Tom woke up and saw a soft, white light on his bedroom wall.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
Something felt different.
He climbed out of bed and ran to the window.
He pressed his small nose to the cold glass.
Outside, the world was white.
The grass was gone.
The flowers were gone.
The road was white.
The trees wore white hats.
“Snow,” Tom whispered.
His eyes were big and round.
Mum came in and smiled.
“Good morning, Tom,” she said. “Winter has come.”
Tom turned and held out his arms.
“Winter is cold,” he said.
Mum picked him up and gave him a warm hug.
“Yes,” she said. “Winter is cold outside. But inside, it can be very warm.”
Tom liked that.
He liked warm cuddles.
He liked Mum's soft jumper on his cheek.
They went to the kitchen.
The floor was not cold.
His little toes were safe in his socks.
Mum made hot porridge.
Steam went up, up, up.
Tom blew on his spoon.
He tasted.
It was warm and sweet.
“Thank you, Mum,” Tom said.
Mum smiled. “You are welcome, my little snow bear.”
Tom liked being called a snow bear.
After breakfast, Mum said, “Do you want to play in the snow?”
Tom's tummy felt funny.
Snow looked very new.
Snow looked very big.
He held Mum's hand.
“Yes,” he said, but his voice was small.
Mum knelt down.
“I will be with you all the time,” she said.
“You will be safe with me.”
Tom took a deep breath.
He felt the warm air go in.
He felt the warm air go out.
He nodded.
Mum helped him put on his winter clothes.
Thick socks.
Soft trousers.
A big jumper.
His coat with the furry hood.
His red hat.
His blue scarf.
His mittens that looked like tiny pillows.
Tom felt puffy and snug.
He could not see his toes.
He wiggled them and giggled.
Outside, the air touched his face.
It was cold and tingly.
He opened his mouth.
Little cold bits came in.
“They taste like nothing,” he said, surprised.
“That is snow,” Mum laughed gently.
Tom stepped on the snow.
It went “crunch, crunch.”
His boots made little holes.
He looked up.
The sky was pale and quiet.
The world felt soft and still.
Across the yard was a small snowy hill.
It was not very high.
It was like a big white pillow.
Mum pointed.
“Do you want to slide down that little hill?” she asked.
Tom held her leg.
“It looks a bit big,” he said.
“It is just a little slope,” Mum said.
“We will sit down.
You will go slowly.
I will be right here.”
Tom looked at the hill.
He looked at Mum.
Her eyes were kind and calm.
“Will you hold my hand?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mum said.
They walked to the hill.
Tom sat down at the top.
The snow felt cold and soft under his bottom.
Mum sat beside him and held his mitten.
“Ready?” she asked.
Tom took another deep breath.
He felt his heart go thump-thump.
He felt Mum's hand.
It was warm.
“Yes,” he said.
They pushed a tiny bit.
Tom slid down, sitting.
The snow made a quiet “shhhh” sound.
His tummy bounced.
The cold air kissed his cheeks.
He went slowly, slowly, slowly.
Not fast.
Not scary.
At the bottom, he stopped.
“Again!” Tom laughed.
Mum laughed too.
“Again,” she said.
They went up and down, up and down.
Sometimes Tom slid alone.
Sometimes Mum slid with him.
Every time he reached the bottom, he felt a little braver.
Every time, he felt a little happier.
He listened to the sounds.
Crunch of boots.
Shhhh of snow.
Soft laugh of Mum.
He looked at the trees with snow hats.
He looked at the white roof.
He looked at his warm mittens.
“I am glad for my hat,” Tom said.
“I am glad for my mittens.
I am glad for you, Mum.”
Mum hugged him.
“I am glad for you, Tom,” she said.
“I am glad for our warm home.
I am glad for winter days with you.”
Tom felt a warm glow in his chest.
Winter did not feel so big now.
Winter felt quiet and kind.
Soon his nose was pink.
His fingers were a little tired.
Mum said, “Shall we go inside and get cozy?”
Tom nodded.
Inside, they took off the snowy clothes.
Mum gave Tom a soft blanket.
They sat on the sofa together.
Tom drank warm milk.
It felt like a hug in his tummy.
He thought about the white hill.
He thought about sliding down, sitting.
He thought about Mum's hand in his.
“Winter is cold outside,” Tom said softly, “but I am warm and safe, and I am thankful for everything I have.”
