Brr! It's Freezing! (1)
1001 Words
Let me tell you something about the past three battles I was involved in as Gjallarhorn.
The days where the battles took place were either sunny or cloudy. The other days, meanwhile, were headlined by at most drizzles or light rain showers once a day.
Rain indeed is the great regulator of extreme weather... unless it leads to massive flash floods and overfilled dams and rivers.
But this week, things turn out for the worse. Well, not worse, but still can be classified as bringing inconvenience and torment.
It is because summer is approaching.
Rain Marginal, Mississippi still has its fair share of frequent rain showers, especially at summertime – just like what happened in previous years.
However, we, the townspeople, notice that we are experiencing less frequent showers and less rain volume; and the sunny days get hotter and hotter.
The average temperature here in this little town, in fact, is 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 33 degrees Celsius.
Not helping things is the higher heat index brought about by higher levels of relative humidity, which leads to our perception that the temperature we're feeling is hotter than the actual one.
Sure, we have air conditioners and stuff, but they only go so far.
We need to ask Mother Nature to give us some mercy.
And a certain figure is about to answer the townspeople's prayers.
“Well, I'm also suffering from this intense heat. Ugh. Wearing this hood all the time makes me sweaty, smelly, and itchy all over. Now to end this literal 'hell on earth'...”
They hoist the object up high, and the energy coming from it materializes, forming a snow-themed giant called the Winter Sasquatch.
“Alright then, Mr. Freezer. Go do your sworn duty!”
“Yes, my master! Hoo hoo hoo!”
Here I am again, doing my medical transcription work as usual.
Even with this hospital's excellent air conditioning (and it's a must especially for the comfort of patients), the heat of summer still affects the building where I work.
I can even feel the heat of the sun's rays penetrating through the walls and even the blinds.
But still, I mustn't lose concentration from such a minor inconvenience.
Especially when I have two major transcription tasks to do today, and I have to rely on my sense of hearing to get all these medical terms right.
The clock ticks twelve again, and I'm out for lunch.
As usual, I'm eating outside.
But this heat... it's something I never feel before.
It's like I'm being thrust into an oven or something.
Man, where's my trusty umbrella when I need it the most?
I can also spot other people who are in agony over this unusual summer heat.
They do everything they can to keep themselves cool and avoid the dreaded heat stroke: Drink anything cold, utilize portable fans, or even trying to chill off inside air-conditioned buildings.
So what should I eat?
Anything is fine with me; but as for the drinks, I'm down for a glass of mango smoothies.
I can endure “brain freeze” just fine, as long as my body's kept cool.
And as I head towards my usual go-to cafe...
The sky changes abruptly.
Heavy clouds cover the sun where it should be, and they now rain powdery snow practically everywhere within the borders of Rain Marginal.
Naturally, many people are happy to see this development, even though their clothes aren't.
I can even see children playing in the instantly-generated snowfields, throwing snowballs and creating snowmen.
Well, so much for that heat-induced torment.
I'm gonna switch drinks for my upcoming lunch. Plain old orange juice will do.
Meanwhile... in the unpopulated parts of the town...
Some people are not ready to embrace the cold weather for several reasons.
Backyard farmers, for example, are complaining that their crops will be ruined by cold temperatures. They also weren't ready to put up greenhouses for such an unexpected change in weather patterns.
Naturally, these complaints catch the ire of the Winter Sasquatch, as he can sense those voices of bellyaching even from miles away.
One unfortunate small-time vegetable farmer is but one of the victims of the ice-themed Bigfoot.
The farmer states in fear as he encounters the Winter Sasquatch: “H-Hey! What are you doing in my yard?! A-are you the one who came up with this snow?”
“Precisely! I serve as the voice of the people who can't stand this annoying heat, you know.”
“W-who had the authority for you to say that? You're certainly not an employee of the local weather bureau!”
“Bah, enough technical legalese! You complain; and for that, you'll be a popsicle in no time!”
The ice giant then places its meaty right hand onto the visibly scared farmer, then channels cold air towards him.
In less than a minute, the farmer is encased in rock-solid ice.
“Hahahaha!!! Enjoy some nice human-flavored popsicle! Hahahahaha!!!”
The Winter Sasquatch then leaves, searching for more complainants who object to his wish of cooler weather for him to turn into giant ice lollies.
Alright. My lunch is done.
A simple egg sandwich with liberal servings of Japanese-style mayonnaise, pork and shrimp dumplings, and a glass of orange juice.
Now I have enough energy for the rest of the working day.
As I leave the cafe and walk my usual route towards the hospital...
I can spot some people who are encased in ice.
I wonder why?
While other people are still frolicking in the snow, these frozen people have the looks of discontent on their faces.
Yup. That holds up to the age-old maxim of “you can't please everybody.”
I can then hear some screams coming from the northeastern corner.
I sneak behind a post and view the scene brewing.
“Come on, please don't ruin the family barbecue! How will they enjoy their favorite char-broiled burgers when these charcoal briquettes I just bought are all wet?”
Ah, it's a middle-aged woman who is planning to have an afternoon backyard barbecue. She simply doesn't like the abrupt change in weather for practical reasons.
And she's being harassed by a white-furred humanoid giant, kinda like Bigfoot.
“As they say... 'majority wins'! And you will lose!”
No sooner does the giant gather cold air around the poor woman and freeze her solid.
“Just obey the weather and never complain! That's the lesson for today!”
I knew it. This freaky winter and human popsicles all over are his doing.
- Writer
