In The Castle

• Caitlin Briggs, Grade 5, Forest Lake State School
• Short Story
• 2016

Excellence Award in the 'Top Secret 2016' competition

I pulled back the curtains one by one and light flooded into the castle. 1 curtain, 2, 3.......17...56 done.
"Are you done yet, poppet?" It would've been good if the windows opened right at that moment in time, if they did, I would've jumped out. My mother is the most embarrassing person you'll ever meet. She calls everybody poppet, pinches my cheeks, I'm 17, and STILL sings me lullabies at bedtime.
"Umm...nearly, yes!" I tried to speak as smoothly as I could, I didn't want to upset her. I braced myself for what her next comment would be.
"OK, sweetie pie-" I slapped myself, "-now you can decorate the great hall for a ball?" I stared at her. She twirled at the top of the staircase. We hadn't had a ball in forever!
"Mum, are you sure?" I looked up at my mum who was still having her dance right then, "and be careful!" I turned to leave and then stopped, waiting for the 'goodbye of the century.'
"OK my sweetie pie, cute faced little poppet!" Are you sure these windows don't open, I thought as my cheeks turned crimson, are you sure? I hurried out of the room before she could destroy my dignity any more than she already had. I sat down on a sofa and shut my tired eyes.
"This is too much," I whispered, my eyes still closed. I heard the hall doors opening. My eyes opened. As the hall doors swung open loudly, I ducked behind the sofa, my eyes locked on the doorway.
"Poppet!" For a second, I felt relief and then a stabbing fear. That definitely wasn't mum speaking, she wasn't a man! A bulky figure entered the hall. My eyes found his hand instantly. He was dragging mum by her red wrist through the palace. I looked up at his face and instantly recognised it, Grean. I reached for something to throw but my hand hit a hard object and I couldn't keep quiet.
"There you are!" His loud voice was ringing in my ears when I threw the pot at his head. He dodged it. I leaped to my feet and charged at him but he was too quick. Three minutes later, he was holding mum and I over the bridge. I stared down at the raging water below me. It was patterned with sharp rocks and ice. Its water was so cold that I'd turn into an ice cube the moment I hit it! His grip loosened and I screamed. I looked up at the people who were bowing their heads at me and then realised they couldn't harm the government like Grean. His grip loosened again and I grabbed my mum's hand. I took it in mine and as he let go, I managed to say the words I could never bring myself to say.
"I love you mum," I whispered, "thank you for everything." Then we hit the water and I was right, I became an ice cube.