The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
A drama from BBC World Service.
Episode one, Midwinter Eve.
Will pressed his face to the window pane.
The snow lay thin and apologetic over the world.
The straggling trees of the orchard were still dark.
The white squares on the roofs of the garage.
The old barn, the rabbit hutches, the chicken coops.
Further back, you could see the flat fields of Dawson's farm, dimly white striped.
All the broad sky was grey, full of snow that refused to fall, no colour anywhere.
Four days to Christmas?
I wish it would snow properly.
We'll look away.
The gift he wanted most this Christmas was something nobody could give him.
Snow.
Beautiful, deep, blanketing snow, and it never came.
At least this year there was the gray sprinkle.
That was better than nothing.
Oh, I haven't fed the rabbits yet.
Hey, James!