Stan the mailman was just about finished with his mail route for the day. It started out like the morning of any other summer day that he spent delivering mail. It was a little cooler than usual for the time of year but, nothing drastic. The same suburban neighborhood with its cookie cutter house lined streets with a perfectly manicured, green lawn in front of each.The scene had greeted him for twenty-five long years. He knew this area inside and out, like the backs of his old, vein covered  hands.
For July, it was unseasonably cold. Stan did not think anything of it. It was nice to have a break from California’s hot, dry weather. Blue skies was replaced with dense white clouds and the wind was starting to pick up, howling in the trees. “Looks like rain.” Stan mumbled to himself, and grabbed the umbrella he kept in the back of his truck. Better safe than sorry, he always said and grabbed his rain coat for good measure.
It had gotten even colder. The mailman could see his own breath. He had lived in California for many years and could never recall when he could see his own breath. He always thought that was just something that happened in action movies. This time last year, this entire area was in a state of drought and now it was almost the opposite. The air that was supposed to be warm and friendly, was strangely sharp and icy and buzzed with electricity as if something big was about to happen.
People who were normally outside enjoying a summer day, headed inside due to the threat of rain. Much to their surprise, it did not start raining at all. Fine, powdery snow started to fall and it stuck to the grass and the street. It had not snowed in this area for 15 years. And it definitely never snowed in July.
“That ain't something you see everyday,” Stan was glad that he brought his rain coat even though it didn’t help very much with the falling temperature. How could it be snowing, in California, in the summer? Was it some kind of Global Warming thing? Even so, how was it even possible? It’s unnatural. Back in his day, it snowed in the winter and not anytime else.
The snow was starting to pile up about an inch deep even though a lot of it had melted already. Children were starting to make their ways outside to survey their new surrounding with bright eyes and a certain curiosity that only children had. They were dressed in different assortments of flip flops, sneakers, pullover hoodies, swimming trunks and jeans. The younger children shrieked with delight as they ran around in the snow, listening to the crunch of ice beneath their feet. The older ones just stood there, savoring the moment, wondering the next time they will have a moment as surreal as this one.  A boy, about ten years old, was sitting on a front step of what Stan guessed was his house. Stan had seen him before when delivering mail. He was wearing a pair of plaid shorts, a bright orange t-shirt with the name of a summer camp on the front, and a pair of blue, rubber crocs that were encrusted in mud. He obviously was not dressed for the weather.
Stan was about to bring his jacket to him. The kid looked like he was freezing. Would his parents mind? Well, let his parents think what they want; It’s better than him catching a cold.
“Hi, I’m a mailman,” he said as he sat down next to the boy.
“I can see that,” replied the boy.
“Locked out?”
“Yeah.” Stan draped the jacket around the boy’s shoulders. “You know those kids?” asked Stan.
“Not really, they just live near me. I mostly keep to myself.”
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“Your parents home?”
“No. My mom said she will be here by five. They let us out of camp early due to ‘Inclimate weather’. She told me to walk home and I did. I just left my key inside. Now I’m stuck out here. ”
“What’s the problem with being stuck out here? It’s nice out. When is the next time you are going to see snow? Have you ever seen snow before today?” Stan asked.
“Like in movies or like real life?”
“Real life.”
“Not really. It’s kind of ... what’s the word that means not as good as you thought it was?”
“Underwhelming?” Stan chuckled. “You live in California, kid. What were you expecting? A blizzard?”
“I mean that-”
“Listen to me kid. It’s snowing. It’s July. Enjoy it. When are you going to see something like this again? Not for a long time, I can tell you that much. Even I have never seen something like this, and I have been around a lot longer than you have.” Stan glanced over at the boy. He had cracked a small smile.
“You know what? You’re right.” replied the boy. It had just finished snowing. A silver minivan had just pulled into the driveway. The clicking sound of high heeled shoes walked towards them.
“Hi Robbie, Who is this?” asked his mother.
“A mailman.”
“Nice to meet you. Fine boy you got here.”
“He sat with me during the snow.” explained Robbie.
“It was snowing? How could it be snowing? I was at work all day, and didn’t even notice.”
“That’s alright. It was pretty neat.” Robbie smiled to Stan, then followed his mother inside. The mailman was left standing alone in the muddy remains what was left of the Summer Wonderland with umbrella and rain jacket in hand.