Happy holidays @books-and-starss! And a very merry Christmas! It’s secret Santa time 😎
“I have to admit, this might be the stupidest thing we’ve done in a while,” Kendra said. The white light of the afternoon shown on the snow, glazing the hillside white. Through the frosty air, people raced down on the hill on bright sleds. Kendra and Seth stood at the top of the crest, hidden behind trees—so far back that no one else started there. Kendra glanced at the steep decline, dotted with trees, a thin river snaking through the almost-valley. Her maniac of a brother wanted to do down at this part? There was a nice sledding hill several yards down and to the side.
“This’ll be fun,” Seth insisted, his breath visible in the cold air. The two siblings were cloaked in puffy coats that made them look like something from ghostbusters or Shawn the Sheep. Seth gripped the Scooby between his hands, the long blue sled with a few cracks in its plastic shell. All the sleds they owned were properly named before usage, and used they were.
“Besides,” Seth continued, “at least we’re not riding one of those dinky yellow circles.” He placed the sled on the ground, ready to get in. The sled started forward before either could get in. “Grab it!”
Seth launched forward; fingers just shy of it, Kendra at his heels. They bumped into each other, sending Kendra slipping forward in the snow. The thing she normally loved stuffed her head. Pink-faced, she looked up, reached an arm out, and snatched the sled. Seth sighed in relief, also in the snow. He got up to help and reposition the sled.
Finally situated, Seth climbed in on the back. He knew the front was the most fun, but in the back, the snow wouldn’t hit nearly as much. So, he left that to Kendra. He figured she’d be fine since she already appeared so red. He hadn’t seen her skin turn that color in a while; the last being the time when he had shown the satyrs the dopey things she wrote in her diary. He had to admit that as fun as it had been then, he felt a little bad about it now.
The Scooby slid forward and picked up speed as gravity accelerated them down the hill. The landscape whisked by and Seth had to hold his ears to ward away the sharp sting from the cold. Now his ears hadn’t been that color since he’d been caught selling DVD’s to the satyrs. In his defense, it was a steal of a deal. And Who was he to judge if his fine furried friends wanted to watch The Sound of Music or The Mighty Ducks? Now when they found out what a video game or the internet was…Or worse, the Hallmark channel.
“Seth, you’re so dead!” his sister screamed. Seth realized that by covering his ears, he had caused the sled to turn sideways. Both were on the brink of falling off, Seth more so but his hands snapped back, and he wished he would have taken up his Grandma’s offer of a hat.
The sled hit a patch of ice, which Seth despised as it always complicated things—especially during a King of the Hill game. The Scooby bounced over to a snow mound. It launched them in the air and Kendra screamed louder. Seth grinned.
The sled touched down, tip first. The siblings had risen slightly in the air and they slammed down in their spots, the sled bucking slightly.
She leaned over to look at his sister. Her eyes were shut. Probably a product of the snow driving into them like it now did to his hair. But it was worth it. He could normally convince Kendra into doing things, and he had to confess—although he’d never tell a soul—he enjoyed things more when Kendra was there with him. Even if she totally wimped out on the cool stuff.
He looked past Kendra. Wait… Kendra!” he yelled. The sled veered again, and they leaned precariously to the right. If they were lucky (Seth laughed at the thought) they would just tip over. If they weren’t lucky, they’d spiral out of control and probably get hurt from the many things in their path. He had chosen this spot with purpose; way more awesome if it had a more adventure-esque feel.
Kendra attempted to place her legs out to slow the sled. Seth went to join her, bus snow got into his boots. And boy was it cold. The sibling’s feet shredded through the snow, it entering their boots, pantlegs, and flying up to stick in their hair. This did nothing but to make them spin and become irritated.
Kendra put her legs back in and shut her eyes again. Seth followed her lead, keeping his eyes open. The Scooby swerved for a moment before righting. He almost sighed in relief.
“Kendra!” he yelled once ore, leaning forward and desperately pointing. “Child!”
“No! There’s a little kid right there!”
Kendra opened her eyes to look. A small kid, large-eyed and rosy-cheeked, stood in their path. The little boy dropped his sled. Kendra let out a yell and used the rope attached to the front of the sled to avoid hitting him. They barely missed him. And they were getting to the very steep part.
“Seth! We almost hit that kid!”
Kendra huffed, blowing a strange of hair out of her face. “You told met his would be an empty spot!”
“How am I supposed to know the kid’s an idiot?”
“Oh, like us?” Kendra muttered something about stupid brothers. Seth rolled his eyes.
The bottom of the hill came close and Seth was about to his mouth to warn his sister. The sled got there first. The Scooby splashed into the river. Seth managed to let go of the sled, arching his back. He breathed deeply, suspended just above the water line. Seth’s long limbs had nothing on Kendra’s. Kendra…
She sat in the frigid water; lips pursed. She closed her eyes. Seth knew that face, he hated seeing it.
He moved and got standing up on the side of the stream, offering a hand to his sister. She grabbed it. They were both on the sidelines. Seth, not normally one to give hugs, wrapped his sister up in one. Her water got on him and soaked through his clothes, so he was cold too. He found he didn’t mind at all.
“Thanks for joining me, even if you totally got dunked,” Seth said. Kendra smiled.
“You’re such a dork.” She squeezed tighter. “Thanks, Seth. We’re getting hot coco after this?”
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