...It was an igloo.
by Theodore Welch


I never thought when I was a boy of twelve, that I could build a fort quite like this one. Then later as a father, I built one for my daughter when she was eight years old. It had added rooms, a window and a bench inside to sit on. I had decided to construct the snow fort one Saturday morning in the back yard. We had really good winters back then to make snow forts in Port Hope, Ontario in 1974. There had been freezing rain on top of the snow throughout the night. The rain had accumulated on top of two feet of snow already there on the ground. It was just right for the fort I always wanted to build, like an igloo. The icy snow was just right. All I had to do was to find the flat square shovel that dad had put away for winter. Now I was ready to start the formation of the igloo. From all over the back yard, I cut big rectangle blocks out of the snow. Then put the blocks in an oval circle on the ground. Working my way up with three more layers on top. The next smaller blocks would be placed with a slight inward position. Packing each block to make it stronger as I went along. I did this for tree more rows, working my way up. I then cut the door opening I wanted to have. Then sprayed the opening with water mist to make it stronger. I was only half way from being finished when I was out of snow in the yard. So off I went with the toboggan and shovel, looking for the best blocks in the neighborhood. I was loading up the toboggan down the street, when I spotted this black Lab watching me. The Lab had a sense of wonder in his eyes. As soon as I look right at the it, he ran right up to me. While wagging his tail he investigated the toboggan. What is it I am doing as he looked up at me. Then we played for a little bit.

I was off on my way to the fort with the toboggan full of snow and continued working on the igloo. Without knowing the Lab had followed me, I had stopped to take a breath and that's when I saw the Lab again. He was sitting there watching me. And so, he was my best friend for the rest of the day. Now every step in building the snow fort was even more fun.

I shaped each block and put it into place. As I packed each block down, the Lab was trying to do the same. He jumped up patting the snow gently with his paws. When I took the last block off the toboggan, the Lab started running around the fort. He was excited I was off with the toboggan to get more snow blocks. He was more eager to help me.

I put the final touches on the fort and patted snow in places where it needed it. Then lightly sprayed water all over with a garden hose. This would help make the fort stronger after it froze overnight. The fort was finely completed. As I was relaxing spraying the last bit of water on the fort, the Lab was sitting there watching me. It seemed he had a sense of accomplishment for both of us. The two of us played for a little bit, then I sent the helpful Lab home, go home now, Go Home. It was time for the family to eat supper. I was so hungry after working hard all day. As the family was having supper, I told my mother all about the fort and the black Lab. I could not wait till supper was finished, so I could check on the igloo to see if it the fort was frozen and spray another coat of water on it to make it really, really strong. I played until it was time to go to bed.

The next morning came and I was up before anyone else. As I was putting on my boots, to go outside, I could hear laughter from the back yard. Wondering what was going on in the yard, I was even more eager to get outside. When I made it outside, there were three kids laughing with a dog running around the igloo. It was the Lab that helped me. I said, 'Wow, whose dog is that having so much fun.' That's our dog, Charcoal the one boy said. They were my friends, Billy, Bob and John. I did not know they had a dog. They were sorry to be in the yard so early, but that Charcoal brought them here. No problem I said. Charcoal was here helping me all day yesterday. He was a big help, keeping me going until the fort was finished. For the rest of the day all five of us played. My friends from down the street, we were good friends for a long time. That winter the rest of the neighborhood kids ask me to help them build them one. The snow from that time on was never right for igloos. I had the only igloo in town. With all the other snow forts in town, there were always snowball fights you could join in on. It was always warm inside the igloo. I would fall asleep in it. I'd dream of Charcoal and I living in the North Pole. But them mom came inside the igloo to tell me about supper. I would talk to my mom for a little bit before going inside.

From that day on, it was the best winter I've had. For making snow forts and good friends. Us friends played in the summer now. Even, Charcoal kept coming around. I was so proud of my igloo that winter. That was the first igloo I built. The second igloo was for my nine-year-old daughter, twenty-five years later. It took three days to build all by myself, huh, huh. I was thinking of, Charcoal though helping me with the first one. The three days was worth it, my daughter, Rebecca was so surprised. The big igloo had two rooms, and a second four loft, which you could look through a window there. We had so much fun being together with her igloo. We worked and learned together that day on. It was one of those special times you feel good, like a good father.

The next igloo I will not have to be asked to build. This one might take me two weeks to build. A week maybe if Rebecca helps. It would be for my grandkids.