Magic Snow

As they watched the crystalline figures descend from somewhere far above Janet turned to her daughter Sarah and said, “So, do you see any magic snow?”
Meeting her mother’s view Sarah gave her a puzzled look, “What are you talking about? I know magic isn’t real. I’m not four anymore.” Frowning at her daughter, as any disappointed mother would, “You can believe in magic and be sixteen. Look at me I’m…much older than that and I believe in it.”
Eyes rolling from ceiling to wall to floor Sarah told her mother in a matter-of-fact tone, “Well, perhaps you need to grow up a bit more. Look at me, I’m younger than you and apparently I’m more mature.”
Jokingly proving her daughters point Janet stuck her tongue out at Sarah. “See, you act like such a kid all the time.”
Embracing her daughter and squeezing her tight like a life saving raft thrown to her from a rescue boat she said, “When you really grow up you’ll realize that sometimes you have to act younger to keep from going completely crazy.” Making a mock insane face and pretending to be locked up in a straight jacket, apparently no Houdini for she struggled and didn’t escape, Janet was able to force a laugh out of her unbelieving daughter.
Looking back through the lightly frosted window the two of them again began to watch the seemingly hand chiseled flecks of frozen water fall from the sky. After a short silence that lasted hours Janet said, “Well I just don’t understand how you went and ‘grew up’ so fast. I mean, wasn’t it just yesterday that you still believed in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny?”
“Gosh Mom that was like, forever ago. Almost ten whole years I bet.” Sarah replied, almost becoming dizzy with how much she had been rolling her eyes.
Pointing out to some spot in the frosty framed painting that was the view out the window Janet attempted to sway her daughter back into her old beliefs of Santa and other things magical, “Do you see it? Right there out in front of the light.”
Straining her eyes, Sarah saw it about as well as a blind person would. “No mother I don’t see it because it isn’t even there. You’re being ridiculous. And even if it did it’s not ‘magic’ it’s just some snow that shinier than the rest.”
Heaving a deep sigh as powerful as an airbrake releasing on a bus, Janet shook her head in pity for her incredulous daughter. Thinking aloud in a satirical way the persuasive mother began, “Oh well, I suppose if my daughter is too grown up to believe in magic snow then she’ll just miss out on the joy of the winter holidays.” Again swiveling her eyes in their sockets Sarah didn’t even begin to protest this attempt to sway her. Janet continued saying, “And if she didn’t want the joy of the holidays I suppose I should just return all of her gifts. Especially those earrings she wanted so bad, the snow flake shaped ones. They would just remind her that magic isn’t real and I would hate to depress her like that.”
From annoyance to shock Sarah pleaded with her mother, “You can’t do that it’s not fair! Just cause I don’t believe in magic snow doesn’t mean that I can’t believe in accessorizing!”
With a victorious smirk slinking across her face like that of the Cheshire Cat Janet began her victory speech, “Well look at that you do believe in magic after all.” Confused and slightly annoyed again Sarah inquires, “What do you mean? I never said that.”
This time the mother rolling her eyes at her daughter Janet explained to her daughter exactly why she has been wrong all this time, in a way only a parent is able to do, “You see, the earrings are snowflakes correct?” Sarah confirmed that with a nod and Janet continued. “And they bring you joy so you must believe that it is possible for some of the smallest of things to bring joy to people. And not always just things, sometimes it’s the small acts like me getting you those earrings or a snowflake falling that glistens rather than staying plain and white.”
Astounded by this profound new outlook, the supposedly mature Sarah has now been brought to a new level of maturity and understanding that humbled her to silence. Not until she saw two shining sparkles falling by the window does she say, “I see some! There it is real magic snow!”
Smiling Janet says, “So do you see now how grown up it is to believe in magic?” As the words escaped Janet’s mouth heaven’s glitter box suddenly spilt open and magic snow flows from every direction.
Sitting under the rime fogged window the mother and daughter yet again fall into each other’s loving arms. “And don’t ever say I can’t take your gifts back, Janet said remembering her daughter’s whining when told her gifts may be taken back, “Because that’s a challenge and you know I will take it if you try me with one.” Laughing together, Janet and Sarah drifted off into a happy conversation about the upcoming holiday events.