Sarah's Secret. Robert McConnell

      

      SARAH'S SECRET

      Story by Robert McConnell

      Illustrations by June Lawrason

      Napoleon Publishing

      It's December 24th! beamed Sarah,

      As she bounced out of bed that day,

      She'd been planning something special

      And couldn't wait to go out and play.

      She dashed to her bedroom window

      And peeked down on the pure white lawn,

      On the snowflakes sifting, drifting,

      Glittering in the rays of dawn.

      It's a perfect day for a snowman!

      She cried to herself with glee.

      I'm going to build the best one ever,

      Right down by the old spruce tree!

      She was determined to do it by herself,

      With no help from Father or Mother,

      And especially none from Michael,

      Her know-it-all older brother!

      Sarah dressed in the blink of an eye,

      She brushed her teeth and combed her hair,

      And then she closed the bathroom door

      And crept quietly down the stair.

      Her breakfast was quick and simple,

      Only cereal, milk and toast,

      Just to be outside in the snow

      Was what Sarah wanted most.

      So she zippered up her ski suit,

      And twined her scarf twice round and round,

      Pulled her tuque down over her ears

      And buckled her boots without a sound.

      Her parents were both still in bed

      When she slipped out the kitchen door,

      And she knew that Michael wouldn't be up

      For a couple of hours or more.

      So Sarah danced out toward the lawn

      Through a still and silent world of white —

      The only noise the crunch of her boots

      On the snow that had fallen that night.

      The neighbors' houses all down the street

      Painted a picture-perfect scene —

      Their Christmas lights a silent sea

      Of yellow and red, of blue and green.

      And there right in front of every home,

      Or at times just over to the side,

      Stood a snowman built by Sarah's friends

      With care and skill, with patience and pride.

      Sarah had waited to build hers last

      To be sure it would be the best,

      She wanted to make it extra special,

      Bigger and better than all the rest.

      She had something to prove to Michael

      Who claimed a girl couldn't do it

      Without help from an older brother

      To show her how to get through it.

      So Sarah set about to work

      On that cold and crispy winter day,

      To build the greatest snowman ever,