Snow and Wonder

Veronica stared outside in amazement. The world was white. The big tree in the backyard, white! Her play set, white! Even where there was supposed to be grass was white! Veronica could look at it all day. 

“Veronica, do you wanna go play in the snow after breakfast?” her mama asked.

Veronica turned with eyes wide and her hands still on the glass of the window. She nodded enthusiastically. Her mother scooped her up and took her down the stairs to the kitchen. Once placed on the floor, her feet quickly became uncomfortable. The tile was freezing. 

“Mama?” Veronica called.

“Yes, girly,” her mother replied.

“Col’,” Veronica whimpered.

“Oh, is the floor chilly?” her mother consoled. 

“Uh huh,” Veronica nodded. 

“I think you have some slippers in the closet that I can get when I’m done making your breakfast,” her mother offered.

Veronica went over to her mother and sat on her feet to stay warm until then.

“Sweetie, I have to pour the hot water into your oatmeal. Can you go get a spoon for when it’s ready?” her mother redirected her. 

Veronica stood and walked over to the drawer where the silverware was. She reached her hand up and pulled the drawer open. She reached over her head and grabbed several forks which she discarded onto the floor. After many attempts she got a spoon. She went over and sat banging the table until her mother placed a cooled bowl of oatmeal before her. Once her tummy was filled and her feet were warm with the pair of purple slippers, it was time to get ready to go outside. 

“We gotta bundle you up, my sweet girl,” Veronica’s mama held her hand and led her to the coat closet. She opened the door and pulled out a funny looking pair of black overalls. Holding onto her mother’s arms, she carefully stepped into the overalls. Just before her feet made it through, they got stuck at the elastic meant to go around the ankle. 

“Looks like your slippers don’t fit through the foot holes,” her mama chuckled. “We’ll have to take them off.” She pulled the snow pants off Veronica and reached to take off her slippers. 

“No, off!” Veronica whined.

“If we don’t take off your slippers then we can’t go outside.”

Veronica gasped. She ran over to the window and climbed onto the chair that allowed her to see over the window sill. She placed both hands on the cool glass and leaned forward so her face was pressed against it. The world was still white. Everything was still covered. 

“Yes, ow-side,” she pointed.

“Alright, then let's take off your slippers.” Her mama motioned for her to come closer. 

Veronica carefully slid off the chair and walked over to her mother. She half hesitantly offered her mama her foot. Her mama carefully slid off each slipper and helped her step into the black snow pants again. Next they put on a pair of thick socks, her gloves, and a hat. 

“Now where are your boots?” her mama wondered, getting up to look. She walked over to the rack by the door, near the changing table, and around the floor of the living room with no luck. While mama walked around the house, Veronica tried to follow her. Her legs felt big and puffy in the insulated pants. There was a funny swooshing noise whenever she moved. With much concentration and effort she made it over to the changing table right when Mama went for the stairs. She turned to follow but her socks were slippery and her feet slid out from under her. She landed on her bum with a thud but because of the extra padding it didn’t really hurt. 

Veronica brought her knees up, feet on the ground, and tried to stand but the snow pants made it nearly impossible. Even with pushing on her gloved hands there was no standing up. Veronica decided to roll over onto her belly and pull her knees up under her to stand like that. Her socks were still slippery and she ended up caught in a cycle of her feet sliding out  whenever she brought them up under her. 

She forfeited and flopped on her stomach right when her mama came down the stairs holding her snow boots.

“Hewp!” she called. “Mama hewp!” 

Her mama couldn’t help but chuckle as she helped Veronica sit up and slide her boots on. Mama held onto Veronica’s hands and helped pull her to her feet.

“Come on, all that’s left is your coat then we can go outside!”

Veronica’s face broke into an enormous grin as she held her Mama’s hand. Walking back to the coat closet was quite the challenge with her boots on top of her snow pants. She wobbled like a marshmallow with her feet clunking on the hardwood floor. Once they made it to the closet, her mama helped her into her coat. Mama put on her own boots and coat and they were ready. Mama held Veronica’s hand as she waddled to the door. She opened it to find snow all the way up the porch.

“EEEEE!” Veronica let out a shriek of joy. She carefully stepped down the step from the door to the porch. Holding tightly to her mother’s hand she rapidly stomped in the little bit of snow that glazed the porch. Veronica took two steps into more untouched snow and stomped again. 

“Veronica, there’s so much more snow in the yard, let’s go see!” her mama encouraged her. 

Veronica let go of her mama’s hand and fell back onto the snow. She sat up and began touching it and moving it with her hands. She giggled when it moved. Once she had disturbed all the snow around her she managed to stand up by going onto her belly and pulling her legs up under her. With the boots her feet didn’t slide. She walked over a couple feet on the porch and plopped down in the snow again. She squealed and babbled and giggled, thoroughly enjoying herself. 

Her mama watched her amused for a moment before joining her. She slid on gloves from her pocket and sprinkled the snow over Veronica. That got out many squeals of delight. They built a little snowman and other fun shapes out of snow. They stayed out for maybe 20 minutes before Mama called it. 

“It’s getting too cold for you,” her mama reasoned. “After you’re all warmed up and your clothes are dry, we can come out and play again in the snow.”

“ ’now?” Veronica asked.

“Yes sweetie, the snow.” 

They both went inside and cuddled up with some warm milk, books, and a fuzzy blanket. The whole time, Veronica asked when they could go play in the “’now” again.