tania in a winter wonderland - free kids books · tania in a winter wonderland ... she and her...
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TaniaInAWinterWonderland
ByKanikaG
Copyright2018byKanikaG
EditedbyPellG
CoverartbyKanikaGandPellG
SnowmanillustrationbyPellG
Allotherillustrationsarepublicdomainimagestakenfromopenclipart.org
Website:
www.kanikag.com
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FunWithSnow
"Mama,lookoutside.Mamalook!Sonialook!"ThesevenyearoldTaniashoutedinexcitement,asshelookedoutofherfirstfloorbedroomwindow.Itwas2:30pm.SheandherfamilyhadonlyjustarrivedatacottageinShimla,thatherparentshadbookedforthewinterholidays.
"What'supTania?"Mamaasked,makingherwaytothewindow.
"ItssnowingMama."Taniasaid,unabletotearherselfawayfromthemesmerisingsight.Itwasthefirsttimeshehadseenthewhiteflakesdescendfromthesky.
MamaputherarmaroundTaniaandsmiled."It'sbeautifulisn'tit?Andeverythingbecomessoquietwhenitsnows."
Threeyearold,babySonia,washelpingPapaunpackinthelivingroomonthegroundfloor.Shecamerunningasfastasherlittlelegscouldcarryher,assoonassheheardhersister,Tania,call.
"Whathappened?"Hereyeswerewidewithexcitement,assheenteredthebedroom.
"LookSonia.It'ssnowing."Taniasaid,helpingSoniaontothewindowledge,soshecouldsee.
"Snow.Snow!"Soniasquealed,tryingtoreachforit.Fortunatelythewindowhadbarsonit.
Mamalaughed."BecarefulSonia,andI'llleavethetwoofyoutoenjoythesnow,whileIgohelpPapaunpack."
Afewminuteslater,Mamareturnedwithatrayloadedwithtwosteamingcupsofhotchocolateandaplateofnaankhatais.Shefoundherdaughtershuddledinablanketonalargechairbythewindow,watchingthesnow.Mamaplacedthetrayonthewindowledgeandleft.
Acoupleofhourslater,afterMamaandPapahadunpackedandsetupthecottagefortheirweeklongstay,theywenttocheckonSoniaandTania.The
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girlshadfinishedtheircocoaandbiscuits,andhadfallenfastasleep,cuddlingeachotheronthechair.
Thesunwassinkingbehindthetrees,andpinklightbathedthecottageanditssurroundings.Mamagentlywokethegirlsup.
"Lookoutofthewindownow,girls."Shewhispered.
TaniaandSoniagroggilylookedoutofthewindow,butwhattheysaw,madetheirjawsdrop.Ithadbeensnowingheavilywhiletheywereasleep.Outsidethetreeswereallcoveredinablanketofsnow,glowingpinkinthetwilight.Neitherofthemhadeverseenanythingsobeautiful,and,indeed,asMamahadsaid,itwasveryquiet.
Theymarvelledatitforafewminutes,andthenTaniaasked."Mama,Papa,canwegoplayinthesnow?"
"Yes.Ofcourse."Mamareplied."Butyouneedtowearyourjackets,caps,scarves,glovesandshoes.
Soonthegirlswereoutside.TaniastartedmakingasnowmanandSoniahelpedher.Theyusedtwigsforarmsandpebblesfortheeyes,smileandbuttons.Theymadehimatinfoilhatandusedacarrotforthenose.
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Justastheyfinished,MamaandPapajoinedthemoutside.
"Ithinkit'stimeforasnowballfight."Papadeclared.Theyallstartedmakingsnowballsandpeltingeachother,astheyranaroundtheyard.Soon,inspiteofthecold,theyweresweatingandpanting.
Mamasatdownonthesnowtorest.Thenshehadanidea."HeyTania,doyouknowwhatsnowangelsare?"
"YesMama.Isawsomeonemaketheminacartoon.Canwemakethem?"
"Sure,letsdothat.Greatidea!"Papajoinedthem.
Theylayflatontheirbacksinthesnowandstartedflappingtheirarmsandlegstopushawaythesnowandmakesnowangels.Soniathoughtitwasahilariousactivity,andsoonshestartedrollingaroundinthesoftsnow.
Afterawhile,thefamilytrudgedbackhome,butassoonastheysteppedintothehouse,thepowerwentout.Mamaboiledwaterinalargepotonthestovetop,andPapacarriedittotheupstairsbathroom,soTaniaandSoniacouldhaveahotbath.MamaandPapahadhotbathstoo.
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Thendressedintheirnightclothesandwarmrobes,theyreturnedtothekitchen.TaniahelpedMamacutupvegetablestomakekhichadi,whilePapaandSoniawenttothesmallshedoutsidetogetsomefirewood.Papabroughtbacklogsforafire,whileSoniacarriedafewdriedtwigsandleaves.
Oncethekhichadiwassettocook,MamaaskedSoniatofetchabrinjal.Mamamadehotbrinjalpakodas,whilePapastartedafireinthefireplace.
Thefamilyenjoyedatastymealofhotkhichadiandpakodasinfirelight.Everythingseemedsopeacefuluntil...
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WinterIsTroublesome
ThenextmorningTaniawokeuptothesoundsoffrustrationandpanic.Shehadalovelyrestunderthewarmblankets,thatPapahadwrappedherandSoniaupin,soshewasmostsurprisedtohearMamashout"Ohno!No,no,no,no.Arrgh!Nowwhat?"
"Whathappened,Honey?"SheheardPapacallout.
"Thereisnowatercomingfromthetap."Mamacomplained.TaniahadneverheardMamasoundsodistraught.
Taniarandowntoseewhatwasgoingon.ItlookedlikePapahadjuststartedtoastingbreadinthefireplace.Wow!Thisisawesome,Taniathoughttoherself,andwentseewhatwasgoingoninthekitchen.
"Hmm.Doyouthinkapipeburstlastnight?"Papaaskedturningthetapthiswayandthat.Butnowatercamerushingout.
"That'sprobablyit.Thetemperaturedroppedtoquiteafewdegreesbelowzerolastnight.Weshouldhaveleftthetapsrunningonatrickle.Butwhatdowedonow?Howdowehavebaths,washutensilsandcook?"
"Umm.Mamathereisalotofcleansnowlyingoutside.Can'twejustbringitinandmeltitinapotonthegas?"
Mamalookedpuzzled."YesIsupposethereisnothingwrongwiththat.Atleastwecouldwashourfaces,haveourbathsandwashafewutensils.Tania,Iwouldn'thavethoughtofit,butitisareallygoodidea."
PapanoddedandsmiledatTania."Icangototheneareststoreandpickupsomebottledwaterfordrinkingandcooking."Heoffered."I'llalsodropbyonthecottageownersdownthestreet,andseeiftheycangetthepipefixedsoon."
Taniawentuptoherbedroomtowearwarmclothes,soshecouldgocollectsnowinbucketsforMama.Soniahadalreadywokenup.
"Whatareyoudoing,Tania?"Sheasked.
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TaniaexplainedthesituationtoSonia."I'llcometoo.Iwanttocollectsnow."Soniajumpedoutofbedandputonherwarmclothes.Thesisterstooktwosmallbucketsandmugsandwenttocollectsnow.Itwashardwork,butitwasfuntoo.
Thefamilymadesgreateam.ThegirlswouldcollectsnowinbucketsandbringthemtoMama.Shewouldemptyitintoalargepotandheatthepotasthegirlscollectedanotherbucketofsnow.Mamawouldputthehotwaterintoalargebucketandwaitforthegirlstoreturnwithanotherbucketofsnow.WhenPapareturnedwith5litresofbottledwater,hehelpedTaniaandSoniacollectthesnowandspeededuptheprocess.SoMamasettwolargepotsonthetwogasburnerstoheatthesnow.Theyallwenton,untiltheyhad3largebuckets,2smallbuckets,and2largepots,fullofhotwater.
Onceeveryonefinishedtheirbathswithhotwaterfromthemeltedsnow,Mamamadeoatsporridge,andPapatoastedmorebreadonthefireandspreadbutterandjamonthem.Justthenthepowerreturned.
"Typical!"Papasighed."ButImustsayitwasfunmakingtoastoverafire,insteadofinatoasterforachange."
Astheyatebreakfast,Taniaasked."Whydidthepipeburst?Yousaidthecoldmadethepipeburst.Howdidithappen?"
"Itisbecausewaterbehavespeculiarlywhenitiscold."Mamareplied."Didyouknow,thatthingsexpandwhentheygethotandcontractwhentheycool?"Sheasked.
"No.Whatdoyoumean?"Taniaasked.
"Ifyouheatsomething,thetinyparticlesinit,getexcitedandbouncearoundalotmoreenergetically,makingthethingbigger.Soifyouheatametalwireitbecomeslongerandifyouheataliquidinacontainer,itrises.Forexample,inathermometer,themercurycolumngoesupwithincreasingtemperature."Papajoinedtheconversation.
"Ohthat'swhyyoulookforhowfarthesilverlinereaches,whenyoutakemytemperature.Thesilverlineisthemercurycolumn,right?Thehighermytemperature,thelongerthemercurycolumnis.Isthatright?"
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"ThatisabsolutelycorrectTania."PapasmiledandruffledTania'shair.
"Okay.Sowhyiswaterpeculiar?"Taniaasked.
"Atmosttemperatureswaterbehavesnormally,meaningthespaceitoccupiesincreases,whenitisheated,anddecreaseswhenitiscooled.Butsomethingstrangehappenswhenwaterreaches4degreeCelsius."Mamasaid.
"Why?Whathappensthen?"Taniawaseagertoknow.
"Ifyoucoolabowlofwaterat4degreeCelsius,thespaceoccupiedbythewaterstartsincreasingslowly,andthenitsuddenlyincreasesalot,whenitformsice."Mamaexplained.
"Oh!"Tanialookedpuzzled."Why?"
"Waterparticlesbehavelikeadisorganisedcrowdhuddlingtogether,whileiceislikeamarchingband,whereeveryparticleknowsitsplaceanddoesn'tbreakformation.Thistendencyofwaterparticlestogetorganisedbelow4degreeCelsius,makesitbehavepeculiarly.Whentheparticlesareinformation,therearelotsofemptyspaces.So,iceoccupiesalotmorespacethanwater.You'lllearnmoreaboutitsomedaybut,fornowitisinterestingtotakealookattheeffectsofthisstrangebehaviourofwater."Mamareplied.
"Likethepipeburstingyoumean?Howdoesthisstrangebehaviourofwatercauseapipetoburst?"
"AsMamasaid,thespaceoccupiedbywaterkeepsincreasingwhenitiscooledbelow4degreeCelsius,whiletheparticlesstartgettingorganised.Iceformsat0degreeCelsius,whentheparticlessuddenlygetinarigidformation.Soice
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occupiesalotmorespace,thanwater.Infact,ifyoustartwithwateratanytemperature,thespaceoccupiedbythewater,islessthanthespaceoccupiedbytheiceformedbycoolingthatwater.Thatiswhyicefloatsonwater.Thisiscalledtheanomalousbehaviourofwater.Anomalousmeansunusualorabnormal."Papachimedin.
"SoTania,canyoufigureoutwhathappenedinthepipeslastnight?"Mamaasked.
Taniathoughtforamoment."Lastnight,sinceitwasveryverycold,thewaterfilledupinthepipeat4degreeCelsius.Then,whenitgotevencolder,thewaterstartedoccupyingmorespace,puttingpressureonthepipe.Sincethetapswereclosedtheincreasedvolumeofwatercouldnotgetout.Oh!Iseethat'swhyyousaidweshouldhaveleftthetapsonatrickle.Okay,so,whenthewaterfroze,theiceneededtooccupyalotmorespace,makingthepressuretoomuchforthepipetocopewith,soitburst.Isthatright?"Taniaasked,hereyesshinning.
"Yes.Quiteright,Tania."Mamanoddedimpressed.
"Butifthepipewallsweretryingtopushontheiceandmakeitsmaller,shoulditnothavebecomewateragain?"Taniawondered.
"ThatisveryastuteTania.Tosomeextentthatwouldhappen,butthenifitwastoocold,itwouldstillfreezeandburstoutofthepipe."Mamasaidthoughtfully.ThenshelookedatPapa."Youknow,thereisanexperimentwecoulddo,toshowTania,thatwhatsheissaying,makesalotofsense."
"Yes."Papaagreed.I'llgoseeifIcanfindsomethread."Papastackedupthebreakfastdishesandwenttolookforthread.EveryonehadfinishedbreakfastandSonia,nottoointerestedinthediscussion,hadstartedplayingwithherblocks.
"AndI'llgogetanicecube."Mamaputthedishestosoakinthesink,withsomewaterleftfromthemeltedsnow,andwenttotherefrigerator.
"What?Whatareyoutwotalkingabout?"Taniaasked,bewildered.
"Justyousee."Papawinkedreturningwitharollofblackthreadfromthesewingkit.
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Water,Ice,AndMagic!
Orisitscience?
Mamaplacedtheice-cubeonaflatcoasteronthetable,andPapaplacedthethreadontopoftheice-cube.Hestretchedthethreadacrossthetopsurfaceoftheice-cubeandappliedadownwardpressurewiththethread.
"WhatareyoudoingPapa?"Taniaasked.
Papawasfocussingontheexperiment,soMamaanswered."Yourememberyouaskedwhytheicedoesnotmeltbackintowaterwhenthepipepushesonitforcingittobesmaller."
"Yes.Andyousaiditdoestosomeextent."
"Yesandthisexperimentwillshowyouthat.Papaispushingdownontheice-cubewiththethread,forcingthatthinstriptobesmaller,andsotheicetherewillmelt.Onceitmelts,thethreadwillgoin.Butoncethethreadgoesunder,thewateraboveitnolongerhasanypressureonitanditwillrefreezeintoice.Thisiscalledregelation."
"Ohsowillthethreadbecaughtinsidetheice-cubeandstickoutofthetwosides?"Taniaasked.
"Yes.That'sexactlyit."Mamareplied.
"Sowillitlooklikeanecklacemadeofthreadwithanicependant?"Taniaasked.
"WhyTania,youdohaveawonderfulimagination.Ihadneverthoughtofitthatway,butthatisexactlywhatitwilllooklike."MamaclappedTaniaonherback.
Asifrightoncue,Papasangout."Taa-daa!"Hewasholdingupanecklaceofblackthreadwithanice-cubependant.EvenSoniawasexcited,andcamerunningtoexamineit.Shebeggedtobeallowedtowearit.MamaandTanialaughedasPapafitthenecklaceonSonia.
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"Ouch!Oooch!Cold,coldcold."Soniadancedaround,andPaparemovedit.Soniafrownedattheicenecklace,andthenwentbacktoplaywithherblocks.
"It'ssadthough,thatwaterisoneofthefewsubstancestobehavethatway.Ifitwerenotforthisstrangebehaviourofwater,pipeswouldnotburstincoldplacesandinconveniencethepeoplelivingthere."Tanialamented.
"True,butthisanomalousbehaviourofwatermakesitpossibleforfishesandotheraquaticanimals,livinginponds,andlakestosurvivethewinterinverycoldplaces."Papapointedout.
"Howso?"Tania'sfrownedtryingtofigureoutthereason.
"Youremember,Itoldyouthaticefloatsonwater,becauseoftheanomalousbehaviourofwater?"Papaasked.
"Yes."Taniarepliedandwaited.
"Sowhenalakeorapondstartsfreezingincoldweather,theicefloatsontop.Oncethelakeiscoveredwithfloatingice,theiceformsabarrierbetweentheairaboveitandthewaterbelowit.Sincethecoldaircan'tcomeincontactwiththewater,itcannotcoolitmuch."Papacontinued.
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"Butisn'ttheicesupercold?"Taniaraisedhereyebrows.
"Yestheiceiscold,butnotascoldastheairaboveit.Sounderthelayerofice,thewaterremainsliquidandthefishesandotheraquaticlifecansurvive,insteadofgettingfrozen.Theiceactslikeyoursweater.Justlikeyoursweaterhelpsyoustaywarm,thelayeroficepreventsthewaterbelowfromfreezing,strangeasthatmaysound."Mamachimedin.
"Ohthat'snice."Taniawasrelieved.Shereallydidloveallanimals."Isn'titamazinghownatureworks,andhowalmosteverythinghasanupsideandadownside,includingtheanomalousbehaviourofwater?"
"Yesnatureisquiteamazing."Mamaagreed.
"Andlearningit'smanysecretsonebyone,isaveryexcitingpartofgrowingup."Papaadded."ButnowIthinkit'stimewewentoutandenjoyedwhatnaturehastoofferinwinter."
"Wherearewegoing?"Taniaasked
"Justyouwaitandsee".Paparefusedtosayanythingelse.
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WinterSports
Anhourlater,warmlydressed,thefamilyarrivedatalargeopenfrozenspace."Whatisthisplace?"Taniaenquired,watchingpeopleslidearoundontheice.
"Thisisaniceskatingrink,Tania"Mamareplied.
"Oh!Ithoughtthosewereindoors."Taniawaspuzzled.
"They,usually,are,butinwinter,Shimlahasalargeoutdoornaturaliceskatingrink.ItisthelargestoneinsouthAsia!Theyputwaterinthisflatcontainedarea,anditfreezesbecauseofthecold."Papaexplained."Loadsofpeoplecomeheretoskateinwinter.Comeon.Let'stryitout."
"Tryitout?How?Wedon'thaveiceskates."Taniaobjected.
"Wecanrentthem."Papasaid,delighted.
PaparentediceskatesforMama,Taniaandhimself,andforSonia,hebroughtalargeplasticsupport,thatshecouldholdonto,andpushalongontheice,whileshewalked.Soniawasthrilled.
MamaandPapahadahardtimestayingvertical.Theykeptfalling,andthatreallyhurtontheice,butTaniapickeditupprettyquickly."It'sbecauseyouknowhowtorollerblade."PapacalledoutandgaveTaniaathumbsup."Itrequiresthesamesenseofbalance,sojustuseyourrollerbladinginstinctsandyou'lldogreat."
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Taniaenjoyedherselfimmensely,andattheendofanhourMamaandPapamanagedtoslidearoundalittlewithoutfalling.Theywerestartingtogettheideatoo.Taniahelpedthemout.Shecouldn'tbelieveshewasteachingherparentshowtodosomething.Itwasastrange,butpleasing,experience.
Soniafellafewtimestoo,butitseemedtoamusemorethanupsether.Shewasshortandhersupportwasquitesteady,soshewasmostlyenjoyingherself,andpeoplewerekindenoughtogiveherawideberth.
Taniasawamanspinningontheice.Hehadhisarmsspreadoutandwasspinningslowly.Thenhepulledinhisarmsin,andstartedspinningfaster.
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TaniarememberedseeingitonTV,butitwassomuchmoreamazingseeingapersondothatrightinfrontofher.IthadsomethingtodowithangularmomentuminPhysics,Mamahadsaidthen,butTaniahadn'treallyunderstood.PerhapsshewouldaskMamaagainlater,butrightnow,shewashavingwaytoomuchfunslidingaroundandteachingherparentsforachange.
Thatevening,MamaandPapawereachingalloverfromtheirmanyfalls.But,atleast,thepipehadbeenfixedbythetimetheyreturned,andwiththeelectricitybacktoo,theyallhadlonghotbathsinthetub.MamaandPapafeltmuchbetterafterthat.Taniatookchargeofdinner,sinceshehadonlyfallenacoupleoftimes.Shemadehotvegetablesoup,withverylittlehelpfromMama.Sheserveditwithbutteredtoasts.Papagrilledsomesausagesonthefire.Itwasagreatmeal.
Overthenextfewdays,thefamilywentforlongwalksonroadslinedwithcedarandpineforestsonbothsides,shoppedontheMallroadforprettywoodenbraceletsandnecklacesandbeautifulshawls.Theytriedskiingandsledding.TaniaandSoniaparticularlyenjoyedtobogganingdownhill.Theyhadamarvelloustime.
Onthewayback,thefamilytooktheKalka-Shimlatrain,whichgoesthrougha102tunnelsandovermorethan800bridges.Chuggingthroughthesnowcoveredlandscapewasamagicalexperience.Taniadeclared,thatitwasherbestholidayever.
Imustagree.Herholidaysarealwayssofulloffunandexcitingadventures,andyet,somehow,theykeepgettingbettertoo.IwonderwhereMamaandPapawilltakehernext.Ihopetheyinvitemetojointhemnexttime.
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