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Tess Allen

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It's that sudden plunge in temperature that you should be wary of.

It's the first warning sign.

All the trees of autumn that once boasted leaves of ruby and gold will gradually turn into mangled skeletons.

Soon, the skies will begin to bruise a particularly foreboding shade of grey, and you'll begin to spot innocent citizens bundled up in their coziest outdoor apparel, wearily anticipating what lies ahead.

A certain, crisp frigidity will creep into the air. You'll wake up in bed at 3 a,m. with the chills, yearning for an extra blanket.

Next comes the last and most obvious warning sign. You'll walk right out onto your front porch one morning to be greeted by none other than a sprinkling of cold, wet, mocking snowflakes.

It happens every year and unfortunately for us Canadians, it usually happens with not a hint of mercy. Like every year before it, Winter has stricken with a vengeance.

It all started one infamous night, some weeks ago. I was casually lying in bed, trying to concentrate on my ancient copy of Oliver Twist but being distracted by anything that passed by my line of vision (ex. the cat, my mother, a frantic pigeon flapping its wings outside), when I happened to glance out the window.

What caught my eye sent a ripple of astonishment throughout my whole body. I sprang out of bed with the agility of a spooked panther! Outside, the faint glimmer of a trail of snowflakes tumbled leisurely beneath a streetlight.

I was thrilled! I shook my mother out of bed, commanding her to look outside. She was not so enthusiastic but unperturbed by her less-than-excited response, I spent the rest of the night alerting all my friends that winter had officially made its grand entrance.

The joy was short-lived.

Soon after the initial snowfall, things got ugly. What the innocent citizens of Moncton didn't realize was that that inoffensive little sprinkling of snowflakes was just the beginning, a threat for what was yet to come.

Only a few days after those innocent flurries hit the ground, Moncton was unexpectedly stricken by a minor blizzard. I was sitting in English class at the time. Everyone whirled around in their seats to behold the swirling mess outside the windows.

It was a mesmerizing sight, something we thought we'd all kind of missed . . . for a little while.

Enter the ugly side of winter. A few days after the small storm, an even bigger blizzard was broadcasted!

At around midnight, the snow began to fall.

And it didn't stop.

It swirled and tumbled and collected on the ground. It was beautiful to watch, but not for long. Once the snow stopped, all we were left with was enormous piles of fresh, white snow. Everywhere.

It's only November! What is Mother Nature even thinking?! It's too early for this kind of weather, if you ask me. Shouldn't we be guaranteed at least a few more weeks of clean sidewalks and dry streets?

Apparently not; Mother Nature has decided not to go easy on us this year. Based on winters from the past, these early snowfalls are just a cruel indication of what's coming: A cold, unrelenting winter.

However, the first snowfall can also mark the beginning of an occasion much more exciting than shovelling the driveway or applying countless layers of winter clothing: Christmas! Admittedly, I usually get pretty excited when I spot the first few snowflakes drifting against the glow of the streetlights.

The timeless image of snow falling quietly in the darkness reminds me of Christmases past. It usually tends to kick my holiday energy into over-drive.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), us Canadians are just used to seeing snow at Christmastime. It just wouldn't feel right to be surrounded by green grass or palm trees.

Something about watching the snow fall feels cozy. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it.

* Tess Allen, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at Moncton High School, is Editor of the Whatever section.