Opal and the Quiet Snow

Clink, clink, clink went Opal's little wheels across the cabin floor. Opal was a small helper robot, round as a teacup, with one bright dot for a face. Opal's job was to bring the soft blanket and the warm socks. It was evening on Snowy Mountain. Outside the window, snow fell and fell without a sound. Opal liked to ask questions. It had one now.

Jun was in the warm bath. A bubble went pop on Jun's nose. Jun giggled and wiped it away. The bathwater went splish, splish. Nima sat close by on a stool. Opal rolled to the bath mat and asked, "What was that?" "A bubble," said Jun. "Bubbles pop." Opal's dot blinked twice. "Snow does not pop. Snow is quiet. Why?"

Nima the yak came with a warm towel. Nima was big and kind, with a coat like a brown blanket. She wrapped Jun up and rubbed Jun's hair dry. Nima hummed a low song. The cabin smelled of wood smoke and cinnamon. Nima set a mug of warm milk on the table. The mug made a little steam.

Opal rolled to the window. Its wheels went squeak, squeak. "I want to look at the snow," said Opal. But the glass was foggy. The fog made a soft gray cloud on the glass. "I can't see it," said Opal. "Make a peek hole," said Jun. Jun took the corner of a blanket and rubbed a small circle on the glass. Rub, rub, rub. The circle turned clear.

Through the circle, Opal saw the moon. It was round and pale, like a night light. The moon made a soft glow on the snow. The snow looked blue, a soft pale blue, like moonlight on a pillow. "Why is the snow blue?" asked Opal. "The moon is shining on it," said Nima. "Look close," said Jun. "Look very close."

A snowflake came down. It landed on another snowflake. "Shhh, shhh, snow on snow," whispered Jun. Opal's dot blinked. Opal leaned in close.

Another flake came down. It landed on the soft snow and did not clink. "Shhh, shhh, snow on snow," they said together. Opal leaned close to the glass. "The flake has little arms," said Opal. "They are soft," said Jun. "Soft on soft is quiet."

A third flake came down. It landed on the blue snow. "Shhh, shhh, snow on snow," they whispered. Opal's dot glowed a little brighter. "I know why snow is quiet," said Opal. "Each flake is soft, and it lands on soft snow. Soft on soft makes a hush."

Nima nodded. "That is a fine question to ask," she said. "Snow is made of tiny soft pieces, and they pile up like cushions. Each flake has little points, and the points catch on the soft snow." Opal looked at the moon. "The moon makes the snow blue," said Opal. "And the snow makes the night soft." "Yes," said Nima. "A quiet night, full of small wonders."

Then Opal yawned. "Yaaaawwwn," went Opal. Jun yawned too. Nima pulled the blanket up to Jun's chin. Jun hugged the blanket close. Opal rolled to its little bed by the window. It had a soft round cuddly toy, like a tiny cloud. The little cuddly toy was soft as a snowball. Opal held it close. Opal's wheels were still.

The moon sat at the window. The snow fell and fell. "Shhh, shhh, snow on snow," whispered Opal one last time. The cabin was warm. The night was blue and quiet. Opal's bright dot went dim, dim, dim, like a small star saying goodnight.