On a cold damp night, the smell of salt and pine filled the air as two friends walked down Chestnut Street towards an open field they’ve played on a thousand times before. Tonight they’re not carrying a bat or ball. They’re not here to play or climb a tree; they’re here to witness a miracle. They only thing they hold is a gift that was entrusted to them over a year ago. Together they will stand patiently, staring up at the night sky—waiting. They’ve come here with open hearts and minds; they know how important it is to believe.  They’ve waited a long time for this very moment, now they’re ready—ready for the snow—the first snow—The Magic Snow.

Jason and Keisha lived next door to each other most of their young lives. Across the narrow space that separates their homes hangs a string dangling between their bedroom windows. Two old vegetable cans are attached to each end allowing them to communicate long after each of their bedtimes.

“Keisha, are you there? Over, Keisha do you copy?” The muffled sound of Jason’s voice vibrated across the string and filled the can hanging next to Keisha’s window. “Yes, I hear you, over. What’s going on?” Keisha was waiting for Jason’s reply when her Mom entered the room.

“Is that Jason?” her Mom asked. “Yes, we always say good night too each other.” Keisha’s Mom smiled as she closed the door always leaving it opened just a little to let the hall light peek through.

“Mom, I’m OK, I don’t need the hall light on any more. You can close the door all the way now.” With a raised eyebrow Keisha’s Mom looked suspicious as she said, “OK, what’s going on here?” Keisha returned an innocent glance and replied, “Nothing Mom, I’m not a baby anymore, I can sleep with the door closed all the way now.”

Keisha’s Mom’s face changed from suspicion to surprise. She noticed a new confidence   in her daughter. She looked all grown up, “OK, say your good-nights and get some sleep, you have school tomorrow.” As she closed her daughter’s bedroom door for the very first time Keisha’s Mom looked a little sad. She was sad because she thought about how much her husband was missing out on, watching their daughter grow up so fast.

Keisha hesitated for a moment, thinking about her Dad and how much she missed him. She stood silent in her room thinking about what her father was doing right then and if he was thinking about her. She also thought about her Mother and how sad she seemed to be lately.  As Keisha stood in her room all by herself with the door closed for the very first time, she suddenly felt different, she didn’t feel grown up, she felt alone.

“Keisha, are you there over, tonight is the night, over.” Keisha forgot about Jason for a moment until she heard his voice echoing from vegetable can. She ran across her bedroom floor reaching for can to answer.

“I’m here, over—I’m sorry, my Mom was in here. Did you say tonight is the night? I’m not sure I can go, how am I going to get out?” The string went still and the can was silent. Keisha waited for what seemed to be forever for Jason’s reply. Then she suddenly heard a thump outside under her bedroom window; “What could that be?” Keisha thought as she looked toward the outside wall near her bedroom window. Thump-Thump-Thump she heard it again wondering what was causing that odd sound. Keisha approached her window and slowly pulled her curtains to one side when Jason’s head popped up only inches away from her nose on the outside of the glass. Keisha wiped the fog from her window to see Jason hovering outside her bedroom window.

“Geez, I almost screamed, how did you get up here?” Jason couldn’t hear through the glass so he motioned for Keisha to open the window. When she opened it a cold rush of air flooded her room causing the posters on her wall to flutter. She leaned out to see Jason standing on a step ladder. “Where did you get ladder?” she asked. “It’s my Dads; your window is only a couple of feet from the ground. We can use this to get you out tonight. Call me when your Mom falls asleep and I’ll come back to get you.”

Keisha knew that her Mom would be going to bed soon. She would always walkthrough the house to make sure all the doors and windows were locked. Then, she would go to the kitchen and check her email. Keisha’s Dad sent a message everyday but they never knew when it would arrive. Sometimes he emailed in the morning, sometimes at night. He even sent messages at 2am in the morning. If her mother doesn’t receive a message she would leave the computer on all night hoping to receive it. That’s how Keisha knew when a message arrived. If her Mom received a message she will read it and turn off the computer. Keisha could hear that weird music that a computer plays when it shuts down. If she heard the music, she knew her Dad sent a message. Those messages made her feel safe knowing that her father was OK.  Her Mother would then go to the bathroom for a few minutes, turn the TV on in her bedroom and fall asleep watching the news. That is when she’ll call over to Jason.

Earlier today, Keisha and Jason were at recess playing on the Jungle Gym at school with their friends John-Boy and Snow-Dog. John-Boy was named after the TV show, The Walton’s; mostly because of the large mole he had on his left cheek. Similar to the mole the actor had on his face that portrayed John Boy Walton. Snow-Dog earned his nickname because he always wore these funny looking scull-caps that had the impression of a dog’s face on it and floppy dog ears dangling from its sides.

It was a clear day, with bright blue skies but the air was cool suggesting that winter was just around the corner. As the four friends played on the jungle gym a sudden cold breeze wisped across the playground causing everyone to stop and adjust their hats and coats. Of course, this didn’t stop Snow-dog as he climbed to the very top of the jungle gym. As another breeze whipped through the playground Snow-dog stood straight up leaning into the wind letting his dogs ears flap in the breeze. Struggling to stay balanced he shouted, “There’s snow coming, I can smell it.”

Keisha and Jason were looking up at Snow-Dog worried that he might fall and hurt himself. Keisha watched as Snow-dog stood straight up using his arms to balance like a tight rope walker when she shouted, “get down from there, you’re gonna fall!”

Snow-dog looked down still standing high atop the jungle gym as he gained his balance. Then he put his hands on his hips and looked straight into the wind as he spoke, “There she blows, it’s a Nor Easterner, it’s coming, coming tonight, I can feel it!” Jason decided to join Snow-dog on the top of the jungle gym so he started to climb through the bars making his way to Snow-dog. As he reached the top bar another strong wind blew across the playground forcing Jason to squat down and hold on to the bars while he watched Snow-dog stand tall fighting the wind. As the wind subsided Jason was able to stand, steadying his legs while letting go of the bars he stood next to Snow-Dog. “I see it,” Jason shouted.” I see the front over the mountains!”

Keisha and John-Boy climbed down and were ready to go back inside. Recess was almost over when John-Boy said, “come on guys get down from there, it’s time to go, if we’re late you’re gonna get us all in trouble.” Keisha agreed adding, “Jason, come down right now, you’re going to fall.”

Before climbing down Snow-Dog balanced on one foot, pointing towards the North like one of those spinning wind indicators you see on the top of some houses. His ears were still flapping in the breeze as he shouted. “All right, here I come.” In one fail swoop he dropped down to an inside bar on the Jungle Gym swinging around to an outside bar and then dismounted like an Olympic gymnast. “He stuck the landing.” Jason shouted. Jason then traced Snow-dogs path following him down to the ground.

The four friends walked over to a bench near the double doors that lead into the school when Snow-Dog asked, “So what are you wishing for tonight John-Boy?”

John-Boy, without hesitation answered, “I’m wishing for an IPhone, one of those cool ones that show videos and connect to the internet.” John-boy smiled as he pretended to pluck away at a cell phone in his hand. Then he held his hand up to his ear pretending to make a call when he asked, “What are you wishing for Snow-dog?”

Snow-dog was brushing the dust from his pants when he answered, “A Playstation 3, you know the kind with Blue Ray. So I can watch all those cool movies in high definition.” Jason was just about to ask Keisha what she was going to wish for when he noticed she was already walking through the double doors and was headed down the hallway. Jason caught up to her and put his hand on her shoulder, “Hey-wait, what’s the hurry?” Keisha stopped and turned to face Jason. He noticed it look as if Keisha was crying.

“What’s wrong Keisha, I was just going to ask you what you’re wishing for tonight?” Keisha didn’t answer as she lowered her head she turned away and started to walk down the hall toward her classroom when Snow-Dog said, “What are ya asking her for, you know what she’s probably going to wish, tickets to see Miley Cyrus or something stupid like that!”

The three boys started to laugh as they sung the Hanna Montana theme song. Keisha stopped and turned toward the boys. She didn’t say a word but they noticed her eyes were red and her cheeks were moist with tears. Keisha walked up to the three boys holding in her emotions. She took a deep breath and said, “You all know we shouldn’t wish for toys or games for ourselves. That’s not what Grandma Edna told us to do.” Keisha stared at the three boys and added, “We should only use the Magic Snow to help people, not ourselves!”  Keisha turned on her heels and quickly walked away.

“Geez, what’s wrong with her? Snow-Dog asked. “Word-Dog, what did we do wrong?” John-Boy added looking toward Jason when Jason replied. “It’s not us, Keisha is just upset.”

“Upset about what” John-Boy asked? Jason looked solemnly at the two boys and told them about Keisha's Dad.

“What’s Keisha’s Dad have to do with anything he’s in the Army and he’s not even around.” Snow-dog and John-boy looked confused as Jason answered. “That’s just it, Keisha found out that her Dad won’t be coming home. He was supposed to get out right before Christmas but they want him to stay until his replacement arrives. “

Snow-dog watched Keisha as she opened the door to her classroom. Then he asked Jason, “How long is that going to be?”  Jason watched as the door to Keisha’s classroom closed when he answered, “I don’t know but her Mom said he won’t be home for the holidays at all. This will be the third Christmas he missed.” The three boys didn’t say a word as they walked up the hallway.

When the boys reached Keisha’s classroom they stopped to look in. They saw Keisha sitting at her desk with her head folded in her arms. 

“Where is Keisha’s Dad anyway?” John-boy asked as the boys started to walk further down the hall. “He’s in I-Rock.” Jason answered.

“I-Rock, Do you mean Iraq?” John-Boy enquired. “Yeah, that’s it Iraq. Every time he is supposed to come home they make him stay longer.” The two boys knew how hard it was not having a parent around for Christmas. Snow-dogs Dad was gone last year and John-boys Mom was overseas during the holidays the year before.

“We should do something for Keisha,” Snow-Dog suggested. The boys all nodded in agreement, but what? What can they do to make Keisha happy?

The boys were standing by their classrooms thinking about how sad Keisha looked sitting alone with her head down when suddenly Jason got an idea.

“I know exactly what we can do for Keisha!”