Snow Angels
LHOP inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters.
Author’s note: The real Charles Frederick Ingalls was born on November 1 and died nine months later. In the episodes, “The Lord is My Shepherd, Parts 1 and 2,” there was no date mentioned for his birth, but he seemingly died weeks after he is born. (The funny thing is that if you watch the episode “A Most Precious Gift,” from Season 4, they have the correct birth and death dates.) When Laura runs away, it is warm enough that she doesn’t bring a coat, but Charles mentions to Isaiah when they are searching for her that the night was the coldest one they had as of late. For the sake of this story, I am using Freddy’s actual birthdate.
Laura snuck out of bed when she heard the clattering of pots and pans on the stove. Just like every day, Ma rose early to get the fire going and to make breakfast. She leaned over the loft ladder. Usually, Ma smiled as she worked. But not today. She didn’t sing or hum either. Today, would have been baby Charles’s first birthday. Though Ma and Pa never spoke of the baby boy they lost, Laura figured they must think of him from time to time.
The bed creaked behind her, and she saw Mary stretching her arms and releasing a big yawn. She snuck back to the bed and whispered to her sister.
“Ma looks sad today.”
Mary nodded. “That’s to be expected. We should take Carrie with us as we do our chores this morning.” Since it was Saturday, the oldest girls didn’t have school.
“She likes feeding the chickens with me anyway,” said Laura. “Maybe we can take a walk down to the lake later.”
Mary tossed the covers aside and exchanged her nightgown for her dress. She brushed her hair and held her long bangs back with a comb. She opened the shutters on the window. “We best stay close to home today. Those gray clouds might mean snow.”
Both girls descended the ladder as quietly as possible. “Morning, Ma,” they said.
Ma flashed them a weak smile. “Good morning, girls. Laura, could you put your coat on and go tell your Pa that breakfast will be ready in a few minutes?”
Laura did as she was told. Some days she didn’t feel like doing chores or being a messenger, but today she wouldn’t complain at all. She needed to be on her best behavior to make the day as easy on Ma and Pa as possible.
When she entered the barn, Pa raked the same spot over and again. “Morning, Pa.”
Charles startled as if he had been deep in thought. “Morning, Half-pint.”
“Ma asked me to tell you breakfast will be ready in a few minutes?”
“Thanks, Laura.” Pa smiled, but his eyes didn’t twinkle the way they usually did.
As Laura strolled out of the barn, puffy white flakes of snow fell from the sky. “Look, Pa, it’s snowing!” She couldn’t hold back her excitement. She loved the first snow of the year.
“You best be getting your chores done early,” he said. “Looks like we are due for a good storm.”
“I will.” Laura raced back to the house to share the news with her sisters.
Mary held Carrie up to the front window so she could peek outside at the falling snow. Carrie squirmed with glee. Laura and Mary chatted about how many inches they might get and how fun it would be. They didn’t notice the volume of their voices.
“Girls,” said Ma, sharply. “Please put Carrie in her highchair and set the table. Pa will be in in just a minute.” She turned back to the stove.
Laura and Mary stared at each other. Ma rarely raised her voice and hardly ever spoke in anger. Already, Laura had broken the promise she made to herself to be on her best behavior. She should have been more respectful.
“Yes, ma’am,” the girls said before doing exactly as they were told.
The front door opened. Pa walked in and removed his hat and coat. Without a word, he picked up the coffee pot and poured the hot liquid into a cup. Then he sat in his chair at the kitchen table.
Just as quietly, Ma dished out his breakfast. Her gaze lowered, she filled everyone’s plate before filling her own and sitting down.
“Laura, would you say grace please?” asked Ma.
She didn’t always know what to say, but today Laura wondered if she was supposed to mention her little brother. Would it be appropriate? Would it make Ma cry? Worse, would Ma or Pa be angry? Laura decided to just thank God for their food and for all their blessings. She swallowed hard before saying, “Amen.” She opened her eyes and looked from Ma to Pa, who picked up their forks and ate their food in silence.
The day dragged on forever. Laura and Mary did their chores with Carrie alongside them. Laura read Carrie a story and tucked her in for a nap. Then she joined Mary in the loft. Mary lay on their bed reading a book of poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes that Miss Beadle lent her, so Laura decided to sit at their desk and worked on her arithmetic homework. She found arithmetic so much easier than history. If you could remember the formula, you could solve any problem. With history, you had to remember all different kinds of dates and events.
When she heard Carrie rustling in her bed, Laura whispered to Mary, “Let’s get our coats and hats and take Carrie out to play in the snow.”
Mary glanced out their window. “There must be four or five inches out there by now. Carrie will love it.”
After asking Ma’s permission, Laura and Mary helped Carrie into her warm coat, her knitted hat, and a pair of red mittens before putting on their things. They walked outside as quietly as they could, but Laura’s heart skipped as her boots landed in the fluffy white snow. They made a point to play away from the house, so their laughing wouldn’t disturb Ma or Pa.
Carrie found it hard to walk and run in the snow with her little legs. When she fell for the third time, she crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips.
“Hey, let’s make snow angels,” said Mary.
“Yeah, that would be fun,” replied Laura. “Carrie, do you want to make a snow angel?”
Immediately, Carrie’s smile dimpled her cheeks. “Snow angel,” she said.
“Okay,” said Mary. “Lay down in the snow.” After she gave Carrie that instruction, Laura and she laid down to show Carrie what she meant. “Now, keep your legs straight and raise your arms over your head.” Mary and Laura did that, and Carrie copied them. “Now, you move your legs out and in and move your arms down and up like this.” Carrie mimicked her older sisters. When Mary and Laura stopped, Carrie stopped, too.
“Don’t move,” Laura warned Carrie.
Mary got up first, followed by Laura. Then the two girls lifted up Carrie. Their baby sister’s eyes widened as she looked upon the three snow angels.
“I wanna make a snow angel for baby Charles,” said Carrie.
Mary’s and Laura’s mouths dropped open. Laura wondered what would make her think of their baby brother.
Laura picked up Carrie and held her in between Mary and her. “That is so nice, Carrie. What made you think of baby Charles?”
Carrie nibbled on her bottom lip. “Mama said baby Charles was in heaven, and heaven has angels.”
Mary and Laura hugged their baby sister. Laura hoped she would remember this moment the next time Carrie aggravated her.
“Do you think you can make a snow angel all by yourself this time?” asked Mary.
Carrie nodded. Laura put her down and Carrie sat in the snow right next to her first snow angel. With a little extra help from Mary and Laura, she made another snow angel. Laura and Mary helped her up and they all looked down on the four snow angels.
The snow had lightened to flurries while they played. Laura figured it must almost be time for Pa to come out and feed the horses. The three girls walked to the front door and stomped off their feet before heading inside.
Carrie raced over to Pa, who sat at the kitchen table wiping down his fiddle. Laura didn’t expect that he would play tonight, but she always enjoyed watching him as he lovingly care for his instrument.
“Come see my snow angels, Papa. Come see my snow angels,” said Carrie.
Ma glanced at them from her rocking chair, where she darned one of Pa’s socks. “Your cheeks are as red as cherries, Carrie. You must be cold.”
Carrie shook her head. “Not cold. Come see the snow angels.”
Pa shrugged at Ma and they both put down what they were doing. Ma grabbed her shawl before stepping outside followed by Pa, who held Carrie in his arms.
“Those are some pretty snow angels,” said Pa.
Ma crinkled her nose in confusion. “Why are there four of them?”
Laura was about to answer, but she saw Carrie raise her arm, so she didn’t speak.
“Mary, Laura, me, and baby Charles,” said Carrie as she pointed at each one.
Laura saw Ma’s eyes fill with tears. When she looked at Pa, his lower lip trembled, as if he was trying not to cry.
Ma kissed Carrie’s cheek. “How nice of you to remember your baby brother in heaven.”
Pa’s arm encircled Ma’s waist.
“Ma?” said Laura. “Do they celebrate birthdays in heaven?”
The gentle smile that usually greeted Laura in the morning shone across Ma’s face. “I don’t know, Laura, but isn’t it nice to think of your brother having a party with God and his angels today?”
The thought of baby Charles having a heavenly party sounded so much better to Laura than remembering him as the little brother she lost. Even if she knew she would see him again one day, that seemed like such a long time away.
“I am going to think of baby Charles having parties in heaven whenever I feel sad that he isn’t here.”
“That sounds like a great idea, Half-pint.”
The snow had stopped, and the sun broke through the clouds, making the snow sparkle like a sea of diamonds. Laura and Mary gasped.
“How pretty!” they said.
“Pretty,” repeated Carrie.
Pa, Ma, Mary, and Laura laughed. Laura found the sound of Ma’s and Pa’s laughter soothing after the sad day they endured. She raised her gaze to the sky as the sun continued to shine. Thank you, God, for this special gift on my brother’s birthday.
Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos – All Rights Reserved.
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