First Snow

By Leah Anders

“I’m comin’ with ya,” Jed asserted forcefully.

“Not this time, Jed,” Hannibal Heyes asserted even more forcefully.

“Why the heck not, Han?”

“Cuz I said so, that’s why,” Han said, as his attention returned to his reflection in the dirty and poorly-silvered mirror which hung above their shared dresser; a dresser scarred and shabby from years of use by young boys, past and present, forced to spend their formative years at Valparaiso School.

Jed lay sprawled across his bed which was covered by a tattered quilt that had been assembled by the good ladies of the church many years previously. He picked at loose threads; his face a mask of discontent and irritation. “But I always go with you when we sneak out. It’s just what we do.”

Han picked up his comb and stared at his cousin through the filmy reflection. “I know, Jed. But this time I gotta go on my own.” He ran the comb through his straight hair, using his spit to tame an errant cowlick.

“Why you combing your hair?” Jed asked, his eyes squinted suspiciously at the back of Han’s head.

Han answered, vaguely, “No reason.”

Jed considered this answer for a moment, coming away unsatisfied. “You washed your face, too. I saw you.”

“What’s wrong with washing my face? I do it all the time.”

Jed snorted, “I ain’t seen you wash your face without one of the nuns forcing you to since we got here.”

Han turned from the mirror to face Jed. “Well, maybe it’s time I start taking care of myself a little more. It wouldn’t hurt you to wash your face once in a while either, ya know.”

Jed snorted again. “Not unless one of the sisters makes me, I won’t.”

Han smiled at Jed’s defiant retort. “I guess you’ll change your mind in time. Or maybe you won’t. It’s all the same to me.” He tousled his young cousin’s hair and smiled affectionately. Jed scowled deeply and jerked his head away, still too angry to accept Han’s gesture of love.

Jed’s face turned sly. He grinned, staring up at Han. “If you don’t take me with you, I’m gonna tell the headmaster you snuck out again. You’ll get a tannin’ for sure, worse than the last time.”

Han stood silent for a long moment. Then he laughed out loud. “You won’t,” he said confidently.

“I-I will so!” Jed insisted.

“You won’t. I know it and you know it too. You’d never rat on me, Jed.”

Jed sighed heavily and picked at the quilt. “I guess I wouldn’t.”

Han sat down on the bed, causing the old, rusty springs to squeak in misery. “I’ll only be gone a couple of hours.”

Jed didn’t say anything.

“And I’ll bring you back some penny candy from the general store in town.”

“You ain’t got no money, Han.”

Han chuckled and ruffled his cousin’s hair again. “Now when have you ever seen me need money to rustle up a piece of candy or two.”

Jed couldn’t help but smile at this because he knew it was true; if there was anything Han was good at, it was swiping a piece of candy or a trinket from unsuspecting folk. “Licorice?” he requested hopefully.

“Licorice it is! There, that’s not so bad now, is it?”

“I’d still like to go with you,” Jed said grudgingly, hoping his cousin would change his mind after all.

Han stood up and checked his reflection in the mirror one more time, fussing with the stubborn cowlick. “I’ll be back in two hours. If anyone asks you where I am, you know what to say, right?”

“Yeah, you snuck out and went into town to steal me some penny candy.”

Han laughed. “No. You tell them I’m using the outhouse. No one will ever go to look for me there.”

“Not if they have any sense, they won’t.”

**********

 

Even though it was still fairly early in the day, the sky was already turning dark. Evening came early this time of year in Kansas. The air was cool and crisp and as Hannibal paused to gaze up at the darkening sky, he wondered if they were in store for their first snow of the winter. He pulled his jacket, old and worn thin, closer around his thin form and shivered. A slight smile played on his lips as he caught himself wishing for a warmer coat, even though he knew that was unlikely until he outgrew this one and even then, he could only expect another hand-me-down much like the one he was wearing.

But his discomfort did little to dampen his mood. His fingers slipped inside the pocket of his jacket and he was reassured that the little box he’d hidden there earlier was still there. His smile widened a little thinking about what the little box contained.

He picked up his pace, knowing that he didn’t have a lot of time before someone at the school would indeed go looking for him, maybe an hour or two at the most. The staff there were familiar with his propensity to take his leave from time to time and depending on who discovered his absence, the punishment could be mild or severe. Han had charm by the fistfuls and knew how to get out of most jams using his smile and his winsome words. Most of the time.

It wasn’t long before Hannibal found himself on Main Street. The first thing he needed to do was make good on his promise to his cousin. When he entered the general store, he heard the familiar tinkling of the bell announcing his arrival and Mr. Appleby stuck his head out from the store room in the back. He smiled broadly. “Well, young Mr. Heyes! It’s been a spell since you and your cousin been around. What can I get you?”

Hannibal’s eyes were fixed on the large glass jar filled with licorice whips sitting next to the cash register. “Well, sir. I was wondering if you had any jobs I might be able to do for you? Maybe earn a few cents?”

Mr. Appleby followed Hannibal’s gaze and understood immediately what the young fellow wanted. “You looking to buy a few of those whips, are ya? Uh-huh, most likely for your cousin. He surely loves licorice, that one.”

Hannibal smiled shyly, “Yes, sir. I did tell Jed I’d get him some, on account I wouldn’t let him come into town with me today. So if you have any jobs I might be able—”

“Well, let me tell ya, I ain’t got anything for you today, you see—” Hannibal’s face grew glum. “But I might have something you can do for me next week, what with the holidays coming up and all.”

“That’s right kind of you, Mr. Appleby, but Jed’s expecting his candy today. I just can’t go back empty handed.”

Mr. Appleby put up a hand. “Now, young man, you didn’t let me finish. I was gonna say that I can let you have a few of those whips on credit, so to speak, and you can pay them off next week. What do you say to that?”

Hannibal smiled, his dimples on full display. “That would be fine, Mr. Appleby. Truly fine!”

A few minutes later, he was on his way. In his other pocket were five licorice whips, carefully wrapped in a bit of waxed paper.

********

Just as his fingers started to tingle a bit from the cold, he rounded a curve in the road and could see the little run-down farm house. The house was in need of a good coat of paint and some of the tar paper roof was flapping in the breeze, but golden light washed across the two front windows and he knew that the people who lived inside were happy and kind; even to young ne’er-do-wells like himself.

Hannibal started walking faster and before long, he was bounding up the front steps leading to an aging, wrap-around porch complete with a couple of newly-painted rocking chairs suited for warm summer days but not so much for the nippy winter late-afternoon air. After knocking on the door, he waited, shifting his weight from foot to foot in an effort, futile as it was, to stay warm.

Fortunately, the door opened within a few seconds and a tiny, bird-like woman stood there smiling. He could feel the heat from the wood burning stove as soon as she opened the door and he knew that the interior of the home would be toasty warm.

Mrs. Carson greeted him with a smile that let him know she was genuinely happy to see him. Her gray eyes, flecked with gold bits, smiled at him as surely as her full lips. “Why, Hannibal! What are you doing here?” She glanced past him through the open doorway. “And where is young Jed? Don’t tell me you left him at that school?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m afraid Jed was busy with his homework,” Hannibal replied, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets.

She opened the door to its full width and said, “My heavens, don’t stand out there a minute longer. You must be about froze. Don’t tell me you walked all this way.”

“Yes, ma’am, I sure did. And I don’t mind telling you it’s a mite cold out this afternoon.”

She nodded. “I expect we might be seeing some snow tonight. Don’t you think? Now come in here and sit down next to the stove. Why look at that coat! It’s worn a mite thin, don’t you think? Don’t tell me that’s the best that school can come up with, what with all the donations the townfolk and the churches send them.”

“It’s not so bad, ma’am. I’m warm enough.”

“Humph. I’ve half a mind to go down there myself and give the headmaster a good tongue-lashing.”

“Oh, no, ma’am. That’s not necessary. I’m sure I’ll be getting a better coat soon. As soon as I grow out of this one.” Hannibal looked uncomfortable under Mrs. Carson’s motherly scrutiny. “Ma’am? Is Joanie somewhere about? I’d sure like to talk to her a bit if that’s alright with you.”

“Well, o’course. What was I thinking? You didn’t walk all this way on a day like today just to stand around talking with me. Joanie is out back, taking the clothes off the line before they freeze stiff as a board. Now you sit right there and warm up. I’ll go call her inside for you.” Mrs. Carson made sure he was settled in a chair next to the wood burner and then she bustled out of the kitchen. He could hear her calling Joanie’s name as she went and he could hear her said his own name too, announcing his presence to her young daughter.

Hannibal didn’t have long to wait. Within a few minutes, Joanie rushed into the kitchen, her cheeks rosy from the cold air. She looked as pretty as a picture, a younger image of her still-pretty mother, with the same gray and gold eyes, straight nose, and full lips. Hannibal had felt a certain affection for Joanie every since he saw her at the church social for the first time several months ago. She’d been surrounded by friends at the time. Townies—kids who generally had no use for the boys from Valparaiso School.

As for himself, he had been lined up with the other boys from the school, dressed in their ‘best’ clothes and feeling miserable; displayed for the town’s pleasure in hopes that the good people who lived there would give generously from their own pockets to help the less fortunate, and in turn, also lining the pockets of the people in charge of the school.

The instant he’d noticed the pretty blond looking his way, his mood brightened and he knew that before the evening was over, he’d find a way to engage the girl in conversation and of course, he did. Since that night, they’d found ways to steal moments of time to spend together.

“Hannibal! What a perfectly lovely surprise! What are you doing here?”

Hannibal smiled, his eyes sparkling with delight. “Well, I just wanted to see you, is all,” he said.

Joanie gripped him by both hands and pulled him out of his chair. “Let’s go to the sitting room. It’s much more comfortable there.” He allowed her to guide him into the next room which did look much more comfortable than the hard wooden chair he’d been perched on in the kitchen. “Please, sit down.”

Once they were settled on the sofa next to each other, Hannibal said, nervously, “To be honest, I did have something important I wanted to see you about, Joanie.”

“Oh?” she said, curiously. “What is it?”

Hannibal’s hand snaked into his coat pocket, his fingertips grazing the top of the little box he’d placed there so carefully earlier in the day. To his surprise, his heart started beating faster and he felt a little light-headed. “Yes. Ya see, I brought you something. A Christmas present, I guess you’d call it.”

“Oh, but Christmas is still nearly three weeks away.”

“I know. But I just wanted to make sure I got it to you and, well, sometimes it’s hard for me to sneak away from the school.”

Joanie smiled excitedly, “Well, are you gonna show me?”

Hannibal fished the little box wrapped in brown paper from his pocket and placed it in her palm. She gazed at it a moment and then gave it a little shake. “What is it?” she asked, looking at him, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink.

“Well, open it and see for yourself,” he said.

She peeled back the layers of paper. Inside was a small white box. When she removed the lid, it revealed a delicate heart-shaped pendant on a slender silver chain. She gasped with delight and carefully placed the pendant in her palm. “Oh, it’s beautiful, Hannibal. Please put it on me?” She handed him the necklace and turned so her back was facing him. He struggled only a moment with the tiny clasp and soon the pendant rested against her slender neck. Turning back to face him, she asked, her fingers grazing the pendant, “How does it look?”

“It’s beautiful, Joanie. Just like you.” He flushed, suddenly embarrassed by his boldness.

She threw her arms around his neck. “I love it. Thank you, Hannibal!” Before pulling away, she kissed his cheek.

He felt the blood rush to his face where her lips had touched and although he wished he could linger, he knew he had to get back to the school. “I’m really glad you like it, Joanie. It looks lovely on you.” He stood up. “Well, I guess I better be going before they start missing me.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll walk you to the door.”

Mrs. Carson was in the kitchen when they came back in. She stopped Hannibal and said, “Wait a minute, Hannibal, I have something for you. You remember my brother passed a few months back.”

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry for your loss,” he answered.

“Well, I thought you might like to have his coat. It was nearly brand new when we lost him and…well,” she said as she handed him a heavy coat. It was gray with brown accents at the lapels and on the deep pockets; big buttons graced both sides of the front of the coat.

“That’s so nice of you, Mrs. Carson. But I really can’t accept it.”

“Oh, pish. Of course you can. It’s just been hanging here all these months—well, anyway, someone should get some use out of it. And you remind me of my brother a little; both of you have the same build—tall and thin. It’s a mite big for you now but it’ll fit you good in a year or two.”

Hannibal smiled, shyly. He thought how nice it would be to have a good, warm coat for the coming Kansas winter. “Since you put it that way, I’d be honored to accept your kindness. Thank you.”

“Here, now. Put it on before you go out. It’s getting dark out there. It’s surely going to be cold on your walk back to the school.” Mrs. Carson fussed over him, holding his old jacket while he shrugged into the new coat. It hung off his slender frame but that didn’t bother Hannibal, having worn many things that didn’t fit properly out of necessity during his time at Valparaiso.

Joanie giggled, “You look nice, Hannibal.” She looked him up and down affectionately.

Hannibal felt his face redden just a bit under her scrutiny. “Thanks. And thank you again, Mrs. Carson. Well, I best be going. They’re going to be looking for me soon.”

Joanie hugged him and, even though her mother was watching, gave him another kiss on the cheek. The red in his cheeks deepened. “Thank you for my gift. I will wear it every day and think about you.”

And with that, Hannibal set off back towards the school. As the first soft flakes of snow began to fall, he couldn’t tell if he was kept warm by the weight of his new coat or the memory of Joanie’s lips on his cheek and that was alright with him.