Big Fish

Although it never snows in Alabama, it does snow the winter that Edward is nine. The snow comes down hard and fast, covering everything in ice. Edward and his father build a colossal snowman using a makeshift contraption with pulleys. The snowman is 16 feet tall and has wagon wheels for eyes. As the snow comes down harder, Edward’s father realizes they’re in a “situation.” The house is swiftly getting buried. A snowdrift even fills a bedroom and the roof starts to creak under the weight of the snow. They gather blankets and food and decide to go outside. They sleep in the trees that night.

The next day, it’s stopped snowing, so Edward’s mother says Edward better get himself to school. As Edward’s walking, he passes by a man frozen in a block of ice. Edward nearly freezes himself. The school is buried, and only its weathervane peeps out above the snow. Edwards discovers the teacher sitting inside reading, and as they greet each other, Edward realizes he’s forgotten his homework so he goes back home to get it. William says it’s a “true story.”