Shortly after arriving at school
The snow started to fall
At first in silent flakes
Followed by loud cheering
School was canceled
A mayor snowstorm was predicted
I rode my bike to Jim's house
Both our Mom's were working
Barney my dog came with me
That fact saved my life
Noon Jim's Mom came home
Dandy, what are you doing here
Haven't you looked outside
We were playing Monopoly
You are welcome to stay
"I can't Sis is home alone!"
"I have to start the floor oil furnace!"
Jim and I lived a mile apart
There was this steep hill
I couldn't leave my bike
Lucky Mom worked at Sears
With Dad gone we could afford warm clothing
I had a leather helmet and lined boots
At the top of the hill only Barney kept me going
The bike had to be abandoned
Safely at a friends house
I was told to come inside
But Sis was home alone
I don't remember how I got home
How I started the coal stove
It was only warn standing in front
But it warmed the hands to start the floor furnace
I had been doing this since I was six
A scary thing really for a kid
Sis had to be outside the front door
Oil would be coming in and I would drop a match
If it did not light oil kept coming in
Many a time my face was singed black
Toilet paper was a premium at our house
Somehow I got the oil furnace working
I don't remember the panic
of coming home and sis not being there
They told me I found Sis at a neighbors house
Mom never made it home that night
The buses could not climb the hill
The phone lines were down
My dad had left the coal truck behind
We had coal and oil and Barney
Noon Barney was barking
Mom had finally made it home
The worst snowfall in history in the area
All star baseball, clue and monopoly our favorite games
On television today the weather is every two minutes
Snow is a silent companion when you are lost
Lucky Barney would keep me going barking