Childlike

Chapter 24 Mick Builds a Snowman

Thanks for reading! There are only a few more chapters left to go. Please check out www.calebjoyner.com for more info.

Chapter 24

Mick Builds a Snowman

We had a 99-cent steak breakfast before heading out for the Ski Resort, our logic being that there should be snow there. The sky was full of ashened colored clouds and the temperature was 35 degrees Fahrenheit. We had our jackets buttoned, gloves on and Mick was wearing a stocking cap.

We could see the ski resort from Highway 50 and decided to just walk towards it figuring that we’d eventually get there. Neither one of us had any snow gear or any water proofed clothing. We both wore jeans and tennis shoes figuring that we’d still have fun even without a $500.00 ski outfit.

“There’s Raley’s,” I said, pointing at the large supermarket. “We can stop on the way back and pick up some snacks.”

“More hot chocolate too!” Mick added.

“Hopefully we can make it without tripping the fuse box,” I said.

We continued on highway 50, which was packed with automobiles, some with chains on their tires, others without any. I had always pictured Tahoe as a sleepy little town with few cars, maybe an old pickup or two, but now I could see that I was wrong. Most of the people were probably like us, just visiting, although a fair number were locals.

We turned left towards a mountain when happening upon a sign that read ‘Skiing, tobogganing, sledding’ pointing in the direction we were going. “Doesn’t say snowman building,” I said to Mick.

“Doesn’t say a lot of things,” Mick replied.

On our way to the mountain we found ourselves in a residential area and the closer we got to the mountain the more houses we found with snow on their lawns. By one such home we found an empty lot, laden with crisp white snow. I stopped and scooped up a glove full and made a snowball then tossed it to Mick who caught it with one hand.

“Silvah!” He exclaimed, moving the white ball around in his hand. Then without another word, he squatted down in the snow and added more snow to the snowball. I watched as he quickly formed two more snowballs, each one smaller than the first, then stacked them a top one another. He then picked up two pieces of loose gravel lying on the side of the street and gave his snow creation a set of eyes. A small twig became a nose and a wisp of pine needles a grinning mouth.

“Ta-dah! My first snowman,” he said, quite pleased with himself.

“Let me get a picture!” I said, pulling out the pocket camera that I bought to replace the one that was ruined when jumping into the ocean to save Missy. He struck a pose, much like a fisherman having caught a large fish, holding his snowman with pride.  I snapped off a shot then put my camera back in my pocket. Mick carefully sat his snowman on the edge of the road.

“So long Frosty,” he said waving.

“Your very first snowman! What more could we do today that would top that?”

“Snow Frisbee!” Mick answered holding up the Charlie the Elephant flying disc that Missy had given him to replace the Master’s Frisbee she had lost.

“You mean ‘Snow Charlie Elephant Flying Disc’”. He didn’t say anything, as he flicked the orange colored disk with Charlie Elephant’s face on it to me. It shot straight at me and I raised a gloved hand and managed to snatch it out of the air and flick it back at Mick. Unfortunately I’m not very good at throwing a Frisbee and as I just found out, even worse at “Charlie Elephant Flying Disc”. Instead of going straight to Mick the disc curved away and sailed two blocks down the street hitting a parked car’s window and setting off it’s alarm.