A Christmas Blizzard
by By Keillor, Garrison
Category: Fiction , Humorous , General

Snow is falling all across the Midwest as James and Joyce Sparrow awaken in their 55th floor ten-room apartment overlooking Chicago - he dreading Christmas, and she, adoring it but down sick with stomach flu. He dreams of spending it at their vacation home in Kuhikuhikapapa'u'maumau, H.I. But a phone call from his hometown of Looseleaf, North Dakota, sends him flying into the teeth of a major blizzard to see dying Uncle Earl. And there in Looseleaf, home of the Lucifers, he's confronted by old, dark memories in every corner. Stranded by the storm, he lives in a fishing shack on the ice of Lake Winnesissebigosh where he meets a wolf, the Big-Hair Lady, and a Chinese wise man from the Inner Sunset, each attempting to teach him the great mystery of life. And there, in the middle of the night, taking a sauna with cousin Liz, he conquers fear just in time to receive Mrs. Sparrow's wonderful Christmas gift.