Chapter 13: The First Snow
Winter arrived in a sweeping rush of freezing wind, blanketing the neighborhood in thick, powdery white. Early on a Saturday morning, Arthur stood by the sliding glass doors of the kitchen, sipping a hot cup of coffee. He watched the heavy flakes drift down, turning their backyard into a pristine winter wonderland.
Suddenly, something warm and fuzzy bumped against his leg. It was Finn. The golden retriever pup had grown remarkably in just a few months, his legs long and gangly, his paws enormous.
"You want to see what that is, buddy?" Arthur asked, setting his mug on the kitchen island.
He slid the glass door open. The frigid air rushed into the warm kitchen. Finn stepped out cautiously, lifting one paw and hesitating as it sank into the freezing snow. He sniffed the white powder, then abruptly sneezed.
May you like
Lily, wearing oversized pink fleece pajamas, came running down the stairs. "Is he in the snow?!" she squealed.
Within minutes, Arthur, Lily, and Finn were out in the yard. Finn’s initial hesitation evaporated. He bounded through the snowdrifts like a wild rabbit, burying his snout in the white powder and tossing it into the air with pure, unadulterated joy. Arthur laughed a deep, hearty sound that echoed across the quiet morning, throwing a snowball for Finn to catch. It exploded harmlessly against the dog’s nose, prompting a series of playful barks. The heavy, dark house had never felt so full of light.
