Everything in Maple Valley is moving back to whatever normal is. The snow storm that buried the village is forgotten. Huge piles of snow are nothing new.

Maple Valley School is back in session, and students are following familiar routines. Parents are mostly happy to see them go. There’s only so many times kids can slide down the same snow pile before hollering, “There’s nothing to do!”

Mrs. Vertimer’s students are preparing to make salt dough maps of Maple Valley. They are encouraged to use their imagination, to “paint beyond the lines,” as it were. Last year, Minnie Kalibritz took Mrs. Vertimer seriously. She created a salt dough map costume she actually wore to school. As she explained her masterpiece to the class, the east end of Maple Valley popped off the map. The teacher quickly jumped to help Minnie and silence the ensuing laughter.

The good reverend at Maple Valley Church is preaching fine sermons to a somewhat full house. The hubbub over decorations is long gone. The last vestiges of the holidays were swept out the door with piles of tree needles. The reverend wisely decided arguing with Gilda and Amos Huverdil about live trees was not worth it. Fake trees will join the congregation when the Huverdils have gone on to their happy Christmasland in the sky.

Congregants were quite pleased with the reverend’s most recent soliloquy. Many folks identified with the title, “Flowers Bloom, Ice Notwithstanding.” Although winter has reigned with ferocity in Maple Valley, flowers are sure to break through resistant clods. The sun will shine, birds will sing, outdoor speakers will be repaired, and neighbors will smile.

The reverend veered from his script slightly when he mentioned some folks, not by name, mind you. “Some of us need to stop acting like ice and start living in a way more reminiscent of floral beauty.” Verbal responses are not often heard at Maple Valley Church, but someone voiced a loud, “Amen!”

In other news, Quintin O’Dillmotte has reappeared in all his self-made glory. He hands out “Elect O’Dillmotte for Sheriff!” fliers with O’Dillmotte Funeral Home brochures. He was quiet for two weeks and one or two people were worried about him. They weren’t bothered enough to call or stop in. They just worried.

As rumors go in Maple Valley, a new one has surfaced. Alvin Thrashorn is reportedly considering an end to his tenure as mayor. Having been the lead official for thirty-two years, maybe he should step down. Some say it was Quintin O’Dillmotte who started the rumor. He was heard saying, “Naturally, I will be the next mayor.”

Literally everyone in Maple Valley is thrilled with the news The Old General is back! Estimates of problems with the locomotive were incorrect. The steam engine is under full power and making the trip to Maple Valley twice each day.

Sheriff Pete Terkinberry’s hands are no less full than they have ever been. The “Dear Doctor” column in the Maple Valley Spur is the center of scandal occupying the sheriff’s time. Everyone made assumptions about Doctor Wackstuber since he offered some reasonable suggestions in his column. However, no one looked into his credentials as a psychologist. Doctor Wackstuber, it was discovered, is not a doctor at all. Doctor is his first name.

The sheriff’s interest was stirred when someone from the Derburg Gazette called him. Derburg is another small community like Maple Valley, but without the railroad or touristy appeal. The Gazette had a column called, “Ask the Doctor”. As with the Spur, folks assumed the advice was coming from a qualified provider.

Since no laws have been violated, charges against Doctor Wackstuber will not be sought. He never said he was a doctor. The fact that his real name is Doctor has more to do with his parents’ choice than his actions. He definitely took advantage of his readers’ conclusions. All it gained for him was popularity, at least for a short time. “Dear Doctor” has been dropped from the Maple Valley Spur.