The Christmas Cabin: A short story

Sledding

Mama baked and cooked and planned. Back in those days you didn't go out and buy pre-made anything. You made it with what you had on hand. Mama was talented that way, she could decorate and turn anything beautiful. The family, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles always came up to the cabin for Christmas. It was dubbed the Christmas Cabin for how beautiful it was decked out with the pristine snow, and the forever green pine trees as the backdrop.

Bundled up in whatever winter gear they could find, the kids set out to find the perfect Christmas trees for their rooms. One for Ella's room and one for the boys' shared room. Drake sat in an old red sled, Bruce pulling him along. Dylan, because he's the oldest and biggest, held the ax. Snowballs were thrown back and forth as they hunted.

However, getting distracted, as kids do, the five of them decided to build a sled run. Pulling fallen logs onto the trail, they packed snow around it, creating somewhat of a jump the boys deemed worthy of trying out. It was a fast sled run, with twists and jumps and curves. Ella screamed in excited terror, Dylan, Chris and Bruce had a contest to see how fast and high they could get going off the jump. Their tailbones were sore after, but their cheeks were rosy with delight.

Coming up the trail, fat snowflakes falling from the sky, Dylan pulled the sled carrying two perfect pine trees. Ella held Drake's hand, telling him she'd whip up some hot chocolate for him, with whipped cream, if they had it. Mama hugged her frozen kids, telling them to stop dragging in so much snow. Finding old buckets, the boys set up their tree. Chris wrapped the tree in lights, Bruce and Dylan arguing that he wasn't doing it right. Mama helped Ella string white twinkle lights around her tree, hanging glittering glass ornaments on the spiky branches.

Mama loved living in the mountains, loved the quiet of the forest and safety of it. She didn't mind the kids camping in the woods on their property or them going night sledding. She loved that the kids wanted to be outside, exploring nature and the world around them.