Newspaper Article

'The Blizzard's Robe'

Sabuda, Robert

2001

Overview

At just that moment, Blizzard passed over [Teune]'s yaranga. The shower of sparks caught in Blizzard's robe and in an instant burned enormous holes in the icy cloth. With a thundering whoosh, Blizzard fell to the ground and lay still. When Teune awoke, she stepped outside and saw at her feet rolls of cloth and needles, but the cloth seemed made of ice. Remembering her dream, she picked them up and went back inside. As soon as she set the cloth down by the hearth, it began to melt. So she hurried back outside again. In the dim light, Teune could work only a few minutes at a time before her small hands became stiff with cold. But slowly, she began to make a robe. She put designs of great frozen trees on the sleeves and pictures of the People Who Fear the Winter Night near the collar. On the hem of the skirt, she placed stars, scattered across the Winter Night. Warm light seemed to slowly dance across the darkness. The girl hurried outside and saw others as well, rejoicing and pointing upward. Colored waves of light washed over the once-dreaded Winter Night, illuminating the entire village. Winter Night was dressed in a brilliant, colorful robe of its own that flowed from horizon to horizon! The villagers laughed and cried with happiness, for if this were indeed a gift from Blizzard, they could fear him less and accept the Winter Night.

• Publisher: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC