Yesterday everyone in Maple Valley was scurrying around preparing for the Annual Maple Valley Christmas Celebration tonight. The Christmas trees in the village are beautifully decorated. The sounds of the holidays softly serenaded shoppers staring through shop windows. Everyone was happy, and then everything changed.

Overnight, Kertok County, and most importantly, Maple Valley, was assaulted by a snow storm that swallowed everything. No one is moving. Snow drifts are piled high against every home and business. Luckily, and perhaps miraculously, power has not been lost. A warm light gleam is sparkling across yards and lots through ice glazed windows.

People forget Maple Valley is a literal valley nestled between mountains, which is an invitation for what just happened. A snow catastrophe has captured Maple Valley.

Everything in the foreseeable future is cancelled. School won’t resume until at least the third week of January. The anticipation of the Maple Valley School Christmas Show, and the wonderful play, “Who’s Stuck in the Chimney?” is dashed. Fifth graders will not sing, “Santa’s Belly Jiggles,” “Rudolph Has a Girlfriend,” or “Grandma Made Snowball Jelly.” Mrs. Bergwiller’s kindergarteners will not dance in their star costumes. The sixth grade band won’t be playing “The Starry Eggnog Waltz.”

The most shocking and dangerous situation of all confronted passengers on the train from Whinington to Maple Valley. The train hit an immoveable mountain of snow and became hopelessly stuck. Passengers were required to leave the warm cars and walk the rest of the way to Maple Valley. Perilous as it was, everyone made it to town safely, including Dusty Whimpers. No one could have dreamed the Christmas miracle that was about to unfold in Maple Valley.

Passengers were told they would have to find lodging until the storm passed. The good people of Maple Valley are always happy to help folks in need. Everyone knew a stranger may come knocking on their door in the middle of the storm. Sheriff Pete Terkinberry was notified by the Maple Valley Railroad that the incoming train was not going to make it into town. Pete called a few people who then called others, and soon, everyone in Maple Valley knew.

Dusty Whimpers has been riding the rails his whole life. He started hopping trains as a young boy, and when he was old enough to be on his own, he left Maple Valley on the train and never returned. Last night, in the middle of the blizzard, Dusty came home.

Edith Frost is the perfect name for a woman who lives alone, walks alone, and remains alone. Of every notion a visitor to Maple Valley may entertain, Edith Frost is the opposite. For a life-long resident of this idyllic place, somehow, Edith Frost missed it all.

From the time she was very young, Edith had a difficult time making friends. She was a good student at Maple Valley School, but didn’t participate in anything beyond attending class. Edith was known by her nickname, Frosty, simply because she preferred books over people. Fellow students tried to include her but were often rebuffed, which only made the separation between Edith Frost and other students wider.

When graduation came, Edith Frost stayed in Maple Valley while many other students left to follow their dreams elsewhere. Her only real friend was someone who also preferred being alone, so they were often alone together. His name was Dustin Whimpers.

In the middle of the snow storm, Dusty walked into town and knocked on the first door he saw. He wasn’t surprised when no one answered since the house was dark. He tried banging on the door with his fist, but still nothing. Dusty found a shed behind the house and broke in just to get out of the snow. He covered himself with a pile of burlap bags and was soon sound asleep.

Dusty’s sleep was interrupted with bright sunshine when the shed door was pulled open. A woman screamed and yelled at the same time, sounding a lot like a cat being stepped on.

“What are you doing in my shed?!” the woman hollered. “Get out!!”

“I needed a place to stay until the storm let up,” Dusty said.

“The storm is gone! Get out!”

Dusty slowly stood and put the sacks back where he found them. He turned to walk past the woman and out the door.

“Who are you?” the woman asked.

“Who wants to know?” Dusty asked.

“You’re trespassing! I have a right to ask who you are without any questions from you!” she yelled in his face.

At that moment, the two strangers saw each other for the first time in many years.

“Dustin?” Edith whispered.

“Edith?” Dusty asked.

They stood in silence for several moments, each with scenes of the past flashing through their minds.

“What are you doing here?” Edith asked.

“I was on the train and had to walk into town. I knocked on your door but maybe you didn’t hear me.”

“I heard you. I don’t answer my door after dark, Let’s go in the house,” she said.

Edith welcomed Dusty into her home and back into her life. They talked for hours, reminiscing, and wondering how so many years had passed almost unnoticed. Somehow, both knew their lives would never be the same. Dusty was ready to come home to stay, Edith was ready to open her heart and welcome a lifelong friend for the first time.