EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children.

Before they’d left the bakery, Ginger handed them another shimmering card.

Near a snowy bench where friends can meet, a star lies hidden beneath your feet.

“There!” Gabby said, pointing to the benches dotting the town square. Underneath one, Dad spotted a star half-buried in the snow. As he picked it up, he read the tag aloud. “Wish: In the spirit of play on this snowy day, let frosty fun lead the way!”

They stared at each other for a moment, not sure what the wish was asking for.

Suddenly, Dad’s eyes lit up and he gave them a mischievous grin. Slowly, he crouched down and scooped up a handful of snow. Mom’s eyes widened as she backed up with a laugh.

“Oh, no. Don’t even think about it –” Her words were cut off as Dad launched a snowball at her, hitting her square in the chest.

Mom sputtered, laughing again. “Oh, it’s on now,” she called as she grabbed her own handful of snow.

Within seconds, snowballs were flying everywhere. Gabby and her mom teamed up, barely aiming before letting snowballs fly in the boys’ direction.

Dad ducked behind a tree and lobbed a snowball straight at Mom, who dodged and it hit Gabby instead.

“Hey!” Gabby squealed, retaliating with a perfect shot to her dad’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, Noah was sneaking up behind his mom, snowball at the ready. But just as he was about to launch it, she turned and knocked it out of his hand.

“Nice try, buddy!” she said, playfully bopping him on the nose with her snow-covered mitten, leaving him laughing and covered in snow. “Quick, Gabs — get them while they’re distracted!”

Gabby sprinted forward, giggling as she pelted her brother with snowballs until he finally slipped and landed in a fluffy snowbank. He rolled over, laughing uncontrollably.

“Retreat!” Dad called, pulling Noah up and racing back behind the snowbank.

Gabby let out a cheer. “It’s a win for the girls!” she declared, raising her arms with a grin and doing a silly dance.

But as she was celebrating, Noah ran out and tackled her with a playful hug, knocking them both into the snow where they lay laughing. Mom and Dad joined them, and they rested while catching their breath.

Suddenly, the snow around them began to swirl up into the air. They scrambled to their feet, watching as the snow rapidly formed into a towering pile of snowballs that launched into the air and exploded one by one. Soft blues, silvery whites and pale purples danced across the sky, raining iridescent flakes down onto the ground and leaving behind another notecard.

“Looks like we did it,” Dad said with a grin as he grabbed the card. “Here’s our next clue.”

Standing tall and proud, and made of tin, they guard the task that lies within.

“The soldiers!” Noah exclaimed. “Outside the toy store!”

“Why don’t we head that way first thing in the morning,” Mom suggested, letting out a yawn. “I don’t think I have it in me to do anything else today.”

Noah tried to protest, but let out his own giant yawn in the middle of it and had to agree to start fresh in the morning. They headed toward Mistletoe Manor, admiring the lights and decorations as they walked through town.

After they all said their goodnights, Gabby sat on the window seat of her room watching the snow fall. Despite all they’d done, she wasn’t tired. She couldn’t believe how different everything seemed from just one day ago.

Take her dad, for example. They used to do so many things together, just the two of them — they called them daddy-daughter dates. But it all changed a few years ago, right around the time her dad made partner at his firm. His time at work increased little by little, and within a year, daddy-daughter dates became a thing of the past and family dinners a rarity.

Her dad loved Christmas, though, and every year he took the week off. For that one wonderful week, it was just like old times. But soon after, her dad was back to working long hours. In a way, Gabby had grown to resent the Christmas season, knowing it would only end in disappointment.

Being here in this perfect little town, having fun and laughing and just being together, made her realize how much she missed spending time with her family. As she finally drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help wishing they never had to leave.

Read chapter 5 in tomorrow’s newspaper.