Snow Day in Three Acts

Snow Day in Three Acts                                              Saturday Snow

I want to paint my face like an ice dragon.                     Saturday snow

No it will get on your scarf.                                            nowhere to go

But it will come alive outside in the snow                      falls on the world

I’ll paint it when you come in                                         soft as

(from upstairs)                                                                cat’s feet

I can’t find any sweat pants!                                          (no that’s been taken)

Where’s my coat?                                                           kisses

Where’s MY coat?                                                        (could be mistaken)

Zip me up?                                                                     blankets the world in a silent shroud

I ate your coat.                                                              (oh, for crying out loud)

Oh so that’s where my boot was.                                   But this moment I have

Ow! My chin's in the zipper.                                          curled up in my chair

I’m going to throw the snow!                                        children outside

Can you throw your boot?                                            snow in the air

I need shoes.                                                                  running and falling

They’re in the bathroom.                                               sliding and calling

Mom, please tighten my boot tops.                                Shrieking with laughter

No! (like a pirate) Never!                                               how could I no?

Mom!                                                                             I suit up and go

(youngest, in the middle of chaos, spins 

around on a stool, chirping ‘no!’)

What?

Can you tighten my boot so I don’t have to take my snowpants off?

I look like a marshmallow.

Take your school backpack upstairs. please.

Mom where are my gloves?

(youngest, still spinning on the stool)

Mom why do gorillas have such big nostrils? Because they have big fingers!

Oh no! My shirt’s on backwards!

(struggles to turn turtleneck around without removing bibbed snowpants)

Mom can you tighten my shoes now? I think I may overheat.

I look like a red marshmallow!

(sister shouts to brother upstairs)

Will you go get my hat? It’s on my bed!

(smallest brother)

I see my gloves! Mom will you lift me up? They are too high.

Get the step stool.

Mom could you help me get my other glove on?

Could you zip me up?

Where’s your hat?

Upstairs in my backpack.

……….

Quiet

sound of the clothes dryer

the dishwasher cycles

snow

click of the computer keys

faint swhirr of the fan

soft flow of warm air from the vent

creak of the chair

Grandmere’s voice in my head

‘snow like feathers sign of good weather,

snow like meal snows a great deal.’

Snow skitters agains the glass

I break off an old leaf from the geranium

blooming a blood read burst against the white window

soft snap as the stem comes away, the smell of geranium

bubble of boiling water

sharp fresh smell of the tea

soft ceramic 'tunck', the lid on the tea pot

……..

Muffled sounds of glee

through the window to the back yard

louder

The door slides open

Mom come and help us! 

We can’t get the ball of snow on top!