Today's post is the fifth installment in the Adventures of Zelda series. If you are a new reader, I encourage you to catch up with the links below!
Beginnings
Zelda vs. the Leaf Pile
A Pug Christmas Story
Zelda vs. Gannondorf the Tapeworm
Zelda vs. the Snowman
"Dad, it’s snowing!” Ben shouts. Lucy and I are in bed, wrapped in warm blankets. With winter in full swing, I find myself staying under the blankets much of the day.
“I wonder how Zelda will react to the snow,” Nate says to Ben while he sips his coffee.
“She needs to go out anyway, why don’t you take her and find out?” Hannah says from the kitchen. The word “out” sends me running to the front door.
“Okay, let me find some warm clothes,” Nate says. I run in circles around Nate while he puts on his shoes, a giant red coat, and something black on his head.
“Are you ready, Zelda?” he asks. My tail wags furiously.
Nate attaches the leash and opens the front door. I dash out the door onto the porch and freeze.
White stuff covers the ground and the trees. I slowly walk down the steps from the porch. The white stuff is cold yet soft; my paws sink into it. I am not sure I like the feeling. I turn around and head back to the door.
“Back inside already? Don’t like the snow?” Nate says. Snow. That must be the name for the white stuff.
“I don’t think Z likes the snow,” Nate says. “She took one step and ran inside.”
“She has to like the snow. All dogs like snow,” Ben says.
“Zelda isn’t a normal dog,” Hannah shouts from the kitchen.
“Nope, she’s better than a normal dog with her wrinkly face, curly tail, and snorts,” Ben yells back. He grabs my owl and throws it. Without hesitation, I fetch it and bring it to him.
“See Mom, Zelda is a great dog,” Ben mutters.
Ben and I play until Lucy wakes up and wanders into the living room. I snuggle up with her on the couch and start snoring.
I wake up later in the day and look out the window. The snow covers the yard. How long does this stuff last? To make it worse, small drops of snow are falling from the sky. I can’t avoid the snow forever. I will have to go out. Hannah walks into the living room and sees me staring out the window.
“Do you want to go for a walk in the snow?” Hannah asks with a book in her hand. No, not really,but I walk to the front door anyway.
“Okay Zelda, I’ll take you, let me find your hoodie to keep you warm.” Hannah walks over to Vacuum’s closet and opens the door. I sprint to the door and bark at Vacuum until Hannah pushes me out of the way and closes the door. In her hand is a pug-sized blue shirt. She grabs me and slides the shirt over my head and my front paws. I immediately hate wearing the shirt. I feel like my front paws can’t move normally, and I probably look ridiculous, but I cannot get the thing off me. I sigh and walk to the door.
The snow is higher than earlier, almost to my stomach. As I walk, I forget about the coldness of the snow and begin to like its softness. I run through the snow, letting it splash around me. Hannah and I run down the sidewalk together.
We stop at the corner, mostly because I’m out of breath. When I stop moving, a cold wind blows, and I’m thankful for the blue shirt. As we walk back home, my curiosity about the snow grows.
Can I eat it?
I take a quick bite as we walk. The snow melts in my mouth and refreshes my dry throat. I stop for more and more mouthfuls on the way. When we arrive home, I dash indoors to warm up. The snow stuff is actually fun, in short bursts.
During the evening, Nate takes me for another walk. The sky is dark, but the snow casts a faint glow; it’s eerily quiet outside. We walk down the street on the sidewalk. The wind is blowing harder than earlier, and when we reach the corner, I’m shivering. Nate doesn’t notice my shaking, so we continue down the street further.
Up ahead, I notice a large shadow in someone’s yard. The shadow grows and begins to take shape as we approach. The shadow is cast from a man, who is almost as tall as Nate. The man is made of snow, but much rounder than Nate or Hannah. He has stone black eyes and mouth, stick arms, a scarf, and shoes. I don’t know this man is, and I don’t want to find out. I turn around and start walking the other way.
“Zelda, this way,” Nate says. I pull him the opposite way, but Nate resists. “C’mon girl.” I bark a few times and try again in the opposite direction of the shadow. “Okay, okay,” he says as he follows my lead.
“How was your walk?” Hannah asks as we walk in the door.
“A little short, but I think Z was cold. And she may be afraid of a snowman,” Nate says to Hannah.
“Wait, Zelda, let me take this off,” Nate says as he pulls the shirt off me. I lick his hands, find a spot on the couch on top of the fuzzy blanket, and fall asleep.
Suddenly, I am running down the street through the snow. Something is chasing me. I look back as I run, and I see it. The man with stone black eyes is gliding down the street after me. I try to run faster, but the snow is deep, slowing me down.
“Zelda.” I hear my name and open my eyes. I’m lying on the couch without a snowman in sight. It must have been a nightmare.
“Sleepy-time,” says Lucy. I slowly get up and move to Lucy’s bed. I lie under the covers next to her.
I have trouble sleeping that night. I can’t stop thinking about the man with black eyes. The man haunts me in my dreams. When sunlight shines through the window the next morning, I am grateful.
Not long after I wake up, Hannah takes me on our morning walk. I lead her on the same route as the previous night. At the corner, my heart starts beating faster. I know we are getting close. I continue forward, but at a slower pace. From a distance, I see the white mounds rising out of the ground.
I stop several feet in front of the man. His white body glimmers in the daylight and his black eyes pierce into me. I start barking.
“Zelda, it’s okay, it’s just a snowman,” Hannah whispers. “He can’t hurt you.” I want to believe Hannah, yet my instincts are telling me otherwise. I back away from the snowman, but Hannah pulls me closer. She walks right next to the snowman and touches his body with her hand. The snowman doesn’t move an inch.
“Cmon, girl, it’s okay,” she says. I walk closer and closer. I take bites of snow along the way. I can’t help it; I eat when I’m nervous.
The snowman stands motionless, and I take a few more steps under Hannah’s reassurance. I am next to the snowman. I take a bite of the snowman’s belly. The snow is delicious and refreshing.
Wait a minute, I just bit the snowman!
I back away slowly, scared of the snowman’s reaction. The snowman’s black eyes stare at me, but he doesn’t move.
I inch closer. No movement. Now I am standing next to the snowman. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop myself. I take a bite of the snowman, then another bite, and another, and another.
“Zelda, leave it! Stop eating the snowman!” Hannah says in between laughs. She pulls me away from the snowman, back to the sidewalk. I run forward and lead the way, stopping occasionally for mouthfuls of snow or a good scent. When we return home, I am exhausted. I curl up on the couch. I won’t have any more nightmares tonight, just sweet dreams of eating a giant snowman.
