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When I look outside it looks like it might be a pretty nice day out. But when I get out there I realize I was terribly wrong and that today is one of those trick days: it looks nice but really it is one of the coldest days you have ever witnessed. Since I thought it was nice out I am only wearing a thin sweatshirt. The cold wraps around me like an unwanted blanket; it freezes my body from the inside out. The wind blows my cold hair in my face causing me to get chills every time my hair and face come into contact. When I can see through my hair I see my sister’s car and know that it will be comfy and warm. It seems like the car gets farther away with every step I take but I finally make it. The cold handle turns my fingers colder than ice. I jump in the car, slamming the door, thinking I would be comforted by warmth. Instead I hear the cold laughing at me for I have been such a fool. Of course her car would be freezing—it has been sitting in the cold all day.

When I first sit down on the cold leather seat it takes my breath away and causes me to get chills all over my body. My sister turns on the car and we start our drive. I am praying the heat will kick in soon so I can thaw out. Normally we can’t stop talking when we are driving, but our voices are buried deep inside under layers upon layers of ice. To avoid the uncomfortable silence my sister turns the stereo up.

Suddenly I hear it. I hear the upright bass playing; my heart hears it too and starts beating in perfect harmony with the bass. The lyrics come on, and I realize they are singing about zombies and I love it! They aren’t talking about how society is the reason for everything bad; they aren’t complaining about America, they aren’t blaming everyone for everything, they aren’t singing about things that are going to start debates or fights; they are just talking about zombies plain and simple.

I take in every word they say and suddenly I realize that my face has thawed out, and I am smiling. With every song I warm up a little bit more. I slowly come to life. I finally choke out words. I confess my love for the band. My sister tells me their name is The Creep Show. They are perfect, I think to myself. My sister and I spend the rest of the ride singing the words we have picked up and talking about our love for them. Before I know it we are parked in front of our house. I slam the car door and dance to the front door of my house; I am so happy the cold can’t even touch me.

Nikki Steele