Cut off in an isolated house by a very deep Christmas snowstorm, Ellen suddenly loses all electrical power and realizes that she could well freeze to death. Suddenly she hears a knock at the door and outside, in the snow, is a strange man, a strange animal with a damaged leg and a simple request to make. This short story is based on a real event and was witnessed by the author during a visit to his daughter’s house one Fourth of July. People who repair damaged animals often have interesting stories to tell. This is one of them.

*Short fiction.