The Parade

“Oh, Sheena, you’re back!”

I turned around and saw my mother placing down her mixing bowl. She wiped her hands on her apron, before greeting me with a hug.

“Hello, Mom,” I said, hugging her back.

“I’m glad you visited,” she started, “but why now?”

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, “What do you mean, ‘why now’?” Isn’t she glad that I’m taking my semestral break here at home? I finally got the chance to leave the university dorms for a while, and I feel like I’m not welcomed here anymore?

Mom looked at me with a confused look. “Don’t you remember?”

“What?”

She eyed me, before pulling me to the sofa and pushed me down. She sat down on an opposite armchair. “The Parade.”

“The Parade?” I echoed. What’s The Parade? What about it? Isn’t it just a parade with colorful floats with street dancers?

“Yes, Sheena,” Mom nodded, “The Parade.”

“What about it?”

“You already know about it. But I guess I’ll have to tell you again.” Mom sighed.

“Okay,” I nodded, “spill.”

“The last Parade was when you were still in your seventh grade. You were lucky you were sick that time, so you hadn’t have a chance to look at them...in the eyes...” Mom trailed off.

I looked at her in the eye. “Mom?”

“I was lucky too, so was your Dad. He was in a business trip that time, and I was left here with you, tending you because you were sick. The Parade is dangerous. They are made of...demons and devils dancing around with floats before them. They’re not literal demons since they look human, but they’re not. They’re from Hell. I heard The Parade got more powerful this time.”

I nodded slowly, taking in the information. “Do they hold their parades just here?”

“No,” Mom shook her brown hair, “they roam around the world. It’s the time of the year for them.”

“So what should I do?”

“You can watch them,” Mom stood up, “but don’t look at them in the eyes. Once you see their eyes, you’ll be lured in their parade, and it’s like selling your soul to a devil.”

“Okay...” I trailed off. “When do you think they’re going to show up?”

“I think...maybe this afternoon.” Mom got her mixing bowl and went back to the kitchen.

“Okay.” I nod and went upstairs to my room.

‡‡‡‡

Music can be heard from afar. A band might be playing it. I got up from my bed and peeked from my window. I could see lights nearing our subdivision. This might be them. The Parade.

I ran down the stairs and saw Mom watching her favorite show. “Hey, Mom,” I called, “Can I watch the parade?”

“Sure go ahead, honey. Just don’t get closer to them. And don’t look at them in the eyes.”

“Okay!”

I grabbed my shoes, kicked them in, then ran outside.

A lot of people gathered on the sidewalks. They probably waited for The Parade to come by, but they probably don’t know what would happen if they were lured in in the parade. Even children were there! They sat at their parent’s shoulders as they stare in awe as the first float passed by.