Neev swung his beloved cricket bat at a snowball. Whoosh! The bat flew away and slid toward the frozen forest.
Neev stared at the dark trees. Behind him, the village wind whistled, Hooooo, through the empty lane.
Neev followed strange footprints beneath the snow. One was round, one was long, and one ended in a tiny snowball.
Plop! The snowball landed on Neev’s nose. He wiped it away and thought, “The forest is playing tricks.”
Beside icy branches, Neev found the bat. A small winter creature shivered beneath them and clutched the handle.
Neev held out his wool scarf. The creature hugged the bat tighter and backed away as frost crackled around it.
Neev carried dry twigs into a sheltered hollow. He placed glowing coals from the village stove beneath them.
The fire flickered. The creature crept closer, released the bat, and sneezed a sparkling puff onto Neev’s hat.
The creature warmed beside the coals. Neev picked up his bat, and the tiny brass bell gave one clear jingle.
Neev walked beside the creature toward the village. Lanterns glowed along the snowy road, one after another.
At the village edge, Neev tapped the bat on the ground. Tok! The creature began to dance in the golden light.
The creature spun beneath the lanterns. Neev tapped again, and Tok! Tok! answered the quiet winter night.