Cornelia’s Time-Out

As a twist on the usual, I have been asking some contributors to compose a full 1000 word picture, as an extra challenge, and way to shake things up. We'll see a few more of these, as well as some split 500 words a piece between two contributors. As Number 5 isn't quite complete as yet, I thought I'd add this piece to tide y'all over. Enjoy!
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“No, I didn’t like that story one bit.”

Cornelia refused to accept the fact that a chicken could possibly befriend a fox. It’s just not possible, no sirrreeee.

“Cornelia, why do you have to be so stubborn? Just come back inside, please! I’ve made you some bumbleberry pie. Your favourite!”

“Why does she always do that? She tells us an inane, illogical story, and all the other stupid kids laugh and think that it’s the best one she’s ever told. Then with her syrupy sweet voice she tries to entice us back for more. I refuse to be tempted.”

Hmph.

“Oh, I hate mosquitos. Why do they have to hang out in the grass like that? How could I ever be friends with a mosquito? It just wants my blood. That’s the natural order of things. Humans and mosquitos can’t be friends.”

SMACK!

“It’s war you little bugger! Don’t you dare bite me! Chickens and foxes…jeez.”

“Cornelia, come on dear, come in for some sweet pie!”

“NO! I like it out here! I don’t want any of your stupid pie!”

“Alright then. You don’t know what you’re missing!”

Hmph.

“Stupid people never get it. Why can’t she see that the world is doomed to hell? Always with her ridiculous optimism. Has she no common sense about the truth of things?”

Hmph.

“Cornelia, mom sent me to talk to you. What’s wrong?”

“You wouldn’t understand, Kathy.”

“You look silly sitting on this chair in the middle of the field. Come inside, Cornelia.”

“Oh, really?! Well, I sit out here because it’s more comfortable than listening to stupid stories about chickens and foxes being friends.”

“It’s just a story, Cornelia. Jeez!”

“It’s more than a story. That woman is indoctrinating us with lies. Illusions. Chickens and foxes could never be friends. Don’t you get it? Foxes eat chickens!”

“But not always, Cornelia. That’s the point! Sometimes foxes are nice. Chickens don’t have to be afraid of them.”

“Oh, that’s so naïve of you, Kathy!”

“It’s true, though. If you see a fox, you shouldn’t be afraid right away. You need to give him a chance. First see if he’s hungry or if he wants to be friends.”

“And how do you do that, Kathy? Go up to him and see if he bites your head off? Really, now! We need rules to live by! You have to know who to trust and who not to when you see them. Or else you’ll go crazy!

See this mosquito. Chances are he wants to bite me, not be my friend.”

SMACK!

“See that blood? It’s mine. He wanted it. That’s the point.”

“Why can’t he have your blood, Cornelia? You have a lot of it. What’s wrong with sharing?”

“Oh, that’s not the point, Kathy. The mosquito doesn’t want to be my friend. It wants my blood. It’s my enemy.”

“It seems you’re a worse enemy than him, Cornelia. You killed him. He just wanted to eat.”

Hmph.

“Come in for some of mom’s bumbleberry pie. Pleeeeaaasssseeee! You need to eat, too, you know. Stop being so stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn. I’m right. And I want to be out here. It’s more real than those escapist things you call food and stories.”

“Fine. Enjoy being grumpy. I’m going to eat your slice.”

“PIG!”

“MULE!”

Cornelia sat on her chair until sundown. Her ankles were covered in mosquito bites. She pondered about all the lonely animals in the world—sharks, falcons, coyotes—and decided that she needs to learn more about them. She also decided that she needs to figure her way out of this house for good, otherwise she will become just as crazy as them. Tomorrow morning she will open her piggy bank and count what her savings are worth. Maybe she can move in with her teacher’s family – they always have calm and happy looks on their faces.

She looked at the house and saw the chaos of their bodies. Kathy was hitting Frank, Mom was crying on the stool, Dad was yelling at Bob about some stupid show on the t.v.

“Why do they always do this? Why does mom always cry? Why does dad think he knows everything? Why does Kathy hit Frank all the time?”

Sitting on the chair in the middle of the field is Cornelia’s favourite place to be in this world. Without anyone bugging her, she can make up stories about the stagnant clouds and discover the phenomenon of little ants carrying twice-their-size breadcrumbs. Life is peaceful here. Cornelia is in complete control – SMACK! – of what she wants to do and her own mind. No one can push her around and no one can tell her that what she’s doing is wrong – because she’s doing one of the most harmless acts -- sitting on a chair in the middle of the field. Even though mom and dad would prefer she was eating bumbleberry pie and cleaning the grime in the bathtub. Cornelia knows this would lead to bad gas and stomach cramps. It’s much safer and happier outside.

Cornelia wishes Kathy would pull up a chair beside her, because Kathy could use a break from these people who always tell her what to do and what to think. Kathy would have so much fun playing in the field. Cornelia could show her what she’s learned about the bugs and the flowers, and she could teach her about listening to the wind tickling the leaves against the branches. Then she would surprise her by throwing her in the cold lake! Oh, how much fun they would have! What she would do to hear Kathy laugh out loud!

Cornelia stares up at the stars and thinks, “Well, I guess that’s what heaven’s for-- where Kathy and I can play without the bother of foxes.”

“Come on in, Kathy! It’s past your bedtime and the bugs are gonna eat you alive!”

“I’m coming, I’m coming. Jeez.”

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Contributed by Heather Isabela