Snow Day

Snow Day

In the small town of Scottsville, it was another cold, snowy day that February. The weather had been the same as it was for the past two weeks, but for one young man today would change his life. Christian Tibbs lived in a small house with his mother and sister Bailey. Their father had passed away when Bailey was two. The house was blue with white trim the snow piled up in the yard. Christian had shoveled the porch and walkway the day before but to his dismay, he would have to go out and shovel it again. Christian had a strong dislike of shoveling but he knew, he was the man of the house and it had to be done and at least he was paid for it. Christian wasn’t tall but he wasn’t short by no means, coal black hair, brown eyes, and a stocky 13 year old. He played all the sports he could: baseball, football, basketball, and wanted to play hockey but his mom wouldn’t let him.
It was 7:30 in the morning and Christian had rolled out of bed and tuned the radio for the school closings. He desperately wanted today off, to work on his new baseball glove for practice. He had also procrastinated on his history paper. Christian wasn’t into history, it bored him expect for the sports history. Finally, he tuned the radio to Froggy 109, the greatest station around. The announcement was made; Hardman Middle would be closed today due to the weather. Running franticly into the kitchen, he realized his mother and sister had already known due to their lack of amusement. His mother bluntly stated that he was to stay at home today. After moaning how he was going to go to the park and work out his new glove, he finally gave in. His mother assured him that there were plenty of exciting things to explore in the attic. She had stored all of her late husband’s belongings there. As most children do, they don’t adjust well to the lost of a parent. Christian especially took it hard; he had hatred in his heart that he had never received the chance to meet his father. He hurt when he would go to athletic events and his father wasn’t able to attend but other children’s parents were there. Christian knew it was time, to put his past behind him and venture into the attic.
While Bailey had gone back to her bed and fallen back asleep, Christian knew he would have a few hours of privacy, peace, and commonness. Slowly, he cautiously tiptoed up the steps. To his disbelief, there at the top of the steps exactly as his mother had said was a large chest. He began lugging the heavy chest down the stairs to the living room. Christian was exhausted after lugging that down the stairs. A nice cold glass of water would quench his thirst. Sitting his drink down very slowly, he also sat himself down in front of the chest. He began rummaging through the chest, he picked up a letter that had been stamped with the Presidential Seal and inside was a Purple Heart and Medal of Valor from the Army. Along with this, there was a letter his father had written Christian’s mother about his experience in Vietnam. He was shocked that his father had been wounded in Vietnam trying to save four of his fellow soldiers and that he had went above and beyond the call of duty to save the lives of people he hadn’t know for more then a week. Christian wasn’t able to picture his father running to save someone and not knowing if he would come back alive.
He put the medals and letter back in the envelope and continued to look at the articles. With shacking hands, he carefully lifted an autographed baseball card by Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, never realizing his father had an interest in baseball. As he came close to the bottom of the box, there was a jacket, glove, and some funny looking letters. To his surprise, one of the letters was addressed to him. With much caution, he took the letter out. His hand began to shake, the letter read, “Dear Son, I guess your mom thought you were old enough to reveal these things. I know you are growing to be the man I always knew your would. I know it’s hard because I had to leave to be with the angels. If only, I could have seen the expression on your face while you opened this chest;your nose crinkles up and your bottom lip rather disappears under your top one. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember. Your mother always said you were going to love sports because I loved them. I didn’t want you know to that because I wanted you be your own person. I played football and baseball in school before I was sent to Vietnam. I receive a bullet wound shortly after landing there and trying to save some people. As you know, I did receive metals for my bravery but that isn’t why I saved the men, just my instinct.
I’m going to finish this now, Christian all these articles belong to you. Just remember I’m looking down on you always and if you need anything you can always talk to me, you might not hear me but I’m listening to you. I love you son and hope you know I miss you I’ll see you again someday take care of your mom and sister son!
Christian sat in disbelief for a while when he heard his mom coming through the door and ran to her. They went in and sat down to talk about the events of the day. Christian had so many questions for his mother. Christian always remembered that snow day and tried to live up to the man his father was. Christian finished college, he went back to the same small town and became a teacher because he wanted to help people just like his father!