Accidental Christmas Miracle

10.

Miracle

An air horn sounded, telling us that we could start building our snowmen.

Christi was to do the bottom, I was to do the middle and then she would do the head as I got the embellishments for the snowman to - well - make him a snowman.

I focused on my task which was a bit harder than it looked in movies, along they probably used styrofoam for the snowmen. Once I had a nice sized middle, I placed it on top of what Christi had already rolled for the base of our snowman and went for the bin that had all the props.

I grabbed a hat, mittens, a carrot, a small handful of buttons and twigs.

I rushed back, helping Christi put them on and then we both raised our hands, motioning that we were done.

"And it looks like we have our winners!" The man said, smiling and causing the others to stop where they were with their snowpeople.

I thought we had won, but it turns out that it was a tie between Christi and I's team and Jules and Dot's.

Dot smirked at us after this was revealed and taunted us about it.

Jules grinned. "I told you this was the year!"

Christi gave her a slightly sour look. "Technically it was a tie which means you didn't win."

"If that's the case, then you didn't win either." Dot replied.

I looked at Jules. "You said there was ice skating?" I asked her.

She nodded. "Yes! Let's go." She glanced at the bickering siblings and sighed. "Look you two. Let's settle this right now. I know you both think that you're the prettiest but you're both equality pretty." She told them seriously.

They turned to stare at her, pausing in their argument.

Jules grinned and seized the opportunity to loop her arms in both of theirs. "Great! We're going to the ice rink!"

This time, I wasn't pulled along but I followed behind them like Dot had.

I hadn't gone skating in forever and I wasn't very good when I did. I think that's why I stopped.

I know, I know. I didn't follow the age old saying, "Practice makes progress."

Oh well, shame on me I guess.

I nearly walked right into Jules when she stopped but managed to snap out of my thoughts before I did.

As we laced up the skates that we had borrowed from the skating place, I told them that I was terrible and to not to laugh.

All three promised but all of them broke it when I had barely stepped onto the ice and fell.

I shot them all a look. "Thanks for not laughing." I mumbled sarcastically, my bun had barely cushioning my head as I fell and my head was a bit rattled around.

Christi grinned at me and chuckled while carefully helping me up. "Sorry, but it was kinda funny. You barely even stepped out onto the ice and you slipped."

I frowned slightly as I dusted myself off.

"You alright?" She asked me.

"Yeah. My back and my pride are the only things bruised." I told her.

Jules and Dot had already skated off and were racing each other from one end to the other.

I tried to take a step but almost fell again. I grabbed Christi's arm, steadying myself.

For a few moments.

The momentum of my sudden grab of her arm put her off balance and she slipped on the ice, bringing me - who was still holding onto her - down with her.

A squeak came from her mouth as she fell.

The ice was as hard as it was the first time. I was most definitely going to have a sore back tomorrow or even later today.

"Well," Her voice said. "This is a bit awkward."

"Ack, sorry!" I scrambled back, embarrassed.

She got into a crouch, stabilizing herself a bit, her cheeks slightly pink although that might just be from the cold. After all, she was just really close to the ice and it's cold out here.

She then gave me a crooked half smile that made me blush harder. "Try not to do that again, yeah? The ice isn't too comfortable to land on, you know?"

I only nodded.

She stood up and then waited for me to get up - which took a bit and a lot of laughter from Christi.

After I did, she coached me on how to skate which was actually kinda fun and very helpful.

"Hey! You're doing it!" Jules skated up next to me, grinning.

I grinned back. "Yeah, I am." I glanced at her and then back in front of me, my eyes widening on how close to the border I was coming and I wasn't stopping or slowing.

"You never taught me how to stop!" I told Christi, knowing that she wouldn't be able to help me in time.