1 00:00:00,050 --> 00:00:08,050 Sam's Snowflake by Gillian Shields 2 00:00:08,050 --> 00:00:13,050 It was Christmas Eve and Sam felt very excited. 3 00:00:13,050 --> 00:00:20,050 Dad was setting off to the forest to fetch a special Christmas surprise. 4 00:00:20,050 --> 00:00:26,050 Don't be long, said Sam, giving him a big bear hug. 5 00:00:26,050 --> 00:00:33,829 I'll be back as soon as the first flakes of snow start to fall," smiled Dad. 6 00:00:33,829 --> 00:00:37,270 Sam couldn't wait for the snow to come. 7 00:00:37,270 --> 00:00:44,609 Every Christmas, Dad helped him to make a snow bear, took him tobogganing, and played 8 00:00:44,609 --> 00:00:48,670 roly-poly snowball fights. 9 00:00:48,670 --> 00:00:50,670 When will Dad get home? 10 00:00:50,670 --> 00:00:51,670 Sam sighed. 11 00:00:51,670 --> 00:00:58,670 Don't worry, Dad, Mom. Dad will be here soon, and so will the snow. 12 00:00:58,670 --> 00:01:03,670 Come and help me with these honey cakes while we're waiting. 13 00:01:03,670 --> 00:01:12,640 So Son helped Mom to make cakes and biscuits and puddings and pies. 14 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,640 Everything smelled warm and spicy. 15 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:23,640 But Dad still wasn't back, and there was no snow. 16 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:30,640 Let's put up the decorations, said Mum. That will help to pass the time. 17 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:37,480 So Sam helped Mum to arrange big branches of holly and silver fir cones and red berries. 18 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:44,480 Everything glowed and shone. But Dad still wasn't back, and there was no snow. 19 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:54,359 We mustn't forget to wrap the presents for our friends, said Mum. 20 00:01:54,359 --> 00:01:59,719 So Sam helped to make a big pile of colored puzzles. 21 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:07,560 But Dad still wasn't back and there was not a single flake of snow. 22 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,719 Sam looked out the window. 23 00:02:10,719 --> 00:02:16,180 Outside it was cold and dull and dark. 24 00:02:16,180 --> 00:02:22,599 Perhaps Dad and the snow would need some help finding their way. 25 00:02:22,599 --> 00:02:44,710 Sam had an idea. He found some paper and glitter and cotton wool. Then he was busy for a long time, when mom roasted some chestnuts over the fire. At last, Sam said, look, it's ready. It was Sam's snowflake. 26 00:02:44,710 --> 00:02:52,710 If I put it in the window, the snow will find our house, Sam said happily. 27 00:02:52,710 --> 00:02:55,710 And so will Dad, he whispered. 28 00:02:55,710 --> 00:03:07,199 It was getting late. Sam stuck the snowflake high in the window, and Mom hung up his stocking. 29 00:03:07,199 --> 00:03:15,900 Time to go to sleep, Sam, she said. Dad should be here when you wake up. 30 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:22,090 I do hope so, thought Sam, as he snaggled under the blankets. 31 00:03:23,949 --> 00:03:26,150 Some snowflake shone in the window. 32 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:32,610 Outside, high in the dark sky, a single star burned brightly. 33 00:03:33,629 --> 00:03:38,210 At last, Sam yawned and blinked and fell asleep. 34 00:03:41,139 --> 00:03:45,219 Out in the forest, Dad was still far from home. 35 00:03:45,219 --> 00:03:50,219 He walked along slowly, pulling something heavy behind him. 36 00:03:50,219 --> 00:03:53,219 He looked up and sniffed the air. 37 00:03:53,219 --> 00:03:59,219 Snow's on the way, Dad grunted. Some will be pleased. 38 00:03:59,219 --> 00:04:09,219 Before long, the wild winter weather swilled through the forest, blocking the paths and darkening the sky. 39 00:04:09,219 --> 00:04:15,800 But in the distance, some snowflake shone out bravely, like a star. 40 00:04:19,170 --> 00:04:22,430 Some woke up. It was Christmas! 41 00:04:24,189 --> 00:04:29,949 There were presents in his stockings, and lovely smells of special food drifted up the stairs. 42 00:04:31,529 --> 00:04:36,110 Through the window, there was a new, white world, covered in snow. 43 00:04:36,110 --> 00:04:59,720 But, but, but, Sam's heart sunk. There was still no dad. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without dad. Sam started to cry. He tore down his paper snowplake and threw it out of the window. 44 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:05,050 It didn't work, it didn't work 45 00:05:05,050 --> 00:05:11,290 Just then, a quick cold breath of wind caught the snowflake 46 00:05:11,290 --> 00:05:17,910 It danced, and fluttered, and floated down to the garden 47 00:05:17,910 --> 00:05:26,009 Where someone was putting the finishing touches to a special Christmas surprise 48 00:05:26,009 --> 00:05:30,930 Come and look at the snow, Sam, called Mum 49 00:05:30,930 --> 00:05:37,930 Sam dried his eyes, pulled on his scarf, and trudged outside. 50 00:05:37,930 --> 00:05:42,930 And there was the biggest surprise of all. 51 00:05:42,930 --> 00:05:49,930 You did arrive with the snow, Dad! shouted Sam, and he gave Dad the best of bear heart. 52 00:05:49,930 --> 00:05:59,930 I think this belongs to you, said Dad, holding the little paper snowflake that winked and blinked like a star. 53 00:05:59,930 --> 00:06:02,610 Thank you for guiding me home, son. 54 00:06:03,990 --> 00:06:09,170 Sam had the happiest Christmas ever, playing in the snow with Dad. 55 00:06:10,910 --> 00:06:15,769 As hundreds of little snowflakes danced and glittered for Christmas Day. 56 00:06:16,529 --> 00:06:25,829 But the brightest one of all was Sam's snowflake shining at the top of Sam's tree. 57 00:06:37,129 --> 00:07:12,360 Thank you for watching!