The white ruffled snowflakes fell by the millions covering the browning grass that would have been blowing free. The snow had been falling for the last week. It started about noon last Saturday. Just in time for Christmas.
Bundled in his clothes, Charles was sure not to let one molecule of air drift through to a minute portion of his skin. Charles walked this way Monday through Friday on school days. He didn’t particularly like school, but sickness of any kind meant making up work. He didn’t want that.
The wind was blowing the snow making drifts as high as the fences around the farm. Charles knew he had to hurry before the snow became too deep to wade. The familiar path no longer led the way home, but he knew it well enough without going astray too far.
He was fairly close to home he thought, searching the horizon for the rather large brown house he called home. The Christmas lights on the front porch would lead him home and he was certain father would worry if he was late, and he didn’t want to worry father.
Charles knew now that he was a bit late but not too much. He could make it by hurrying. He became tired and stopped to gaze forward, but nothing before his eyes but snow. He felt strange for he recognized nothing of the old path. His mind filled with the question, “Am I lost?”
That was when Charles heard a crying voice some distance before him. Who could it be? Maybe someone searching for him, thinking he was lost.
He ran steadily until he came upon a body half covered with snow lying as a fallen bird in his yard. The body was a young girl who cried, then screamed “I’m freezing, please help me!”
Charles’ eyes felt heavy and he bent slowly forward and touched her brow, brushing the snow from it. She smiled slowly as her parched lips closed to hide herself from within.
Charles dropped to his knees and covered her body with his, stopping the escaping heat from her body.
She curled up and gave a warm sigh of relief. She was warm once again.
******
They searched for Charles for 5 days but no trace, so they waited for the snow to melt. The snow melted about 2 days later and Charles’ body was found lying on the old path, frozen solid. His father said Charles must have gotten lost and so tired he collapsed and froze to death.
