The blizzard: a major blizzard has been predicted all week, but 15-year old Haley Peters is more concerned about the movie date she has planned with her crush. When Haley's mom gets snowed in at work. Haley has to cancel her date to babysit her sisters. That's when she learns what's really important - Fiction - Short Story

Girls' Life, Dec, 2003 by Kristen Weber

I'm sitting in the bedroom I share with my two sisters, putting the finishing touches on a paper for my freshman English class. It's due tomorrow, and I've been putting it off all week. The weather forecaster has been predicting major snow since Monday, so I've been holding out hope for a day off. Even though I live in Vermont, nay high school closes if there is so much as a flake. As I cross the final "t," my 5-year-old sister Peggy runs in.

"Haley," she says, 'I'm hungry."

"What would you like?" I ask.

Peggy wrinkles her forehead in thought and says, "Chocolate cake."

"Chocolate cake? I don't think we have any." I stand up and take Peggy's hand. "Let's go check."

Peggy and I walk into the kitchen. We find Lauren perched on a chair, her eyes glued to the tiny TV Mom picked up at a garage sale. "What are you watching?" I ask Lauren, as I look through the cabinets for anything even remotely resembling chocolate cake.

Lauren keeps her eyes focused on the screen. "Hollywood Squares."

I groan. Lauren is a game-show fanatic. She never misses any game show that airs between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Those are the hours we're home alone after school while Mom is at work. I know Mom would never approve if she knew the extent of Lauren's game-show addiction, but it's always just easier to let her watch than to argue with her.

Lauren brushes her blonde hair away from her face as she stares at the TV. I have the same color hair, and so do Mom and Peggy. We all have the same blue eyes and the same noses. I'm the only one with freckles.

"Haley? Chocolate cake?"

"Sorry, Peg," I say, opening the fridge and quickly closing it. There isn't much there. I'm hoping Mom will stop at the supermarket on her way home from the law office where she works as a paralegal. "There's bread or some fruit."

"Yuck!" Peggy sticks out her tongue. "Will Mom bring home pizza?"

"Maybe." Just as the words are out of my mouth, the phone rings. I grab it.

"Haley, it's Mom. How's everything going at home?"

"Fine." I say. "Can you get pizza on the way home?" Mom's sometimes too tired to make dinner after work, so she just gets carryout or I make us all one of the two dishes I'm good at--macaroni-and-cheese with hot dogs or grilled cheese sandwiches.

"I'm not sure what time I'm going to be home. I have to finish this case report. I tried to call Mrs. Duncan to see if she could come by, but she isn't home."

Mrs. Duncan is the neighbor to our left who watches us when Mom gets stuck at work. She smells like cats and doesn't let us watch TV for more than a few minutes. But, at the moment, that's the least of my worries. I have plans to go out tonight.

"Mom!" I exclaim. "I am going to the movies. With Jake!"

"Ooh, Jake." Mom's voice takes on a teasing quality I don't appreciate. "I'm sorry, honey, but you'll have to cancel. Besides, it is supposed to snow pretty heavily tonight. I'm sure his parents won't even let him go."

Sigh. I'm sure Mom is just saying it might dump snow to make me feel better. I haven't been able to go out with Jake much at all lately.

Last week, after I broke plans with him for Alicia Hickman's party, he complained that I'm always babysitting my sisters or doing something with my family. I can't say that isn't true, but I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I have to help Mom. Since she and my dad split, it's just the four of us.

"OK, Mom. Don't worry. I'll stay home. We'll be fine."

"You're the best!" I can hear the relief in Mom's voice. "Give Lauren and Peggy a hug from me. Now, you know the rules. Make sure the doors are locked, and don't open them for anyone! I'll call you when I'm about to leave."

I hang up and wait for the dial tone. A rock has settled into my stomach. The same rock that's always there whenever I think of Jake. I dial his number.

"Hello?" It's Jake's voice.

"Hey, Jake. It's Haley."

"Hey. What's up? Looking forward to Revenge of the Ant Women?"

"Actually, I can't make it. I have to watch my sisters tonight. My mom's stuck at work."

"So you're canceling? Again?"

"Sorry, I have to help out."

After more silence than I'm comfortable with, Jake gets out, "Sure, sure. I understand."

Before I can even think of something to say to salvage the situation, Peggy is clinging to my legs, so I hang up.

"Haley? Where's Mom?"

"Mom is working late, Peg. She'll call us when she is on her way home."

"Haley, look!" Peggy points to the kitchen window.

Guess Mom and the weather people aren't totally making this storm up. All of a sudden, it's snowing ... a lot. It looks like a big, white fluffy blanket covering our window.

"Snow? Finally!" Lauren leaps up and races toward the window. I've never seen her move so fast during Hollywood Squares. "Wow!"

Peggy and Lauren are silent for a few minutes. Then they both speak at once.

"Can we play in it?!"

"Can we build a snowman?!"

I look down at my sisters. "You know mom wants us to stay inside. We should wait until she gets home."

"But she won't be home for hours," Lauren whines. "The snow will melt!"

While I doubt this snow is going anywhere, I look at their eager faces and give in. We've been waiting for the snow all week, and finally it's here. "OK, put on your jackets."