One cold winter night I was outdoors waiting for one snowflake to come tumbling down and land right on my saddened face. Right when I was starting to doubt, the sky lifted my spirits and sprinkled me with a soft blanket of snow.

My big brother, Zack, was in the eighth grade and had just returned from school, and I asked him, "Have you ever had a snow day?"

"No, but I hear that on a snow day anything can happen."

"Really? I want a snow day. Maybe the school will shut down."

"That's what a snow day is, silly. It's a day of no school."

"Well, maybe this year we'll have a snow day."

"Yeah, maybe we will," my brother answered in his brotherly voice.

"Kids, come on in for dinner!" my mom called out through the window.

My brother and I walked through the front door wishing we could stay out longer. When we got to the dinner table, there was a whole meal. There was soup and salad, pasta and other lovely things that I would like to say without making the reader hungry.

With supper finished, Zack and my little brother, Dakota, and I all left to go outside.

"Hey, Helaina -- catch!" My brother picked up a wad of snow and threw it right at my face. I dodged right in time. We started a snowball fight, but soon all the snow was either too hard or too soft to even try to roll into a ball, so we all went inside feeling discouraged.

"Dakota, how old are you again?" I asked.

"You actually forgot?!"

"Yeah, sorry."

"I'm turning 8 this December, next month. I want it to be a snow day on my birthday, even though it's winter break. I still want it to be very cold and snowy."

Before I knew it, I was in bed dreaming of a perfect life.

"OH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, OH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY!"

"Why in the world would Zack be singing so early on a Sunday morning? Why would he ever be singing? He never seemed like the type," I thought to myself.

I jumped out of bed and went downstairs where Zack was singing his happy tune.

"Zack what in the world are you doing?"

"Oh, just singing for no old reason," he said sarcastically.

"Zack, what are you up to?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes, just tell me."

"OK, things might be a little bit clearer if you open your curtains."

I walked over and lifted up the living room curtains to my surprise.

"Zack, that wouldn't happen to be snow, would it?"

"It sure is."

The snow was so high that it almost covered the window completely.

"WHA HOOOO!" I yelled.

I went to open the door, but the snow blocked us in! My brother and I heaved and pushed on the door, but it wouldn't budge.