A December Snowflake

December 12th

It's now officially December.  And it has been for a few days but I can't believe it the year has gone by so fast. Hey, I'm ready for a new year of GOOD luck.  I'm ready for everything that comes my way.  On my way home Today, it was snowing hard.  But, guess who forgot their jacket at home? That's right, the smartest guy in the world did.  Almost at my house and It's near impossible to see with the snow falling.  All of a sudden, a large snowflake hits my nose.
"What was that?" I murmur to myself.  I brush the remaining snow off of my nose and continue trucking through snow to my warm home.
"Get in!" I hear my mother shout as she pulls up in her car near me. 
"Alright." I am just happy to get a ride.  "Thanks, mom. It's freezing out there."
"No prob, Jake." She says with a smile. "How was your day at school?"
"School was fine. I don't really have any complaints."
"That's good.  What do you want for dinner tonight?"
"Olive Garden." I say sarcastically knowing she will say no.
"We're going to Chili's instead." I looked at her like a deer in car lights.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"We're going to Chili's instead."  She says with a straight face, looking at the road.
"Mom," I say with the most stern tone I can, 'that's not funny. you know I like food."
"It's not a joke.  Just rest your head, we'll be meeting your father and grandmother there in about fifteen minutes."  I leaned my head on the window and watched the trees as we road to 'chili's.' I started noticing that this was the route to one of the best restaurants out there.
"Told you I wasn't joking." she chuckled.  She parks and we hop out of the car.  I zip up my jacket and run towards the door.  Walking in, I see Grandma and Dad already in a booth.  I assume Anna couldn't come because of school.
"Jake, over here!" Dad shouts.  I walk over just as bamboozled as when I got into the car. 
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Better believe it, bud."  I slide into the side of the booth with Grandma and flash her a smile.
"Got a story for me?"
"We'll save that for at home.  I've got the best one yet, but I don't want to tell you about it here." She boops my nose  then looks down at the menu. About an hour and forty-five minutes go by and we've all finished our food.  We haven't eaten out in months so this felt great.
"Ready to go home, Bub?"
"Yes Sir." I reply with a grin, stepping out of the booth.  As grandma and dad both got out of their seats, we all headed for the door.
"Hey, Mom?'
"Hmm?"
"Can I ride with grandma and dad this go round?"
"Yeah, just don't forget to grab your bag as you get out of the car."
"You got it." I hop into the seat behind grandma and buckle my seatbelt. "Grandma, Can you please tell me the story now?"
"Nope."
"Come on, please."
"You can't break me, Jakey." She gives an evil grin.
"Stop pestering your grandmother, Jake." My dad says with a chuckle
"Well, she started it."
"Don't give me that tone, boy."
"Alright." I lean my head against the freezing window and watch the snow fall as we pass it by. I wonder what grandma's story could be about.  Is it a goofy tail or one of heroes? Will it be fiction or mythology? With grams, you never know. She always has something to pull out of her sleeve.  We pulled up in our driveway and I was ready for something great.  Gramm doesn't hold back on stories and it's been a minute since she told me one.  I had little homework so I could listen to Grandma's story for as long as she could tell it.  We get out of the car and I dashed to mom's. 
"Get yo--"
"Already got it!"  I yelled, cutting her off and heading for the door.  As soon as I got inside, I threw my bag beside me and plopped on the couch.  I waited patiently for grandma to walk through those doors.  She walked in with her walker, "I'm ready, Grams."
"Alright fine, Jake."  She says taking a seat on the rocking chair beside the couch.  "This one is about a acorn and a squirrel."
"Oh Grandma!" I squirm,"please don't tell me this will be boring."
"Not boring, fantastical." she smiles. "There once was a squirrel with the worst luck in all of his tree.  The other squirrel's looked at him funny and treated him differently because they all knew he had bad luck.  He was a really kind animal and also a bit of a goofball.  One day while on a acorn hunt, he found on of the smallest acorns he'd ever seen.  He picked it up and cracked up.  Inside wasn't much, so he ate it.  The next day, he had something new about him.  Whatever it was, people seemed to respect him and treat his wishes differently. "
"Wow, that story was cool!  Where'd you hear that one from?"
"I actually had a dream about it a few days ago.  It inspired this story."
"Interesting.   Thanks so much for the story.  I really enjoyed it." I toss my bag over my shoulder and walk upstairs to my room.  I play some music and start my homework.  About an hour and a half go by, and I'm finished with the punishment they call schoolwork for at home.  I just lay on my bed thinking of the gigantic snowflake that landed on my nose today.  It was really heavy almost like a ball of snow.  It was probably nothing.  I make my way downstairs to grab a drink of water when my mom stops me in my tracks.
"How's school?"
"It's fine. Why are you asking?"
"Because I can.  Anyway, feel different?"
"No, I'm fine. You're acting suspicious mom."
"I don't know what you mean," She says walking off.  Well that was weird. I grab my glass and retreat back to my room.  I wonder what my mo was like my age.  Probably. much cooler than what I am now and Dad too.  I'll ask the next time I remember.  For now, I'm just going to lay in my bed.