Life is Like Snow

             Jenna required reading for her online English class has been focusing on an international high school in New York.  For each chapter Jenna is required to pull out a quote, comment on the theme of the chapter and turn in a short essay.  She has gotten in the habit of reading things out loud as it helps her better to think.  She seems to be even more focused if she can find someone else to read it out loud to her.  Often she has asked for my opinion about what I think the theme is or what I think is a good quote.  

Usually the quote is directly attached to whichever student the chapter focuses on.  However I remember one quote that stood out which was not related to the student.  It was actually a description of snow he had seen in Connecticut.  It was white and beautiful.   The quote continued with a less than attractive image of snow that had been yellowed with urine or left filthy from soot.  As we continued further in the story I realized how we could tie the quote into what might be the theme.

The last four chapters seemed to have focused on a boy named Mohammed who had come from a remote village in Africa.  We learned about his being a student at International when he was fourteen.  He had traveled to America by himself and left his family.  He had no other relatives living in the U.S.  Mohammed was by himself.

A social worker seeks a friend who is a teacher and has wanted to adopt a child – preferably a girl.  The teacher is asked to consider the possibility of adopting Mohammed in order to give him a place to live.  But it’s a complicated situation as Mohammed is NOT an orphan.  The next chapter focuses on the legal issues and there is suggestion of shuffling Mohammed around.  The chapter indicates that he is 16, possibly 17.  He’s no better off than when he was 14 – possibly worse off.

Mohammed travels with a group to visit the Empire State Building and disappears.  I see his life metaphorically as the snow.  For when he arrives in New York, the metaphorical snow is fresh and clean.  He takes in the newness of living in a big city.  He sees it as exciting.  He makes friends.  They share their dreams.  The court systems introduce the urine and soot which discolor the snow.  It is ugly.  He seems to have no control.  It isn’t a good environment.

It is later discovered that Mohammed had “moved” to Connecticut.  The environment he lives in reminds me of Charles Dickens’ Oliver.  Except instead of picking pockets, they are illegally burning CDs and selling them.  Mohammed refers to all the “Fagins” as “uncles” though they are not biologically related.  They teach him a trade.  They give him money.  No governmental red tape – though what they are doing is illegal, Mohammed feels like family.  Thus we see the parallels of snow that is beautiful and ugly at the same time.

Meanwhile he misses his biological family in Africa and would like to go home to see them.  His mom experiencing the hardships of their remote village says no.  She sees the beautiful snow that represents the United States (though the snow is only metaphorical as she has no idea what snow is nor can comprehend it visually when Mohammed tries to explain it to her as he is unable to relate anything to her that she, herself, can identify with).  If she understood snow she would tell Mohammed that the snow in Africa is very dark and ugly and it will never be clean and brilliant.

But it’s not just Mohammed’s story that we can compare to the snow.  It is that way for all of us.  2020 brought a huge assortment of challenges.  Some have seen the snow glisten in the sunlight as they have reconnected with families and have had more opportunity to read, study, quilt or whatever.  Some eventually became bored with it and focused on the yellow snow and dirty black and brown deposits while others remained focused on the brilliance of fresh snow.

Even when the snow had turned to brown slush there were moments of sparkle.  I can’t speak for those who have endured hurricane and floods but I would imagine communities pulled together as they have here during the fires.  Many people have lost their homes due to the harshness of the elements, but there are some that continue to focus on what they have and are grateful for the donations of time and possessions that others have willingly contributed.

I’m grateful for all the things I have learned during this pandemic and for the growth I’ve endured.  I have often looked at yellowed and dirty snow trying hard not to give up hope.  But I know if I turn my head in the right direction I can find the fresh snow and see the sparkles and beauty of what is happening.