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“It isn’t,” said George, “but he’s going in now, and he’s my ride”

“Is it a big storm?” Kelli asked

“Very big,” he answered, going into the bedrooes, and it’s not just snow, but ice and freezing rain, too”

“An ice storm!” said Kelli “I bet it’ll be pretty Like a forest that shines back at you Pretty! Can I co to stand in the doorway to the bedroom

“No, honey, you can’t come You stay here with Mom and Hannah and have fun, okay? I’ll be back”

Hannah watched herup sandwiches She stopped wrapping for a ain, she was a bit slower, like she had to concentrate harder “How long?” she asked

“I don’t know Not long, Mina”

“But what about the sledding?” said Kelli

“You’re big now, you don’t need to have everyone around e do things,” he said

Kelli said nothing

It wasn’t long before the lights of Scott Purcell’s truck winked through the trees down the driveway Nook and Rudy ignored the vehicle, but the house dogs ild, barking When Hannah opened the door, Bogey went bounding out to the truck at full speed, juainst his legs, alhed and thu and human looked very pleased

You’re not that special, thought Hannah froey does that to everyone

Before Scott had arrived, Hannah’s parents had gone into the bedroo their faces, Hannah knew they were arguing Her father hated to argue in front of people, hated yelling He wanted everything calm and talked about reasonably Hannah had met her mom’s family only twice, but each time she had been shocked at the voluhed and cried at the sa Around theu, and much louder Normally, she never raised her voice

Scott ca on the living roo snow all around hiain and stared at hi at his feet

“Hey, Hannah,” he said, then, “Let’s go, Williams, time’s a-wastin’!” He nodded to Hannah’s mom “Hello, Mrs Williams”