The snow has been falling for days now. Brighton was basically a winter wonderland at this point. Molly, Darryl, and I were hoping that we might get a snow day. Molly checked on her phone while Darryl checked the laptop and I glued my eyes to the tv, just as the weather was coming on the air. "Guys! The news!" I gasped, pointing at the tv. "Good morning! I'm Joanie Pataky, I know all you kids at home are watching to see what schools are closed, so let's get down to business. Snow business." Joanie, the weather reporter announced on tv. "Perfektborg... closed! Mewline... closed! Oconohaw, closed!" "Of course Perfektborg gets a snow day!" I complained as every school around us was announced to be closed. "And... that's it." Joanie finished. "What? No! That's every town around us!" Molly gasped as we all fell backwards. "Hold on a tick." Joanie said. "We've got late breaking news! There's also a snow day for... Brighton!" "Snow day!" My siblings and I cheered, dancing in celebration. "I'm going out to play with Becca and Charlie!" Darryl exclaimed, getting dressed and ready to go sledding with his friends. Molly and I looked out the door at the snow. "Well, I'm gonna go do some reading." I said. "What?! Amber, have you seen all the snow outside?" Molly asked. "It's like a big, fluffy marshmallow! Think of Scratch, but colder!" "You know how I feel about the cold weather. My unluckiest time of year." I recalled, thinking about the time Dad and I went ice fishing a few years back. "If you want to go out in the snow with someone, why not ask Libby? I mean, Darryl went with his friends." "Amber, you're a genius!" Molly exclaimed, dialing Libby's number and heading upstairs. "I try." I sighed, opening my book that I borrowed from Cleo a few weeks ago. Ever since she found out about Scratch, she's been recommending this book series about ghost cats. I still don't understand the concept, but it's a pretty good read so far.
The doorbell rang as I just finished a chapter in my book. I answered the door to see Libby, shivering in the cold. "Whoa! Libby! You look really cold." "It's really cold out here." Libby agreed as I let her inside, just as Molly and Scratch came downstairs. "Glad we can agree on something." I nodded. "Okay, so there's a slight wind chill..." Molly said, fighting with the wind to close the door. "But we have to spend the day outside! That's what snow days are about!" "Or maybe we just spend the day doing hygge instead?" Libby suggested. "Hoo-goo-what-now?" Molly and I wondered. "Oh, it's the Danish art of being comfy cozy." Libby explained. "Hygge is about staying warm in front of a blazing fire, snuggling under a fluffy blanket and hanging out with your best pals while drinking hot cocoa!" "Oh, sorry, Libs, but Scratch and I are really set on tackling this snow day list so, uh, two against one." Molly said. "Wait, wait, wait!" Scratch exclaimed. "Libby, my dear friend, I think you just might be onto something. I love the idea of hygge! You know how much I love getting comfy." "Honestly, that sounds like a lot of fun." I commented. "And I get to continue my reading!" "Well, maybe we could do that on a different, non-snow day but..." Molly declined. "So, Libby wants to do hygge. Amber wants to do hygge. And I want to do hygge. Hm, I mean, I'm not great at math, but I think we've got three-guh for hygge versus, uh, you-guh." Scratch interrupted. "And majority rules, right, Molly?" I asked. "Yes." Molly mumbled in defeat. "Perfect!" Scratch cheered. "I love democracy!"
Molly's POV
Libby did invite me to join, but I just couldn't. This snow day was not going to be wasted inside the house. Hence the snow! I needed to find someone who had no interest in hygge. But who? Libby, Scratch, and Amber already made their decision. "I gotta get someone on my side!" I sighed, looking at my snow day vision board. "But who?" I banged my head against the vision board, just as I noticed a little sketch I did of Geoff on a sticky note. "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Oh, boy, I sure wish Geoff the ghost were here. J-E-F..." "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy mistake to make, Molly." Geoff said, right on time. "Don't you worry. It's actually G-E-O..." "F-F, yeah I know." I interrupted, grabbing Geoff by his ghostly nose. "I have a very important job for you!"
Amber's POV
I sat all cozy by the fireplace with Libby and Scratch while I continued reading my book. Not gonna lie, this was actually quite nice. I took a sip from my mug of hot cocoa, just as Geoff appeared, startling us. "Hello, Scratch, Amber, and Libby!" He greeted as Scratch spit out his piping hot cocoa on me. "Now that I, Geoff... G-E-O-F-F, is here, there are five friends!" "GAH!" I shouted after getting burned. "How convenient." Scratch grunted. "Huh. I sure would love to go outside." Geoff continued, just as I figured out this was Molly's doing. "Yup, that would be my choice for how we, as a group, spend the day." "I guess that makes this two-versus-three." Molly winces. "Leave me out of your suffering, Moll." I sighed, going up to the attic to change my clothes. "I need to shower."
As soon as I came back down, I noticed that Geoff was snuggled up in one of the blankets. "Scratch, give it to me lightly." I said. "How mad is she?" "Oh, she's mad." Scratch replied, spraying some whipped cream into his mouth. "Hello, three friends." Molly greeted, coming into the living room with Mom, Dad, and Grandma Nin on the tablet. "I've gathered a group of four, and we talked about it and..." "Uh, talked about what?" Mom wondered. "...we've decided we'd like to go spend the day outside doing all my fun snow day activities!" Molly continued. "So, if Amber doesn't want to be included in this, it looks like you guys have been outvoted. Majority rules!" "What are you gonna do?" I asked. "Let the tablet freeze?" "Well, if that's how you guys all really feel." Scratch sighed. "Hm. Such a shame, though. I mean, I know how much Sharon loves sitting in front of a warm fire, basking in the glow of good company." "It speaks to something deep in my soul." Mom whispered. "Hygge." "And I know that Pete here has never said no to a s'more." Scratch continued. "Once I have one, I want s'more." Dad joked. "Ugh! Really, Dad?" I groaned. "That was terrible for a dad joke!" "He wants s'more. He says it." Scratch repeated. "It never gets old, Pete." Mom and Dad joined us by the fire. "Come on, Molly. Join us." Dad said. "Enjoy the hygge." "No! This is a snow day!" Molly snapped. "We have to experience the snow!" "I mean, why don't you just go outside with Darryl?" I wondered. "Fine! Then I'm going outside to play with Darryl and his friends. Okay?" Molly asked as Scratch sprayed some more whipped cream into his mouth. "You do you, Molly." I replied, getting back to my juicy lore.
Molly's POV
I got my winter jacket and boots on, feeling like I could take on the world! "It's snow-time!" I opened the door to see Darryl, frozen solid on his sled and yelped. "Too cold out there!" Darryl cried, immediately taking off his winter gear and heading toward the fireplace. I was officially on my own, but I was hoping that maybe someone changed their mind. "Okay, last chance to hop aboard the snow day train." I said. "Alright? Choo-choo! Anybody? Anybody?! Looks like I'm going out on my own then!"
This is awesome!
This is great!
I can sled!
I can skate!
I can have tons of fun, just a party of one!
There's no way I'm missing a snow day!
It's the best!
It's a ball!
They're so wrong!
It's not that cold at all!
Oh, the smile on my face may be frozen in place.
But there's no way I'm missing...
Amber's POV
While Molly was willingly freezing herself to death, I had finished my book. Cleo is a literary genius! Maybe we should start a book club. "Who needs more cocoa?" Mom offered. "More hot cocoa, you guys?" "Ooh, top me off!" Scratch exclaimed. "Thanks, Mom." I replied. "Don't forget the marshmallows." Mom reminded us.
Molly's POV
Okay, I might've crashed into a lamppost when I was skiing, but that's not going to stop me from having the greatest snow day ever!
This is awesome!
Hip hip hooray!
Can't feel my fingers or my toes, but that's okay!
YOLO, I'm flying solo, but I'm still gonna play.
There's no way I'm missing a snow day!
I bet they're jealous they're missing out!
They played it safe, but look who's laughing now!
I think I swallowed a butterfly.
Amber's POV
Mom grabbed out some of our puzzles from the closet and we worked together to put them together. "Edge piece!" Geoff cheered. "Alright!" Dad exclaimed. "Awesome!" I laughed. "Nicely done!" Mom complimented. "Best snow day ever!" Geoff exclaimed.
Molly's POV
This is awesome.
I feel no pain.
I think there might be icicles inside my brain.
AH-CHOO!
But I'll maintain my composure while I'm dying of exposure.
'Cause there's no way I'm missing even one little second of a snow day!
I looked through the window leading into the living room, where I saw Mom bring out her warm, freshly baked cookies. "No! You're not getting sucked in now, McGee!" I exclaimed, slapping myself. "Who cares if you can't feel your toes? Fun makes the body numb sometimes!"
Amber's POV
This hygge thing is probably my new favorite winter activity. "I've never been so relaxed in my life!" Libby sighed. "Same here." I agreed. "I could fall asleep." "I can't tell where the pillows end and I begin." Scratch added. "Oh, there I am." All of a sudden, the wind was blowing harder outside. "I hope Molly's okay out there." Libby said as my phone began ringing. It was from Cleo. "Hang on, I'm getting a call." I said, answering my phone. "Hey, Cleo! Before you say anything, I wanted to let you know that I just finished the first Phantom Cats book, definitely made me a fan of the series." "That's great and all, but my mom and I were driving home and I thought I saw Molly getting a therapy session from a snowman." Cleo explained. "And at first, my mom thought it was you, but then I remembered that you can't stand being in the snow." "Yeah, that sounds about right. Basically, she had this whole snow day agenda planned, Libby introduced us to hygge, and no one wanted to go out in the cold, so she went out herself." I recalled. "Not even Scratch joined her?" Cleo asked. "I thought they were cursed together?" "Yeah, I wonder why she didn't summon him." I replied, just as I noticed Scratch go out in the cold while Molly was building snowfriends. "What is he up to now?"
Molly's POV
After a few minutes, the wind blew stronger, but that wasn't going to stop me from building snow versions of my sister and my pals. Totally normal thing to do for a snow day. "Ha-ha! Finally you guys will listen to me, and I can have a real snowball fight with my pals!" I cackled. "Come on, guys! Hit me! It's no fun if you don't fight back!" "Don't you worry, Molly. We'll play with you! We're your best friends!" I intimidated Libby, launching a snowball. "Oh, good throw, Libby. What an arm." I complimented. "Oh, we do have fun! Isn't this so great? It's the only way to spend a snow day, right? Guys?" I really was all alone. "Amber and Libby don't want to hurt your feelings, but I'm a lovable jerk, so I'll tell you the truth… You don't always get to be the boss." I heard my snowman of Scratch say. I must be seeing things, right? It's below freezing outside. "Sometimes you have to do what your friends wanna do." "Wow, Snow-Scratch, that's a… that's kind of a hard truth you're dropping on me." I said. "I thought since I made you, you'd be on my side…" "And a good snow day shouldn't be about what you do, but who you spend it with." Snow-Scratch continued. "Wouldn't you rather be with me, Amber, and Libby right now?" "I am with you, Amber, and Libby!" I replied as Snow-Amber's head came off. "Okay, yeah, I would. Wow, subconscious. I think you're right. It's not fair for me to always lead. From now on, I promise to really listen to what my friends want. Thanks, inner self." All of a sudden, I thought I felt a pat on my back. "Ha-ha. Okay, maybe the cold is affecting my brain. I should go inside."
Amber's POV
Molly had finally come back inside to join us for hygge. Whatever Scratch did, it definitely worked. "Amber, Scratch, Libby, I owe you guys an apology." Molly apologized. "I should've been a better friend and listened to what you wanted to do." "Aw, hoog it out, Molly." Libby chuckled as we all were pulled into a hug. "Ooh, this is pretty nice." Molly said. "I would like to never leave this blanket, please." "Yeah, I'm actually getting a little, uh, too toasty. Anyone else?" Libby asked. "Yeah, I'm starting to feel like a toasted marshmallow under here." Scratch replied. "Yeah, me too." Mom added. "I've been inside all day." Dad said. "Maybe we should all go outside." Libby suggested as everyone ran outside, leaving just me and Molly by the fire. "Nope." I chuckled. "Not gonna happen."