12 Days of Christmas Capers ✔️

『Episode 5』

Episode 5: If Skating is the Food of Love, Skate On

December 18th

"Hetty it's four-thirty and we still haven't done anything today!"

Hestia turned from her keyboard towards me, "That's not true, you've been reading all day and I've learnt a new song."

I eyed the thick orange and white paperback distastefully, "It's fine, I suppose. How's the song?"

Hestia played it for me, it was an upbeat ABBA song that reminded me of disco balls and roller skates. I nodded my approval of it.

Hetty swivelled back around, "I could text some of my friends and see if they're doing anything tonight." She typed a few texts to a group of select friends, and I waited impatiently for responses.

I'd spent almost the entire day in Hestia's room reading, and though I was mostly enjoying my book, I wanted to gallivant about somewhere like an idiot.

When I'm feeling energetic at home, I'd usually go out for a run, but it was too cold and icy in Île Petite to even think of running. 

After fifteen minutes or so of me continuously asking Hetty if she'd gotten a response, we actually did.

"Aggie's at a family thing," she said, reading from her phone, "Markus is busy, which means he'll be lazing about watching Netflix all night...but Hannah might have something for us." Hetty handed me her phone.

I read Hannah's text, feeling hopeful.

Mateo & I are going ice skating this evening. You & Dot can come if you want, we'll be at the usual rink x

Ice skating sounded fun, and a lot more Christmassy than seeing weird zombie movies. "I think it's a good idea."

"So do I."

I returned the phone to its owner, and Hetty texted to Hannah that we'd be there at five thirty.

*

"Thanks Grandpa," I said, giving my grandfather a quick peck on the cheek and jumping out of the car.

"No problem love."

Hestia linked arms with me, a sure sign of her good mood.

"You'll like skating," she said

I thought so too, skating look so elegant and lovey. I'd only been once or twice, but really, it couldn't be that difficult.

Oh how wrong I was.

Hetty and I paid our entry fees and entered through a small metal fence. The rink was really gorgeous; an oval of clear ice with a metre or so of plastic wall encasing it. The trees surrounding it were wrapped with fairy lights, giving the place a whimsical look. Groups of people floated on the ice, looking freezing, but enjoying themselves nonetheless.

"There they are!" Hetty pulled me by the arm towards a bench, on which was seated Hannah and Mateo.

Hetty plonked down next to them, and I sat tentatively.

"Have you ever been skating before, Dot?" Hannah asked me, as she laced up her black ice skate.

I noticed that everyone else was putting their skates on, so I opened up the bag that Hetty had given me before we left. The bag, in question, contained a pair of ice skates that Hetty had owned when she was younger. Since my feet were (and still are) tiny, they fit me fine.