Dashing Is Out of the Question

Considering that I have AT LEAST three feet of snow in my back yard, I thought this story was be very appropriate for this week!  

Corky was born in the late fall when the weather was still warm. As soon as he was able, he was allowed to go outside and play in the yard with his brothers and sisters. Leaves were falling off the trees. It was so much fun to jump into a pile of leaves that the family had raked because they made so much noise! Not only that, but the kittens could hide from each other. Corky looked forward to going out into the yard every day.

Then things changed. He was ready to go out, but everything looked different. What was that white stuff all over the lawn? Had something bad happened? His mom explained that this was snow. He could play in it too. It would be cold and make him wet, however. Corky wasn't sure that he wanted to do that. He finally decided that he would try it. First, one paw; then another. Before you know it, he was out running around and having a good time.

Corky remembered when the humans were enjoying something called Christmas a few months ago. Kids  watched things on TV about Santa Claus and his reindeer. Corky had liked the song about the reindeer dashing through the snow. He liked to do that too! One night a big storm blew in while everyone was sleeping. The next day when Corky went out to play, he made a decision: