by Cheri R. Blomquist –
One frosty November day, Old Man Wintercloud held the first grand ball of the season. All of the snowflakes came dressed in their finest crystal gowns.
Sylvie Snowflake was the most excited of all. This was her first time as a snowflake, and she wanted to be as pretty as possible. She had just graduated from being a raindrop, which she hadn’t liked at all. It was always plop, plop, or drip, and she’d never had a lacy gown to wear. Yes, she was happy to finally be a lovely, white snowflake.
As Sylvie waited for the ball to begin, she heard someone giggle and felt a sharp poke in her back. She whirled around. Ugh! It was a boy snowflake. Angrily she said, “Do you mind? I am trying not to spoil my new gown!”
The boy snowflake laughed again. “Ha! I knew it was you, Sylvie. You were always so hoity-toity as a raindrop, and now you’re worse as a snowflake!”
Sylvie frowned. “Oh, it’s you, Sammy. I was hoping you’d be kept back a year. Well, if you have to be a snowflake, can’t you go stand somewhere else and not ruin my fun?”
“What fun?” asked Sammy. “You don’t know what fun is. But I do, and I’m going to have fun by teasing you.”
This did not make Sylvie happy, but she decided to ignore him. Maybe then he would give up and go away.
“So, are you ready for the ball?” he asked, making a fast spin.
“Of course I am,” she replied frostily. “I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I was a vapor.”
“I can’t wait.” He grinned. “I’m going to have so much fun! I’m going to do lots of spins and somersaults.”
“That’s dumb,” said Sylvie. “I am going to descend gracefully with gentle twirls and lovely leaps.”
Sammy laughed. “Gentle twirls and lovely leaps? No one is going to want to dance near you, Sylvie. That’s boring!”
“We’ll see,” huffed Sylvie. “You just watch. I’ll be the most beautiful snowflake of all.”
“Okay,” challenged Sammy, as he turned a cartwheel. “Let’s dance near each other and see what the other snowflakes say.”
“Fine,” agreed Sylvie.
At that moment, the wind began tuning its flutes and fiddles. Everyone clapped.
“It’s time for the ball!” they cried. “It’s time for the ball!”
Gently, the music of the wind began to play, and Old Man Wintercloud flung open his doors. All of the snowflakes danced toward the earth.
For a little while Sylvie and Sammy had great fun. They forgot about trying to be better than each other. While Sammy somersaulted and leaped through the sky, Sylvie twirled and waltzed.
Soon, though, Sammy’s leaps got bigger. Sylvie’s twirls got faster. Closer and closer they came, until…
“Hey!” yelled Sammy. “Let go of me, you ol’ girl. Get out of my way!”
“Let go of me, you meanie!” cried Sylvie. “Your arm is caught in my beautiful new gown!”
They tried as hard as they could to free Sammy’s arm, but the more they tried, the tighter they stuck together.
“Stop wiggling,” Sammy said. “You’re making it worse!”
“I’m getting dizzy,” wailed Sylvie. “Make us stop spinning!”
By now, other snowflakes nearby had noticed, too, and they all began to laugh. Sylvie didn’t feel graceful and lovely at all. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gave up struggling with Sammy. She couldn’t wait for the ball to be over so she could just sink into the ground. Her first time as a snowflake was ruined.
But as Sammy kept trying to free himself, Sylvie had an idea. There was still time left. Maybe since they were stuck to each other, they should try to dance together.
Sylvie thought her idea was good, so she told Sammy. He grinned.
“Maybe we could have fun even if we are stuck together,” he said.
“Let’s try it, anyway,” replied Sylvie. “It’s better than being dizzy and having them laugh at us.”
Sammy lifted his chin high. “We’ll show them!” he cried. “They won’t be laughing in a minute.”
Taking Sammy’s hand, Sylvie helped him stand up straight. Then they began to sway in time to the music of the wind until they stopped spinning.
“Can we twirl and waltz?” asked Sylvie, trying very hard to be polite.
“Okay,” replied Sammy, “if we can do somersaults and leaps, too.”
“Okay,” agreed Sylvie.
What a surprise they had! Sammy enjoyed the twirls and waltzes. Sylvie thought the somersaults and leaps were exciting. And how beautifully they danced together! All of the snowflakes said so.
“I’m sorry I was stuck-up,” said Sylvie as the music ended. “I wasn’t nice at all.”
Sammy twirled Sylvie gently to the ground and bowed. “That’s okay. I wasn’t, either. I guess the dancing you like is just as good as the kind I like. That was fun.”
Sylvie agreed. “Let’s do it again sometime.”
Sammy crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Sylvie. Then he smiled. “Okay, maybe tomorrow!”
the end.
Question Time
1. What had Sylvie been before she became a snowflake?
2. How did Sylvie and Sammy get stuck?
3. What was Sylvie’s idea?
