The Cabin on The Hill By Adam panzica

It was the worst storm in fifty years. It was freezing cold, and the wind was so strong that woodland creatures could often be seen whizzing by. The sparkling, white snow was six feet high, but despite all of this, it was extraordinarily bright outside, for the clouds somehow managed to completely curve around the sun.

Casper, Smith, and Robert were oblivious. Casper was curled up in the large, red arm chair finishing a small totem that he had started carving the week before, while Smith was brutally beating Robert at chess, as was their usual custom. They had recently arrived from their regular residences, and has instantly started the usual activities that were performed in that cabin they rented every year.

The sounds of the phonograph playing almost blocked out the blowing wind and snow, but the sound of Casper's famous tea boiling blocked out the rest. Fire blazing in the fireplace, the men refused to leave their seats to pour the tea. The incredible comfort felt by them was only increased by the smell of chestnuts roasting in the fire, creating warm feeling in the hearts of the men reclining in their chairs.

Eventually Casper got up to take the tea off of the stove. Seconds later, Smith and Robert heard a smashing sound and instantly rush into the cabin’s small kitchen room. The kettle had smashed on the ground and Casper was facing towards the window with his mouth hanging open. The others looked towards the window and saw the mountain of snow blocking out the beautiful scenery and gluing the window shut.

The implications were serious. They had taken a train to a nearby town and horses from there to the top of the mountain. The horses had most certainly died and even if they hadn't, the men couldn't leave. They were city men, clerks to be specific, and had little-to-none of the necessary faculties to survive outdoors or expend much effort on any given task.

Smith was trying to stay positive,

"I'll keep the fire going. We may be trapped, but we can stay warm!" He walked in front of the dying fire, over to the stack of wood they normally kept inside. He reached down blindly, and instead of hitting wood he fell to the floor. They were out of wood! They had nothing left but candles to provide heat and light. They needed to leave immediately!

The were very depressed by this sudden turn of events. They were cold, tired and sad. But as time went on they got warmer, and almost forgot their situation. Then, Robert heard a crackling noise. He turned around and let out a scream. They had neglected to turn the stove off, and somehow or another the kitchen had manager to catch on fire.

They all jumped up. The men had left their coats in the room behind the kitchen, so leaving the cabin would certainly lead to death. But so would staying. Smith panicked. He started running around the room trying to find a feasible escape route. But the windows were filled to the top with snow and the door had frozen shut. There was no escape.

He began to cry. My wife and kid would expect him home in a few days, he thought. His friends noticed but were unable to console him, for they were in similar conditions themselves. They couldn't muster even,"it's alright," because they couldn't believe that.

Suddenly, Smith stopped crying and ran to the chimney. He was overjoyed.

I’ve got it! Let us go, gentlemen! Up the chimney we go, like Ol’ Saint Nick!" He proceeded to scramble upwards, until he reached the top. Seeing his success, Robert followed, shortly preceded by Casper. Shivering in the wind and bright sunlight they gathered themselves again, the started scrambling through the snow and down the icy hill, towards the nearby town.

***None of them ever returned to the cabin or the town below it, and the townsfolk started to worry when they didn't leave at the time they had suggested. Some visited the place where the cabin stood, assuming that the men had never left the mountain. They might no be wrong though. The families of the men had called for they hadn't seen their husbands in several months.

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