Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 16:50:43 -0800 (PST) From: Evan Yarrell Subject: Whiteout - part 1 ''The weather outside was dreadful...' goes the Christmas song,' I thought to myself as I was driving on Interstate 91 north towards my house in Newfane, Vermont. I wanted to get home to Vermont before Christmas Eve, but I was tied up with a client in New Haven, Connecticut. I wanted to be home in front of a roaring fire tonight, but now I'm fighting my way up 91 in a nor'easter. The weather was frightful outside. When I started up 91 from New Haven it was raining, by Middletown, Connecticut it was sleeting, then raining in Hartford, Connecticut. When I hit Longmeadow, Massachusetts, it was snowing and now in Holyoke 27 miles from Longmeadow, it was full force, and the traffic was crawling along. I went to the slow speed lane when I looked over and saw a minivan with snow skis on the roof crawling along. In the minivan was 3 teenaged girls and a bored looking boy of about 8 or 9. I looked at the boy, and smiled and waved hi. The boy smiled and waved hi. 'The boy is a cutie,' I thought to myself. I know, as I saw the van pull into the slow speed lane, that I won't ever see him again, but soon, I was in back of them, although I couldn't see much - it was a blizzard, and soon the state police closed 91, at Greenfield. When I got off the highway, I saw the minivan pulling into the Howard Johnson's, so I pulled into it to see if they got a room. 'What luck, I won't be home for Christmas,' I thought to myself. 'Bet they are filled.' I got out of my car and grabbed my laptop. I wanted to e mail some Christmas cards, especially to my young friends. As I closed my door I saw the boy, who was walking with his sisters and mom. I walked towards the office and I opened the door to the office for them. As they walked in the mom smiled and said, "Thank you." I said, "Happy holidays. Where were you going skiing?" The mom said, "I just bought a home in Vermont. We were going to do skiing for a week since they have school vacation. We are going to Haystack since it is near where we will be living." "I live in Vermont. Haystack is a nice place." I glanced over to the boy, who was sitting off to the side being bored. I smiled at him and soon I got a smile in return. She was granted a room, and she went to the boy and I could hear the boy saying, "I'm not going to sleep with you, mom. I'll sleep in the van. Why not 2 rooms?" They started towards their room. I got a room next to her and it had a door connecting the rooms, so I caught up to them and said, "Excuse me, If you need an extra bed, I have one. It is a shame for a boy to sleep on the floor." I looked at the boy and smiled. "The boy said, "Please mom." The mom said, "Do you mind? He needs a man in his life. His dad took off a year ago. I just hope that he'll love Vermont." "If I did, I wouldn't have said anything. Where are you moving to? Haystack is near where I live. I'm Douglas Snowden." "I'm Francis Lackland. These are my daughters - Jill, Amie and Chelsea and this is Clint. Clint will you listen to Mr. Snowden?" Clint said, "Sure. Mom, do you think, Mr Snowden could help me when we move? That river is supposed to be nice for fishing." His mom smiled and said, "I don't think so. He'll be in another town." I saw Clint frown, so I smiled at him. I went into my room and set up my computer. Clint went with his mom, so soon there was a knock on the door seperating the two rooms. It was Clint smiling and he said, "May I visit you, mom and my sisters are talking about girly stuff." "I looked at Clint and said, "You don't like it? Boy, come on in." Clint saw my laptop and said, "Are you busy?" 'Not really I thought as I wanted to see if my 'cyberson' was online.' I shut off the comuter and looked at Clint. He was still bundled up. I said, "Are you cold? I set the temp to 82, I like it warm." Clint took off his down jacket, and I can see that he was wearing a flannel shirt, a t-shirt, and Tommy Jean that was maybe 1 size to big for him. I think he is a cutie so I said, "Make yourself at home."