Snow

           Itwasdusk.

           Theystoodontheporchinthefadinglight,Jackinthemiddle,hisleftarmaroundDanny’sshouldersandhisrightarmaroundWendy’swaist.Togethertheywatchedasthedecisionwastakenoutoftheirhands.

           Theskyhadbeencompletelycloudedoverbytwo-thirtyandithadbeguntosnowanhourlater,andthistimeyoudidn’tneedaweathermantotellyouitwasserioussnow,noflurrythatwasgoingtomeltorblowawaywhentheeveningwindstartedtowhoop.Atfirstithadfalleninperfectlystraightlines,buildingupasnowcoverthatcoatedeverythingevenly,butnow,anhourafterithadstarted,thewindhadbeguntoblowfromthenorthwestandthesnowhadbeguntodriftagainsttheporchandthesidesoftheOverlook’sdriveway.Beyondthegroundsthehighwayhaddisappearedunderanevenblanketofwhite.Thehedgeanimalswerealsogone,butwhenWendyandDannyhadgottenhome,shehadcommendedhimonthegoodjobhehaddone.Doyouthinkso?hehadasked,andsaidnomore.Nowthehedgeswereburiedunderamorphouswhitecloaks.

           Curiously,allofthemwerethinkingdifferentthoughtsbutfeelingthesameemotion:relief.Thebridgehadbeencrossed.

           "Williteverbespring?"Wendymurmured.

           Jacksqueezedhertighter."Beforeyouknowit.Whatdoyousaywegoinandhavesomesupper?It’scoldouthere."

           Shesmiled.AllafternoonJackhadseemeddistantand…well,odd.Nowhesoundedmorelikehisnormalself