“Nip, can you swing by those windows over there, while I put some frost on this pumpkin patch?” Jack Frost requested as he swooped down by a farmhouse.

The tiny snowflake etched an elegant design on the windowpanes while Jack Frost sprinkled just a touch of snow on the pumpkin patch. After they had completed their cold creativity, they ascended back into the air. They flew on, caught up in the joy of the season, but soon Jack Frost heard something far below and he swooped down to get a better look with Nip following closely behind. Then together they hid in a tree and watched an interesting new individual who had now caught Jack’s eye.

“Nip, what do you suppose that is?” he said to his snowflake companion, giving his attention to what seemed to be a female snow sprite singing beautifully by a stream that seemed to be almost magical.

The dainty snow sprite appeared to be near Jack Frost’s age and had a sweet face with skin a beautiful shade of blue and blushed cheeks. She was dressed in a celestial wintry hooded cloak. Around her neck she wore a necklace in the shape of a heart. Her blue hair swirled down her back, and her ears were long and pointed. Her large pretty eyes were like windows into her soul.

A pure white owl with a blue beak was perched on her dainty finger. The owl was cuter than a bug’s ear and cooed as the snow sprite girl lamented;

“While I sit here and ponder,

There is no notion I hold fonder,

Than not to wander,

Where I roam,

Must I forever be alone?

With no family of my own.

Yearning for a home.”

Jack Frost was swept into a dream world while he listened to the song. He was so captivated by the beauty of her singing that he lost his balance, fell out of his hiding place in the tree’ and landed in some bushes underneath it. The enchanting female snow sprite quickly jumped up from the edge of the stream and whirled around.

“Hello? Is someone there?” she asked.

“Um, uh, no,” Jack Frost mumbled trying to hide behind the bushes.

“But I can see you,” the snow sprite girl said in an obvious tone as she noticed Jack Frost’s boots peeking from under the bush.

Jack Frost fumbled for a fib to suffice for an explanation.

“It’s a figment of your imagination. Your mind is just playing tricks

on you. Pay no attention to what you see,” then he looked to Nip who was hovering above his shoulder. “Uh . . . Nip, I think that the jig is up. I guess we’d better go over and break the ice.”

The sprite girl approached Jack Frost and Nip with an inquisitive look on her sweet young face.

“How long have you been up there? Come out of there,” she said gesturing for them to come forward, for she was awe inspired by her spectators.

Jack Frost and Nip came out from behind the bushes as the girl, holding her owl, approached them.

“Why, you’re a boy. Who are you?” she asked in wonder with a giggle.

Jack Frost smiled a cocky grin and looked at Nip, then back at Jill.

“I am Jack Frost, the legendary spirit of winter. Um, perhaps you have heard of me?” he said with great pride in his voice.

The sprite girl and her white owl looked at each other for a moment and shrugged.

“Um, no,” she stated.

Jack Frost was in disbelief for how could anyone not know who he was.

“What?! You’ve never heard of the great Jack Frost?! Why, I’m absolutely marvelous! Without me there would be no winter! Father Winter simply wouldn’t know what to do without my incredible abilities!” he boasted.

“Oh, is that a fact, Jack? Do you always toot your horn so loudly?” the girl playfully interrupted.

Nip tapped Jack Frost on the shoulder and so he gestured to his snowflake associate.

“Oh, and this is my assistant, Nip,” Jack Frost added as an afterthought, then he leaned forward. “And you are?”

“I’m Jill Chill,” the female snow sprite said, putting her hand on her chest, “and this is Flurry, my pet snow owl.”

Jack Frost began to circle Jill Chill, studying her from head to toe.

“What? What is it?” she asked.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve never seen another snow sprite exactly like you before. Well, other than, Father Winter and Old Romeo Winter, but you’re not exactly Old Romeo. Hmmm . . . Um, well, I, uh, enjoyed your singing.”

Jill smiled in amazement.

“You enjoyed my singing?” she repeated perplexedly.

Jack Frost circled Jill Chill again.

“Yes, of course! Who wouldn’t enjoy your singing?!” he reassured her. “Um, where did you come from?” he asked with great interest.

Jill looked a bit frightened.

“I don’t know,” she said as she stared off into space with a blank look on her face.

Jack Frost was intrigued.

“What do you mean? How can you not know where you come from?” he asked in amazement.

“I don’t know. I just don’t, okay?” Jill said gesturing with her left hand, then she turned to Jack Frost and added. “Why do you want to know anyway?”

Jack Frost thoughtfully smiled, still admiring Jill Chill, and put his hand under his chin as he contemplated.

“Because I’ve never seen another snow sprite quite like you before. You must have come from somewhere. Haven’t you ever wondered where?” he asked with a nod.

Jill shrugged.

“Sure, lots of times, but it’s pointless to pursue it. I can’t seem to remember anything no matter how hard I try to. There is no way I can find out where I come from . . .” she shared with a sigh.

Jack Frost stroked his chin in thought.

“. . . Or is there?” he said, finishing her sentence.

Stroking his chin, he looked up at Nip with a mischievous glint in his eye. “What do you think, Nip? Do you think he can help us get to the bottom of this intriguing mystery?”

Nip swirled around, responding to Jack Frost’s request. Jill curiously approached him.

“Who? Who? Who can help?” she asked.

Jack Frost gestured with both arms and smiled impishly.

“Why, the supreme ruler of winter of course,” he stated matter of factly.

Jill Chill looked at Jack Frost playfully and folded her arms.

“Oh, isn’t that you?” she asked with mock sarcasm.

Jack Frost put his hands on his hip and rolled his eyes.

“No, it’s Father Winter and if anyone would know where you came from, he would. Would you like to go find out?” he offered.

Jill was hesitant to put any faith in this new acquaintance; after all, he did seem a bit mischievous.

“Well, okay, but do you really think he’ll be able to help me?” she

inquired.

“Sure. Now, let’s go,” Jack Frost said with great enthusiasm.

However, Nip didn’t like this one bit for she loved Jack Frost with all her little heart. She didn’t care for the way that her long time friend was looking at this new acquaintance and she let him know it. Jack Frost and Jill Chill paused to address the jealous little snowflake.

“What did she say?” Jill Chill asked as Nip landed on Jack Frost’s shoulder.

Jack Frost smiled awkwardly, not wanting to hurt the feelings of his new friend.

“Um, she said she thinks you’re cute too!” he said with a smile.

Jill blushed and looked at the little living snowflake.

“Thank you, Nip. That is awfully sweet of you. I think that you’re cute too,” she complimented.

Nip folded her arms and stomped her foot on Jack’s shoulder.

“Calm down, Nip,” Jack Frost whispered. “She’s just lost and needs a home. Do you not remember when you needed the same thing?”

Nip shamelessly kicked her foot down and turned her back stubbornly. Jack Frost turned to Jill Chill and offered out his hand in friendship.

“Can you fly?” he inquired as he began to levitate into the air.

Jill looked at Flurry who hooted back in confusion.

“Doesn’t everybody?” she asked as she stepped up into the air and took Jack’s hand.

“Come on then, off to Father Winter’s palace. I’ll lead the way!” Jack Frost said.

Then Jack Frost and Jill Chill flew off, with Nip and Flurry trailing closely behind them.

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