The Day the Earth Turned Black

As a young Clinton Enns walked down the path towards school the sun beat down on him, but not in a punching in the face kind beat, it was more like love taps from the sun. A slight breeze wafted through a hedge and surrounded him like a blanket. The trees were green, with branches arching over the walkway. Clint adjusted his oversized backpack and trombone case he was carrying. He watched as his feet moved rhythmically along the path. He felt peace over come him and he was content.
Suddenly he looked up, feeling that someone or something was watching him. There lay a dog, curled up in the middle of the walkway. He just lay there ignoring all the children as they walked around him. He seemed to only be looking at the young Enns.

As he neared the dog he could not tear his eyes of off it. He lay there motionless, just watching. The dogs gaze was met till they were within feet of each other.
“Well, guess I’ll just walk around him then.” thought Clint. As Clint took the first step around the dog it jumped up and started barking loudly and angrily, or so this is how Clint interpreted it. Clint’s feet jumped a little in a surprised scared way. He let out a loud “STOP!”, this was all Clint could muster up. He yelled at the dog and it did not approach the little Enns boy. All around him his environment turned to black and all he saw was the dog and the path. He did not feel the sun or the breeze anymore, the green grass and trees were replaced by pitch black.
With the child’s heart still beating rapidly he walked backwards for a block, just watching the dog untrustingly. The dog stood there in the middle of the path, just watching not moving or even barking anymore.

The dog grew smaller in the distance. Clint turned around and was relieved to see that he was at school. The children played loudly on the playground. His eyes surveyed the scene as a feeling of comfort washed over him. Suddenly he could feel the sun and the cool summer breeze, he noticed again the green of the grass. It was then that he was filled with dread when he realized that he would have to walk the same way home.

That day Clint’s little heart was filled with dread. That dog was out of control and there was nothing Clint could do about it.