Brian s mother has gone to be with the saints and he misses her terribly. He finds a little haven at the local convent and becomes indispensable to the three remaining nuns. As the unlikely friendship between the young boy and the elderly women deepens, the nuns dream up a wonderful treat for Brian – to take him hundreds of miles south, to play in the snow. Memories of his special holiday with three surrogate grandmothers (and financed in a highly unorthodox manner) are strong. Stronger and more precious are the memories of the love and affection. Joy Cowley's novel is imbued with warmth. It portrays Catholicism as it is rarely seen: mysterious, quirky, but ultimately nurturing.