The cold

He looked around into the hazy fall of snow looking for an answer. Any answer at all would suffice, any that would give him a clue as to why this happened. He stood there in the snow just looking out and wondering why it had to be him, why now? The cold flakes clung to his cold face as he stood there waiting, just waiting for the answer to show itself. Though he was cold and near frozen he did not move from his spot. 1

“Come inside Jonny you’ll catch a cold and then I’ll have to take care of you. And you know that I’m no good at it.”2

“I won’t come inside until he comes back or someone tells me why it happened. It’s not fair you know. We had so many things we still needed to do, he had no right to leave me like he did.”3

“It’s not your fault that he left. You have to know that. Please at least tell me that. Tell me that you know that this is not your fault. Just look into my eyes and tell me please.”4

She grabbed little Jonny forcefully and made his gaze meet hers. She could see where tears had been and frozen on his face. A new face stared back at her, one that she had never seen. She dropped to her knees and embraced little Jonny and held on to him trying to make him better. It was all futile though for he was resolute in his mind. 5

“I’m still waiting out here for him. You can’t change that unless you tell me what really happened. Tell me what happened Stacey. I deserve to know as much as you do. Tell me or I will never leave this spot. I’ll die here rooted to this spot waiting.”6

Comprehension dawned on her as she saw poor little Jonny in a whole new light. He was more then just a little boy now; he seemed to grasp ideas much more intense then himself. With her eyes now brimming with tears she shook her head yes at the gazeless stare that was Jonnys face.7

Half walking, half stumbling inside they sat upon the warm chairs in front of the cozy fireplace. A fire sat there crackling merrily even amid both of the dejected faces. Her eyes fell to the floor as she could not bring herself to look at him without bursting into tears. Gasping sobs of grief overtook her as she thought of the right words to say.8

“Tell me. I need to know why. Just tell me what happened. Whose fault was it? Was it really mine? Come on answer me Stace.”9

“I…I…I want to…to…tell you but it’s just really h…hard for m...mm…me. I don’t understand that w…w…well what happened ei...ei…either. I only know wh…wh…what I o…o…overheard.”10

Just then Jonny’s eyes returned form their gloom. Compassion shone on his face as he went and got his sister some water. He brought the cup to her trembling lips and ushered her to drink up.11

“Th…thank you.” She wiped the tears of her face and continued anew. “All I know is what I overheard. All I heard was them fighting last night really loud…”12

“I heard it too I just kept myself under the covers afraid of what they were talking about. But now I don’t care about being afraid I want to know what they were talking about.”13

“Well from what I could understand they were yelling because mom was upset at something dad did in the morning. Then he started yelling really loud at her telling her that: ‘You don’t know the things I have done to make this a happy family. Ihave done everything for you and the kids and this is how you treat me?’ After that I just shut my ears and tried to go back to sleep. It was so hard Jonny. I couldn’t stop the tears. I was so scared for mom and dad; for us too.”14

Jonny sat there alongside the cozy fire watching his sister weeping while a new feeling welled up within him. It was a rage he had never felt before. How could dad have yelled at mom like that? This isn’t right. What made them so angry at each other? So many questions, yet no one has the right answers.15