Sunset Memories

Chapter 17 - Tangled

One week into 2014, I taught Danielle how to snowboard.

     We were just deciding to go outside and build a snowman when Mom said she was taking all of us up to the ski hill. Alexander, Curt, and I grabbed our boards and threw them in the back of the car. I threw Danielle a pair of my old snowpants that fit her, we dressed in layers, and hopped in the car. 

     ''Hey. Check out all the powder,'' Curt said, because he hadn't been outside for almost a whole week.    

     Alexander smirked at him. ''Dude. It's winter. It's supposed to be like that.'' 

     Curt swore at him just before Mom stepped in the car and started on the road.

     It was decided that Danielle would rent a snowboard and I would be her teacher. We would start on the kids' hill, then move our way up to the chairlift.

     ''Don't worry, Luca's an excellent teacher,'' Mom assured her. ''You'll be doing flips in no time.''

     Danielle laughed.

     Alexander made a noise in his throat. ''He's not that good. Remember when he was trying to teach Kaspar? The kid ended up with a broken arm.'' 

     ''Who's Kaspar?'' Danielle hissed at me. 

     ''My cousin,'' I answered. ''And it wasn't my fault! You sped up and tripped him!''

     ''Non!'' he snapped in German. ''No way! I was on the other side of the hill! It was Curt's fault.''

     Curt protested, and Mom told us to settle down. Alexander blasted Skrillex on the radio. 

     When we arrived at the hill, I found myself whistling the tune of the synthesizer. I stopped when I saw Danielle's amused look. 

     ''Hey, why'd you have to stop? I liked the tune,'' she told me. Then she whistled it herself. 

     I grinned. ''It's catchy, but annoying.''

     Alexander heard me. He came up behind and slapped the back of my head. ''That's my favourite song, little bro,'' he spat at me. I grinned when his eyes weren't glaring at me.

     Danielle picked out a purple board and gray boots. I showed her how to strap on, and then we fell in line for the T-bar.

     ''Luca . . .'' she said nervously. ''I'm kind of nervous.''

     I smiled. ''I'd be surprised if you weren't. But don't worry, we'll take it easy. You can try it on your own, too, although if you fall, you get bruises that stay for about a month.''

     ''Shut up,'' she said, ''you're making me even more nervous!'' 

     The kids in front of us grabbed the next T-bar and started up the hill. Danielle and I fell in line for the next one. 

     ''Just stay still,'' I told her. ''And don't actually sit down once you're on this. Just kind of . . . lean on it. I'll be right next to you.''

     She nodded tensely, biting her lip. 

     I grabbed the T-bar and pulled it down, positioning it below us. The line stretched and then started to tow us along behind it. Danielle gave a small gasp and gripped my hand. I could feel her fingers gripping me through the fabric of my glove. 

     ''It's okay,'' I told her. ''Relax. It's all uphill from here, if you know what I mean.''

     She nodded, but didn't let go of my hand until we were at the top.