Snowstorm

It's snowing sideways-- small, hard flakes, as if someone had turned on a snow machine blowing out snow from the East.

Sandstorm. Dust storm. Snowstorm. Swirling frenzies obscuring all. She thinks snowstorm is a misnomer, it conjures up images of snow falling thickly but peacefully. Blizzard makes her think of white-outs where the snow pelting her windshield becomes a dazzling blur of pure white specks. But there is no word for wind whipping up powdered snow. Mini snow tornadoes sweep across the street with each strong gust.

She walks to school. Her jeans are soaked with melted snowflakes by the time she arrives. The tips of her ears tingle once inside. She savors the warmth, the flush of her blood vessels dilating.