3
“Hey Shawn.” I could hear Krista from the bathroom as I was pulling on my thermal pants and wool sweater. I had my hair blow-dried and pulled into a French braid that intertwined my dirty blond hair to the middle of my back, I didn’t bother with make-up because unlike Krista I knew it would just smear, especially on the big runs, when my face got wet.
“Hey,” Krista greeted Shawn, I could hear them kiss, why couldn’t they just get it right and keep their mouths quieter?
Opening the bathroom door I walked outside, without giving myself a second look, the sooner we all were ready the sooner we would be headed up to Panoramic Express.
“Good Morning,” Carter greeted me with a hug, “Already to go?”
“Do you even have to ask?” His arm was still around my shoulder, and for a few moments no one said anything, “So are we just going to stand here, or are the rest of you going to get dressed?”
The couch seemed like a good place to sit and wait for the others while I pulled on my boarding-pants and double tied my boots.
They say a watched pot never boils. Truth be told; it’s the same thing with clocks. It seemed like every time I checked the vintage clock not even the second hand had moved! I tried to distract myself by rubbing the soft tan velvety fabric that covered the couch. I glanced back at the clock. “Stop!” I told myself, I made myself study the wooden bathroom door, my eyes carefully flowed the grain pattern. I looked back at the clock, then at the striped rug. Then after about the third time I got up and checked the batteries; the clock was working, but my mind certainly wasn’t. How could time slow down like this?
“Hurry up!” I screamed impatiently.
Shawn opened his door and gave me a quizzical look, “Are you alright?” He asked.
“Yeah, just really ready to go.”
“Alright.” His brown eyes looked uneasy as he turned back to the room and called Carter in.
“Krista!” I yelled, “Lets GO”
“I’m ready! Jeez! Would you calm down?” She opened the bathroom door and I couldn’t help but laugh, her blond hair was in two braids, which was fine, but her make-up! I couldn’t wait to see the rainbow that would leave in the snow. Her eyelashes looked longer then usual, and her black mascara, which she had better pray was waterproof made her piercing blue eyes look like they were being locked behind bars every time she blinked.
Carter and Shawn came in and apparently I was the only one who found Krista’s face to be amusing because they were still talking about the baseball game last night.
The sun was shinning on our porch which was covered in deep snow. I could tell today would be an adventure! Our snowboards were lined up against the rail, I was glad the ice had melted out of my bindings, I hated the build up. A blank binding meant a new start.
“Do you guys want to warm up before the big run? We have all day.” I asked, hoping the answer was no.
“Well....” The way Carter held the last syllable keyed me into the fact that something was wrong. Something he knew would upset me. Then it hit me like the wreckage ball that took out Denver’s charter school where I had attended kindergarten to through third grade. Not even the angry protesters or their signs could stop what was happening.
Anger flooded my system. How could Carter do this?! I couldn’t believe he had held off on his promise again. Why did we keep hitting the runs I could snowboard in my sleep?
“Really Carter?” I guessed that the morning talk on how the snow had decided that we would hit some of the mid mountain runs. Which, I had to admit were fun. But, for me they were memories from when I was younger, much younger, like age five.
“Just for the morning. We can go up later after we get a feel for the snow.” Shawn reassured me.
“Whatever.” I said as I grabbed my board off of the porch and marched towards the lift. This morning was going to be unbearable, I knew it.
At the bottom of the lift I waited for the others to catch up. I reminded myself not to cry because the only thing crying accomplished on the mountain, besides making you look like a sissy, was making you cold. I latched my left binding thinking to myself, “so much for a blank binding and a new start”.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I spent the first half of the day silent, Carters constant attempts to talk to me were tempting. I felt like a trout, his bait was there as free food, what could be better? Of course there was the aftermath to consider. If I retorted anything, even the witty stinging comments I was fighting to keep in, I would be caught. Then I would be the free food.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We were back on the lift, but this time it was the lift taking us to the very top, all the way to Panoramic Express. Carter was sitting on my left and Krista on my right. She was telling Shawn all about the plans her family had made that summer, and something about trying to convince him to come and meet her parents. I looked at Carter, still thinking about the runs he had made the group take this morning instead of coming straight up top. His curly dark brown hair was just long enough that it wisp-ed out from under his black and white striped boarding hat. I hated the way his reflective goggles covered his piercing green eyes, as if their job was to prevent me from starring at them so long that I lost focus, I hoped those goggles were getting paid more then minimum wage because they did their job flawlessly. My eyes made their way to my gloves and began to break down the complicity of the woven pattern that kept the water out, ensuring my hands stayed warm and dry. I let my eyes shut themselves, the cold air stung as I gulped it down my lungs, but I didn’t stop, it tasted to fresh. A smile spread across my face as I remembered where I was. Just as I was about laugh to myself a strong gust of wind smashed into my face, forcing my eyes open.
