027 Winter
Character: Max
Max stared out the front window of his house, watching the snow fall. He waved to his mother, Mary, as she walked toward the family car. She was heading to the grocery store to stock up for the snow that was supposed to hit them over night. Max didn't really know why snow would keep them from eating but his mom said they needed food and he trusted her.
He stood from the window and ran into the kitchen. "Mommy, can I go outside and play? I want to build a snow family." It was something he loved doing and had done as long as he could remember. Not that that was very long. He was only nine.
Max's mother, Laura, looked down from the dishes she was washing. Her long blond hair was pulled back so it didn't get messy while she was washing and a wide smile was spread across her face. "Just let me finish the dishes, sweetheart."
Max grinned and ran through the house, back to the window. He sat, well bounced, and watched the snow fall, eager to get out and play. When his mother came out of the kitchen and moved to the closet. Max moved over to join her and waited until she'd handed him all of his winter gear before moving over to the couch and sitting down to put it on.
Once he'd gotten on all of his gear, with a little help from his mother with his boots, he raced to the door. "Remember to stay in the yard," his mother instructed.
Max stopped at the door. "Yes, mommy." He opened the door and ran out into the snow covered yard. He knew his mother would join him soon, snow family kit in hand. Before she got out though he'd show her how much he'd gotten better at packing snow. He started rolling snow and packing it tight into what were as close to spheres as he could manage.
His mother came up warmly wrapped in a puffy jacket. Max showed her the ball he was already forming and they got to work. They rolled and packed the snow, making larger and larger balls. They started to stack them into three sets and pack snow around where the balls of snow needed to be connected.
Max's mother was finding some sticks for the arms when max noticed a young girl watching him. She looked to be about five and was watching Max intently. He smiled and walked right over to her. He'd never had much of a problem with walking up to people and making friends.
The little girl seemed unsure what to do but didn't move away. Max could see bits of red hair poking out from under her cap and her green eyes stared straight at him as he neared. Her hands were holding her coat tight around her to try to keep all her warmth in.
"Hi," Max greeted. "I'm Max, who are you?"
The girl frowned for a moment before answering. "My name's Linda." She glanced over at the snowmen. "What are you doing?"
"My mom and me are making a snow family. We do it each year when there's enough snow," Max explained. "Have you ever made one?"
Linda nodded and looked to the trio of snow people. "My mom and I did it each year. We can't do it this year."
"Why not?" Max couldn't understand what would cause a tradition to have to stop.
"My mom isn't around anymore," Linda answered. There was a cold and emotionless tone to her voice that suggested she'd emotionally distanced herself from it.
Max didn't press the matter. He didn't even want to think what could cause a mother to not be around. "Well you can make one with me and my mom. We have plenty of snow."
Linda hesitated but finally nodded. Max took her hand and led her onto his yard. They started rolling up three more large snowballs so they could make a snow child of Linda. When Max's mother returned she was pleased to see her son having made a new friend. She helped them with making the fourth snow person and they set to work decorating then. His mother had to get some items from inside to dress and decorate the fourth snow person as there wasn't enough supplies in their kit.
When they finished Max and Linda stood back to examine their creations. "I think they look good." Max grinned and Linda only nodded.
"All right, who wants hot chocolate?" Max's mother asked.
Max raised his hand. "I'd like some, please." He looked to Linda. "You'll want some. My mom makes the best hot chocolate. She makes it just right with a bit of milk and always puts marshmallows in it."
Linda nodded and turned to Max's mother. "I'd like some, please," she requested quietly.
His mother smiled at the two of them. "Them lets head inside into the warmth and I'll make you both some hot chocolate." She led them inside where they could get warm and let some of the snow melt off their jackets and boots.
The two children sat by the window and sipped hot chocolate until the sun started to drop. When the sun was getting too low and Max's mothers decided it was time for Linda to get back to her family Max made her promise to come back and play with him again. Linda seemed a bit unsure but promised none the less. Max sat in the window and waved at his mother's car as it pulled out of the drive way and moved off down the street.