Stories for Children Magazine

Snow Angel Mystery

By: Gayle Jacobson-Huset 

Sabrina knew she was in trouble as soon as she took her first step. The snow gave way under her slight weight. She fell down the snow hole and screamed. The sound echoed all around her. Am I going to die? she thought while the never-ending tumble continued.

A huge mound of snow broke her fall. Sabrina landed right on her butt. She blinked twice. It wasn't a dream. She wasn't dead and she wasn't hurt. How lucky can I be? she said to herself. She tried to figure out where she was.

"Ha ha ha. You look so surprised," said a merry voice behind her.

Sabrina whipped her head around. Nothing. Nobody. I must have imagined that voice.

"C'mon, Sabrina, come play with me," said the giggling voice from her left.

Sabrina jumped up and turned to her left. Losing her balance, she plopped headfirst into the mound of cold snow.

"Argh" she mumbled as the frigid ice bit into her face.

"Oh dear! Are you all right?" said the sweet voice. Then she laughed again. "Silly girl. You need to be on your BACK to make a snow angel, you know."

Sabrina rose slowly from the snow mound and cleaned her face with her wet mittens so she could see again.

She looked straight ahead and there was the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen! The girl looked vaguely familiar, but Sabrina was sure she’d never seen her before. Beautiful golden hair spilled from underneath her white sunhat. Her white sundress was covered in shimmering snowflake shapes. Glittering sandals and a dazzling white smile made Sabrina stare.

SUN hat? SUN dress? SANDALS? IN WINTER? What’s wrong with this picture, thought a confused Sabrina.

"W-who are you?" sputtered Sabrina. "Where did you come from? Why aren't you wearing a jacket? Or boots? It's cold out!"

"My name is Sienna and I'm not a human so I don't need a jacket or boots. I'm not cold at all," said Sienna as she threw her head back and laughed.

"You look like a human, Sienna. But if you're not a human, then . . . what are you?" asked Sabrina.

"Hee hee hee," chuckled that sweet voice. "That's for me to know and for you to figure out! C'mon, Sabrina, let's play!"

"What shall we play, Sienna? And where are we?"

"Oh, you're close to home so no worries. This is my 'special place' and I only let special humans like you come to visit me," said Sienna mysteriously. She winked.

"Your special place? Sienna, did you make me fall down the snow hole . . . on purpose?" asked Sabrina.

"Um . . . I cannot tell a lie so I'll just say . . . yes and no." Her merry laughter tinkled on the frozen air.

Sabrina couldn't figure out what was going on. Sienna sure acted and looked like a human!

"C'mon, let's play snow angels," suggested the ever-cheerful Sienna.

"Yes, that would be fun," said Sabrina. Finally! Something I understand!

"You're my guest so you go first, Sabrina."

Sabrina hopped off the snow mound and took three steps forward. Sienna clapped her hands in glee when Sabrina suddenly hurled her body backwards, butt first, back into the snow mound. She lay on her back, stretched out her arms and legs, and flapped them furiously. Sabrina wanted to make the best snow angel ever!

"Oh, Sabrina, what a beautiful angel you made," sighed Sienna.

“Thank you,” said Sabrina. She hauled herself up and off the mound to survey her angel. "Um. Not too bad. Look, Sienna, I left just enough room for you to make an angel, too."

“Okey dokey, here I go. One, two, threeeeee" screamed Sienna as she hurtled backwards onto the snow mound. She pumped her arms and legs fast to make a snow angel like Sabrina's. She giggled when she jumped up and wiped the snow off the back of her blinding white sundress.

"How'd I do, Sabrina?" Sienna asked.

Sabrina looked past Sienna and was shocked. The only snow angel is mine! How could that be? Sienna worked just as hard as I did!

Sabrina turned around to ask Sienna about this strange happening, but Sienna had disappeared!

"Hee hee hee, I played quite a joke on thee," floated Sienna's voice on the winter air. "Bye now, Sabrina. It's time for you to go home. Just walk straight ahead and you'll find your way. Thanks for playing with me."

"Sienna! Wait! Where are you? Why can't I see you? Won't you please tell me where you are and who you are?" begged Sabrina.

"Silly Sabrina! You need to think really hard and concentrate. Think about last winter. If you think hard enough, you will know who I am! I really must go now. Byeeeee!” Sienna’s sweet voice tinkled through the winter sky as a few sparkly snowflakes floated down right on Sabrina’s upturned face.

Wow. Sienna really thinks I’ll figure out who she is, thought Sabrina. Last winter, hmmmm. What did I do last winter that would make me remember who Sienna is? 

As she headed for home, Sabrina’s boots splattered the sidewalk slush as she tried to figure out what happened last winter.

Then she remembered! She had entered the town’s Best Snow Angel contest last year during winter break from school and her snow angel won. Sienna was her snow angel from the contest!  No wonder she looked so familiar. 

“Sienna,” shouted Sabrina. “I know who you are! You’re my very own snow angel! Please come back next winter, and we’ll play snow angels again!”

Sabrina could have sworn she heard Sienna’s carefree giggle in the gust of winter wind that scooted her closer to home.

~The End~