(Illustration by Mohamed Qovaizi)

Sammy Snowmobile opened one lazy eye, then the other, until both grew wide with delight--- snow! He zipped out of the garage, sinking into the light, fresh powdery snow, before scurrying up the mountain he called home.

He waved good morning to Gary Gondola and past Lucy Lift who was busy tugging her chair children up the mountain. They hollered, “We’ll race you to the top Sammy!” Accepting the challenge, he increased his speed.

At the top of the hill he could see a group of large snow cats tossing snowballs at each other with their plows. Matt Snowcat saw Sammy dashing towards them and snickered to Chad Snowcat, “Watch this!”

Matt lifted a giant snow ball and hurled it towards Sammy, wrapping him up in a pillow of white. A stunned Sammy began to slide down the mountain, collecting more and more snow as he rolled frantically towards the bottom.

Thud! He landed head first into a ski rack, stars swimming in his eyes. “What a tiny fool,” he heard, as the skis and snowboards roared with laughter. Opening his eyes, he saw Matt and his band of snow cats approaching. “Maybe you should change your name to Sammy Snowball instead,” he mocked, delivering a plow five to Chad before turning away.

Tears swelled in Sammy’s eyes as he sulked back to his garage when, bang! The idea hit him like an icicle --- he would return the favor to Matt tonight! Quickly, he zipped up the side of the mountain, out of view of the others. When he reached the top, he found the path that Matt usually grooms. Carefully, he began switching the directional signs to confuse him. “That’ll show him,” he grunted, and cruised back down the mountain to bed.

In the black night the wind howled, startling Sammy from his warm garage. Pine branches snapped and twisted, as a furious snow storm pelted the window. The deadening sound of snowcats wailing their danger calls shocked Sammy. “Matt is still out there!” he gasped, and immediately regretted his behavior. Tearing out the door, he barreled up the hill, determined to help find Matt Snowcat.

As Sammy approached the top of the mountain, he saw the familiar glow of Matt’s headlights between the trees, as he frantically searched for a way out. Sammy called, “Matt, over here!” But, the whistling wind whipped his voice up and away. Determined, Sammy thought hard, “How will Matt see or hear me when I am so small?” Then he realized, he may be tiny compared to Matt, but he was fast! Suddenly, Sammy knew just what to do!

Sammy Snowmobile zoomed through the trees towards Matt Snowcat, zigging and zagging, attracting Matt’s attention through the storm. Matt squinted, “Sammy, is that you?” Sammy dashed furiously around again to reassure him. Without hesitation, Matt began to move towards the little light that danced and darted like a glow bug. Soon, the Lodge loomed in front of him and he was home safely, thanks to his new friend Sammy Snowmobile.