The Snow Angel

[ToddW]

The Snow Angel


“Silent night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright”

Hello, please forgive my singing I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I'm Paul, and to my right, my wife Jen. We just moved into our house 7 months ago. It’s a quiet neighborhood, in a quiet town filled with wonderful people. Joe and Linda, one of the other couples singing with us, live next to us. They’re the ones that asked us to go caroling, great couple and a lot of fun. The last couple is John and Nancy, they live three houses down, John doesn’t sing well either, but we try.

“Of angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold”

The night is brisk, about 34 degrees with a light snow, a perfect Christmas Eve for caroling. The Jenson’s house, where we are now, is a little ranch on a corner lot. It’s all lit up for the holidays as it has been for the 40 years they have been here. They have been here so long the corner is named for them, you know, a landmark for giving directions, go to the Jensons and turn right. An older couple, their children have grown and moved but they always come back for Christmas. The Jensons are always the first to put up the lights and the last to take them down. You always know when Christmas is near when the Jenson corner is lit up.

“Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh”

We finish our last song, take our bow’s, accept the applause and move on to the next house. It’s a two story, there is a tree lit in the window and on the lawn, a low fence around a perfect little snow angel. I thought it a little strange to have a fence around it and pointed it out to my wife; she thought it strange too. I asked Joe about it, he said he would tell us later. I shook it off and we walked up to the door, but kept looking back at the angel, it looked so, I don’t know, perfect, ah well…

“ Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la”

Steve and Karen Smith open the door, smiles and hellos arm in arm they listen to us sing. The Smith’s have lived here for 5 years now, a nice, young couple but quiet, you don’t see them much but they always have a warm greeting when you do see them. We finished our songs, accepted the applause. John stepped up and asked how they were doing, talked for a little then wished them happy holidays. As we walked down the stairs, I couldn’t help but look and wonder about the angel with the fence, there was just something about it.

We walked John and Nancy to their house, and continued on towards ours. We arrived at Joe and Linda’s; they asked us in for coffee. Since we didn’t have to go anywhere till tomorrow afternoon, we said ok, besides, I wanted to know about the angel. Linda and Jen went into the kitchen to make coffee while Joe and I put on some Christmas music. We talked about this and that until our wives brought out the coffee and some cookies; we sat at the table talking about our plans for tomorrow. I asked Joe to tell us about the angel, he got a somber look on his face, took a sip of coffee, and told us the story.

The Smiths moved here 5 years ago so they could be closer to the hospital, they had a 7-year-old son, Kyle, who had leukemia. Although he was sick, you would never know it by looking at him, it didn’t slow him down. You would always see him in his front lawn playing with all the kids in the neighborhood, they all came to play with him, and he had this glow, a charisma that drew you to him. At Christmas, he was like any other boy, he loved the snow. His friends would come over to help build snowmen and have snowball fights, but Kyle loved to make snow angels. He always made one in the middle of the front lawn and continued the tradition when they moved here.

About 8 months later Kyle took a turn for the worst, He became very weak and the kemo wasn’t helping. The doctors told the Smiths Kyle didn’t have much time left, but Kyle was a fighter and was going to make it to Christmas. To everyone’s surprise, he got better, still weak but better. He made it, it was Christmas Eve, and he made it to the second Christmas in their new house. The Smiths threw a party and invited all Kyle’s friends, if this was to be their last Christmas together, it will also be the best. Everyone showed and the party was a hit.

Around 5 p.m. everyone started to leave. Kyle was worn out from all the festivities and needed a rest. His mom put him on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate; he took a sip and soon fell to sleep. It was 7 p.m. when we showed up caroling, Steve and Karen answered the door smiling. Kyle heard the singing and asked his dad to carry him to the door so he could see. His face lit up, he seen about 4 inches of fresh fallen snow. He whispered something to his dad and a huge smile crossed his face. Steve grabbed their coats and came outside.
Steve carried Kyle to the place he pointed to, laid him in the snow and stepped back, Kyle started moving his arms and legs, back and forth, up and down. When he was through, Steve lifted him up and they looked back at what he made, a perfect little snow angel. They stood there admiring it and smiling at each other, then went inside to tell mom about it.

At 9:30 Kyle wanted to go to bed, he told them he wanted to be asleep when Santa came. Steve and Karen smiled at each other, carried him to his room and put him to bed. About an hour later, when they were sure he was asleep; they brought out all of the gifts and stuffed the stockings, had a cup of coffee and went to bed. The next morning they woke to a quiet house and knew something was wrong. It was 10:30; Kyle would have had them up by 7:00. They rushed into his room, he was lying on his side with a pen and pad next to him, he had passed quietly in the night. The whole neighborhood pulled together to support the Smiths. It was the largest funeral this town had ever seen everyone came to console the Smiths and tell what they felt for Kyle. He touched so many.

It was the following year, we were doing our caroling thing when we seen the Smiths standing in their lawn. We went to say hello and found them crying. I sent the others ahead and asked if we could help. Steve pointed out a snow angel on the lawn; we immediately knew why they were crying. They asked us in for coffee and we accepted. We sat at the table just talking about nothing when Steve said he had something to show us. He went to a desk and pulled out a pad of paper and asked us to read it.

Dear GOD

I am writing to ask you for something for my mom and dad. I would ask Santa but I don’t think he could help. I want them to have something to make them happy when I’m not here because I’m dying and won’t be here anymore. They make me happy all the time so I don’t want them to be sad. Please help me to make them happy GOD

Love Kyle

We finished reading, our eyes filled with tears and thought, such selflessness from someone so young. Steve said that’s why they were crying out front. The snow angel was a gift, we don’t know how it got there, but we are happy it is. We talked for a little more then went on our way, thinking of the letter he wrote and smiling.

Jen and I listened to Joe tell the story of the Smiths and the snow angel, it was very touching and I thought, what a kid Kyle must have been. We finished our coffee and said our good nights. It was snowing pretty hard now, the news said we were going to get at least 5 inches, the way it was coming down I thought more for sure. As we walked home I couldn’t get that story out of my head, and what was it that bothered me about that snow angel. When we got home we were pretty tired so we unplugged the lights and went to bed, I still couldn’t get that image out of my head.

The next morning we woke, Jen went to the kitchen and I plugged in all the lights. We sat at the table drinking our coffee and talking about the day’s plans, but I still had that angel in my head. Then I thought of something, I went and got dressed and headed out the door. Jen asked me what was wrong, nothing I said, and I’ll be right back. When I opened the door I noticed at least that 5 inches of snow we were suppose to get. I went walking down the street to the Smiths house, I had to know. I got to their lawn and sure enough, there it was, the little snow angel surrounded by the fence. I thought, well, someone likes to make the Smiths happy, to come out and make a snow angel for them. Then I noticed something odd, no matter where I looked, there were no footprints. The snow couldn’t have covered them without covering the angel. I stood there a few minutes, and then looked up at the window, there were the Smiths, arm around each other looking at the angel and smiling. Then it hit me, Kyle got his wish, a gift to make his parent’s happy. Later I found out the snow angel has appeared every year since Kyle died, no one has ever seen who makes them and there are never any footprints.
Every Christmas morning you will find the Smiths looking at their little angel, smiling.

[karrie]

Oh my this is so heartwarming and wonderful! Much enjoyed!

[SweetSophie]

This made me cry so badly. Honestly it's a reminder of thegoodness in people and that miracles are not in our hands. Beautifully penned.

Love,
Sophie

[AnIdeasman]

I like the unity demonstrated by this neighbourhood, it's touching. The carolling in the introduction made me curious as to how this story would develop. The perspective is really involving, I felt as if I were standing next to these characters. Making the characters engage the reader is an excellent way of getting an audience involved, and it also helps bring the entire story to life.

Everything about this story is personal. It could happen in almost any house on any street anywhere in the world, Perhaps this is why it had quite a deep affect on me.
This is the suburban tragedy, though we may find some relief in the ending, I cannot help but feel saddened by the whole story. Thanks for sharing this!

[dwells]

A beautiful tale told with heart-wrenching sadness and yet a hopeful future beyond suffering Todd, cheers!

[ToddW]

Thank you all for your time reading and your wonderful comments. There is a second part to this but it isn't finished yet.

Again I thank you,
ToddW

[Larsen M. Callirhoe]

This is so endearing, yet sad and very appealing narrative story also. I love how you engaged the characters and brought these people to life like a well written opening act to a great movie seen. I have to admit getting misty eyed and very teary reading this piece as I read along reading the narrator's spellbinding words that mesmerized and touched the inner parts of my spiritual heart inner workings. I have to admit this is superb writing and what you magically pulled off is an amazing remarkable story and I have to believe little miracles like this exist. I imagine after like 25 or 30 years the snow angel might stop one Christmas season just as miraculously as it originally appeared or maybe it goes on the life of the married couple till one of the partners passes in life. Regardless I have to say you really have a way of writing an uplifting message celebrating a tragic event especially a young kid passing on such as you detailed in your sublime short story. I look forward to reading part two if you ever publish it on this site Todd. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt piece and I Really Enjoyed...

victor

[Dew]

Beautiful and endearing story...I love when a tragedy finds a ray of light. Always looking for mine! Congrats on the light! - dew

[ToddW]

This is a real treat for me. Thank you for the spotlight, it is most unexpected.

[rupertpupkin]

Wonderful story, really enjoyed this one, well done on the spotlight, Sean.

[JASON]

dammit - now i'm crying at work!
what a well written,touching story.

[Josie]

Wow! Thank you for sharing and refreshing my spirit with tears. Congratulations on TPS Spotlight recognition.

[inflames]

This is really beautiful. Congrats on a well deserved spotlight! :)

[xBloodyxgemx]

I also got teary eyed. It seems you have quite a skill for making people cry! lol.

[SirFleshwound]

It is truly not often that I find myself with goose bumps, a lump in the throat and a tiny rock in my heart. To be able to enliven such emotion through word is the dream of all who visit this place. You have achieved what many will never. Bravo indeed. SFW

[Baywriter]

I had the pleasure of reading this before it was spotlighted, but never got to leave my remarks. I think the spotlight is well-deserved. This is an engaging story, and I enjoyed your writing style and the way you evoked the emotion of the story through that style. Great job.

Bay

[ToddW]

Bumping this up for the holidays.