Solstice
Everyone knows the enchanting song and story of 'Frosty the Snowman', right? Well, ten-year-old Leann has a much darker and more stranger tale to tell. It all started a week before the winter solstice. Snow was falling beautifully already that day. From afar, it looked like a perfect scene on a Christmas card or from a stunning water-color painting. Leann and her brother were off school that Monday because of the snow. Both of her parents were working at the bank that Monday and even if they were home, they would've gotten drunk and just ignored her or beaten her.
They never wanted two children and they cruelly always told her how much a burden and a mistake she was. Everybody in town knew how abusive her family was towards her but she thought that no one bothered to care. People had seen the bruises, the scars, (even though her mom made her wear long-sleeved shirts in an attempt of hiding them), and heard the hatred that they spew at her but it seemed like people just looked the other way.
Her equally as mean, older brother Andy, (their favorite child), had to stay home with her while the parents worked. Andy had brown, slicked-back hair and always wore a fortnite t-shirt. She tried to ask if he wanted to go outside with her to play in the snow but he was playing a video game and shouted: "Go away Loser!"
He threw an empty soda can at her but she ran into her room just in time. She braided her long, black hair into pigtails, put on her favorite powder blue stocking cap and coat, her tan boots, and her dark blue scarf and mittens. She then sneaked out of her window into the gorgeous snow. Once snow crunched underneath her feet, her green eyes glistened with excitement and her extremely pale skin almost blended in with the white on the ground. All of her friends from school were skating at the frozen lake but she didn't know how to skate. She didn't mind though. She actually liked playing by herself.
She ran happily up the slightly steep hill by their house and saw an unfinished snowman. Somebody made the body with two, long stick arms and three dark blue buttons down the torso but no head. Somebody also left the materials for his face on the ground next to him, which included all sorts of buttons and pebbles, and a carrot. Despite her size, she managed to roll up the snow into a big ball and made the head on her own. With all of her strength, she somehow managed to stack the head onto the snowman's body. She then began to work on his face.
For his eyes, she chose two, glittery, baby blue buttons. For his smile, she chose dark blue, almost glass-looking pebbles, and of course, she used the carrot for his nose. She put her stocking cap on his head but something was missing. She was looking through the pebbles and was thinking about sneaking back into her room for a second to get some string to make a necklace for her snowman, when she saw a silver necklace among the materials. She thought that the pendant on the necklace was just a pretty star with a circle around it but the pendant was really a pentacle, inscribed with a pentagram. A pentacle was a very powerful talisman for protection and casting spells.
Gleefully, she put it around the snowman's neck. The moment that it was on, his eyes turned into human blue eyes and opened. His mouth began moving as well, bellowing, "Blessed day!"
Leann screamed in horror and jumped behind a bush, shaking.
"Don't be afraid," the snowman kindly, his legless body shoving through the fluffy snow, as he moved slowly towards her, "it's okay."
Leann poked her head slightly out of the bush and exclaimed curiously: "Frosty?" She heard that song and had seen that movie a zillion of times. She always had wondered what it would be like to have a snowman as a friend but she always thought that she needed a magical, silk hat to bring a snowman to life. Also, seeing a snowman suddenly talk and move in real life was more terrifying than she thought that it would be.
"No, no," he chuckled, "my name is Solstice."
"Like the winter solstice?" she asked. She learned about the winter solstice at school during Science. She learned that the winter solstice was the astronomical start of winter. It was the shortest day and the longest night because the sun was at its lowest.
"Yes," he replied with another chuckle, "You're such a smart girl. Can you come out? I just want to be friends with you. I won't hurt you."
Leann gradually crawled out from behind the bush and tried to stand but she tripped over her own feet. Solstice caught her before she could fall and cradled her in his stick arms for a second.
"Thanks," she said shyly. Then, she looked up at his welcoming smile and cheerfully said: "You really are a friendly snowman!"
"Yes, I came to life to be your friend and to protect you."
"Protect me from what?" she asked.
"I'm protecting you from someone," he said softly, setting her down onto her feet.
She cringed and backed away a little, knowing who.
"Let's not talk about that now," he smiled, "Do you want to dance?"
"But there's no music," she giggled, stepping forward again.
"Are you sure?" He winked at her and suddenly, 'Dance of Sugar Plum Fairy' was playing in the air, as if it was part of the wind, echoing everywhere.
She gasped in astonishment and joy. He took her by the hand and danced with her across the snow, twirling her around and around. With each twirl, her insides tickled and her world spun, almost blurring. She was laughing the whole time. Here she was, having a blast with a living snowman and no one would believe her. She decided then that she would her new friend a secret.
They danced all day until her mom drunkenly shouted: "Hey Brat...dinner...get your sneaky ass in here...NOW!"
The music stopped abruptly.
"I better get back," said Leann sheepishly, "Will you still be here tomorrow?
"Of course," he said happily, removing her stocking cap from his head and putting it back on her, "I'll be waiting for you."
"Promise?" she asked, hugging him.
"I promise," he echoed back, wrapping his stick arms around her.
Her mom shouted again, sounding more angry this time.
Leann hurriedly said: "Bye" and ran down the hill.
As she approached the house, Solstice could her mom say loudly: "I should beat your ass for sneaking out and staying out here all day but I'm too tired from work!"
"No one will ever touch her again," he said darkly to himself, "not when I'm around."
The next day, there was still a lot of snow on the ground but not enough to call off school. She had just gotten dressed, when she heard a tap, tap on her window. She looked over and her face brightened up. She sort of thought that yesterday was just a wonderful dream but today, he was at her window, now wearing a pointy, black, witch hat. He put his stick hand to his pebble lips, which were in an O shape at the moment, making the shhh gesture.
She quietly opened her window and excitedly whispered: "Hi Solstice!"
"Hello Leann," he smiled, "After breakfast, do you want to come out and see me before you have to wait at the bus stop?"
"Sure," she whispered in a bubbly tone, "I'll be out there soon!"
"Don't rush."
She then closed the window and skipped joyfully downstairs. She was all smiles that morning but no one noticed. Andy was already gone, probably ditching school again. Her mom, with her long, graying hair being up in a messy bun and dad, with his normally brown eyes being bloodshot and his salt-and-pepper hair being askew, were nursing their morning hangovers as usual. They were popping Aspirin into their mouths like candy, gulping down coffee, and cussing at each other. She quickly but silently poured herself a bowl of Count Chocula cereal and a glass of milk, and sat at the kitchen table, swinging her legs happily.
Her mom and dad still didn't acknowledged her even though she was right in front of them. After shoveling the cereal into her mouth and chugging down her milk, she then put her dishes away in the sink, swiftly packed her own lunch in a brown paper bag, and bundled herself in her cap, scarf, and coat. Then swinging her book bag over her shoulder and with her lunch in hand, she waved bye without saying a single word, which they didn't care at all about, and she was out of the house at the speed of lightning.
"I told you not to rush," chuckled Solstice, who was waiting outside the front door.
"I didn't," she said with a knowing smile. Then, as they went up the hill, she playfully asked: "What's up with the witch's hat?"
"Sorcerer's hat," he corrected with a smile, "and I've heard that they're quite fashionable.
With the both of them laughing, they had a fun snowball fight for an half hour on the hill. Leann didn't know the time at that moment because she didn't have a watch. If it was up to her, she would've missed the bus that day but Solstice somehow just knew the time.
Out of nowhere, he optimistically said: "It's time to head towards the bus stop!" He picked up her bag of lunch and her book bag, which she set on the ground, and handed them back to her.
"Okay," she said sadly, "but can you please come with me so I don't have to walk alone?"
"Of course but only halfway because we don't want to scare people."
His stick hand held her hand, as he slid and she walked slowly down the hill, through the snow towards the bus stop.
"I wish that you could go to school with me but you would melt if you went inside," she said, thinking aloud, "right?"
They were at the halfway point, at the arched bridge, and he replied: "Exactly but I'll wait for you on the hill, I promise."
Leann was missing him at school but she did her best to pay attention to her lessons and to her friends. When the last bell finally rang, she practically bolted to the bus. For the first time, she was excited to go home and the bus couldn't get to her stop fast enough. It seemed like forever but when it did arrive, she quickly said goodbye to her friends and zoomed to the hill.
"Solstice," she yelled happily, running up to him and dropping her book bag, "I'm home!" She was out of breath but she was laughing.
"I can see that," he laughed, wrapping his stick arms around her in a bear hug, "I've missed you."
He had all kinds of lovely things planned but first, she had to do her homework. While she sat in the snow, he helped her with her homework, making each assignment a game and checking her work. This was one of the many things that her parents never did. Solstice cared though, taking time to explain things and correct her if she needed, and he was even making it fun.
Afterwards, they danced, sang, and played every outside game imaginable. Since he just knew the time, she asked him if he could let her know when it was 4:30 because her parents came home at five and she wanted to be in the house before they got home so she wouldn't get in trouble for playing outside all that time. He agreed.
This plan worked. This was quickly becoming their routine: homework then play until Solstice told her to go in. Leann finally felt safe until that Thursday. She just finished her homework and they were playing tag up and down the hill, when Solstice got a scared then angry look on his face, looking at something behind her. She turned around and saw a familiar, red car.
"It's Mom," she exclaimed fearfully, "She's home early!" Like a shot, she picked up her book bag and ran down the hill and into the house, into the kitchen but she was too late. Her mom had seen her outside.
"Why in the hell were you outside still?!" asked her mom accusingly.
"I w-w-was p-playing," she replied nervously, trying not to shake, "W-why are you home so early Mom?"
"If you must know," her mom spat, "I threw up so they said that I could come home early. Did you even do your homework?"
"Yes," she said meekly, "I did before I played." She unzipped her book bag that was still hanging on her arm, pulled out the worksheets, and showed them to her. Her mom just pushed her hand away so she quickly put them back in her book bag and hung it on a nearby chair.
"Did you clean your room?" She went upstairs and opened Leann's bedroom door, examining the room. Everything was tidy and organized. Leann had cleaned her room before breakfast that day. Her toys were put away, her clean clothes were in the closet, and the dirty ones were in the basket.
Even at her young age, Leann knew her mom was just finding any excuse to be angry so she could beat her.
Finally, after a few minutes, her mom came downstairs and said: "I don't like you being outside alone, where everybody can see you. You're not much to look at, I know, but I still don't want people to think that I'm raising a feral child!"
"But...," Leann whispered.
"What did you just say?!" her mom yelled.
"But I like playing outside..."
Hearing this, her mom yanked her cap off of head, painfully pulling her hair and making look up at her, viciously saying: "Since you like the outside so much, maybe you should get a stick for me to beat you with!" She then dragged her by the hair to the front door.
"Mom...ow...don't," Leann sobbed, trembling severely, "Please...you're hurting me! Please, I'm...!"
"Don't beg," her mom said with an evil grin, "A mistake like you should learn her place. Now...go get a damn stick...and you better come right back or I'll let your dad use the belt on you!" She pushed her outside and shut the door. Leann was sobbing hysterically when Solstice glided towards her.
"She's going to beat me with a stick!" she cried.
"No she won't," he said calmly but thinking fast, "Take my right arm to her."
"But she'll beat me with it!"
"No she won't," he reassured her, "I know that you don't understand but you have to trust me."
"Okay," she said between sobs, "But will it hurt you?"
"No," he replied in a soothing voice, "it's easy to remove and put on. I won't feel a thing."
She carefully pulled his right arm off his body and reluctantly walked back to the house, still crying. She didn't know what he had planned but she hoped that he was right. Solstice wanted to go in with her but he knew that he couldn't.
"Don't worry," he called out, "everything will be alright, I promise."
Shaking, she stepped into the house , walked to the living room, and sat on the couch. Her mom now stood in front of her.
"What a pretty stick," her mom smirked, "Give it to me!"
As Leann was about to give her the stick, something sharp poked Leann in the hand and with her eyes rolling back into her head, she passed out on the couch.
"What the...!" exclaimed her mom.
Then, the stick flew out of Leann's hand and at her mom's throat. Using its claw-looking end as a hand, the stick pushed her mom onto the floor; scratching her, beginning to strangle her. She tried to pull it off of her but she couldn't. She desperately tried to scream, to gasp for air but she couldn't. All that she could do was kick and flail her arms helplessly. Droplets of blood ran like a river down her neck from the scratches and her eyes that were filled with fright, panic, and tears widened, as its grip on her throat became tighter by the second.
"How do you like it," asked Solstice furiously, watching from a closed window and making the stick squeeze her throat more tightly, "Huh?! To be hurt and scared like you always made Leann feel!"
As Solstice's anger invaded the house, all of the windows of the house flew violently open. She was close to unconsciousness and the house was cold as death. It was only when he noticed that Leann was waking up that he made the stick let go of her mom. Her mom quickly got up from the floor and frantically ran to the bathroom, promising herself not to tell her husband or son about what just happened. Because she didn't know about Solstice, she thought that Leann developed some paranormal ability and she was now secretly afraid of a ten-year-old child. This made Solstice grin in satisfaction.
With Leann slowly waking up, the windows closed and the stick crawled back into her hand. When she finally opened her eyes, she didn't know what was going on. She thought that she was alone in the house but then she heard her mom gagging in the bathroom.
She tip-toed to the bathroom door and being very unsure, she timidly asked: "M-mom, a-are you still mad at me?"
"No," her mom said abruptly.
"Should I call...," began Leann.
"No," her mom yelled, "you can play outside until dinnertime...everyday...and I won't try to hit you anymore! Just go!"
"Okay, thank you." Leann was very confused but relieved as she went outside to return Solstice's arm.
"What just happened?" she asked, walking up to him.
"I just stopped her from hurting you," he smiled, as Leann delicately put back his arm back on his body, "and giving her a little scare in the process, just giving a taste of her own medicine."
"Thank you," she replied, hugging him, "so much...but did you put me to sleep?"
"Yes," he said, sounding guilty, "I probably should've warned you."
"Oh, I don't mind at all. The poke kinda hurt but I had a nice nap!"
They were silent for a moment, drawing in the snow and then, out of nowhere, she started to cry again.
"What's wrong?" he asked with concern.
"I still have to worry about my dad," she cried, "he uses his fist and a belt!"
"I know," he replied solemnly.
"And why don't my parents love me," she continued, "What's wrong with me? Am I really a mistake?"
"Nothing is wrong with you," he said, embracing her as she wept, "and you're not a mistake. You're a brave and smart little girl. You might not understand it yet but you'll survive your family."
"Then why doesn't anyone care?!"
"I do," he told her, "and believe it or not, there are other people who care."
"Who?!" she exclaimed.
"I can't tell you yet but they're out there."
On the night of the winter solstice, her parents were drunk once again and were arguing but Leann didn't know what about. They were just yelling and throwing stuff. Andy was hogging the couch, playing his annoying video games while she was trying to read Christmas book. She noticed that there was a long, red candle lit on a table where her dad was standing and each time that her mom threw something at him, the candle moved closer and closer to the edge. She tried to warn them but her dad just told to shut the hell up. He also tried to hit her but he missed because he was too drunk and she ducked in time.
Because she was tired of the noise, she closed the book and went up to her room. As soon as she got inside, she heard an urgent tap, tap, tap on her window. She opened it. There was Solstice, looking worried. Her book bag was somehow hanging on his arm and was now filled with some of her toys and most of her clothes. She didn't exactly know how he did that but she figured out by then that he had magic powers.
"Do you want to go on a walk?" he asked, trying to smile.
She was perplexed about what was happening but her gut told her to get out of the house right away.
"Sure," she replied. She quickly put on her coat, scarf, and boots. Just as she hopped out of the window, she heard a loud crash downstairs and the smoke alarms started screaming.
"I think...," she began.
"I know," he interrupted, closing the window and rapidly guiding her away from the house and up the hill.
They were halfway up the hill when she could smell the smoke, feel the heat from the fire on the back of her neck, and hear crackling of the fire and her family's pleading cries for help. They were finally on top and were about to go down the hill on the other side but she stopped for a second. She turned around to see the fire. Her house was completely ablaze, the orange glowing on her face. She could now smell death in the air and still hear their pleas. A part of her wanted to save them but another part of her remembered the pain that they afflicted on her, physically and emotionally, and she turned her back on them and walked down the hill, into the woods.
Thirteen women were sitting in a circle, waiting for them deep in the woods next to a brown cottage. All of the women had short, red hair, beautiful, green eyes, and all wore green dresses and green cloaks with brown boots.
"They're witches," explained Solstice, as they got closer to the women.
Leann gave him a scared look.
"Good witches," he assured her.
The tallest of the women, who was named Farina and who was wearing what looked like a crown of snowflakes, stepped towards Leann.
"Leann, my child," she said in a serene voice, "you are safe now. We've seen the pain that you have gone threw by hands of your own parents and we are so sorry. We don't usually believe that any life should end so tragically, especially during the winter solstice, but with their deaths, you are free."
"You've been watching me?" Leann asked.
"Yes," replied Farina, "we asked Solstice to protect you after we saw the violence but I do not know why he went as snowman though."
"For some winter fun to balance out the bad," he chuckled.
"What is she talking about?" Leann asked him.
"I think that you should just show her," said Farina to him.
"Yes." Solstice then closing his eyes, the snow melted away and the buttons, pebbles, sticks, and the carrot blew away in the wind. Underneath, a man, who was in his mid-thirties, was revealed. He had brown hair and beard, baby blue eyes, and a warm, welcoming smile. He wore a pointy, blue hat and a flowing, long, blue garb with black boots.
From the moment that she saw him, she had to hug him. She was so grateful for him.
"So am I living with you?" she quickly asked him.
"No, you'd be with the coven," he said, bear hugging her and pointing to the women, "but I'll always be your companion and your protector."
"We all will be," added Farina.
Then, he said to Farina: "Let's all go inside of your cottage and gather around the yule log because I don't want any newly departed to get any ideas and I'm cold."
As they all walked into the cottage and Solstice held her hand like a doting father, Leann knew in that moment that she was loved and she had somewhere to feel belong. No matter what, they'll protect her from all of the monsters of the world, human and otherwise. She wasn't a mistake or a burden and will never feel that way ever again.
(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2018
Author Notes: I know that this plot is very dark but this story is magical. Merry Christmas! Smooches and think Tink!!
