sunshine

Instructions

Press the green flag! Story #2: Paper masks During the Summers James spent at his Grandma’s house he made paper masks. This year was no different--- except his mom wasn’t there to help him cut the holes out for the eyes. She was busy. Again. So instead of going to Grandma’s like in the Summers, he was stuck in the cold, cold Autumn of Idaho, making the paper masks by himself with his Grandmother watching him from her rocking chair. In only two hours, he’d finished three animal masks: one for himself and the others for his friends Alex and Grant. “Wear a coat,” his Grandmother drew in a breath, “It’ll be cold out tonight.” And so like the good little boy he was he did. Reluctantly. The corn maze that wrapped around the back of the house led him to a small clearing. And even though he had a coat he couldn’t help but think his Grandma was right. It was cold. “Alex? Grant? You there?” The two boys stepped out from among the corn, grinning widely. Alex ran a hand through his blonde hair. “You got the masks?” James nodded eagerly. “Yeah, their in my backpack.” One by one, he pulled them out, blue eyes shining brightly, and slipped one on his face… The world went dark. Whispers drowned out the screams of his friends. Mörderin… Meurtrier… Murderer… The mask crumbled. He was no longer in the corn maze. No, he was strapped down onto a cool metal table, the bands on his wrists so tight that he thought he was bleeding. But the liquid running down his arm wasn’t red. It was black. Like ink. A man in a white lab coat held a syringe up. A doctor? James couldn’t think. Didn’t want to think. He wanted out. Out! “Stay still. This will hurt. I don’t want to have to sedate you again.” He swallowed, not sure what to say. Then, he realized he couldn’t speak. There was a strange kind of muzzle on his face. “You know, I have a son though he’s older--- he’s turning fifteen next month. For his birthday he wants a car even though he failed his driver’s test. He’s funny like that.” The words were relaxing, coaxing almost but they gave him a sense of panic. He started thrashing suddenly, accidentally knocking the syringe out of the man’s hand. “Stop moving---” James let out a muffled gasp as the man fumbled for the syringe and stabbed him in the arm, cursing. Sleep enveloped him in a dreamless state. He woke up once after that. This time instead of the man, there was a woman in a yellow sundress and baseball cap. She plastered a grin on her face as soon as she realized he was awake. That took a bit. She was preoccupied with the baby in her arms. “James.” He blinked. There were no straps or muzzle. “Mom?” “It’s been a while.” She said. “What? It’s only been like six hours.” She smiled grimly. “Honey, it’s been nine years.”