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A Walk in the Snow.

Michal Reiben

    Anna’s family was poor so that enjoyable outings were virtually non-existent. One winter after a few days of falling heavily, the snow had finally ceased. She was outside in the front garden endeavoring to build a snowman, when her stepmother Andrea came trudging by, accompanied by the neighbor’s au-pair.
    “We’re on our way up the hill, do you want to join us?” asked Elka the au-pair, exhilarating positive energy.
    Andrea scowled for she’d wanted Elka’s company all to herself. Anna turned to her hopefully, “Please can I come along, please!?”
    “Well I don’t know,” said Andrea, “I hadn’t planned on you joining us.”
    “Oh do let her come with us, she won’t be any trouble,” urged Elka.
    “Well alright,” conceded Andrea, “But you’ll have to go and put on your coat and boots, and what’s more you mustn’t bother us.”
    Anna rushed indoors, struggled into her coat and boots, grabbed hold of her gloves and hat; and dashed out again. They were soon on our way. Behind their cottage, with only a small field separating it from them, rose the awe-inspiring Bluebell Hill. It was far too steep to climb vertically, so there was a path which wound itself snake-like up the hill’s side through an evergreen thicket. The three of them plodded along through the fresh snow. On both sides, they were enclosed by trees, which were laden down with white glittering snow-crystals. Andrea and Elka clung closely together to help each other along, all the while chatting animatedly. Occasionally they laughed and squealed in delight, for they found the snow invigorating. Anna trudged along about five yards behind them, for she was being careful not to bother them. At the same time, however, she also thoroughly enjoyed myself; and was thankful that she’d been allowed to join them. Eventually, Andrea and Elka arrived at the end of the path, stopped short and stared out ahead in stunned silence. Anna soon caught up with them and curiously peered in the direction in which they were staring. At first, she only saw that on top of the hill there was a woodland of trees that were not evergreens. The trees looked strangely naked without their leaves; snow was sprinkled on their branches like icing sugar and they cast spindly shadows on the snow-covered ground. Finally, she noticed what they were watching. Under the trees, two squirrels were chasing each other about and leaping up and down in the snow. Suddenly they scurried up one of the trees and disappeared out of sight. Now that the squirrels had scampered away, the stillness and the quiet all around them felt acutely profound. The complete absence of other people was strange. The snow-covered hill was utterly transformed. When it “wore its summer clothes” Bluebell Hill was a lush green and dotted over by wildflowers. While in the spring the woodland undergrowth was covered in bluebells, and the hill was vibrant with people coming and going. They stood spellbound, it almost felt as if they were on a visit to another planet. After a few minutes of them being thus transfixed, Andrea broke the silence, “Those squirrels were so sweet? But now I’m getting very cold,” she said as she rubbed her gloved hands up and down on her arms.
    “I also feel cold, let’s go back,” said Elka.
    Trekking down the hill was much easier than climbing up and even more fun. When Andrea and Anna arrived back at their cottage and were discarding their wet clothes in the kitchen, Andrea turned to Anna with sparkling eyes, “That was wonderful, seeing those adorable squirrels. The climb was strenuous work, but the snow was marvelous.”
    “Yes, it was,” Anna agreed eagerly, for she reveled in Andrea’s attention, and was thrilled that she was including her, permitting her into a small niche of her world.
    “Anna, now go off to your room,” said Andrea.
    For a moment Anna felt sad since she understood she was being tidied away so she wouldn’t clutter up Andrea’s life. She didn’t blame her, she realized Andrea was probably much too young to be burdened with a stepdaughter; besides, she knew their life of poverty was hard on her. Anna went off to her room feeling quite pleased with her day; after all, Elka had stood up for her, Andrea had been considerate and she’d enjoyed the walk in the snow, and the sight of the squirrels playing around tremendously.
    Ultimately, if one doesn’t have very much in one’s life, even a little outing in the snow can be a special event. The memory of that track up Bluebell Hill would remain in Anna’s heart forever.

    This story was published a few years ago by Cafelit, but it has since changed.

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