Christmas Fiction Review: Snow Day by Billy Coffey - Appreciating Simple Pleasures Year-Round

Debut author, Billy Coffey, writes fictional narrative based on his Christianity. Regardless of your religious denomination, you'll enjoy reading Coffey's account of Peter Boyd's snow day in Mattingly, Virginia.Thirty-four-year-old Peter is happily married to his wife, Abby, a private school teacher who earns a modest salary. Five-year-old Sara, and three-year-old Josh, are his pride and joy.Days before Christmas, the local weatherman predicts mild temperatures. The Boyd's however, awake to a snowstorm; guaranteed to warrant a snow day for most townspeople. Peter works at the factory where tough times foreshadow layoffs. Being the company's third newest hire, Peter contemplates his fate. Viewing early morning snow-covered Blue Ridge Mountains from his window; he decides he needs a mental health day too. He phones absent from work to spend time with his family.Abby tells Peter they'll need bread and milk, and a few other items to survive the day. At list's end, they realize no
thing less than Peter's trip to Super Mart will suffice.Peter arrives at the crowded store, where it's obvious that many locals had the same idea. Following is a cross-sectional, chronological chapter account of Peter's Super Mart journey; and the lessons he learned that day. Each section of Snow Day is a self-sufficient story, sure to heighten your appreciation of daily living.Beautiful ScarsWhile shopping, Peter discovers a dilapidated Santa Claus figurine on the closeout shelf. He is, as Peter describes, "like a gargoyle, ugly, keeping worse ugliness away." He wonders who would purchase such an item, and at three dollars no less? An elderly couple (Helen and Charlie) arrives; and places the Santa in their shopping cart. Peter notices a scar on the woman's face from a long-ago burn. Curious, he asks them why they'd buy such an ugly item.They reply that the Santa is pretty and has character. Peter counters that the Santa's condition is broken, busted and worthless. "And do
you think that because he is scarred he is not useful?" says Helen.The couple recounts their meeting forty years ago. Helen, a recent college entrant, was involved in a burn accident. Loathing public appearances, she finally ventured to the park to feed the ducks. There, she met nineteen-year-old Charlie. His leg was injured in World War Two; and his limp is a daily reminder of his accident. Helen and Charlie found love when they both felt neither was lovable.Peter pauses, thinking about his own life, and harmful, hurtful things he'd done that he wasn't proud. He realizes that Helen carried her scars on the outside and his were inside. "But there was a God who still loved me, who sent His very Son to die for me. Little rotten, scarred me."Eugene Turner's LuckEn route home, Peter stops for gas at the local mini mart. He remembers working there five years ago before being hired at the factory. He enjoyed the job's informality and closeness. There, he sees Eugene Turner's Humme
r with a For Sale sign in its window.He recalls the days when Eugene would purchase lottery tickets bi-weekly at the 7-Eleven. A simple man, Eugene eventually matched five of the six winning lottery numbers. He was awarded nearly a half million dollars.Short-term, good times followed. Eugene and his wife, Missy, and their two "runts" upgraded housing, vehicles and other possessions. Eugene's gloating and other turn of events; found Eugene bankrupt within three years."The thing about money is that you work harder to keep it than you ever do earning it," reflects Peter.The Great Backyard ExpositionPeter returns home to Sara and Josh's plea to play outside. He dislikes the cold and snow; but remembers his earlier promise to join his kids outdoors, once home.Sara makes a snow angel, while Josh is too bogged down with outerwear to try. Peter helps his children explore their yard, front and back, by pulling them on a plastic sled. Icicles on the tool shed, birdfeeder and creek are
among the children's wonderment.Peter realizes the gift he's been given to see the world through the eyes of children. He also acknowledges there were hectic days when he wasn't attuned to his children. "But rarely did those moments come when I was able to peer into their hearts and know who they truly were."Eleanor's StoryWith Abby baking bread and the kids napping after outside playtime, Peter ventures on a neighborhood walk to reflect on the day's events.A UPS truck speeds by and stops at a house ahead of Peter. He watches as the driver strolls up the walkway with a package; and converses with the elegant elderly lady who opens the door. Peter notes his uncharacteristically relaxed behavior, vs. the normally fast-paced UPS driver.The UPS driver and Peter meet up. Brent tells Peter the woman's name is Eleanor; and that he makes deliveries to her several times a week, every week. She orders merchandise to engage in conversation with the telephone operators and assuage her
loneliness. She returns what she buys.Peter is struck how he passes the house almost daily, yet has no idea who resides there. He makes a mental note to pray for the lonely lady.It's then that he's confident he hears God's voice telling him to befriend the woman; and refrain from thinking about his own problems." I strolled up the driveway and rang the bell. There was silence. The curtains moved again. And the door opened."Coffey has cleverly crafted life lessons around a mundane shopping trip on a bleak day. Penultimate, The Plan and concluding chapter, The Detour, solidify his timely, feel-good holiday message, which will resonate year-round.

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