by John White

Created on: August 15, 2011

The noon sun beat down relentlessly on the blue lake, evaporating a large cloud's worth of water vapor over the New England town. One small particle of the vapor lifted high into the air where it formed with millions of others into a large air mass that later began to cool in the wintry, December night. The wisp of vapor condensed around countless specks of dust as the temperature of the now dark cloud dropped below freezing.

A single snow crystal, with its two basal and six rectangular prisms creating the facets needed to become a snowflake, was unique to the millions of others forming nearby. Increasing in weight as it absorbed more condensed vapor, it fell to earth under its own weight.

Minutes passed as it drifted near the mountains, a helpless kite controlled by the erratic currents of air blowing across the peaks. In its last few moments of existence, it floated down the final stretch of its journey and landed on seven-year-old Judith’s warm tongue, melting back to its watery state along with several other snowflakes she had captured.

She lived on top of a large hill with her father, mother, and brother. Her house was in a cold place with lots of snow and very dark nights. Her mother baked bread every day for all the pastry stores in town and sent her father many miles to deliver it while it was still fresh.

Twice a week Judith traveled across a stream and through a forest to deliver bread to an old woman who lived by herself in the foothills. Each time her mother sent Judith, she would remind her to collect the coins for the bread. If she hadn’t left for home by dark, she was to use the Northern Lights to guide her back to the house. 

Judith did as her mother had said each time she walked to the old woman’s house. She became so sure of finding her way home using the Northern Lights, that she stayed later and later to listen to stories and old wives tales.

One night, Judith thanked the old woman and started to leave, as it was very late. Just outside the door, she accidentally dropped a coin. As she was about to pick it up, the old woman yelled, “Stop, child!  Don’t ever pick up a coin tails side up. If you do, it will bring bad luck!  Pick it up heads side up and you will have only good luck from the fairies.”

Judith was quite frightened and flipped the coin over from tails to heads before picking it up. She thanked her again, and stepped out into the snowy night.

Judith followed her old footprints in

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