It's so bright from outside that I have to squint my eyes to see clearly. The light is brighter than the sun at its full, opening up its rays of sunshine like a warm greeting, looming over the whole house. I close the windows, slam the doors closed, shut the shutters, but the light has only settled to a bright dim. Too much light, I moan as I open the backyard door.

It has to be coming from somewhere outside, my mind tells me. I step outside hoping to find the source of light. Strangely enough, the sky is not affected by the light, nor are the other neighbor's houses. In fact, only my backyard is full of the light. As well, the light is brightest at the center of the backyard, radiating off of a treasure box.

Why must today be the day for so many surprises? I wonder to myself. I strongly dislike them.

The treasure box is heavy but isn't a struggle for me. I lift it onto my left shoulder to trudge to the basement. Curiosity and anxiety makes me want to open the treasure box. What if there is something important in it for mother? What if it contains lost family treasures? What if the things inside the box continues to make my life consistently challenging even after I hide it?

Yes, I convince myself, opening it is best.

The strangest thing about it all is that the box didn't require any lock, code or struggle to open. I simply unlatch the small chain and lift the lid up. It's like the box is practically begging to be opened. Immediately, after I open the box, a blinding, radiant beam of light booms out, soaring into the sky like a waterfall. It catches me off guard for a second, but it vanishes as quickly as it appeared.

I peek into the box. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The light surrounding the treasure box has disappeared too. Could I have imagined it all?

Yes, I confirm to myself as I drag the box down to the basement, that was it- a trick of the mind.

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The next day, I open my eyes to my alarm clock ringing and the bright sunlight looming in. Last night suddenly comes back to me- that box, with the bright lights.

"Stop thinking about it," I curse myself as I dress. Today, I wear my best purple sweater, which brings out the colours in my eyes. I head downstairs to leave.

The morning sun bothers me, and I can't help but despise it on my walk to school. Normally, I would love the feeling of the sunlight on me, making me warm and excited all over. But not today.

"Hummm...do, re, mi, fa, sol!" sang someone from behind me.

I jerk and spin around. There was no-one behind me. "Who is that?" Silence.

I keep on walking. It sings again. "La, ti, doooo. Sweetie, you rudely interrupted my singing session."

I look backwards, forwards and then sideways, and fall back in alarm. The streetlight, which had once been quite normal, with a light on a pole, now had visible vibration signals coming off it, and what looked like an opened mouth. Much less the matter, the streetlight talked.

"Darling, I do sing divine, don't I?" It asks me.

I stumble back, "Streetlights can't sing."

The street light turns red and makes a very unpleasant noise with its mouth. "You offend me. Of course I can! And beautifully, might I add. You know who can't sing? I'll tell you. Those apples over there." It points to a tree with some apples on it. "So shy, those things, and rude too. I've begged them to talk, sing, speak, whatever, a million times already."