Paul and Storm

One of the firemen ran to the truck, brought back a small blowtorch, and fired it up. Drifty tried to dodge the crowd of people as they groped for his magical hat.

“Please! I’m not a monster!”

But without arms, it was only a few moments before someone snagged his cap.

“No, no, no! Imagination is FUN…”

Drifty’s head exploded into a puff of snow as the minivan driver swatted him apart once again, and the smell of burning foam filled the air as the hat began to smoulder. Everyone gathered ‘round as the last of the hat was reduced to cinders, and they waited in silence to see if the snow would once again come to life.

It didn’t.

Finally, the paramedic broke the silence. “We need to all agree, right now, that none of us will speak a word about this to ANYONE…EVER.”

Everyone agreed.

“Look, Mommy!” shouted Caroline a moment later, pointing at their house. “The lights are back!”

Sure enough, all of the holiday decorations up and down the block were filling the dusky winter street with an avalanche of colors. Mother began crying for joy, and she drew Danny and baby Roger close around Caroline.

“I swear to you that I will never make you play outside again,” she said.

“YAAAAAAY!” shouted Danny and Caroline.

“*pffffffft!*” said Roger, who wasn’t big on words.