(Fiction)
Curtis moaned with sagging shoulders as Mom wrapped an itchy scarf around his neck.
*
"For the last time," Mom said, firmly tugging a wool cap over Curtis’ ears, "You must wear more than a T-shirt. There’s five inches of snow on the ground."
*
Curtis eagerly made his way towards the back door. He waddled because of the winter clothes. After gingerly stepping onto the icy steps, Curtis squinted at the bright snow.
*
He gazed upon the neighborhood in awe. Every house, car, and inch of ground was covered with a dazzling, flawless blanket of snow. Pine trees sagged from the newly weight. Other than the distant sounds of chains on truck tires and snow shovels scraping sidewalks, it was silent. There were no birds or rabbits playing. They were in their homes keeping warm. Curtis took a deep breath of wintry air and caught a hint of smoky firewood.
*
"Mom thinks there’s five inches of snow on the ground," Curtis said to himself, "but I think there’s five thousand inches of snow!"
*
Curtis walked into the new snowy world. With his foot prints, Curtis spelled his name. He then rolled a snowman and named him "Captain Snow Menace." To stop the snowman from conquering the world, Curtis destroyed him.
*
Tucked in the corner of the yard was a wooden shed. Inside was a ladder, a lawnmower, and gardening tools; all hibernating for the winter.
*
Curtis scooped up a handful of snow, patted it into a ball. "I wonder if I can hit the shed with this," Curtis said as he lightly tossed the snowball up and down. Curtis threw the snowball through the chilly air… thunk! The snowball smacked against the side of the shed exactly where Curtis was aiming. "Wow! My aim is tremendous!"
*
Curtis spotted a tall oak tree off to the right. "I bet I can hit that old tree in the center of its trunk." Curtis launched a second snowball and… thud! The snowball exploded in the center of the trunk, leaving behind a small trace of snow. "My arm is truly unbelievable."
*
A checkered monster with fuzzy horns and enormous pink ears suddenly appeared from behind the shed. Smacking its fist into a catcher’s mitt, the monster stooped down and bellowed, "Put ‘er there, Sport." Curtis wound his arm back and lifted a knee before he pitched another snowball through the air… smack! "Strike!" the monster shrieked before he pounced back behind the shed.
*
"When I grow up, I’m going to be a Major League pitcher," Curtis said as he spat and scraped the ground with his foot.
*
Curtis turned to the sound of crunching snow. Rolling down the white alley, wearing a football helmet, was a kangaroo on a unicycle. Curtis was feeling confident. He sent a snowball whizzing through the trees and sure enough… bang! The snowball hit the kangaroo’s helmet, knocking off the five inches of snow that innocently sat on top. "Do you have to throw so hard?" the kangaroo grumbled as he wobbled on his way.
*
In the distance, Curtis heard the piercing sound of a pterodactyl screech. As the dinosaur flew near, Curtis quickly created another snowball. "I hope the pterodactyl stops in my yard," Curtis thought. The creature flew overhead but showed no signs of slowing down. Curtis lobbed the snowball straight up in the air… wham! Curtis hit the pterodactyl in mid-flight. The broken snowball pieces fell to the earth but the dinosaur regained control and flew away.
*
"Nice shot," said the pterodactyl looking over its shoulder.
*
As Curtis watched the pterodactyl fly further away, he noticed an alien jet craft doing loops and zigzags through the winter sky. "Hitting that alien should be a cinch!" Curtis boasted. With precise timing, Curtis blasted another snowball. The air ripped as the snowball climbed higher and higher. Curtis watched with anticipation… boom! The snowball slapped the side of the strange aircraft. Curtis listened very closely and heard the alien pilot say high in the sky, "That human has remarkable throwing power!"
*
Curtis was so impressed with his new-found talent he decided to hurl another snowball just to see how far it would go. With a mighty grunt, he sent one flying. He watched the snowball until it disappeared between the clouds. As Curtis panted, he heard the encouraging cheer of fans.
*
The snowball zipped over the Atlantic Ocean. It whipped through Europe and soared past China. It cruised over the Pacific Ocean. The snowball was now on fire and started falling over California. From behind him the snowball reappeared over Curtis’ house. While he was still searching the skies… bam! The snowball whacked Curtis on the back of his head, knocking off his hat and sending him to the arctic ground.
*
Curtis made a snow angel before he peeled himself out of the snow. By this time, the birds and rabbits were peeking from their homes to watch. "My throwing power is truly a gift," Curtis thought as he brushed the snow from his hat.
*
"Now it’s time for the most rip-roarin’ of all snowballs. I’m going to hit the sun!" Curtis took his time to form one perfectly round snowball. He rolled his arm back and with all his strength, heaved the snowball into orbit. With rosy cheeks, Curtis watched and waited… and waited… and waited. At last, he heard what he had been listening for. The snowball struck the surface of the sun, making the sound of raw eggs meeting a piping hot pan… tsssss and then dead silence.
*
Like a ball slowly rolling off a table, the sun gradually tipped forward, then quickly dropped towards the backyard. The blazing hot mass of fire roared madly as it sped closer and closer. The snow in the backyard started to boil as steam rolled upwards. Curtis wiped his sweltering face with his mittens. "I’ve really done it this time," Curtis said trembling.
*
Just when Curtis thought he was burnt toast, the sun came to a screeching halt just inches from his face. Glaring angrily the sun asked, "What on earth were you thinking?"
*
Curtis eagerly made his way towards the back door. He waddled because of the winter clothes. After gingerly stepping onto the icy steps, Curtis squinted at the bright snow.
*
He gazed upon the neighborhood in awe. Every house, car, and inch of ground was covered with a dazzling, flawless blanket of snow. Pine trees sagged from the newly weight. Other than the distant sounds of chains on truck tires and snow shovels scraping sidewalks, it was silent. There were no birds or rabbits playing. They were in their homes keeping warm. Curtis took a deep breath of wintry air and caught a hint of smoky firewood.
*
"Mom thinks there’s five inches of snow on the ground," Curtis said to himself, "but I think there’s five thousand inches of snow!"
*
Curtis walked into the new snowy world. With his foot prints, Curtis spelled his name. He then rolled a snowman and named him "Captain Snow Menace." To stop the snowman from conquering the world, Curtis destroyed him.
*
Tucked in the corner of the yard was a wooden shed. Inside was a ladder, a lawnmower, and gardening tools; all hibernating for the winter.
*
Curtis scooped up a handful of snow, patted it into a ball. "I wonder if I can hit the shed with this," Curtis said as he lightly tossed the snowball up and down. Curtis threw the snowball through the chilly air… thunk! The snowball smacked against the side of the shed exactly where Curtis was aiming. "Wow! My aim is tremendous!"
*
Curtis spotted a tall oak tree off to the right. "I bet I can hit that old tree in the center of its trunk." Curtis launched a second snowball and… thud! The snowball exploded in the center of the trunk, leaving behind a small trace of snow. "My arm is truly unbelievable."
*
A checkered monster with fuzzy horns and enormous pink ears suddenly appeared from behind the shed. Smacking its fist into a catcher’s mitt, the monster stooped down and bellowed, "Put ‘er there, Sport." Curtis wound his arm back and lifted a knee before he pitched another snowball through the air… smack! "Strike!" the monster shrieked before he pounced back behind the shed.
*
"When I grow up, I’m going to be a Major League pitcher," Curtis said as he spat and scraped the ground with his foot.
*
Curtis turned to the sound of crunching snow. Rolling down the white alley, wearing a football helmet, was a kangaroo on a unicycle. Curtis was feeling confident. He sent a snowball whizzing through the trees and sure enough… bang! The snowball hit the kangaroo’s helmet, knocking off the five inches of snow that innocently sat on top. "Do you have to throw so hard?" the kangaroo grumbled as he wobbled on his way.
*
In the distance, Curtis heard the piercing sound of a pterodactyl screech. As the dinosaur flew near, Curtis quickly created another snowball. "I hope the pterodactyl stops in my yard," Curtis thought. The creature flew overhead but showed no signs of slowing down. Curtis lobbed the snowball straight up in the air… wham! Curtis hit the pterodactyl in mid-flight. The broken snowball pieces fell to the earth but the dinosaur regained control and flew away.
*
"Nice shot," said the pterodactyl looking over its shoulder.
*
As Curtis watched the pterodactyl fly further away, he noticed an alien jet craft doing loops and zigzags through the winter sky. "Hitting that alien should be a cinch!" Curtis boasted. With precise timing, Curtis blasted another snowball. The air ripped as the snowball climbed higher and higher. Curtis watched with anticipation… boom! The snowball slapped the side of the strange aircraft. Curtis listened very closely and heard the alien pilot say high in the sky, "That human has remarkable throwing power!"
*
Curtis was so impressed with his new-found talent he decided to hurl another snowball just to see how far it would go. With a mighty grunt, he sent one flying. He watched the snowball until it disappeared between the clouds. As Curtis panted, he heard the encouraging cheer of fans.
*
The snowball zipped over the Atlantic Ocean. It whipped through Europe and soared past China. It cruised over the Pacific Ocean. The snowball was now on fire and started falling over California. From behind him the snowball reappeared over Curtis’ house. While he was still searching the skies… bam! The snowball whacked Curtis on the back of his head, knocking off his hat and sending him to the arctic ground.
*
Curtis made a snow angel before he peeled himself out of the snow. By this time, the birds and rabbits were peeking from their homes to watch. "My throwing power is truly a gift," Curtis thought as he brushed the snow from his hat.
*
"Now it’s time for the most rip-roarin’ of all snowballs. I’m going to hit the sun!" Curtis took his time to form one perfectly round snowball. He rolled his arm back and with all his strength, heaved the snowball into orbit. With rosy cheeks, Curtis watched and waited… and waited… and waited. At last, he heard what he had been listening for. The snowball struck the surface of the sun, making the sound of raw eggs meeting a piping hot pan… tsssss and then dead silence.
*
Like a ball slowly rolling off a table, the sun gradually tipped forward, then quickly dropped towards the backyard. The blazing hot mass of fire roared madly as it sped closer and closer. The snow in the backyard started to boil as steam rolled upwards. Curtis wiped his sweltering face with his mittens. "I’ve really done it this time," Curtis said trembling.
*
Just when Curtis thought he was burnt toast, the sun came to a screeching halt just inches from his face. Glaring angrily the sun asked, "What on earth were you thinking?"
*
Curtis’ throat was too scorched to answer. All he could do was squint and loosen his roasting scarf.
*
Unexpectedly, Curtis heard the cracks and pops of the back door opening, followed by Mom’s familiar voice. "I made hot chocolate with marshmallows. Come inside and warm yourself."
Curtis’ throat was too scorched to answer. All he could do was squint and loosen his roasting scarf.
*
Unexpectedly, Curtis heard the cracks and pops of the back door opening, followed by Mom’s familiar voice. "I made hot chocolate with marshmallows. Come inside and warm yourself."
*
Curtis turned to see the winter sun sitting quietly behind the tall trees. He smiled. "Thanks, Mom," Curtis answered as he merrily ran towards his house.
Curtis turned to see the winter sun sitting quietly behind the tall trees. He smiled. "Thanks, Mom," Curtis answered as he merrily ran towards his house.
__________________
WRT310 Creative Writing, Fall 2005
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