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Stephen Matern
On a crisp February morning I walked out the door, and as I stepped from my porch and down upon the sidewalk below, the cold wind rushed into my face. At once I received a very sharp dose of February love. A light snow began to fall, and the misty air excited me to cause a tinge of fear to overcome my senses that I may fall on the pavement. As I continued down the walk, I began to approach the gate. I lifted my head and looked down the street, beyond our fence, and I wondered of how this was such a drand day. However, as I came upon the gate I felt such an urgency to get beyond the gate and to walk along the street. I anticipated the thrill to move to the other fenced yards. Suddenly, I felt such an odd sensation, more like a stunning jar, stopping my heart, as to miss a beat, as though I may be shaken by an earthquake. At once, I thought I may never be able to join the other children in play. I thought If there should be another moment of life to behold the greatness of God, I should be happy so happy. Aye, that it was, that it was, except for a fatal moment, when the ugliness of which I thought a perfect storm was upon me like a thief in the night.
A shrill voice sounded from upon my house: "Mr Alzworld! You get back here. And where might you be going?" I thought who is this? My mother? I at once felt a jarring tug upon my sleeve. Naturally, I pulled away and began to run for my freedom, except for some reason my legs did not budge. I began to slip upon the icy pavement. Again, the shrilly voice, this time with a cackle.
Soon I was back in the house, being led down the smelly hallway. I felt nothing but the sense of staring eyes crawling up and down me. "Now Mr. Alzworld, you darn well know that you are not 'spose to leave this house, not unless all of us ho out at the same time, don't you?" "I just." But I was cut off rather severely. "You know the rules! Now why don't you have some candy and sit dow with all your friend?" "I don't like the candy, it taste funny and makes me feel stupid." Again that shrill cackling laugh. I don't like that sound and the words are intimidating. "How would you like those big boys over there to help you?" I know the big boys are. They are not very nice. They must have heard me because they began chuckling. I told the woman, and she said they were nice. I thought about it, then I said, "I 'specially don't like the one with a big hat, he always tells me what to do." "Well, that's his job. He just needs to deep everybody in line and he does his job very good. Now go sit down and keep quiet, I don't want you to rile everyone up, you know how timid they all are. Besides we are going to make some Valentine Day cards for each other, to show how much love we feel." "When is Valentine Day?" I asked. "It's tomorrow. Today is Friday the 13th, 1984" I looked at the calendar. But the calendar said it was 2020. I shouted back, "it's the year 2020!" At this the woman and the men erupted in laughter. They were laughing so hard I could see tears coming out of their eyes. My eyes teared up as well, but I was not laughting, I was crying because it really is 2020, not 1984. It is so wrong to eras time no matter what you think.
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