I ran as fast as I could over the hills of snow. I had lost my jolly along with my corncob pipe, and my happiness had cracked in two with my button nose.  The silk hat that was necessary for life was securely glued to my head with slush.

I ran for cover, then looked up, shading my eyes made of coal from the day’s hot sun. To my right were several rice fields.  The water was covered with a thin sheet of ice, so I darted over.  When I jumped in the water, I could feel a protective shield of ice freeze over me.

I leaped out of the water and kept running.  During my travels, I had heard of a place where it was almost always cold: The North Pole.  However, I needed to get somewhere cold fast, so instead of north, I headed east to the Sierra Nevada. I hoped to find a chilly cave to live in.  However, right then, all I needed was to stay firm.

I thumpety thump thumped toward the rising sun. Someday, I would be safe.  I had to.

–Mira Williams