by Sammy Stein

Created on: December 17, 2009

At first, the snow fell flake by flake, gently coating the world in clean white. Then, the wind picked up and the snow fell harder, faster, covering even the little nooks and crannies of theyard. Then, with even more gusto, the wind picked up flurries, only to deposit them against the hedges, against the walls until the drifts began to make piles of deep, fresh, damp, cold, wet, snow.

The next morning the world awoke to a snowy white world. Several inches of snow had fallen in the night , covering the several inches already there and the town was well and truly snowed in. Unprepared, the gritter lorries had run out of salt and not reached our quiet little backwater. Still, at least we were indoors. Many animals were not and people had to set off into the cold to find sheep, cows and smaller horses to bring them to safety. Still the snow fell and fell until it was impossible to move around in it. Cars could not start, ploughs and tractors were held fast by the white, damp, snow.

People stayed in their homes. School obviously was shut but this was not as much fun as it could have been because the children could not go out and about.  Still, at least people and animals were as safe as they could be given the stormy circumstances. Families kept warm inside, watched TV or chatted.

A kid of blitz culture grew and shortly neighbours called each other on the 'phone to see everyone was safely indoors. Some even struggled outside to make sure elderly friends were snug and some brought extra blankets, a meal or food to help out. Some families cleared paths and braved the snow to build snowmen and throw snowballs with children.

Still the snow fell until evening came again and people rushed indoors to get warm before the snow froze. The sky cleared making it even colder and peoples' breath came in short, steam puffs as they struggled through the deep drifts towards their welcoming lights and warmth. The evening was spent huddled together, warm and safe but knowing that outside the world was freezing.

In the morning - the snow had gone - drifts remained but life returned to normal. Families went to school, people got into their cars and drove to work. For a while we had been trapped, snowed in, the town cut off fromthe wider world, a community puling together and yet warm and safe. Everyone came together to help and look after each other. Now, the snow was metling fast, the sky looked like it was going to rain and children sensed the snow was but a fleeting thing. We know it will come again but for now, the town forgets its cosy snowed-in days and gets back to reality.

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