Dandelion

Miniscule specks of water hung densely in the evening air. It was sticky, like the tiny drops were clinging to my hair, my skin, making everything heavy and damp.

The soft crinkle of wet leaves rustled under my old, dirty sneakers. The underbrush had been worn away from this path long ago; it led to the highway, the one with that nifty old pizza place and the thrift store. But two blocks down and to the right was the post office. I tightly clenched my tiny cardboard box to my chest.

"She has to like her present this year.. She has to."

I softly grumbled to myself as a mosquito buzzed near my face. I swatted at it with one hand, making sure to keep a firm grip on my little box. But, as luck would have it, before my other hand made its way back to protecting the gift held at my heart, a root shot out of the ground and grabbed at my foot, catching the toe of my faded shoe and sending my flying, face first, into a nearby bush.

"Stupid root .... Popped out of freaking nowhere.. I know that thing was not there before....stinky stupid root.." I rambled aimlessly in annoyance for a moment, brushing myself off with wet and muddy hands. It was nearly a minute before I realized..

"Mom's present!"

I searched the leaf-covered ground, combing through the damp mess, trying to find it. I was crawling on the forest floor, scanning all around, when I looked up...and I saw a small raccoon pick up the box in his tiny hands. He bit at it, then scurried off, the box still sticking out of his mouth.

I scrambled to my feet, chasing after the animal, yelling curses and threats at it.

"I can't lose her present, not now; not with us like we are right now.. I have to get it back.." I thought frantically while trying and failing to keep up with the raccoon.

The plants had overgrown in this part of the trees, and they caught at my pants, slowing me down; within minutes, the creature was gone. He'd just disappeared. I listened, hoping for a rustle, any movement at all. I heard something moving up in a nearby tree. I gingerly tip-toed towards it, only to watch a blue jay take flight from one of the trees low branches.

I sighed deeply and let a solitary tear roll down my dirty cheek. I helplessly watched the bird fly through the branches. But as it took off upwards, into the sky, I noticed a small clearing.

It was bright, the lush emerald grass littered with wildflowers. I walked cautiously into the glow of the setting sun; everything had a tint of pink to it. It was beautiful. I bent down and picked up one of the dandelions. I felt so silly, even considering it.

"How could a wish on a weed come true?" I shrugged slightly, thinking, "Well, I suppose it couldn't possibly make this day worse.." I took a deep breath and blew the fluff-covered seeds into the dying light. 'I wish that I had my mom's gift back ...'

I looked around, expecting something to happen. Having that final feeling of defeat, I slunk back to the edge of the clearing and slid down a tree trunk. I lightly hit the back of my head against the tree, repeating 'why, why, why'.

A bit of movement caught my eye. I turned and looked to my left, seeing the raccoon, box still in his mouth. I stared in awe as he slowly made his way closer, stopping about ten feet away from me. He set the box down in the grass and leaves, then scurried away as quickly as his little feet would carry him.

Not believing that had just happened, I hurriedly crawled towards the box. I picked it up, turned it over a few times in my hand, then sat on my knees, holding the box once again, close to my chest.

I looked around me, then softly whispered,

"Thank you, Dandelion."

My Worst Nightmare

Red. The air smelled like red.

I sat straight up in bed, jolted awake by a crash that seemed to shake the earth itself. Screams followed, loud sobbing and animals yelping could be heard in the distance. A hellish heat engulfed my body, threatening to catch my hair, my clothes, and eat away at them with bright, consuming flames.

Allowing myself to look around and take in what surrounded me, I saw a picture taken straight from a horror film. My bed and the wall behind it were completely intact; across from me, where a wall should be, where my familiar pictures and pointless knick-knacks once sat upon a beautiful, dark cherry-wood dresser, there was empty space. All of it, gone. My door, the hallway, leading to the stairs, and to... My sister!

"Where is she!?"

Frantic, I lept from my bed, not caring that the only items of clothing I had on were an old hoodie and too-short shorts. My tousled auburn curls whipped across my face in a sudden burst of hot air as one of my windows shattered, letting in more heat and dancing embers; they looked frozen in time, darting through the air, then hanging, suspended, in my vision. I glanced to my right, toward the window, then decided it wasn't important at the moment.. I'd just leave it for later.

Focus. Jenny; I have to find her. I searched the void where the hallway used to be, then scanned across to where her room balanced precariously on only two supporting walls. The floor swayed slightly, tilting toward the empty space between us. Then I found her.

We locked eyes, and I screamed her name. She whimpered slightly, it was barely audible over the roar of the surrounding destruction. It was like she knew what was coming.

I yelled to her, "Don't move! I'm coming to get you!" I searched, hopelessly, for a way across. "Just, don't move, don't move, don't.....move..."

I trailed off when I saw. The floor split, the cieling began to cave; the look on Jenny's face shattered my heart... She squeezed her little eyes shut, and I watched her fall.

My scream echoed throughout the ruins of my once elegant house. I sank to my knees, wrapping my arms around myself, and cried.