Free Not So Snow White Meets Queenzilla - A Beginning by K. Sean Jennkrist Page A

"Maybe it's too
soon. Maybe you should take me back home."
    He laughed. "No way. Putting it off only
makes it worse. Let's get it over with."
    "Fine." I settled back in my seat and
figured if I couldn't handle it, I knew the way to the front door,
and my way back home. It wasn't that long of a walk.

    I managed first period and the first few
comments. There were smiles and kind words and all of it should
have made me feel better. I wish. The pull to escape overwhelmed
me. I needed air. Between second and third I headed for the
restroom. I decided to stay in there until after the tardy bell.
Then, I could sneak out of the building and be home before anyone
knew I was missing. The solution calmed me within seconds. I smiled
as I leaned against the sink. When I glanced up at the mirror and
saw my face, I drew back. The smile dropped. I didn't recognize
her. The darkened eyes, cheekbones jutting out, the drab, stringy
hair. Who was she, I wondered?
    I felt the warm tears pool in my eyes and
trail down my cheeks. A sob welled up inside, ready to burst. And
it did. Loud and scary. I cried until I thought I'd be sick.
Bending over the sink, I turned the spigot on and ran cool water
over my face. I grabbed a paper towel to dry off. When I took it
away, I searched the mirror once more, just to be sure. I wanted so
desperately to recognize even one tiny feature, something
familiar.
    "Please. Just one thing," I whispered and
then blinked as the mirror began shifting. Not bouncing or moving
up and down, but like a movie screen or maybe a slide show. One
frame moving to the next. And then the glass began to cloud. I
reached up with the paper towel still in my hand and wiped the
glass. It didn't work. Then, by itself, it began to clear from the
middle and moved outward until it uncovered the image behind it. It
wasn't me.
    I rubbed my eyes once more as I stared,
thinking it might disappear. It didn't. "Dad?" I managed to say it,
but I couldn't believe it. I reached up and with the slightest
movement I let my fingers touch the glass. "Dad?"
    The image smiled and nodded. "Hi,
sweetheart. I've missed you. And it seems you're not happy."
    I gripped the sides of the sink, afraid if I
didn't hold on to something, I would collapse on the floor. "It
can't be. You can't be …"
    "Don't worry. You're not hallucinating. I am
really here. At least in a spiritual kind of way. Something told me
to come. And now I know why. Look, you don't have to be sad, or
afraid. Everything will be all right. You'll see. You just have to
be patient."
    I shook my head. "No, it isn't all right.
You left. Why did you leave like that? Without saying a word to me,
or to Mom, or to anybody?" My voice quivered and I felt the anger
coming to the surface. "You had no right!"
    "Shhh. Be quiet and listen. I had to leave.
For your sake, you see. It's the only way to keep you safe and away
from harm. I have to do this."
    "What are you talking about? This is crazy.
You need to be here with me and Mom. That's what will keep
me safe." I reached up with both hands and pounded on the glass.
"Come home, Dad. You have to come home."
    "I'm sorry, Winter. I must do this. And you
must be patient. You'll understand one day."
    I watched the image start to fade. It was
like mist and his face disappearing behind it. "Dad! You can't
leave. Dad!" I cried and watched until there was only my face
looking back at me, sadder and uglier than ever. Suddenly, my body
stiffened when I heard a laugh. I turned around and around and then
once more looked at the mirror.
    The stall door at the far end opened. "Dad!
Come back, Dad." Tina mocked me.
    I froze, not daring to say a word or to
move, though my hand gripped the sink to hold myself up.
    "I always knew you were kind of weird, but
this …" Tina laughed and shook her head. "Talking to mirrors?
That's a whole new level. Yeah. You're the insane freak who talks
to mirrors."
    I finally moved backward as she stepped
closer to me. Not even in my vivid