Color

It began inauspiciously with a few flakes then quickly came the flurries and by the middle of the night, the flurries had turned into sleet. It was the first snowstorm of the new year.

The following morning turned out to be beautiful. Beautiful if you didn't mind the pavements were carpeted with six-inch of snow with icy crust on top and all the power lines and leafless tree branches were coated with ice.

A beam of white light from the rising sun just came streaming in through the bedroom window, slanted on Molly's white porcelain face. Molly could feel the warmth of the gentle morning sunshine, kind of welcoming her to a brand new day. She was awake but she just wanted to lie still in bed, against the urge to the bathroom, waiting for the right moment to get up. She wasn't going to get out of bed until the alarm clock went off with the usual Ohayous. The Ohayous from the alarm clock had become one of Molly's favorite morning routines, something she almost looked forward to. Perhaps it had to do with the alarm clock being a gift from her friend. He told Molly he got it on a business trip to Japan. Molly just knew he didn't get it from Japan and there was no business trip. She liked the alarm clock all the same.

"Ohayou, O-ha-you, O-haaa-youuuuu!" Molly turned off the alarm on the third Ohayou and dashed to the bathroom.

Molly had long straight hair. She used to have it even longer when her mother would trim it for her before she died of cirrhosis a few years back, since then she reluctantly went to the hair salon just to take an inch or two inches off every six months or so. She untangled the few locks that had come tumbling down the forehead in her sleep, then parted the hair right in the middle, framing her almond shaped face perfectly. She stood still momentarily in front of of the mirror, as if admiring what a great job she had done to her hair or as if reflecting on something, for just a second.

It just took her a minute or two to put on her business suit. Her sartorial taste couldn't be more simpler: navy blue pant suits. In fact that's all Molly had, navy blue suits from Macy's, all five of them same color for each working day of the week.

"Good morning." And with that morning pleasantry came a snowball hurling in the direction of Molly. "You little squirrel." Molly, smiling and carrying her long white cane while locking the side door. That little squirrel was Molly's neighbor, Stephanie, who's in second grade. She had been playing in the snow outside for some time, all rosey cheeks, while waiting for her mom to drive her to school.

"How are you doing?"

"You are looking at it." Molly put on her shades and proceeded to walk to the bus stop.

"Can I walk you to the bus stop?"

"Only if you say please."

"Please."

Stephanie let Molly hold her arm.

"You are too slow. I am going to miss my bus. Again." "I am only six." "Age is not an excuse." "There is snow everywhere." "OKAY" "Molly, can I ask you something? "No." "Molly, do you dream?" "Yes." "Do you dream in color?" "I don't even see things in my dreams." "Then, how do you dream?" "Well, I don't see in my dreams, I just sense things. Do you understand?" Stephanie thought for a moment and said no. "Do you ever dream of me?" "All the time." "For real?" "Cross my heart."

The two slowly walked towards the bus stop, leaving two sets of foot prints behind them on the snow, one big one small. The sun was getting higher and warmer and it sure looked like it was the beginning of a beautiful day.

******

More Color

topic by mad dog (my fault, I should have added this from day 1. my apology)

more color

here