Page 15 - CAS- Book 1 - Autumn, Winter

Snow and Storms before Departure

Khloe Chan

What if we leave before the snow comes? I tapped my pen against my chin
and glanced out the window, seeing no sign of the cold white flurries that
came every winter. Instead, I could just make out the faint outlines of
raindrops falling past. It had been drizzling since noon and we would be
leaving for the airport in about an hour. I supposed that weather reports
couldn’t always be right.

Yesterday evening, I had been reading a book on the couch while my par‐
ents watched the television. I hadn’t been watching, but Mom had told me:
“It should start snowing tomorrow morning, so you’ll be able to build a
snowman before we leave!”

I had cheered happily. But the snow never came.

Sighing dejectedly, I laid my head in my arms to block out the dreary grey
sight, muffling a groan of frustra on, before abruptly standing and cla ering
down the stairs. Shoving my feet into my worn sneakers, I opened the front
door and stepped outside. A cold blast of wet air slapped me in the face be‐
fore I shielded myself quickly with a jacket slung from my arm. I looked
about the front yard and jolted when thunder rumbled, sounding close by.
The rain was pouring now, so I retreated into the house, the wind shoving
the door closed behind me with a loud thud.

I kicked my shoes off and dumped my jacket onto the staircase railing, then
jogged to the living room, my footsteps muffled on the cold white les by
woolen socks.

“Mom! It’s raining really hard outside and I heard thunder‐” There was a
crash in the distance and the lights flickered once, before going out with a
near inaudible hiss. The wind howled harder outside, thunder growling once
again. I heard a shout from my sister upstairs as Dad jumped up and rushed
to check the power. Mom, on the other hand, went to the phone and began

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