It was a snowy September morning, something that I thought would never happen. As I laid down sinking in my bed, I heard a knock on the door.
“Hey,” Dad said, “You don’t have to go to school today.”
I simply nodded my head and continued laying down embracing the warmth and comfort in the room. Wondering if this is all a dream, yet filled with happiness for not having to go to school. As so I turn on my cd player and start doing yesterday’s homework. The radio, writings, and questions all danced in my head as the hours passed. When I looked out the window, I saw sheets of snow snuggling the ground, and blades of grass crawling out. My curiosity playfully tempted me outside, however stopped by the dark, cold void outside. My tired legs dragged into bed, as the wind howled outside.
In my sleep I dreamt of making snowmen and having snowball fights, as if I am a kid again. The snow felt like cotton mixed with small bits of glass, however the texture didn’t bother me much as I was finally out of that prison. Old friends would tactically ambush the barking dogs on our block, and laugh as they’d whimper into their houses. Then as I woke up, I heard it again.
“You don’t have to go to school today.”
I was happy but I felt something was wrong, something I didn’t notice. However I just got up and started to go outside. The snow and grass were still hugging each other, and the road was completely smothered in white. The welcoming chill hugged my face as I journeyed onward to buy some hot chocolate. The dogs glared at me with hatred, yet showing some fear as I walked past their homes. What would normally be a busy street was crowded with snow. It almost felt too good to be true, for I walked down this street with fear that I would get hit by a car. My body would be bloodied and mangled, as the driver would only apologize to me and drive off.
“Someone help me…” I would pray. But no one would come, the only thing accompanying me would be the cold chill of death.
As I walked into the store, the cashiers appeared to be faceless and mute. Maybe It was the frostbite messing with me as I walked in, or maybe it was something else. My footprints echo as I look for the beverage aisle like I was walking on a drum. They were the only noises there, making me feel uneasy. I tried putting on some music to distract myself, but I could still hear them through the song. It felt like hours have passed since I entered the place, yet it’s only been two minutes. I began to sweat as I looked for hot chocolate.
I quickly ran to the nearest register, praying there’d be no line, yet all the lines were empty. I just paid and called dad for a ride. I got an earful about going out in the middle of a storm, but I was glad I was out of there. I dozed off as we drove home, and when I woke up, I heard those same eight words.
“You don’t have to go to school today.”
I just made some hot chocolate and watched TV. It was just coverage of a blizzard in town, the reporters talked and talked about business being closed for one more day. Maybe even two more, however I just drank my hot chocolate, undisturbed. As the snow smuggled the grass and road, I waited for tomorrow.
The wonder of being snowed in has waned its welcome, and I now start to wish for all the snow to melt. I never thought I'd miss the crowded halls and deafening noises of school. Then I started to look at my hot chocolate, and an idea came into my mind.
“How about I heat up the neighborhood.” I joked. That idea made me laugh, the thought of burning down my neighborhood in order to stop the snow, it was ridiculous. I started to focus on the TV, the people’s faces slowly melted away leaving horrid blank slates. My mind began to race and dance with the figures; as barking dogs and wind play. The stage was painted white as I recall, and the curtains were brown with a white square pattern. The audience all chanted and laughed as we continued our little play.
“No School, no school,” They’d chant, “We don’t need no school!”
As the climax of our dance of the delusional ended, It was time to set the cauldron ablaze. My faceless parner handed me a torch, and I said with a cry.
“Let us begin another night of uncertainty!!!”
Then, I heard those damn words. Those very same eight damn words.
“You don’t have to go to school today.”
And this time they weren't coming from dad. No they were coming from something tall and lanky, skin as white as snow,and icicles all around its body. I tried to scream, but it took its long, skinny, white finger over where its mouth would be and shushed me. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to say. All I could do was stand still.
And after those few moments of overwhelming terror, I ran. I ran as fast as I could from this, this monster. However, it just playfully jogged closer and closer towards me. My heart was screaming in my ears as that thing poked me with its finger and said.
“Tag, your it.” in the most nerve wracking voice it could muster.
The sharp, painful feeling along with the terror almost killed me as it playfully moved in front of me. It’s brown winter coat and warped legs made me stop for a moment, as I realized. This “creature” was toying with me, treating me as if I was a child. The cold, numb feeling of frostbite spread throughout my torso, yet I felt a little warm inside. It felt like my heart was burning.
I lit a match and tried to warm myself up, as the smell of hot chocolate filled the air. As the match burned to my fingertips I could feel it watching me. And when I dropped the burnt match on the floor, it’s laughter filled the neighborhood.
“Someone help me…” I shouted. No one came. I shouted again “Someone please help me!!” Still no one was there, so I cried “Please, don’t leave me alone with it!!!” No one, it was my worst nightmare realized. I was going to die alone, with no one helping me. It slowly rattled towards me, cackling like a maniac.
“ I’m sorry,” It mocked, “ But nobody cares enough to step outside to help you.”
I lit three matches in a vain attempt to save myself, and it continued to cackle. I then tossed them at it, it continued to cackle as it burned.
“Guess I’m it again,” It said ready to pounce at any second. I ran as fast as I could to the backyard. I grabbed some charcoal from the shed, gasoline, and as much stray wood as I could. While warding it off with what’s left of my matches. And piling everything around the backyard.
Praying that it would work I dropped the last lit match on the pile. Then I heard something new, something unexpected.
“Wake up, you’re going to be late for school.”
And I breathed a sigh of relief, as the nightmare winter was finally over.
