He glanced out the window. The sight of ice had mystified Pete. He’d never seen anything like this before. It fell like shards of crystal, then melted on the windowpanes as though it were only an illusion.

The inside of the filling station was lined with racks of canned goods, boxes, and jars. A cooler in the corner contained sliced meats and hog head souse. There were coolers full of Coca-Cola and Nehi.

Ruth and Reese were bundled in blankets, wearing turbans over their heads. They sat huddled together, their teeth chattering.

“I’m scared, Pete,” Ruth said. “What if they find us? We ain’t supposed to be in here.”

“Aw, don’t worry,” he said. “Who’s gonna find us?”

“They could find us.”

“Who’s they?”

“I don’t know, but they might not be very nice.”

“Try not to worry,” Pete said.

But the truth was, Pete was worried. They had pulled over at this vacant station late that night. And while Pete was making water on trees behind the garage, he’d heard the sound of glass breaking. Pete had gone running toward the noise only to discover that Paul had broken a window. Then Paul lifted a sleeping Eulah in his arms and announced they would be making camp for the night.

“I’m so cold, Pete,” said Ruth, tucking her hands beneath her arms.

“Come here,” he said. Pete held Ruth close and felt the coldness of her little body, even through the blanket.

Ruth said, “What if they find us?”

“Don’t worry. Paul’s smarter than all us put together. He won’t let nothing happen.”

She squeezed him. She was shaking, from either cold or fear.

“Ruth. It’ll be alright.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know.”

“What if it’s not alright?”

“Then I’ll eat my hat.”

“What?”

“You heard me, I’ll eat it all up.”

She gave a nervous laugh.

Paul whispered to Pete from across the room, “Get over here, all three of you. We gotta put our heat together for your mama. She’s freezing.”

Everyone came together and made a huddle with blankets and bodies, keeping Eulah in the center. Reese’s shoulders were bobbing back and forth. Ruth’s teeth were clicking. The only person who didn’t seem to be affected by the cold was Vern. He was wearing a T-shirt under his coveralls, nothing more.

“Mama?” said Pete. “How’re you doing?”

She only coughed.

“I love you, Mama.”

Another cough.

“Your mama’s one tough bird,” Paul said. “She’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Pete could see white flurries catching the moonlight through the window. Reese and Ruth watched too. It was like they were in a fairy tale. Pete had never seen it except in magazines. He’d always thought the illustrations of snow looked beautiful, but on this night the snow wasn’t. It seemed terrible somehow.