title: The Firflake: A Christmas Story
author: Anthony Cardno
description: Anthony R. Cardno finds a way to work storytelling into everything he does. He has spent time as a classroom teacher, environmental educator and instructor on environmental law. He grew up in the Hudson Valley region of New York and has lived in northwestern New Jersey for the past twelve years.
zlib_text: HEART OF ICE
  Chapter 1
  You didn't!" Katriane wailed at her best friend. "Not at Christmas!"
  Ada looked pained and visibly shrank an inch. "Now, Kati..." she began placatingly, using the nickname she'd given the taller girl years ago. "It's a huge apartment. Absolutely huge. And you and I will be going to parties all over town, and there's the charity ball at the Thomsons'... It will be all right, you'll see. You won't
  even notice that he's here."
  "I'll notice," Kati said shortly. Her reddish gold hair blazed in the ceiling light, and her brown eyes glared.
  "It's our first Christmas without Mother," Ada tried again. "He's got nobody but me."
  "You could go to the ranch for Christmas," Kati suggested, hating the idea even as she said it.
  "And leave you here alone? What kind of friend would I be then?"
  "The kind who isn't sticking me with her horrible brother during my one holiday a year!" came the hot reply. "I worked myself to the bone, researching that last book. I was taking a rest bet