Finding the Holidays

Six

This is a picture of the tobogganing hills.  

The next morning, Lesedi and I bundled up to go tobogganing and sledding.  I didnt expect to do any of this kind of stuff, so Lesedi brought a whole bunch of winter gear for us to use (she went to my house and grabbed my parka, boots, and snow pants from Delaney).   I put on my puffy purple parka, which made me feel like a grape.  I shimmied on my snow pants and boots, and then put on my hat and gloves.  I had my hair in a ponytail to keep it out of the way today.  Then, Lesedi and I had to trudge all the way to the top of a snowy hill which the resort called Buttercup Peak.  With heavy toboggans which looked like floating, I may add!

"Why...is it...called Buttercup Peak...if...I don't see buttercups?" I panted, nearing the top behind Elissa.  It was a weekend so she didn't have school.  "Buttercup Peak is full of buttercups in the spring." Elissa explained, eyeing me nervously as I stumbled up the hill, "Do you need help with that?"

"I don't do cardio much." I grunted, handing Elissa my toboggan as she nearly ran up the hill carrying her's and mine.  Lesedi came up beside me.  "You know a 'thank you' would've been polite." Lesedi told me, "What's with you hating this stuff anyways?  It beats work!"

"Festivities were never my thing." I answered gloomily.

Lesedi laughed.  "I think I figured that out!  But seriously, why do you hate the holidays?" She asked.

"Look, I just don't want to talk about it!" I snapped and she fell silent.  Whoops.  She shouldn't have pushed me too far!  I met Elissa at the top of the hill and she placed my toboggan down for me.  I was about to reluctantly and miserably go down the hill, when I saw how it really looked.

The slope started out shallow, then got steeper very quickly.  And there was a ramp at the bottom!  I hate to admit, but I was scared.  I used to love sledding as a child, but when the festive spirit died in me, all of that jazz did too.  Then, I saw Michael, in a blue parka and a camera around his neck, smiling mischeviously at me.  I looked at him, the fear probably showing in my eyes, as I asked moodily, "D-do I have to do this?  It's kind of scary..."

Michael just laughed.  "It's called loosening up, Madame Grinch." He said.

"Will you stop calling me that?" I asked, exasperated.  

"Will you stop being so uptight?" Michael retorted.

"Lena, are you scared to go down the hill?"  I turned to my right and saw Zoe toddling towards me, in a puffy turquoise and purple snowsuit.  

"I-I'm not scared." I protested, raising my hands.

"Don't worry, I'll ride with you." Zoe assured me and plopped down in the front of the toboggan.  

"Cute." Michael merely said and snapped a photo.  I frowned at him.  Zoe raised her arms and called, "Give us a push, Mikey!"  Michael laughed and used his boot to give us a starting kick.  We shot down like a rocket, me screaming in terror at the top of my lungs, and Zoe cheering happily, "Woo-hoo!"  As the slope got steeper, the faster we travelled, going down at a rapid speed.  I held on to the toboggan for dear life, to prevent us from toppling over.  Then, we neared the ramp and I shut my eyes.  We went up, up, up, and suddenly-

We were flying.  I opened my eyes to see us launched in the air, and I actually smiled.  Then, we landed on the ground with a thud, and glided to halt near some trees.  Zoe hopped out almost immediately and cheered, "Again!  Again!  Did you like that, Lena?"

I smiled and said, "Yeah.  That actually was pretty fun."  

We went on more rides that morning, taking quick breaks for hot chocolate that Mrs. Meade brought up for us in between, and then stopping for lunch.  I had tomato soup and grilled cheese, which was comforting.  Almost like how my mom used to make it.  Then, after lunch it was skating.