Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write something suitable for CHILDREN (05/31/07)
-
TITLE: The Winter Quilt | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pepper Basham
05/31/07 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Maggie, be careful crossin’ the bridge,” Mama said.
I tried to look down at the wooden boards of the old bridge, but I couldn’t see over the reds and blues of my quilt. Granny made it for me: my first winter quilt. She finished it on a day when the trees wore a golden rainbow of leaves.
A gray squirrel ran across our path and up a nearby tree, his mouth filled with an acorn.
“Mama, what is that gray squirrel doin’?” I asked.
“Well, Maggie, he’s gettin' ready for winter.” Mama said.
“How,” I asked.
I watched the squirrel hop from one branch to another and disappear into a hole in the tree.
“Well, he takes the acorns into his house in the tree. Then he stores them up so he’ll have enough food to last all winter long.”
“Like we do?” I asked. “When we can our beans in water or place our potatoes in the cellar where it’s cold?”
“Yes, Maggie, just like that,” Mama said, putting her hand on my arm to help me up the grassy hill to our house.
The quilt felt light, like my baby sister who takes both hands for me to hold.
I looked back down the hill. Smoke rose from Granny’s chimney and a large black bear walked into his cave just across the river.
“Mama, what is that old black bear doin’?” I asked.
“He’s gettin' ready for winter.” Mama answered. “Bears go inside their caves to sleep. They rest until spring.”
“Like we do?” I asked. “When we rest from plantin’ and harvestin’ in the garden?”
“Just like that, Maggie,” Mama answered.
The quilt felt big, like my daddy’s hug.
I dressed for bed. The night owl wooed just outside my window. I left my big socks on so I wouldn’t feel the cold floor and jumped onto my bed. Suddenly, I heard the sound of geese honking as they passed over the house.
“Mama, what are those geese doin’?” I asked.
“They’re gettin' ready for winter, Maggie. Geese can’t live around here when it’s cold, so they fly to warmer places down south?” Mama said.
“We won’t go anywhere, will we Mama?” I asked.
Mama placed my winter quilt on the bed and pulled it up to my chin.
“No, Maggie, we’ll use Granny’s winter quilts to keep us warm all winter long.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
