Windy Town

Chapter One: My personal demon

I heard the whistle of the wind as it caressed my ears. It seemed almost serene, peaceful, like an atmosphere you could lose yourself in and drift unto unforseen lands. Lands unheard of. I had always been overly imaginative. My parents knew it, the neighbors knew it. Even the animals too! Everyone did and most importantly, I did too. So back to this unusual peaceful weather, sometimes you fell for it, well almost. Everyone that's anyone in windy Town knew it was just a matter of time. A kind of facade, like nature playing tricks on us. Like one moment it just decides to have a sense of humour, a swift, quick break from wrecking havoc on unsuspecting victims forever under it's thumb.

These moments were rare and whenever it happened everybody was grateful for it. So it happened that it was on this fateful day, at this very moment that nature decided to take a much needed break that it all happened. It started out with me searching for my hairbrush, it's really no wonder that I'm that obsessed with hairbrushes. You see it all had to do with this flaw I have, well aren't we all flawed. I had an obsession with keeping things in order. The constant hurricane was in opposition to this so of course it was my sworn enemy, mostly because I had no control over

it. For instance, I could tell dad to stop searching through my drawers anytime he decided his favorite cufflinks were missing. What the hell would his cufflinks be doing there in the first place? But of course this never stopped him. But it's a different case with an hurricane. You just cannot reason with it. It would be much too busy trying to sweep you away. Which brings us back to the reason why I am so obessed with hairbrushes. Can you guess? Well it's really not that hard if you think of it. As a person who loved everything in order I always had to keep my hair in place. I can't have it ruffling about my face. I mostly had it tied up in a bun. This of course doesn't stop the wind from messing with it. And of course I always had to put it back in order again. And for someone living in a town that's constantly windy, well you can just imagine what that's like. And it's also no surprise why mom detests that.

On this particular day though I had alot on my mind, so much so that I could not be bothered by the hairbrush or my hair or even the wind. why? The three pigs storybook. As I carefully made my way out of the house I heard whisperings coming from my parents room. They were arguing again and I knew what it was all about. Me. My latest obsession with finding out the story behind the appearance of the three pigs storybook. I hated when they argued about me. They could literally argue about just anything and I would not mind. But I really did hate being the centre of attention.

"She's gone nuts again!" Mom shrieked almost hysterically which caused me to sigh.

They were sometimes weary of me. My inquisitiveness, my coriousity, my obsession with order...the list went on. I knew for a fact that they usually wondered why I could not just be like other kids.

"I mean, she's fifteen. Mom went on. "When will she give up this foolishness and learn to act her age".

"Oh let her be Maggie" . That was dad. The ever peaceful, supportive one. "I'm tired of hearing this over and over again. Just let me get some sleep woman." He sighed.

Now don't go confuse things up. My dad's acceptance of my flaws was just what is was. 'acceptance'

He really cannot be bothered to care all that much. His leaning heavily towards the peaceful approach bordered just a bit on selfishness, laziness and plainly putting it, cowardise. My dad simply hated confrontation of any kind. Even confronting his teenaged daughter. I mean, I literally couldn't hurt a fly. It wasn't that he was scared of me. Not at all. He just simply cannot be bothered enough to care. That's not to say he was a bad father, he had his good moments, when he wasn't busy sulking off in his room after an intense argument with mom which happened much more often than he wished.

I quickly drowned out their conversation and sneaked outside. It was getting dark and I wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible but of course I never did have the best of luck, living in a windy town is enough to prove it.

"Hey! Hey! wierd girl. psst!"

I groaned. Of course, How could I have forget to mention him? My very own personal demon. Burny came out of the shadows stalking towards me in a slightly intimating manner. It wasn't like I was intimidated, I mean who would ever get intimidated by a four feet twelve year old boy. Shocking isn't it! My very own demon is a twelve year old boy. Just how pathetic could my life get?

Like a flash he moved in front of me. Yes, Burny had the quickest feet ever. Everybody apart from his parents and little sister called him speedyfeet. Well except for me. I only ever referred to him, spoke about him or even thought of him as 'demon' A bit harsh you may say but you'll understand shortly why I call him that.

"Move out of my way demon!" I snapped, a bit uneasy that this demon pest would blow my cover.

"What's the matter wierdo?" He sneered mockingly, an amusing glint in his eyes. "Don't want to get caught sneaking off to be your wierd self?"

"Argh!" Why don't you just disappear already?"

"Sorry but I'm here to stay. No foul hurricane can best me."

Trust me, as sad and harsh as it would seem I always had a fleeting, just a fleeting wish that one of those hurricanes would take the demon away.

" Don't worry demon. It'll be your turn soon enough".

He laughed loudly, surprising me. "Trust me wierdo, the day that happens is the day this town stops being windy. Which is literally impossible."

His words struck me then. It would be like killing two birds with one stone. Yes, I was cruel and desperate enough to wish the demon far far away from my existence. You would soon know why I hated him that much. Sure, he was just a twelve year old kid but that never stopped me.

Irritated that I just spent precious moments entertaining this kid while I could be about trying to solve the mystery of the three pigs story, I sighed and shoved him out of the way, wish backfired and had been diving face first into the dirt road with absolutely nothing to catch my fall. You might be wondering why. Of course it wasn't because I was clumsy at all, I mean after years of trying to hold on whenever the hurricane came I prided myself on having sturdy feet. You see, apart from having a quick feet my personal demon also had insanely quick reflexes. Even as I succeeded in pushing him out of the way, catching him unawares in the process, he was quick enough in an act of revenge which was quite typical of him to put out his foot tripping me in the process.

I shrieked and sprang up immediately, spitting out a mouthful of dirt. No body likes to eat dirt. I boiled with irritation as my head clowded with all the evils I could do to him especially after coming up to face his malicious glare. A sinister thought crossed my mind and I quickly brushed it off. I couldn't be bothered to be deterred from my mission. I had a plan and I was going through with it. Not even this spindly legged demon would stand in my way.

"You! stay out of my way this time. I'm warning you. Or you wont find yourself waking up tomorrow."

"Is that supposed to scare me?" He sneered. "I'm used to your threats. you've used that one before birdbrain. Atleast be more creative when coming up with threats."

I soon realised that it was no use threatening and tried reasoning with him, mostly because I really needed him out of my way.

"Look, it's late demon. Even creatures like you need a break. Everybody does. So can you just this once stop being your demonic self and get the hell out of my way?"

That was my attempt at reasoning with him. Trust me, it was the best I could come up with.

"Nice try...weirdo, he grinned mischievously. I only just woke up. I've been asleep since morning".

"Oh really, I sneered. "It wouldn't hurt to you know, go back to sleep and perhaps maybe do everyone a favour and never wake up?"

He c****d his head to the side seeming to be in thought, then an evil glint crossed his eyes. "Now where's the fun in that?"

It was at that moment i realised that inorder to continue this mystery search I had to get rid of personal demons and Burny was the first of many.

'Bunny'... I began, trying to reason with him. Although I loathed to admit or even think about it I knew the wimp and a tinsy,bitsy crush on me or it could be more but I just don't care. I'd been nothing but horrible to him and being the smarty pants he was he'd retaliated in kind. If maybe I could try to pretend to be a little nicer when I was anything but, I could maybe dig up that fondness from the dark abyss of his heart. I mean he wasn't that bad.

'Sorry I got all spooked, it's just that I get very cranky when things aren't going as planned' I lowered my voice to a hush, beaconing to him as I moved away from the house. I needed to get very far away so mom and dad won't find me. That was enough to get him interested. Bunny's a very curious kid, overly curious if you ask me, almost as curious as me.

' Oh..well if you put it like...

' shush...we can't let them know'.

I quickly hurried along far away from my house with Bunny trotting after me in the very deserted road.

'let who knows'

'The people, who else'

'Just tell me already ' He cried, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Caught hook line and...well I'm just about to sink it in. I figured out he could be of use to me. I mean he could be pretty resourceful when he wanted to be. I figured out I couldn't do it on my own. I'd probably need someone to cover for me when the town people ever asked. I mean there's absolutely absolutely no way I'm taking Bunny along with me.

'I've figured out a way out of windy town '

He stared open mouthed at me for some time not really believing it

'There's no way out of windy town ' He said slapping his forehead like I was dumb. 'Don't tell me you still believe that old lady, she's nice and all but everyone knows she's not all there's.

'You sound just like my parents' I said getting irritated.

'Only kids listen to her'

'Bunny you're twelve'.

'Only in age'

uh? how dumb can this kid be

'And younger in size's

'Well if you're going to be rude I won't tell you what I do know'

Bunny knows something? He could be a lot more useful than I thought

'What do you know?' I tried not to sound too interested.

'It's not like I believe it but uh...I heard from someone who heard from someone who told someone that told...'

'Out with it already! ' I seethed unable to keep the interest in.

Bunny started, surprised by my outburst, then his eyes flashed with mischief, a mischievous grin transforming his face

'Well someone's in need of information '.

'Of course I am'.

'Well since you're that desperate, enough to sneak out and all...I mean it's a risk you're taking there'.

'Out with it!'

'Alright...but nothing goes for nothing '.

'What could you possibly want...'

'Simple, I'm coming too'

What! See why I said he's my personal demon?