The Zipper: A Short Story

The Zipper

The soil — its heat engulfing me with the serene comfort of familiarity. The sediments of rock exfoliating my skin while the earthworms snuggle with the erect hair follicles of my arm. The grass, like a wig attached securely to the head that is the block of soil I comfortably lay below, stands stiffly against the intrusion of wind and violent attacks of snow.

Got to love Altagahigh! The snowiest place on earth all year 'round--my home.

As I perked my neck upwards, I caught my parents eyeing me with conspicuous confusion. Underneath the nearby tree, they were snuggled up together and holding the torn-up coat we found buried in the snow tightly around them. Against the wind, I could hear a faint "Heavens! Why must she always do that."

Why mustn't I? The feeling was splendor; much equivalent to snuggling! I'd much rather be doing this than snuggling my bro-

"OW!" The thrown rock landed beside my head. Little rascal of a brother! To think that being a part of a homeless family would fixate the idea that loving each other is a necessity of survival is...absolutely true; however, my brother truly is a different story. I sunk my head deeper within the dirt to avoid any more attacks by my little brother, but more so to prevent my ears from freezing and falling off. Ah yes...the splendid life of homelessness. Nonetheless, I've learned to mask in the beauty of being connected with the earth. Mother Nature has created a beautiful home here; hand-constructed houses are merely an attempt to divide us all! Let us breathe in the perfume that is the flowers, the soil that is our bed, the rain that is our shower, the leaves that is our blanket, and the ocean that is our faithful road. 

Suddenly, the ever-growing army of flying snowflakes morphed into static, and then complete darkness.

I woke up startled by the piercing coldness that managed to sneak its way through the layers of soil I laid strategically above me. Suddenly, a long yellow strand flapping through the wind caught my eye, for it stood out against the white surroundings. Coincidentally, it fell right beside my head. Taking a closer look, I noticed the peculiar object to be that of a lone zipper.

Revealing my hands to the cold, I reached towards it only to realize that it was stuck to the ground. Curious by this peculiarity, I zipped the...ground...open. The splash of heavy water was the last thing I heard before being sucked into the hole I opened; a hole I had somehow zipped open.

My butt landed on what felt like warm snow. It certainly was not snow, however, for the warmth of it spoke otherwise. It most certainly was not soil, for the color of this powder was much lighter. Without warning, a wave of water splashed towards me, wetting my worn-down sandals in the process. As I lifted my head to observe my surroundings, I let out an audible gasp. In front of me was a stretch of water painted with the colors of the sky: blue, pink, orange, yellow, and purple. This place truly is a whole new dimension! There are trees with huge nuts attached to them, species will peculiar shells, and cliffs of ungodly heights. The wind no longer felt like a stabbing craze of cold air, but a serene engulfment of warmth. Somehow, I stand beneath a waterfall. The water gliding along all parts of my aching body like a massage. The sound of water hitting water and birds chirping was such a pleasant symphony of calmness. Like a conductor completely silencing the orchestra that was this heavenly place, the waterfall mysteriously stopped flowing and I was left with the sound of nothingness; something I knew all too familiar. What happened-

"OW!" I yelled. As my eyes snapped open, I caught my little brother running away. As I took a deep breath to shout wonderful expletives, I inhaled the scent of foul, pungent, and puke-provoking...pee. Beside my head was a splotch of yellow snow. "YOU LITTLE DISGUSTING RASCAL!" The sound of faint footsteps and high-pitched laughter was enough to anger me, but the detailed memory of that heavenly dream snuck its way back into my memory.

Altagahigh will always be my home, but I think I found another. Now, if I could only find that zipper!