Cricket League

WINNERS JANUARY 2022 STORY CONTEST Wintry Tale

First prize 10 and under

Isobel Waugh, age 10 Rochester, NY

Cabin Fever

Crunch.

Lynn looked up from her book. She sighed, got up, and walked over to the window. Snowflakes danced around the frost-covered glass. Lynn rubbed her sleeve against it, and the window cleared. The ground was covered in a thick layer of white. Squirrels with snow-sprinkled backs scampered around the yard, searching for the acorns they had previously buried.

Crunch, crunch.

Lynn pressed her forehead to the cold glass and looked down. There was her little brother below her, waving and smiling mischievously. He hurled a snowball at the window. The impact made a smack. Lynn opened the window, letting the chilly midwinter air sting her cheeks.

“What do you want?” she called.

“Come play!” her brother shouted excitedly.

“Maybe later.”

In response, the boy prepared another ball of ice to throw at her. She quickly shut the window.

Smack!

Lynn scowled. She still had a mountain of homework. It was supposed to be winter break, not winter work. Still, maybe she could take a break. Before she could change her mind, or get caught, Lynn raced downstairs, donned her boots, mittens, hat, and coat, grabbed her