The snow stopped in the early morning. Maybe it was her imagining the young Mrs. Woods or the warmth of a foreign bed that kept her up. It was comfortable but she couldn't sleep. In the early morning, she pulled aside the curtains and peeked outside. The untouched snow was like a white carpet. The big pine trees with their dark trunks stood as nails in feet deep snow.
She heard a hustle-bustle in the room next to her and slowly the disturbance came closer as in moments it gave a knock at her room's door. Little Benji was all dressed up for outside.
"Come on get ready! The neighborhood boys are gathering in the park for a fight," he said, like a military commander commanding his subordinate.
"Fight?'' Anne raised a brow as she opened her door a little wider for Benji to come in.
"Don't you dare tell me that we are not going to be the first people to destroy the beautiful snow outside?"
"We?" Anne again looked at him.
Benji stood up on a chair near Anne facing her on 'equal' grounds.
"You ask too much question woman." He stared her dead in the eye.
"Look here, Benji, I am not interested in your fights." Anne looked away.
"It's not about interest, Anne!" He said in frustration as if this was the most understandable request.
He put his little fingers against his temples doing a circular motion with them and spoke again.
"You don't have to fight but I beg you to come with me please."
"But why?" Anne repressed a smile that might have appeared because of the cuteness of this little devil.
"Because.... they won't let me play if I have no team." he was embarrassed.
"Who?"'
"My friends are all in pairs and I am the odd one out... you have to come with me, Anne."
"Alright, I'll go" Anne shrugged.
She dressed up all cozy and went out.
"Now... don't make no noise... don't want to wake gran up."
Benji whispered as he slowly turned the doorknob.
"Right," Anne whispered.
Once outside they were greeted by the chilled air which sent shivers through their bodies. There was no one in the street. The untouched snow was beautiful as it was and Benji was ready to wreak havoc.
"Playground is a little way down that street." Benji pointed at a turn.
"I know." Anne followed.
She watched her feet as they sank deep in the snow. She knelt and felt the snow in her bare hands. It felt great so great that a giggle escapes her mouth. It was beautiful. Although she had experienced this before it felt new all over again. Both of them picked up pace as they turned a corner. Once the park was in view, Benji shouted "RACE YOU TO THE PARK!" and dashed away. Even though this caught Anne by surprise she quickly caught up. Benji was super-fast for his age but Anne was able to keep up considering she hasn't been outside in three months.
"You'll lose!" Anne laughed, out of breath.
"Yeah right as if!" and Benji gave himself a final dash.
They were the only souls running in the street at this time and a hooded figure was walking on the sidewalk. The moment she ran past the figure a known feeling and smell hit her. Forcing her to stop and look back. The smell was pleasant and the feeling unknown. It was an amalgam of lots of emotions. The world halted. Every noise stopped. The sound of her heavy breath too was inaudible for her. It was just her and the figure taking slow steps past her. All her joy was again lost to the fog of amnesia. The feeling of being on the verge of knowing had returned. She could run and catch it. But she did against all that. She turned away and walked. The world started moving again. Her breath became audible. The chirping birds and the sound of wind it all returned. This awkwardness was surprising. It was a silly thought.
As she entered the park she saw no one there. It was deserted. Only the freshly fallen snow breathed. She inhaled, deep, and exhaled. Freshly fallen snow smelt great she liked the tinge of sadness in it. A tinge of grey-blue. And just as she inhaled for the second time something stone-cold hit her face. Her face went numb and she fell to the ground. The attack was followed by a burst of childish laughter "be ready because it's on!"
"You little brat," she mumbled as she got up and watched him run away waving his arms like spaghetti.
And thus, a snowball fight ensued. They chased each other around and when she finally caught him they both fell to the ground exhausted and happy. Anne felt alive. She felt each of her organs melting the snow underneath. The warmth of joy filled her inside.
"Hey, Benji..... There's no one here."
"There's supposed to be no one here."
"What do you mean?" she shifted her weight on an elbow which lifted her to her side.
"You know... you looked gloomy. I wanted to cheer you up. You look pretty when you laugh." he smiled innocently.
Damn this boy... he watches too many movies. She thought
"Let me show you around." he said getting up, "I know this place like the back of my hand."
Anne was feeling good and she knew she owed it to the little boy so she nodded and got up. They left the park and walked towards the more crowded area of the town.
PinesFall was small. A happy little heaven and Benji had chosen the best time to show her around. A snowy morning when no one was in the street.
He showed her his friends houses
"Tommy lives here." she looked right a red-brick ancient-looking house. A feeling of old. It was lovely.
"Aurora here." he pointed left to a burgundy door.
"Whos Aurora? Your girlfriend eh?" she poked him in the ribs.
"No...No.... you'll meet Susan too but Aurora is gran's friend. She makes the best hot cocoa."
"Susan?"
"Girlfriend."
Anne was enthralled by the casualty with which he spoke. He was funny.
"That's the bakery where gran gets the bread from."
They turned onto the street which leads to the town square. It was just the shops and all.
Benji points at different shops and stalls and houses. That boy knew the who, where and what of the town.
Slowly the population thinned down and they stopped. A beautiful old piece of architecture lays amidst the trees.
"That's the new café," he says "I want to go inside but we're early. I've never seen the inside of that café."
"Then we'll get something from here someday." she pokes his nose.
"Promise?" he holds out his pinkie.
"Promise." And the pinkies entwine.
"What's down there?" she points down a path leading into the woods.
"Trees you know."
"I can see that but look there's a path."
"I don't know gran never allows me to go down there. Maybe it descends down to the lake."
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They returned to Mrs. Wood's house. As they slowly closed the door behind them, Mrs. Wood's stood before them arms crossed. Benji let out a tiny squeal when she grabbed him by the ear.
"You little devil!!!" She tightened her grip a little, "how dare you to leave the house so early like this? I was worried when I found the empty beds."
Anne stood frozen in a corner.
"I did it for good reasons. I took Anne for a walk." Benji quickly said.
Mrs. Wood's let goes of his ear.
"Of course I don't blame you, dear, He can be a handful sometimes."
And then her mood changed again and she danced towards the kitchen.
Anne was a bit amazed by this. It was weird. And her tiny scrunched up face wasn't hiding her thoughts. Maybe it was because of the happiness she felt before that her emotions were showing a bit.
"Yeah she's old she does this sometimes. It worries me." Benji as though reading her thoughts passed a statement.
"Kids wash up." Mrs. Wood's voice sang from the kitchen.