The World Is My Snowglobe

I caused it. All of it. And I'm pretty sure it was me and not global warming that caused a mid-summer blizzard in my town. I watch my mother call step-father in a panic, asking him how far he was from home. I flick through all the news channels showing the same strange event - the snow in the middle of a heatwave. I stop at one, where a blond lady was reporting live from the neighborhood near my school.

I shook it again. More vigorous this time. I watched as the snow fell harder and the wind flew the lady's winter cap away. 

"There's seems to be a blizzard approaching at an alarming speed. The source of it remains unknown. This is the strangest climate anomaly the world has ever seen. Everyone is requested to stay indoors till it blows over." She manages to say, as she scurries into the News van and the TV screen goes black.

I get off the carpet and give a long, hard look to the ugly red stains by the sofa. Mom states it's spilled wine, Step-father suspects my cranberry drink. I scowl, knowing what they really are. I proceed towards my room - my hands behind my back. 

Mom seems to have gotten into a fighting match with Step-father. My little sister lays sound asleep in her crib, next to my bed. I run a finger over her pink cheek. She giggles with her eyes still closed and tries to bite into my finger using her toothless gums. I pull another blanket over her. 

I look out of the window, covered in frost and sink deeper inside my blanket. The room grows colder every minute. My hands shake with the sheer power I hold in my hand.

"Leah? Darling, have you taken daddy's snow-globe?" My mother asked, peeping in my room. I hurriedly hide my hands deeper under the blanket.

"Well, he turns into a grumpy monster if I do as much as breathe in its direction." I say, with measured emphasis, "-so, no."

"I'm telling you, Dahlia, that little devil has it. She has it, I tell you!" I hear Step-father's voice bellowing from the phone speakers.

"Stop it, Lionel. She doesn't. And seriously with this blizzard and you being miles away from home - all you think of is a godamned snowglobe?" Mom shouts back as she walks down the stairs. It is these moments for which, I applaud her. These moments I know I am her daughter. A daughter who will follow in her footsteps.

She's already begun defying Step-father, now, it is my turn.

I take out the translucent orb, stuck onto a poorly decorated, tarnished silver stand. The orb proceeds to clear up as I put my eye to it. The whole city, covered with elaborate snowflakes and huge disintegrated blocks of white glitter is enclosed in it. On closer inspection, I find the very window of my house, I'm sitting next to. It intrigues me. 

I peer closer. Can I see people too? I turned my sights towards the roads. I see them! The people, moving around hither thither look like a smaller version of ants moving runs around upright, walking on two hind-legs instead of all six. 

I look around for cars, which are more distinct and recognizable, after I fetch my magnifying glass. There aren't a whole lot of them out on the roads, most of them had reached home, I suppose. Good, I think. Makes my work whole lot easier.

I finally find Step-dad's car in motion, still a good few miles away from home, on the outskirts of town. Now that I think about it, it would've been much easier to spy on him using this - if only he left it home more often. But well, after today, I won't need to spy on him. 

I locate the hugest pile of snow, that I can find in his vicinity. My heart's beating so hard, it feels like a rock band's drum solo. My hands are tingling with the thrill and danger of it all. A voice in my head is chanting how bad of an idea it is. But I'm no longer in control of my sanity. I tilt the globe in a direction that the snow falls off a low cliff and onto the road - just in time to completely engulf the car. 

But wait. He's getting out of the moving car! He's escaping. 

No. Not on my watch. I tilt the globe again, in the same direction he's fleeing too. He's dodging! He's getting away! NO! I keep tilting the damn globe roughly, in all directions, losing the initial sense of precaution. And along with it, my last shred of patience.

How much longer will this go on!? Turns out, not too long, as I see him, struggling, waving his hands around like crazy in the pile of snow he seems to be stuck in. One little tilt and he's completely gone. 

But now that it's done - I feel doubtful. Did it really work? I keep a close tab on the globe till dinnertime, still no sign of him. Yet, I'm not convinced. But that is of course till I see the midnight news that's been flashing on every channel. 

"A Cold Death - Mr.Lionel Nester, a 45-year-old white male was found dead near the countryside. An exact cause of death is yet to be determined but the fact that he was found under ten tonnes of snow, sure gives us a hint. Time of death is estimated to 4 p.m, only eight hours ago. This incident has proven exactly how this climatic change is hazardous to us. Again we urge all citizens to stay inside their homes and...."

At this point, I feel a certain dread. What if this execution leads mom to sink lower into sadness? Will I ever be able to forgive myself for it? How will I look at her kind, brown face without guilt stabbing me like a pointy icicle?

But when I look at her - I see what looks like a trace of a smile. She reaches out for me and I let her hug me as she tight as she wants to. In that hug, I feel more relief than pain. I feel more gratitude than grief. And I swear I hear something that sounds like "Thank you".

Before Mom tucks me into bed, I make sure that she doesn't find the snow globe. I roll it over to the farthest corner under the bed and put a bunch of my dolls and stuffed toys to guard it. That night - my imagination runs wild. I could freeze all the bullies at school, ruin pretty-bitch Regina's makeup every day till people saw her actual face, I'd cause teachers to arrive late and other days cause the school to remain closed. The possibilities are endless!

I fall asleep dreaming about all the different possibilities. I wake up early morning, earlier than I ever have. I look outside to see the snow is melting. I jump out of bed, looking under it. The snowglobe is gone!

I still reach in, trying to feel around with my hands. I feel nothing. I feel distressed; I can't ask mom for help. Now what?

 

I venture around the house, scanning all the floors - till I came across a note on the dinner table. It's from Mom. As I read it, I drop to the floor. No...no way...

Dear Leah,

        I know what you did. But as grateful as I am that you got rid of him, I want to get rid of every trace he ever left in our home. Everything, Leah - from the snowglobe to his own blood. I lied to you sweetie, he was never your Step-father. I'm sorry.

I look outside the windows again, never knowing it would be the last time. Because the last thing I remember is a cold, white blinding light before it all turns black.