The Christmas Star Of Willowbrook
Chapter Two - A Song in the Snow
The next morning, Willowbrook lay beneath a fresh blanket of snow, soft, white, and sparkling as though sugar had been sprinkled over the entire town. Ella woke early, unable to shake the feeling that something was waiting for her just outside the window.
When she peered through the frosty glass, she noticed the sky was a pale winter blue. Peaceful. Quiet. But still missing that special glimmer.
She padded downstairs to find Grandpa Tom at the kitchen table with a mug of steaming cocoa. His jumper today was green with dancing snowmen.
“Morning, Ellie-girl,” he said. “Sleep well?”
“I kept thinking about the star,” she admitted, sliding into the chair beside him. “It still hasn’t come.”
Grandpa took a thoughtful sip. “Well, Christmas is full of mysteries. Some need a little time… some need a little help.” He gave her a wink.
Before Ella could ask what he meant, Nathan burst into the kitchen with both boots on the wrong feet.
“There’s so much snow!” he shouted. “Can we go out? Please? Pleeeease?”
Grandpa laughed. “Well, we can’t waste a perfect day like this, can we?”
< Song – Sing in the Snow >
~ Sing in the Snow ~
Verse 1
Snowflakes twirl and spin around,
Softly tumbling to the ground,
Calling out without a sound
“Come play with us today!”
Verse 2
Friends come running down the lane,
Boots that squeak and cheeks that flame,
Building snowmen once again
In our favourite winter way.
Chorus
So sing with the snow, let your laughter flow,
Let your rosy smiles begin to glow!
In the winter air, every heart can know
There’s magic when we’re singing in the snow!
Verse 3
Snowballs flying high and low,
Footprints in a tidy row,
Every moment seems to show
Christmas on its way.
Chorus
So sing with the snow, let your laughter flow,
Let your rosy smiles begin to glow!
In the winter air, every heart can know
There’s magic when we’re singing in the snow!
Outro
Oh, snow and song and friends we love
The best of Christmas, all above.
Out in the bright morning, the three of them trudged through the powdery snow, their boots making soft crunching sounds. The town looked even prettier than last night. Icicles hung from rooftops like glassy chandeliers, and every breath puffed into the air like tiny clouds.
Ella watched a group of children rolling huge snowballs for a snowman, their shouts of excitement echoing across the lane. But even with all the fun around her, she still felt that strange heaviness in the air, the feeling that something was missing.
Willowbrook was cheerful…
but incomplete.
As they reached the little bridge overlooking the frozen stream, Ella paused. The gentle hush of the world made her chest fill with a quiet longing she couldn’t explain.
Without thinking, she began to hum the tune from the night before.
“Snowflakes on my windowpane… falling soft as whispered rain…”
Her voice drifted over the white landscape like a small ribbon of sound.
Grandpa stopped walking. He turned slightly, watching her with kind eyes, not saying a word.
Ella continued, softly at first, then a little louder as the melody warmed her from the inside. The snow around her shimmered faintly as if listening.
And then it happened.
Only for a second, perhaps even less, a tiny sparkle flickered high above the morning clouds.
Ella gasped and looked up sharply.
But the sky showed nothing unusual. Only faint winter light.
“Grandpa… did you see that?” she whispered.
He stroked his chin, pretending to look puzzled. “Hmm. See what, now?”
“The sky. I thought I saw… well… just a little glimmer.”
Grandpa smiled, but only with one corner of his mouth. “Funny thing about glimmers. They often turn up when someone sings with their heart.”
Ella blinked. “Do you really think…?”
Before she could finish, Nathan hurled a snowball at Grandpa’s back.
“You’re both too serious! Come on, snow battle!” he yelled.
Grandpa pretended to stagger dramatically. “Ambushed! Right then; prepare yourselves!”
Snowballs flew. Laughter echoed. And the moment gently slipped away.
But Ella didn’t forget.
As they headed home later, she kept glancing at the sky, searching for any sign, any sparkle, any whisper of magic.
If the star truly had listened…
then maybe, just maybe…
Her song could bring it back.