Another story about Magic...
Hayden twirled around. She was in the figure skating competition. Carefully gliding across the ice, she did a daring jump and twirled, her arms spread wide as well as her smile. She made it! She had been practicing a long time to get that one right. Hearing the crowd cheer her on made her glide and fly like an eagle. Her winter blue outfit made her as beautiful as a swan. She loved birds, just as she loved to be as graceful and as lovely as one. She circled around, ending with a perfect jump. The crowd whistled and cheered as she landed gracefully. She skated out of the arena. Her family met her there.
"Honey, you did great! You were beautiful!" her mother said.
"You made that jump! Hayden, you were the best out there." Hayden's father encouraged.
"Can I practice at home, too, dad?" Hayden pleaded.
"Well, I don't know, isn't it a little too dangerous for my little girl? I think she's a wee bit too small for that." He replied playfully.
"Thanks, dad," she said knowingly. "I'll race you to the car!" Hayden inquired, dashing out of the room. She slung her skates over her shoulder. Looking back at her father, she continued to run. Since she was not looking ahead of her, she didn't know that a door was straight in front of her. As she turned around, her head bashed into the door, glass spraying everywhere because her skates she was carrying hit the glass. The last thing she saw was her father rushing after her, and people darting to see what had happened, as a bright light appeared in front of her eyes.
Chapter 2
Hayden felt weird. She looked around her. All around her it was winter, but it was really fall. She knew this because she had a figure skating contest in the beginning of fall recently. She looked at her feet. On them were skates. She did a triple spin jump.
"Amazing!" she whispered to herself, gliding around the lake, looking at the bare, snow-covered branches of trees. There were mountains all around her, and she suddenly felt sick, knowing she had no idea where in the world she was. She skated off the ice and as her feet gently touched the snow, the skates turned into warm winter boots. She twirled as she walked looking around. She was amazed at how beautiful winter could be. It was her favorite season, but she had never seen it so beautiful or sparkling as much as now.
"Yes!" she shouted as loud as possible, twirling around and around and around.
It was, in fact, a glorious moment in 13-year old Hayden Bell's young life. She cawed like a crow, twittered like a robin, and made all kinds of bird sounds, announcing to them all that she was here, and that Hayden Bell was happier than she ever was in her life. The flying feathered creatures responded by flying up above her in circles, twittering and gliding gracefully above the beautiful snow-covered trees of Hayden's Winter Wonderland.
Chapter 3
Snowflakes fell, gently tickling Hayden's nose and ears and cheeks. Her face was all rosy, and her ears were numb. She plopped backward into the snow, making a snow angel. She spread her arms and legs wide apart and closed them again. After doing that two times, a face appeared above hers. It was a girl of about twelve.
"Try to remember what last happened to you," the girl said. "Before you came here."
Hayden was surprised and confused. "Huh?"
"Don't worry. It was hard for me to remember, too. Maybe this will help. When did you last have a serious injury?" the girl replied.
"When..." Hayden got a faraway look in her eyes. The last 4 hours of her life flashed before her eyes. "When I was at the figure skating competition. I ran into the door, and... and that's the last thing I remember. I could be... Am I dead?" she looked frightened.
The girl replied, "No, but if you go back, you could be dead."
Hayden shook the girl. "Back? Back where? I don't understand this! How could I be dead if I leave when I'm in living flesh at this very moment!" Tears poured out of her eyes.
"Let go of me!" the girl exclaimed. "And I'll tell you."
Hayden let go and sat on a snow-covered log. She buried her head in her hands and wiped the tears away.
"Let's start with our names," the girl said softly. "I am Wynter."
"Winter?"
"Wynter. With a Y."
"I'm Hayden Bell," Hayden said, suddenly feeling very shy, then cackled. "With a Y."
"Ha, Ha. That was so hilarious," Wynter said sarcastically.
"Now," Hayden said. "Back to the subject."
Wynter thought. "Well," she said slowly. "It's kind of hard to explain. After passing out from an injury, not everyone comes here. But if you do, there's only one way out, and that's why I'm not ever leaving."
"What is it?" Hayden whispered almost so no one could hear her.
"Well, let me show you, and then you'll see why." Wynter replied.
Chapter 4
Hayden entered a bright room. Wynter led her to a door. "You see that door?" she asked, jerking her head toward the door. "That door leads into a dark room. To get home, you must make it through the stormy breeze in there. You get three chances. If you don't make it you perish."
"I see why, now." Hayden said, shivering of fear. "But I have to get home. Should I take one of my chances?"
"You decide."
"It's too much of a paradise."
"Just as I thought." Wynter smiled.
"I've been here for at least five hours. Shouldn't it be getting dark?" Hayden said suddenly.
Wynter laughed. "Never say that again. Well, you can. But after what I'm about to tell you, I guarantee you won't."
"What?"
"There's no night. You can't get tired; this day never ends. I've been here for so long, I don't even remember where my real home is. To me, this is home. So trust me, I know what I'm talking about," Wynter said.
"Well, you don't have to act like a know-it-all." Hayden said playfully.
Wynter laughed. "You are the coolest, weirdest person I have ever met!
Chapter 5
"I still can't believe I'm not tired yet." Hayden said.
"Yet? What are you talking about? You'll never get tired!" Wynter giggled.
Hayden sighed. "But what if..."
"No! It's not fair! I've been waiting for a friend like you for the longest time! It's not fair! You're not leaving me! Never! I won't let you perish!" Wynter shouted, tears pouring out of her eyes. Softly she repeated over and over again, "I won't! I won't!"
"Well... You could come with me." Hayden said soothingly. "Because I have to get back to my family. They probably miss me!"
"You don't know how it feels. Besides, if I went through with you I would still end up in where ever I came from. It could be miles and miles, states and states away from you! And, time freezes when you come here, so they can't miss you!" Wynter shouted.
"But I can still miss them." Hayden said, running out onto the ice. She skated around until she felt better. Wynter watched from a distance. Then, Hayden decided to practice to show her family when she woke up, even though she might end up dead anyway. She did some serious professional skating. Wynter, paying close attention, was amazed at Hayden Bell's figure skating. It was the best she had ever seen.
Chapter 6
Hayden explored, trying to decide what to do. She could keep her friendship and stay here all day, never growing up, getting older, never have summer, spring, or fall, or, she could lose her friend and get home to her family, and possibly perish in the process, or maybe die or go blind from the glass when and if she got back home.
She made a trail in the snow, dragging her foot, looking down. When she lifted her head there was a mountain straight in front of her, so she turned around.
She groaned as she thought, and thought, and thought. She didn't even know where she was going. She twirled around and around as she walked in the snowy forest. She stopped abruptly once she realized she was no longer in the woods. She was by the lake.
Angrily, she shouted, "Why? Why? I hate figure skating, and I hate this lake!" She suddenly burst out crying and plopped herself down on the snow and whispered, "I don't hate it. I don't." She whimpered several times and then brought herself to her feet. She walked out to the lake and skated. She skated for hours, and just didn't stop.
Chapter 7
Hayden twittered like a robin as she was skating. She twittered until a robin, a beautiful one, in fact, flew over and perched itself on her shoulder. She imagined she was a robin. She twittered and glided. She imagined she was flying, gliding gracefully into the fresh winter air. Suddenly she felt that tingling feeling that a person gets when they know what is right. Even though Hayden loved this place, she knew she had to get home, no matter what risks she had to take. She smiled despite her feelings of sadness and fear.
She stopped skating. As she did the robin flew away. She walked through the snow. She thought of the great times she and Wynter had together. She thought of her Winter Wonderland. She thought of her family. She thought of her sight. Would she go blind? Only going back would give her the answer.
Chapter 8
As she neared the door to the dark room of the stormy breeze, she put her hand out to touch the knob, and then drew it back. Someone was waiting to go who was behind her. She said, "You can go."
This person was a 15-year old by the looks of him.
"I can do this. It's only my first try. I mustn't be afraid," the boy said to himself nervously. He entered the room.
After about 20 minutes or so, someone said to Hayden, "The room's available."
"He made it?" Hayden questioned to the man.
"Yes," he said. "Your turn, missy. Are you going to take a chance?"
Hayden surprised herself by saying, "Yes. Yes, I am!" She entered the room. She could barely see. She thought she might die. After she thought this, she was blown down and appeared back in front of the door.
The man said, "Go on. Try again."
So Hayden entered and tried again. Just as before, she was blown after her thoughts of fear and death. She thought about the boy who made it. He had said he wasn't going to be afraid. That was the trick! She shouldn't be afraid of anything about that place. Hayden whispered to herself, "I won't be afraid. I won't be afraid," and then said, "I can do this! I can!"
"Etta girl!" cheered the man.
She marched up to the door, grabbed the knob, and entered. She repeated, "I can do it," over and over again. After about 20 minutes, she woke up. She was lying on the floor, looking up at her dad.
"Oh, Hayden!" her father exclaimed. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it!"
Hayden whispered so no one could hear, "Me too, Dad. Me too. I might not have made it if it weren't for my winter."
But one person did hear. A girl came up to her and said, "Hello, Hayden."
Hayden's vision was blurred, but just by the voice, she knew exactly who it was.
"You did it, Wynter! You did it!" Hayden got up as best as she could.
Wynter laughed. "I asked everyone if they had seen you. A man told me that you made it. I don't think you'll be going to your winter anytime soon, Hayden."
A man came up to winter and said, "Wynter, she made it!" It was the man who told Wynter, and the man who cheered Hayden on!
"Yeah, I know, Dad!" Wynter said. "Hayden's winter was amazing," she whispered, "Thanks, Hayden."
Short story by Catherine Stout
Read 671 times
Written on 2006-05-20 at 21:16
Tags Fantasy
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Hayden's Winter
Chapter 1Hayden twirled around. She was in the figure skating competition. Carefully gliding across the ice, she did a daring jump and twirled, her arms spread wide as well as her smile. She made it! She had been practicing a long time to get that one right. Hearing the crowd cheer her on made her glide and fly like an eagle. Her winter blue outfit made her as beautiful as a swan. She loved birds, just as she loved to be as graceful and as lovely as one. She circled around, ending with a perfect jump. The crowd whistled and cheered as she landed gracefully. She skated out of the arena. Her family met her there.
"Honey, you did great! You were beautiful!" her mother said.
"You made that jump! Hayden, you were the best out there." Hayden's father encouraged.
"Can I practice at home, too, dad?" Hayden pleaded.
"Well, I don't know, isn't it a little too dangerous for my little girl? I think she's a wee bit too small for that." He replied playfully.
"Thanks, dad," she said knowingly. "I'll race you to the car!" Hayden inquired, dashing out of the room. She slung her skates over her shoulder. Looking back at her father, she continued to run. Since she was not looking ahead of her, she didn't know that a door was straight in front of her. As she turned around, her head bashed into the door, glass spraying everywhere because her skates she was carrying hit the glass. The last thing she saw was her father rushing after her, and people darting to see what had happened, as a bright light appeared in front of her eyes.
Chapter 2
Hayden felt weird. She looked around her. All around her it was winter, but it was really fall. She knew this because she had a figure skating contest in the beginning of fall recently. She looked at her feet. On them were skates. She did a triple spin jump.
"Amazing!" she whispered to herself, gliding around the lake, looking at the bare, snow-covered branches of trees. There were mountains all around her, and she suddenly felt sick, knowing she had no idea where in the world she was. She skated off the ice and as her feet gently touched the snow, the skates turned into warm winter boots. She twirled as she walked looking around. She was amazed at how beautiful winter could be. It was her favorite season, but she had never seen it so beautiful or sparkling as much as now.
"Yes!" she shouted as loud as possible, twirling around and around and around.
It was, in fact, a glorious moment in 13-year old Hayden Bell's young life. She cawed like a crow, twittered like a robin, and made all kinds of bird sounds, announcing to them all that she was here, and that Hayden Bell was happier than she ever was in her life. The flying feathered creatures responded by flying up above her in circles, twittering and gliding gracefully above the beautiful snow-covered trees of Hayden's Winter Wonderland.
Chapter 3
Snowflakes fell, gently tickling Hayden's nose and ears and cheeks. Her face was all rosy, and her ears were numb. She plopped backward into the snow, making a snow angel. She spread her arms and legs wide apart and closed them again. After doing that two times, a face appeared above hers. It was a girl of about twelve.
"Try to remember what last happened to you," the girl said. "Before you came here."
Hayden was surprised and confused. "Huh?"
"Don't worry. It was hard for me to remember, too. Maybe this will help. When did you last have a serious injury?" the girl replied.
"When..." Hayden got a faraway look in her eyes. The last 4 hours of her life flashed before her eyes. "When I was at the figure skating competition. I ran into the door, and... and that's the last thing I remember. I could be... Am I dead?" she looked frightened.
The girl replied, "No, but if you go back, you could be dead."
Hayden shook the girl. "Back? Back where? I don't understand this! How could I be dead if I leave when I'm in living flesh at this very moment!" Tears poured out of her eyes.
"Let go of me!" the girl exclaimed. "And I'll tell you."
Hayden let go and sat on a snow-covered log. She buried her head in her hands and wiped the tears away.
"Let's start with our names," the girl said softly. "I am Wynter."
"Winter?"
"Wynter. With a Y."
"I'm Hayden Bell," Hayden said, suddenly feeling very shy, then cackled. "With a Y."
"Ha, Ha. That was so hilarious," Wynter said sarcastically.
"Now," Hayden said. "Back to the subject."
Wynter thought. "Well," she said slowly. "It's kind of hard to explain. After passing out from an injury, not everyone comes here. But if you do, there's only one way out, and that's why I'm not ever leaving."
"What is it?" Hayden whispered almost so no one could hear her.
"Well, let me show you, and then you'll see why." Wynter replied.
Chapter 4
Hayden entered a bright room. Wynter led her to a door. "You see that door?" she asked, jerking her head toward the door. "That door leads into a dark room. To get home, you must make it through the stormy breeze in there. You get three chances. If you don't make it you perish."
"I see why, now." Hayden said, shivering of fear. "But I have to get home. Should I take one of my chances?"
"You decide."
"It's too much of a paradise."
"Just as I thought." Wynter smiled.
"I've been here for at least five hours. Shouldn't it be getting dark?" Hayden said suddenly.
Wynter laughed. "Never say that again. Well, you can. But after what I'm about to tell you, I guarantee you won't."
"What?"
"There's no night. You can't get tired; this day never ends. I've been here for so long, I don't even remember where my real home is. To me, this is home. So trust me, I know what I'm talking about," Wynter said.
"Well, you don't have to act like a know-it-all." Hayden said playfully.
Wynter laughed. "You are the coolest, weirdest person I have ever met!
Chapter 5
"I still can't believe I'm not tired yet." Hayden said.
"Yet? What are you talking about? You'll never get tired!" Wynter giggled.
Hayden sighed. "But what if..."
"No! It's not fair! I've been waiting for a friend like you for the longest time! It's not fair! You're not leaving me! Never! I won't let you perish!" Wynter shouted, tears pouring out of her eyes. Softly she repeated over and over again, "I won't! I won't!"
"Well... You could come with me." Hayden said soothingly. "Because I have to get back to my family. They probably miss me!"
"You don't know how it feels. Besides, if I went through with you I would still end up in where ever I came from. It could be miles and miles, states and states away from you! And, time freezes when you come here, so they can't miss you!" Wynter shouted.
"But I can still miss them." Hayden said, running out onto the ice. She skated around until she felt better. Wynter watched from a distance. Then, Hayden decided to practice to show her family when she woke up, even though she might end up dead anyway. She did some serious professional skating. Wynter, paying close attention, was amazed at Hayden Bell's figure skating. It was the best she had ever seen.
Chapter 6
Hayden explored, trying to decide what to do. She could keep her friendship and stay here all day, never growing up, getting older, never have summer, spring, or fall, or, she could lose her friend and get home to her family, and possibly perish in the process, or maybe die or go blind from the glass when and if she got back home.
She made a trail in the snow, dragging her foot, looking down. When she lifted her head there was a mountain straight in front of her, so she turned around.
She groaned as she thought, and thought, and thought. She didn't even know where she was going. She twirled around and around as she walked in the snowy forest. She stopped abruptly once she realized she was no longer in the woods. She was by the lake.
Angrily, she shouted, "Why? Why? I hate figure skating, and I hate this lake!" She suddenly burst out crying and plopped herself down on the snow and whispered, "I don't hate it. I don't." She whimpered several times and then brought herself to her feet. She walked out to the lake and skated. She skated for hours, and just didn't stop.
Chapter 7
Hayden twittered like a robin as she was skating. She twittered until a robin, a beautiful one, in fact, flew over and perched itself on her shoulder. She imagined she was a robin. She twittered and glided. She imagined she was flying, gliding gracefully into the fresh winter air. Suddenly she felt that tingling feeling that a person gets when they know what is right. Even though Hayden loved this place, she knew she had to get home, no matter what risks she had to take. She smiled despite her feelings of sadness and fear.
She stopped skating. As she did the robin flew away. She walked through the snow. She thought of the great times she and Wynter had together. She thought of her Winter Wonderland. She thought of her family. She thought of her sight. Would she go blind? Only going back would give her the answer.
Chapter 8
As she neared the door to the dark room of the stormy breeze, she put her hand out to touch the knob, and then drew it back. Someone was waiting to go who was behind her. She said, "You can go."
This person was a 15-year old by the looks of him.
"I can do this. It's only my first try. I mustn't be afraid," the boy said to himself nervously. He entered the room.
After about 20 minutes or so, someone said to Hayden, "The room's available."
"He made it?" Hayden questioned to the man.
"Yes," he said. "Your turn, missy. Are you going to take a chance?"
Hayden surprised herself by saying, "Yes. Yes, I am!" She entered the room. She could barely see. She thought she might die. After she thought this, she was blown down and appeared back in front of the door.
The man said, "Go on. Try again."
So Hayden entered and tried again. Just as before, she was blown after her thoughts of fear and death. She thought about the boy who made it. He had said he wasn't going to be afraid. That was the trick! She shouldn't be afraid of anything about that place. Hayden whispered to herself, "I won't be afraid. I won't be afraid," and then said, "I can do this! I can!"
"Etta girl!" cheered the man.
She marched up to the door, grabbed the knob, and entered. She repeated, "I can do it," over and over again. After about 20 minutes, she woke up. She was lying on the floor, looking up at her dad.
"Oh, Hayden!" her father exclaimed. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it!"
Hayden whispered so no one could hear, "Me too, Dad. Me too. I might not have made it if it weren't for my winter."
But one person did hear. A girl came up to her and said, "Hello, Hayden."
Hayden's vision was blurred, but just by the voice, she knew exactly who it was.
"You did it, Wynter! You did it!" Hayden got up as best as she could.
Wynter laughed. "I asked everyone if they had seen you. A man told me that you made it. I don't think you'll be going to your winter anytime soon, Hayden."
A man came up to winter and said, "Wynter, she made it!" It was the man who told Wynter, and the man who cheered Hayden on!
"Yeah, I know, Dad!" Wynter said. "Hayden's winter was amazing," she whispered, "Thanks, Hayden."
Short story by Catherine Stout
Read 671 times
Written on 2006-05-20 at 21:16
Tags Fantasy
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
