Cotton Candy Cory Cory was not like the other monsters in Sweet Hollow. While his friends were made of licorice, taffy, and rock candy, Cory was spun sugar... He was blue, wispy, and delicate. He was only child in the cotton candy monster family, and he was terrified of the rain. “It’ll hurt me,” he would whisper to himself, wrapping himself tighter in his sugar-silk scarf whenever the clouds turned gray. His friends didn’t understand. “It’s just water,” said Taffy Tom, bouncing in a puddle. “It’s even fun!” added Licorice Lily, spinning under her gum drop umbrella. But Cory knew. Deep down, he could feel it in the way the morning dew weighted and stiffened his arms, heavy and cruel. Still, he wanted to be brave. Brave, like the stories his mom used to tell of his father fighting off the vegetable army. Brave like the other kids splashing about. One pale, cloudy afternoon, he left a picnic and wandered home down Jellybean Lane. The wind blew gently. The sky darkened. A single drop landed on his shoulder. Cory stopped. “You can do this,” he whispered. “I’m not going to be afraid of the rain.” He said it louder this time, though his voice trembled. “I’m not afraid!” He exclaimed as he looked towards the sky in defiance! Then came the soft, cold, and, seemingly innocent drops. Though, as it would turn out... not to him. His spun sugar skin began to glisten, then slump. His edges drooped, his arms sagged, his bright blue body slowly unraveling into darkened syrupy streaks running into the streets. From beneath the flap of a peppermint-striped tent, several onlookers... Notably his mother watched. She was bright pink and carried a proud air as the wife of a candy kingdom knight. Her hands clutched the fabric of her purse, helpless. As Cory melted, her tears began to fall, almost too slow at first, then faster, leaving deep red trails down her face. They weren’t mascara. They were her. She didn’t call out. She knew he had wanted to be brave... But had never known why... Or against what. But the rain kept falling... Washing her boy away... Washing his fear away with him.