Summer Surprise

The weirdest day of my life began the moment my popsicle first dripped onto the ground on a hot summer's day 30 years ago. It was a hot August day in downtown Toronto. One of the hottest days of that summer and that was saying something considering it was the hottest summer recorded in Canadian history. I remember it so vividly as if it happened yesterday and not decades ago.

I was 12 years old and asked my mom for some change so I could go to the corner store and get myself some ice cream. I excitedly rushed out the door, practically running to Doc's Convenience. I entered the store, out of breath, almost scaring the life out of poor Doc behind the counter. I walked towards the freezer, hoping they had my favourite flavour--chocolate. As I opened the freezer door, and the cold air hit my face, I discovered that the ice cream had run out, all that was left was popsicles. Angrily I marched to the counter, demanding that Doc explain why he had no ice cream on the hottest day of the year.

I was greeted by Doc's tired, old face and he wearily told me that he had just sold the last pint of ice cream a mere ten minutes before I arrived at the store. I was absolutely crushed. The nearest store that sold chocolate ice cream was two blocks over, and I was not about to walk that much in the sweltering sun. Upon seeing my dejection, Doc offered me a box of popsicles at no cost, to make up for his lack of ice cream. I did not know how much it cost but I left whatever change Mom gave me on the counter, grabbed the box of popsicles and left the store quite upset.

As I stepped back into the heat, I forgot about my disappointment and was overcome with joy at having the box of popsicles. I grabbed a popsicle out of the box and pulled the wrapper off of it as fast as I could. The taste of the cold popsicle was a relief from the unforgiving sun. I did not even notice the flavour of the popsicle, all I cared about was the fact that it was cold.

I sat on the curb outside Doc's and slowly ate my popsicle, savouring its cold escape. I could feel the popsicle beginning to melt, dripping down my hand, leaving a sticky discomfort. I looked down at the puddle on the ground produced by the dripping liquid, looking at my reflection while thinking that this has got to be the hottest summer ever.

While in my pondering state, I heard multiple shoes hitting the asphalt and reflexively looked up to see a bunch of boys from my class running as fast as they could. At first, I thought they were being chased by something, but as I paid more attention, it seemed that they were running towards something. I looked in the direction they were sprinting at and my jaw dropped, along with whatever was remaining of my ice cream. I saw bright, big flashes of light coming from a few streets over. Clutching my box of popsicles I joined the other boys as they ran towards this flashing light.

I asked them what that was and they told me they did not know but it had to be something cool. I agreed with them and decided I've got to see what this is. We arrived at the site of the flashing lights, panting and sweating. The light surrounded what looked like a large metal ball. It was difficult to get more than a quick glance at the metal ball because of the flashing lights. It was the size of a small house and it seemed impenetrable, aside from what looked like a circular door on the side of the metal ball. The weirdest part of the whole situation was that this structure was absolutely silent. The lights continued flashing but it made no noise. The only sound we could hear was our breathing and our wonder at the marvel in front of us.

The rhythmic flashing ended just as abruptly as it began. There was a flash that was brighter than the ones that came before it. It was so bright that we couldn't look at it and covered our eyes. The flash came and went and when I moved my hand away from my face I was shocked to see the metal ball gone. It left no imprint on the ground where it stood as if it was not just there moments ago. The boys and I stared at each other in confusion and disbelief, unable to know what to make of what just happened. There was nothing left to see and no reason to continue gathering around this particular patch of grass.

The hot day grew more intense as we neared noon and I offered each of the boys a popsicle from the box I was still holding, as a way to commemorate what we all just experienced. As we all walked back the same way we came, the other boys discussed their theories about what we just saw. Some claimed it was UFO that aliens came in. Others thought it was a secret government experiment. I was only half-heartedly listening to their wild conjectures and I realized no one would ever believe what we saw that day. We would always be linked by this unbelievable event we witnessed together. An event that defined the summer and forever changed the importance of popsicles for me.

Once we reached the street where Doc's store was situated, I realized I'd been gone from home for too long. My mom thought I was just going to get ice cream and come back. Honestly, that's what I thought I was going to do too. I said goodbye to the other boys, making plans to see each other later that week, and ran home as fast as I could.

I swung the front door open, panting as I stepped inside. I walked to the kitchen and realized I was still clutching the box of popsicles, however now it was empty. My mom was standing by the stove making lunch and asked me why it took so long to get ice cream. I told her I ran into some friends from school and hung out with them for a bit. She told me she was glad I spent time with friends and pressed no further, not even to ask about the popsicle box I just threw in the trash. I walked up the stairs and laid on my bed, convinced that the flashing metal ball was a heat-induced delirium. Sometimes I still think it might be.