Shorties: Number 49

That night there was an epic family game of Clue.  Jane’s mother made three pots of popcorn on the stove and there was an assortment of drinks and other snacks.  As usual, her father won the first game.  He had a quick mind and seemed to know the cards everyone had.  Even though Jane didn’t win any of the four games played this night, the revelry was palpable and laughter unrelenting.  Jane felt tension wash away as they played. 

It was her little brother, Ken, who first saw snowflakes falling outside.  By the end of the final game of Clue, the outside world was covered by a thin blanket of white.  Ken asked who wanted to walk with him around the block.  Only Jane wanted to join him.  Just like Ken, as soon as he was outside, he had to take a few quick steps and stop and slide to gauge how slippery it was.  Then, as Jane stepped outside, he bent down and scooped two handfuls of snow.  In a flash, he packed a snowball in his hands and threw it at Jane.  She anticipated it and simply dipped down the make her own snowball. 

After a quick snowball fight that darted across and down the driveway, sister and brother began walking down the street.  Jane looked up at the flakes illuminated in the streetlights.  Like volcanic ash returning to cover the earth, snow cascaded dreamily toward the earth.  The two walked without conversation, soaking in silent wonder that is snowfall.  Jane peered at her brother out of the corner of her eye.  She noted the redness in his cheeks.  She was certain hers were the same.  The crunching beneath their feet made Jane smile. 

Cold began to bite her fingers and toes causing Jane stuffed her gloved hands into the pockets in her jacket.  Ken asked, “So how’s college treating you?  Is it what you expected?”

Jane considered how to answer.  College was more than she expected.  Other than recent heartbreak with a boy she liked, it hadn’t disappointed.  Finally, Jane replied, “It’s been good.  How’s your junior year?”

The two walked and talked for more than an hour as snow accumulated on their hats and jackets and extremities felt the icy sting dig in deeper.  When they returned, Ken trudged to the wood pile and grabbed a few logs for the fire.  He dropped them on the concrete to knock off the snow accumulation.  Once snow covered clothing was removed, Ken made his way to the fireplace and piled on the logs.  By this time, the house was asleep.  Only brother and sister moved about the home as they made cups of hot cocoa.  Then they sat on the floor directly in front of the fire that now blazed hot.

As they sat talking about their lives, Jane realized she was entering the world of adulthood.  No longer would she have child sized problems.  They would be bigger.  Jane saw this change in life also meant a shift in relationships at home.  Ken would always be her little brother and she would always be the daughter of her parents.  Yet, she was becoming an equal to her parents.  The concept boggled her mind but in this moment, she would cherish where she was in life.  She was a big sister and daughter.  They rest would come fast enough.