text: On a walk through the woods, you see a stream that wasn't there yesterday. On the other side, you're pretty sure that owl is staring right at you. It is a bigger owl than regular owls, or at least, you think so. You can't remember the last time you've seen an owl in person. In birdson. Would it be 'in person' if it is a bird? You are a person. You don't know and wonder why you are thinking about that. There is a stream here that wasn't here yesterday. Why do you focus on the things that don't matter? Something weird is going on. It's probably because your mother constantly...no, stop. Focus. On. The. Owl. "Hey there." The owl turns his heads. Her head. You don't know. You turn your head to the right in response. "Hoo...Hoo." You sound stupid. And more like a dove than an owl. "Not who. When." Did that owl just ask you a question? Is the fact that it asked a question more interesting than the fact that it spoke? That owl just asked you a question. With a normal, human voice. What is that called when animals have human characteristics? Peoplefied? No, it is something like that. This is one of those mother-things, isn't it? The owl. "Um. When what?" You notice your head is still turned to the right. Straighten. No, that's too far left. Straight. The owl straightens its head. No, that's too far right. "Not what. When." "Ok yeah, but what does that mean? When what? What happens when?" You tilt your head. The owl tilts her head. His head. You notice the stream isn't really a stream. It isn't...streaming. It is just water that's not moving. Not like a pond or puddle. It is water that's frozen. Not like ice, but frozen in time. How long has it been that way? When. Has it been that way since you noticed it? You don't remember. You were looking at the owl. When. You straighten your head. "When." You step closer to the owl. A twig snaps, a leaf crunches. Your feet are heavy. You step closer to the owl. The stream is still between you, not moving, frozen but not frozen. Personify. No, but that is closer. That is an almost correct thing. You are almost correct. Your mother said something. This makes sense. You step closer to the owl. The owl is in the same place as it was. You are in the same place you are in. "When" "When what?" Anthropomorphize. That is correct. You are correct. Your mother. You step closer to the owl. "When." You reach the water's edge. This stream was not here yesterday. How do you know that? Were you here yesterday? You step into the stream. It is flowing. "When." "When." You respond. Maybe it is a game. "When" you repeat. You step further into the steam. You reach out to the owl. "When." "Come find me when you wake up." You sit straight up, in your own bed. The light from the hall seeps under your locked door and you can hear people arguing on the other side. A quiet breeze flows through your open window, gently causing your curtains to float, ever so slightly, in and out. You reach up to shut the window. You shudder and realize that you are freezing. Under your blankets and quilts, you shiver in your pajamas. Your socks are soaked.