One Short Story by Kathryn Ann Hill

 

What Edith Saw in the Snow, 28 January 2019

 

FARWELL AVENUE, 8 AM

It has snowed all night, at least eight inches, and is still snowing. The neighbourhood whitebeard has traded his felt Homburg for a wool watch cap, and has wrapped his muffler over his mouth against the blowing snow. He nears the ten-year-old who is on his knees, febrifically scooping snow from the huge pile in his front yard, like a badger digging a den. Snow falls, snow blows, snow flies from the hands of Badger Boy. Does a corner of the old man’s mouth twitch up as he passes by? Edith cannot see; his muffler covers his expression.

 

MARYLAND AVENUE, 8:30 AM

Sidewalks are not yet cleared of snow, so Edith walks to work in the street in tracks left by kindly cars. There is no traffic to dodge: motorists have been warned to stay off the streets until they are plowed. Behold Edith’s vision: Down the hill a slender young woman is coming her way, then pauses. She stands straight and still on her left foot without a handhold, raises her right foot, lifts off its boot and shakes something out (Snow? A pebble? A pea for a princess?) then slips the boot back on and continues her walk. O balletic arch and spine! O Goddess of Grace, from what gynaeceum hast thou sprung?

 

FARWELL AVENUE, 3:30 PM

Edith is returning home. Her street is still unplowed. The snow has stopped falling, and laughter fills the air. Cars are parked on either side, but down the middle comes a toboggan party. A girl is being pulled along, with friends tramping on either side. They are as merry as feasters strolling toward a fazenda in a favonian breeze.

In the next block Edith pauses at Badger Boy’s house to examine his handiwork. She sees that he has not sculpted a burrow for hibernation—he has built a tunnel for passage.

Kathryn Ann Hill has published over eighty-five poems in print and online journals since 2003. At http://pendemic.ie/?s=Kathryn+Ann+Hill you will find her pandemic poems.

She has published six books of poetry between 2007 and 2017. Her Author Spotlight at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kah1952 contains a list of these books.
She is presently preparing a seventh book of poems.