Page 47 - СКАЗКИ СНЕЖНОГО ЭЛЬФА

Smell Wonderland

The morning vast blue sky showed some timid clouds.
I was disappointed; it didn’t smell of snow at all. The day
passed in normal daily bustle. Believe it or not, there was
nothing magical on. Several times I looked out of the win-
dow, eager to see snow and wonders, but- as the saying
goes- Wishful thinking! Outside the wind was blowing from
the river, already encased in ice and now lying new, and
quiet, and glittering. Evening came surreptitiously. Outside
the windows it suddenly got black. I glanced at my watch to
see it was time to run pick up the boys at the kindergarten.
I got dressed warmly because rustling and howling outside
were quite overwhelming.
I had to muscle to open the entrance door; it was as if
somebody was blocking it from outside. Once on the door-
step, I froze in amazement. A snowstorm was raging. It had
nothing to do with just newly-fallen snow, it was a really
thick and fierce snowstorm. Snowflakes were hasting in the
streetlights, and the sparkling white-snow miracle spread
across the visible area. I recalled Snezhik and smiled, step-
ping into the blizzard ,when – Aah! I slipped and flew head-
long down the stairs. I was caught on the fly and heard
somebody wonder,’ Well, where are you flying?’
‘Oh, Snezhik, thank you, I nearly fell down’, I started
gratefully and then realized it was the wrong thing to say.

‘What? What did you call me?’ I heard somebody laugh in
my ear. ‘Sounds funny’.
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