Once upon a time, in a friendly little town called Maplewood, winter slowly settled in. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky like tiny feathers, covering rooftops, sidewalks, and gardens. The air smelled fresh and cold, and everything felt calm and quiet, as if the town itself was whispering.
Lucy loved to wake up early in winter. That morning, she tiptoed to the window and gently pulled the curtain aside. Her eyes grew wide. The street, the trees, even the mailbox were wrapped in sparkling white snow.
“Ben! Ben, wake up!” she called softly but excitedly.
Ben rubbed his eyes and jumped out of bed. When he saw the snowy world outside, he laughed. “It’s perfect snowball weather!”
After breakfast, Lucy, Ben, and their parents bundled up in warm coats, wool hats, and colorful scarves. The snow crunched under their boots as they stepped outside. Lucy held her mittens up to catch falling snowflakes, trying to see their shapes before they melted.
In the backyard, the siblings rolled big snowballs and stacked them carefully. Ben worked very hard on the bottom one, even though it kept rolling away. When they finished, the snowman stood tall and cheerful. They added a carrot nose, two shiny buttons, and an old blue scarf. Lucy stepped back proudly. “He looks like he belongs here,” she said.
As they played, Lucy noticed their neighbor, Mrs. Green, struggling to clear snow from her walkway. Without being asked, Lucy and Ben ran over with their small shovels. They worked together, laughing when snow slipped into Ben’s boots. Mrs. Green thanked them with a warm smile and invited them inside for hot chocolate. The sweet, warm drink made their cold fingers feel better right away.
On the way home, the wind picked up, and snow began falling faster. Near the park, Ben suddenly stopped. “Did you hear that?” he asked. From under a bench came a tiny, trembling meow. Curled up in the snow was a small gray kitten, her fur dusted with white.
Lucy carefully picked her up. “She’s freezing,” she whispered. Ben held his coat open, and together they hurried home.
Their parents helped dry the kitten and made her a cozy place near the heater. The kitten purred softly, her tail flicking happily. Lucy smiled. “Let’s call her Snowbell,” she said. Ben nodded in agreement.
That evening, the family sat together, watching the snow fall gently outside the window. Snowbell slept peacefully between Lucy and Ben. The day had been full of simple moments—playing, helping, caring—but it felt special.
Lucy leaned closer to the glass. “I think winter teaches us something,” she said quietly.
Ben smiled. “Yeah. Even cold days can be warm, if you share them.”
And as the snow continued to fall over Maplewood, the town felt just a little cozier than before.