Pontypandy was in the grip of a rather cold winter. For the children this meant snow to play in…But, also delays for businesses and extra call-outs for the Fire Brigade.

Dilys Price was tentatively edging her way out her shop door. "Bloomin' nuisance, winter!" She grumbled before yelping as she almost slipped, "I could break an ankle just to get a bit of lunch at Bella's…"

Her seven-year-old son, Norman, appeared at the door. "Just SLIPPING out to Bella's, are you Mum?" he giggled cheekily.

"Norman, it's no laughing matter…" Dilys scolded, "Slippery ice can dangerous."

She almost slipped again…So she decided not to risk going to Bella's after all.

"Can I go out and play?" Norman pleaded.

But Dilys shook her head, "No, my sweet, not with the ground like an ice rink. The council's yet to grit the roads."

Norman huffed. He wanted to play in the snow. "Alright…" he said glumly.

Sarah, James and Penny, who was taking a lunch break, were on the base of Pontypandy Hill, playing in the snow. James was running and Sarah was trying to catch him. Penny sat on a bench, watching over them. The children laughed and taunted each other light-heartedly and Penny chuckled.

James was running so fast, he didn't see the rock buried in the snow. His foot hit it and he went flying. "AAAAH!" he cried as he landed, flat on his face. But then, things got worse. A rumbling sound startled them all. Penny looked up at Pandy Hill and gasped, "Avalanche!" she called, "Run, kids!"

Sarah ran but James had hurt his foot. "Help!" he sobbed.

Penny grabbed him and picked him up. But the slight delay was all it took. Sarah leapt out of the way and Penny threw James to safety before she disappeared under the rushing snow with a scream. Sarah and James's jaws dropped in horror as Penny's arm hit a rock which stopped her

Frantically, Sarah tried to think.

"Go to the phone box!" James exclaimed, rubbing his ankle which was, thankfully, only twisted, "Call Uncle Sam!"

Sarah gulped and ran towards the phone box. Penny's blond head burst from the snow. Gasping she struggled out, using the rock to right herself. Shakily, she tried to get to her feet but they gave way beneath her and she sank down with a groan. Her arm throbbed.

"Great fires of London!" Sam exclaimed, "Penny's been caught in an avalanche at Pontypandy Hill!"

Elvis Cridlington, who was rather fond of Penny, was in Jupiter, the Fire Engine, before anyone could say "Action Stations".

Sirens blaring, Jupiter was soon on its way.

By the time they arrived, Penny was sitting up and trying to reassure the twins.

Elvis was out of Jupiter and at Penny's side in a flash. "Are you okay?" he asked, his face pale with worry.

"I've broken my arm." Penny said, "And James has a twisted ankle."

Elvis helped Penny to her feet and to Jupiter.

Sam was checking his niece and nephew. James's ankle was too sore to walk on, so Sam picked him up and carried him to Jupiter.

Station Officer Steele was off with a bad cold. But Sam phoned him to let him know that Penny would be off duty for at least two weeks.

"Pity…" Steele sighed, "She's a brilliant Firefighter…" Then he added, "Do tell her I hope she recovers soon, eh?"

"Will do, Sir." Sam replied and put down the receiver.

Penny was sitting in a chair, her arm in a sling. "Poor James…" she sighed.

"Oh, it's only a twisted ankle, Penny." Sam smiled, "He'll be better by tomorrow, I expect."

Penny shook her head. "It's not that, Sam." She replied, "He's convinced my broken arm is his fault."

"Why, on Earth, would he think that?" Sam asked.

Penny explained how she had had to pick James up because of his ankle and got caught by the rushing snow.

Elvis handed Penny and Sam a cup of tea. "It's not his fault…" he said.

Sam nodded, "You're right, Elvis, it's not."

The next day, Sarah and James were playing in the park with Norman. Suddenly, they heard a meowing.

"Look!" Norman pointed, "Rosa's stuck in a tree!"

"Let's phone Uncle Sam!" Sarah said.

Sam tore off the telegram that came up from the automatic-printer "Cat stuck in tree at Pandy Park." He read out loud, "That'll be Rosa. Bella said she couldn't find her this morning."

Jumping into Jupiter, Sam and Elvis sped off to Rosa's rescue.

"Up there, Uncle Sam!" Sarah pointed to the tree where Rosa was mewing pitifully.

"Aye, I see her." Sam smiled, "Right, Elvis, let's get the ladder."

The three children watched as Sam and Elvis placed the ladder against the tree. Sam climbed up. "Come on Rosa…" he coaxed gently, "Good puss."

Rosa flicked her tail, warily, but edged closer to Sam who grabbed her with one hand and was soon climbing down the ladder with her.

"Hooray!" the children cheered.

"Grazie, Sam!" Bella Lasagne said as she fussed over Rosa, later in her Café, "Rosa, I do wish-a you would stay home when it's-a so cold…"

Sam blushed. "No problem, Bella…" he replied scratching his red-brown head.

"Grazie all of-a you." Bella smiled at Sarah, James and Norman, "Free hot-a chocolates for all."

"Brill!" Norman and Sarah exclaimed in union.

Bella prepared the hot chocolates and soon, everyone was sipping away contentedly…Everyone except James, who was staring at his hot chocolate glumly.

Sam pulled his chair up to him. "Penny says you're blaming yourself for her broken arm." He said.

"It's all my fault, Uncle Sam…" James sniffled and rubbed his eyes, "If I hadn't twisted my ankle…"

Sam put an arm around his nephew. "Now, you listen to me, my boy…" he said kindly but firmly, "What happened was an accident, alright? It's not your fault at all."

James sniffled again and nodded. "Okay…" he sighed before saying, "I hope Penny gets better soon."

Sam smiled and ruffled his hair, "She'll be right as rain in a couple of weeks, I promise."