Seth and the Ice Storm

Starring Seth

Seth, a determined young man, joins the famous college fraternity called the Brothers of the Ice to fulfill his dream of belonging, but when the pledging ceremony involves getting pelted with ice cubes by his new brothers, he bursts into tears and decides college is not for him. After quitting school, he discovers that what he truly loves is making people feel better, which leads him to nursing school where his gentle, reliable nature finally fits perfectly. The story follows Seth from humiliation to unexpected purpose, showing that quitting one thing can open the door to something you were made for all along.

Seth walked up to the big brick building with the purple-and-gold sign that said PHI SIG. His dark eyes were bright and his hands held a clipboard tight against his chest. "I'm going to belong here," he whispered. He pressed the doorbell.

Big Marco opened the door. He was tall and wide, with a gap-toothed grin. "Welcome, pledge," he boomed. Behind him stood Devon, arms crossed, not smiling at all. Seth stepped inside and signed his name on their list.

The next day was the pledging ceremony. Seth stood in the backyard in a row with other new pledges. Big Marco dragged over a huge cooler packed with ice. The lid clanked open with a metallic bang, and cold white mist curled out.

Big Marco flung the first fistful of ice cubes. They smacked Seth right in the face. Devon threw the next handful and ice cubes bounced off Seth's ears and neck. Each cube felt like a tiny frozen punch. Seth gasped, shivered, and gritted his teeth.

Seth tried to stay strong. He pressed his lips together. He told himself he was brave. But three more handfuls of ice hit his nose and forehead all at once, and that was it. His chin wobbled. Then he sat right down on the cold wet grass and cried.

Seth wiped his face on his sleeve and stood up slowly. "I quit," he said to no one in particular. His voice was very quiet. He walked back through the big front door, picked up his clipboard, and did not look back.

Three months later, Seth walked into a hospital on his very first day of nursing school. He wore blue scrubs and his clipboard was back in his hand. A small elderly woman named Patient Rose tugged his sleeve. "Will you stay a while?" she asked. "Yes," Seth said. "That I can do."

Seth sat beside Patient Rose and listened to every single word she said. He did not forget to eat lunch that day. When the shift ended and the lights in the hallway dimmed low, Seth set his clipboard on the nurses' station counter and smiled at it for a very long time.