Flash Fiction: Winter Rescue

It's February now, and it's absolutely freezing where I live. This usually gets me in the mood for either short stories or flash fiction. Today flash fiction and the cold north wind are both on my mind, so here's a short (very short) tale about one boy and the bitter cold.

Winter Rescue

This was a mistake. He’d known that when he’d left this morning. He’d gone anyway. He’d promised his friends he’d show up. They hadn’t, but that wasn’t his problem. Another blast of icy wind wound its way down his back. Maybe it was his problem.

The north wind grew colder and his hands froze. Jesse dropped his sled. It was too cold to drag the sled back home. He’d get the sled later, when the wind wasn’t threatening to steal his breath. It wasn’t worth losing a finger over. With this in mind, he tucked his hands inside his pockets.

Jesse kept walking. He had to get home. As the wind threatened to tear his scarf from his face, he decided that his friends were the smart ones. They had surely stayed home in their warm beds. He’d been the one to brave the cold. But they could have at least called to tell him they weren’t coming.

It was too cold to go sledding. He knew that. He’d known that before he’d snuck out of the house. It was why he’d snuck out of the house. But he’d done it anyway. What was he trying to prove? That he was an idiot? It was forty below!

The wind howled again and Jesse was driven back. Frostbite was setting in. His feet hurt too much to take another step. With a sigh, he collapsed in the snow and waited. For what, he wasn’t quite sure.

A bright light startled him and Jesse looked around. A truck. A man climbing out of the truck. Beckett? Their neighbor jumped out of his truck and ran to the boy’s side.
“Jesse!” Wrapping his arms around the kid, Beckett lifted him into his truck. “Are you okay?”

Jesse nodded. “How…”

“Your mother called me. Her car wouldn’t start.” Beckett pulled Jesse’s gloves off and held the small hands before the heater.

“Is Mom mad?” His voice was small.

“Darned straight. And she’s not the only one.” Beckett sighed and put the truck in gear. “But let’s just get you home.”

Jesse nodded and closed his eyes, not caring that he was probably grounded for life.

Flash Fiction: Revenge of the Smallest

It's early December and we have so much snow it defies expectations. The weather is inspiring flash fiction in me, and the kids are out throwing snow at each other. Is it any wonder why I'm writing about a snowball fight?

Revenge of the Smallest

Liam cried out as he ducked behind the snow bank. This wasn’t fair. One against four, and all four older than him. How could any of them think this was a fair fight?

He heard footsteps crunching over fresh snow and knew they were surrounding him. This was no snowball fight. It was an ambush. He should have stayed in bed, but he’d been tempted by the idea of a good romp on a not-so-cold winter’s day. Bad choice.

Knowing he was out of time, Liam glancing around. He did not want to be showered in snowballs. Not again. It had been fun until they had ganged up on him. Now it was just ridiculous. He’d rather go inside and watch his mother baste a turkey. It was better than this.

Just as he was about to dash from his sanctuary, he caught sight of someone on the roof of the house. Uncle Leo. But what was he doing on the roof? Then he noticed the shovel Uncle Leo had. Why would anyone haul the large bucket-shovel up on the roof?

Uncle Leo started waving and pointing, obviously trying to tell him something. Liam tried to pay attention, tried to figure it out. After a moment, he grinned. With a wave back at his uncle, Liam turned onto his stomach and wiggled his way to the top of the snow bank.

As soon as his head cleared the top, his toque flew off as a snowball grazed his head. They were still hunting him. Perfect. They were looking at him, hoping he’d show himself, and hadn’t noticed Uncle Leo up on the roof. Good.

Turning onto his back, Liam waited. He waited until he heard his brothers start to climb up the snow bank. With a deep breath, Liam threw himself up and ran for all he was worth. He ran for the house, for the porch, grinning all the while.

Snowballs peppered his back, footsteps dogged him, but he kept running. He threw himself onto the porch and turned, landing with his back against the door. His brothers ran up the steps, snowballs in hand, only to disappear in a wash of white as Leo pushed the fluffy snow off the roof.

As his brothers grumbled and dug themselves out, Leo’s laughter boomed out over the snow. Liam giggled and smiled sweetly, happy with his revenge.

Flash Fiction: Cold Winter Rain

I know it's only October, but where I'm from we've already had frost, snow, hail, and sleet. It's downright cold. Flash fiction is one of the ways I deal with the weather, so my first story of the season deals with the cold rain we so recently had. For reasons passing understanding, I've decided to write in first person. Oh, well.

Cold Winter Rain

I usually love winter, but today it's cold and raining. That means freezing rain, slick roads, and idiot drivers. Why is everyone driving like it’s a bright summer day? You can’t drive like that during a winter rain.

I try to dismiss the other drivers from my thoughts and concentrate on the road. As I pull out onto the highway, my car slips. I’ve got snow tires and I’m not going very fast, but still I slide. It’s no better than a skating rink out here, and I’m usually not stupid enough to drive on a skating rink. Today, however, I have no choice. I have to pick up my daughter and her newborn baby from the hospital.

As I’m thinking about my new grandson, I hit a patch of ice. Caught unaware, I jerk the wheel to the right and skid toward the shoulder. Then I made a rookie mistake. I slam on the brakes. The car starts to spin and I utter a curse as I fight the car for control. I’m losing and I know it, so I say a quick prayer and release the wheel.

The car spins wildly before coming to a sudden stop. My head rocks forward. Something hits me square in the face and drives my head back into the headrest. I see stars and gasp for breath, wondering where I am. Oh. On the road, driving like an idiot.

A disembodied voice floats through the air and I realize it’s been speaking for several minutes.

“What?” I mutter, pushing the airbag out of my way.

“Ma’am, we’ve detected an airbag deployment. Do you need assistance?”

I shake my head, realize he can’t see me, and snap, “No, I need a new brain.”

“Do you require assistance?”

Now that’s the real question. My head hurts a little, but that’s from the airbag. Finally I reply, “No. I’ll just call my husband to pick me up.”

"Are you sure, Ma'am? I can have an ambulance sent to your location."

"No, I'm fine. All in one piece."

“Okay, Ma’am. Take care.”

I dig my phone out of my purse and dial. My daughter and her son will just have to wait while I get my husband out of work. Hopefully, he won’t laugh at me. Of course, I laughed at him last year...