MARINA’S FLYING UMBRELLA

2.The peak is so high

If someday I’m going to write a memoir, this is going to be its title: I survived a deluge of tennis balls.
I know, it’s not a great one for a summary of the previous episode, but you’d better take it for good, because everything is running fast here, and – most of all – is meaningless.
I mean, I started my day thinking to run away from a boring Physical Education lesson, and here I am with my FILA umbrella strolling in a parallel universe!
Am I dreaming? I really hope so, because right now I am on the peak of a snow-covered mountain, with wind gusts whipping my body. I try to keep them away from me, using my umbrella as a shield, but it’s so cold and my legs start shivering.

‘Heyyy! Is there anybody out there?’, I scream.
‘Well, Marina, you’re on the peak of a mountain, not at the supermarket! If I were you, I would not be surprise if nobody answered you!’
‘It’s you again, damn bear! Hurry up, take me away from here!’
‘Don’t be in a hurry, people don’t learn the lesson from one moment to another!’ he says before disappearing for the umpteenth time, wrapped a bright cloud.

If I wasn’t aware of the fact that, with this weather, my tears would certainly turn into ice, I would cry out loud. I can’t feel my wrists anymore and I feel that I’m going to give up soon, turning into a leave that, separated from its tree, is carried away by the wind.
I can’t give up, anyhow. If I give up, everything ends. And it can’t be like that!
I suddenly take a run. I keep using my umbrella as a shield, running upwind with all the strength that remains. My run turns into a jump, probably into the void. I close my eyes, I curl up in the air, and scream before my jump ends.
‘Aaaaaaaaaaaah!’
My scream gets interrupted by an unexpected voice.
‘Come on, Marina, don’t whine, I have a weak for good will, and you proved you got it’. I open my eyes. No more mountains, no more snow. Just an infinite jump in the dark, with the usual white bear speaking to me.
‘Where are we, white bear?’
‘We’re in the Long Tunnel In Which You Fall Down And Talk, Marina. How come you never told me you’re a good runner?’
‘Well, I’m not bad at sports, I’m just lazy!’
‘Oh, you finally say it! That’s the reason why you don’t have so many tests left to do…just one more!’
‘Wait! Don’t go away, don’t leave me here, please!’
The Tunnel turns into a fade out: my journey continues, towards what I hope is the conclusion of this crazy adventure.