The First Snow

Li moved to Winnipeg from southern China in September. In her city at home, it never snowed, so she was excited and a little nervous about her first Canadian winter. One morning in November, she opened the curtains and saw that everything was white. The cars, the trees and the street were all covered with snow. She quickly put on her jacket and ran outside in her running shoes. Her neighbour, Mrs. Carter, was cleaning the snow from her driveway. She laughed when she saw Li. "Your feet will be wet and cold in a minute!" she said. "You need winter boots." Li looked down. Mrs. Carter was right. Her shoes were already wet. That afternoon, Mrs. Carter took Li to a store and helped her choose warm boots, a hat and thick gloves. "Now you're ready," she said with a smile. In the evening, Li called her mother. "It's minus fifteen here," she said, "but I'm not cold. I have a new friend and new boots."