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Sparkly was having a rough day. As it turned out, her choice to go left had been a mistake. She had wasted time walking for hours, only to hit a dead end. Frustration rolled off her like snow on a mountain.
“Stupid gnomes.”
As she slogged her way back, snow began to fall.
Sigh.
And fall.
Huff.
And fall some more. Soon, visibility was nearly zero and Sparkly was struggling against the wind so much that she was forced to stop and hunker down in a small alcove in the trees.
“This can’t last long,” she muttered.
Plip! A snowflake zipped in, bonking her on the nose.
“What in the–?”
Plip, plip! Two more snowflakes zoomed at her, hitting each cheek.
“Hey!”
Plip, plip, PLIP!
“Stop that!” she shouted into the wind.
Snowflakes whirled and twirled until a face loomed in front of Sparkly. And smiled.
“Come play with us,” said the snow face.
Speechless with shock, Sparkly shook her head.
“Suit yourself,” shrugged the snow face. It burst apart in a shower of snow and began dancing and moving in intricate patterns around her. More snowflakes joined until Sparkly was surrounded entirely by a white wall of snow.
“Ok!” she shouted into the howling wind. “I’ll come out!”
The snow gentled and fell in soft waves as she emerged from the nook in the tree.
“Wh-what are you?” asked Sparkly.
Tinkly laughter surrounded her.
“We are Snow Spirits.”
“Okaaay.” Sparkly tapped her tiny toes. “What does that mean? Snow spirits?”
“We are the remnants of past snowstorms. The big blizzards race through the land, leaving us behind,” the spirits grumbled and in their discontent, rumbled and whirled creating a snow sculpture of a dopey looking snow devil.
Sparkly gasped at the sculpture, impressed. And then, she smiled, an idea forming in her mind.
“Wow,” she said slowly. “That is an impressive sculpture.”
“Oh, this?” The snow spirits puffed up, seeming to glow in Sparkly’s praise. “This is nothing.”
As one, the snow spirits flurried and flounced, creating an intricate sculpture of…her.
Sparkly clapped at the likeness. It really was very good.
Encouraged by her delight, the snow spirits continued making sculptures of elves, Santa, snowflakes, wrapped presents, and a rather realistic yeti.
“This is all very nice,” she interrupted. “But can you do something more intricate?”
The snow spirits paused. “What do you have in mind?”
“Santa’s Spectacular Snow Carnival!”
The snow grew, excited for this new challenge. They split into several small snowstorms, each creating a different attraction for the scene.
One group worked on a Frosty Ferris Wheel, while another built an ice rollercoaster. Sparkly was awed by the storm making a Snowman Carousel that actually spun, when she realized her plan was working. The snow spirits were distracted, all their attention focused on building this snow scene. Now was her chance to escape.
Working her way through the snow construction crews, Sparkly started back the way she had come. As she reached a turn in the path, she chanced a look back at the snow spirits. The carnival was truly magnificent. Maybe she could just stay and see the finished scene…but no, she was on a mission. Finding the Mischief Makers and their reindeer sidekick was her top priority.
Sparkly squared her shoulders and started swiftly down the path, not noticing the lone snow spirit quietly following her.
a pinch of homestead 