Jarful of Stories - Very Deep Snow

this week's story

Broadcast: February 13, 2011

This rather sad story speaks of love and danger — two very strong feelings that go hand-in-hand. St. Valentine’s Day is a good time to think about how we feel towards other people. In times of stress and danger those feelings can suddenly change.

VERY DEEP SNOW

    This time of year, most rabbits stay out of sight and out of the weather, preferring to snuggle deep in their burrows, reading, napping or baking brownies in the late afternoon chill. Not Roberto.
    Roberto was in love.
    After all it was St. Valentine’s Day and he had circled the date long ago knowing exactly what he wanted to do on this very special day.
    “I’m making something very special for someone very special,” he said to his mother when she wanted to know why all the red paper, scissors and glue were spread about the table.
    “That’s so sweet,” his dear old mother said.
    “And soon it will be time to deliver my special something to my special someone,” he added.
    “Ah, yes,” his mother cooed. “Very nice. But please remember this: it is winter, sweet Roberto, and the cold winter winds are still blowing. And those creatures who would hunt us in the summer are still hunting in the winter, only with more desire than ever. And the snows — she is very deep and that makes it very difficult to run, yes? You understand?”
    “Yes, Mother,” Roberto said although he was back working on his Valentine and not really paying much attention.
    “When you go out you must only be very careful of all creatures, especially the eagle because he can swoop down on you like nothing-you-ever-know and the next thing you-ever-know, you is in trouble.”
    Roberto didn’t respond.
    “Is that a yes, or is that a no?”
    “Excuse me, Mother?” Roberto asked.
    “You must listen to your dear old mother, no? I understand you think I am doing nothing but blowing smoke but that is not so, Roberto.”
    His mother put her paw on the young rabbit’s Valentine so he would listen and pay attention.
    “Watch out for the eagle above all other because he can swoop down from the sky like nothing-you-ever-know, yes?”
    “Yes, Mother,” Roberto sighed. “I will be so ever careful.”
    But Roberto wasn’t careful. You knew that already because the story is so well known whenever young rabbits gather in the grasp of winter and share stories. You see, Roberto set out through the deep snow of February to deliver his valentine. He really shouldn’t have gone anywhere because of the snow but when you’re in love, you do amazing things for some very odd reasons.
    That was Roberto, trudging through the snow carrying an envelope. At the edge of the Brook’s Meadow he paused for a moment to catch his breath. The safety of the woods was behind him. He could have stayed in the woods but going directly across the meadow would save him time. His sweetheart, Gina, lived with her parents across the meadow and next to the frozen creek. He was almost there.
    Of course you already know it didn’t make it. That’s the terribly sad part of this story. No, walking across the meadow was a bad decision and Roberto, had he been thinking clearly, would never have tried. Here’s what happened next: Just as he was about to set out to cross the dangerous meadow — where any flying creature, be it an eagle or an owl, could swoop upon him — Roberto suddenly felt something on his shoulder. The poor rabbit jumped in the air, let out a scream and tried to dash away in the deep snow.
    He couldn’t move. He slipped, he slid, he thrashed and yet the paw on his shoulder was still there. When Roberto finally stopped wiggling he heard a sound that rang through the forest. It was laughter.
    “Roberto, Roberto,” the voice said. “Calm down, boy.”
    Roberto opened his eyes. It was Desiree, a young neighbor and friend who lived with her family nearby.
    “You gave me the fright of my life,” Roberto said. “I thought you were . . . I thought you were . . . well, I didn’t exactly know but one can never be too careful out here, this time of the year.”
    “Oh, yes,” Desiree said. “I know exactly what you mean. Why are you out of your den?”
    Roberto picked up himself and dusted the snow from his furry coat.
    “It’s Valentines Day, don’t you know?” he said. “What better day to be out.”
    “But the snow is so deep.”
    “I’m not afraid. Are you?”
    “Well, no,” Desiree said, “as long as you’re with me.”
    “Aw, Desiree,” Roberto said. “I didn’t come out here to . . . well, never mind. Of course, I’ll help you. I mean, there is danger ever where, you know. It’s so hard to move in the snow if we have to run.”
    The two rabbits started making their way through the snow and into Brook’s Meadow.
    “Why are you out?” Roberto asked.
    “Well,” Desiree said shyly, “like you said, it is Valentine’s Day. I have a Valentine for someone special.”
    “Really? Me, too. I don’t know about you, Desiree, but there is love in the air everywhere. I can feel it. And when you can feel it like this, well, it’s impossible to stay cooped up at home. Even though there’s always danger for us rabbits, I just had to get out and see what the world looked like on this fine, snowy day.”
    “Oh, yes,” Desiree chimed. “I know exactly how you feel.”
    By now the rabbits were out of the forest and into the deep snow that covered Brooks Meadow. Roberto paused to look up at the sky and the brilliant sunshine. If he noticed the shadow that cross his path, he hardly understood what it meant. But it was there, nonetheless. But it was Desiree who understood exactly what it meant. A sound, a warning, the beginning of a scream, stuck in her throat as she froze, her paw back on Roberto’s shoulder.
    At that moment the young rabbit saw it, too. Instead of freezing like Desiree had done, he jerked sideways in a shower of snow that immediately was filled with feathers and claws.
    “Eagle,” Desiree finally said, her voice thick with panic.
    Now the two rabbits were in a flight for their lives. If you know anything about rabbits, they can’t exactly fight back when a predator strikes. The best they can do is run. But when the ground is covered in deep snow, they must switch from their main defense of running to finding shelter, which at this point was a small rock and a spindly bush three leaps away.
    In the deep snow those three leaps suddenly turned into nine and the two rabbits struggled toward the rock and bush with all of their might.
    The eagle recovered in mid-air, flew higher to renew the attack and again dropped down on the pair hoping to snag one of them for a winter meal. This time she stabbed through the snow seeking fur and warm blood.
    “Look out!” Desiree cried just as the two rabbits made it to the shelter of the rock and bush. They pressed themselves to a small hollow space at the base of the rock as the claws swooped by, clutching at snow and twigs.
    “Are you alright?” Roberto asked.
    Desiree could manage only one word, “Scared.”
    “Me, too,” Roberto said. “I’m so sorry I got you into this. I should have insisted you return home where it is . . . where it is safe. Can you see the eagle?”
    Desiree leaned ever so slightly away from the safety of the rock.
    “No,” she whispered. “Perhaps . . . perhaps she’s gone away.”
    “I don’t know why she would,” Roberto said. “It’s winter, she’s hungry and we have hardly any protection. All I have is this.”
    And Roberto held up something he had been carrying.
    “What is it.?”
    “Oh,” he sighed, “it’s something very special for someone very special.”
    “Really,” Desiree said, breathless with longing.
    “I wanted to deliver it but I should never have gone out on this day.”
    “I have a Valentine, too,” Desiree told him. “For someone very special,” she added.
    “Mine is for Gina,” Roberto said.
    After a long pause all Desiree could say was, “Oh.”
    At that moment the snow parted with a flurry and the twitching body of the eagle landed directly next to Roberto and Desiree. A razor sharp claw raked the rock and the two rabbits tensed.
    “I know you’re in there,” a raspy voice said. “I’m not leaving without one of you. Which shall it be?”
    This time when a claw came towards the pair, Roberto leaned out and bit it.
    The eagle shirked and flew off, only to circle around to get to a better vantage point.
    “We can’t stay here,” Roberto said panting with fear. “She’ll be back again and again until she gets one us — or maybe both. I’m going to make a run for it through the deep snow, Desiree. You wait until she goes after me then make your way back to the forest.”
    “No,” she said.
    “What else can we do? And here, I want you to have this.” He thrust the card towards Desiree. “In these last few seconds I’ve had time to think clearly. I don’t know why I didn’t realize this long ago. I guess situations like this help clear a rabbit’s mind but you’re the one I’ve loved all these years. You really are. I was very foolish to make this card for Gina. She doesn’t care about me — never has. I was a fool to think that. And now look, I’ve risked my life for nothing. But you, you’re the rabbit I’ve known all my life and just now did I realize what you mean to me. I love you, Desiree.”
    “Oh, Roberto,” she sighed. “I made my Valentine for you. I was looking for you today but I should have waited because . . . because I’m the reason . . .”
    “That’s not true,” he whispered. “But we don’t have time to talk. I’ll love you forever. Be safe.”
    And with that, Roberto dashed out from the safety of the rock and wriggled through the snow.
    The eagle, flying in lazy circles above the meadow, immediately spotted the movement in the snow and began to dive down, claws extended, aiming for the slight disruption in the smooth surface. It was Roberto tunneling through the snow.
    Desiree couldn’t help leaning out to watch as the scene unfolded. The last thing she saw before turning away was the eagle flapping her great wings to gain altitude while carrying Roberto beneath her.
    And Roberto was never heard from again. The story spread wide and far throughout the community of rabbits. Mothers told the story as a lesson to their young. Love-sick rabbits spoke of Roberto’s last words bringing tears to the eyes of their loved ones as they put themselves in Roberto’s place.
    As for Desiree, she made it home safely that cold winter’s day, her love for Roberto deeper than ever. The Valentine he gave her — even though it had a different name on it — was something she always treasured. At night, alone in her bed, she would look at the card and hear Roberto’s voice telling her once again, I’ll love you forever. Through the deep snows of winter and the long years that followed, Desiree always thought of Roberto on that very special day in February.

The End

Although this is a rather sad story I think it is rather bitter sweet, too. Desiree comes away with a life-lesson and with the feeling that she has connected with Roberto during a very important moment in their lives. And the romantic in me thinks Roberto might just have gotten free at the last moment and saved himself, to someday return to his true love.