Winter!

  Hey, kids! I thought that title might grab some attention. 

  I'm not going to write about how hot it is. You all know how bloody hot it is. Instead, I'm going to try a little exercise to try and get our minds off of it for a while and, maybe, cool us down a degree or two. 

  At least I hope so.

  

   A thick freeze clung to the outside of the tiny bedroom window, making it hard to see outside. Benny got up for school a little early and stood before it trying to see out into the yard. He was seriously hoping  for a snow day to extend his Christmas vacation. He and his friends had been having such a good time these past two weeks he didn't want it to end. 

  Plus, he had a report due today that had totally slipped his mind until about five minutes after he went to bed last night.

  He took the frost covered window as a good sign, but still couldn't be 100 percent sure, so he put on his flannel bathrobe and slippers and went downstairs to get a better look from the front door.

  He dropped down the steps two at a time and hopped the last three in a rush to get there. He pulled open the big, heavy, oak door and prepared himself for what he'd see.

  Everything outside was buried in, at least, six inches of fresh snow.

  "Yes," Benny hissed, snapping his fingers and doing a quick little happy dance as he looked through the storm door.

  The snow had drifted against his porch until it was all but level with the top step. The road in front of his house was completely covered and had yet to be blemished by tire tracks. In the dim morning light he could see a neighbor across the street working hard to uncover his car, steam rising up from the tailpipe in the frosty air.

  Benny could hear his Mom upstairs, now, moving around and getting ready for work. He shut the front door and went into the living room to turn on the T.V. As good as it looked outside, a snow day wasn't official until you heard your school's name being read on the morning news.

  He sat down on the floor and stared at the crawl on the bottom of the screen. The news lady was blathering on about plaque psoriasis or something crazy on their health watch segment. When he heard it, he thought of the big bronze plaque his dad had gotten from work. Benny guessed it would suck if all of your skin turned bronze and tried to slide off of your bones. But, he didn't have time to think about it. There were way more important things going on.

   "C'mon, be closed, be closed, no two hour delays, I can't do a report in two hours."

   Then, finally, after twenty commercials and a story on Chinese cowboys, his school, finally, scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

   Closed.

   "Woo Hoo," Benny hollered as he hopped up and scrambled up the steps. It was on, now. A snow day!

   Benny ran to his room and started changing into his snow gear, immediately. He started piling on clothes, hoping to get to the sled hill and meet Davy and Ray for a few rides before all of the other kids showed up.

   He was almost completely dressed when his mom knocked on his door.

   "Why aren't you getting ready for school, Ben?" 

   "It's a snow day! I just saw it on the news. Is it OK if I go to the park?" Benny asked, as he searched the room for his boots.

   "Looks like your all ready to go. When were planning on asking? On your way out the door?"

   Benny shot his mom a sheepish grin, "Maybe."

   His mom rolled her eyes. "I want you back here before I have to leave for work. I'll have to see if Ray's mom can keep an eye on you."

   Benny really didn't hear the whole sentence, he gave his mom a quick hug and bolted for the door.

   It wasn't long before he was standing at the top of the hill looking out at his neighborhood and all of the fresh snow covering it. The wind was blowing in his face and he quickly pulled his ski mask down to protect from its bite. He could feel the wind cutting through the layers of clothes. 

   It was getting colder.

   If this keeps up, Benny thought, the snow on the hill is going to turn to ice. It would really be a fast ride, then.

  It would be, like, bobsled fast.

  Benny pulled his sled around in front of him. He was ready to see just how fast it would be without anyone in his way.

   As the wind blew wisps of snow into the air around him, Benny ran and jumped belly first onto his sled trying to gain as much momentum as he could.

  He raced down the hill as the wind blew snow into his mask and his eyes. As he wiped out at the bottom of the hill, he lay back in the snow enjoying the rush of the ride and the cold.

  He screamed and raised his fist into the air as the icy rush took his breath.

  It was going to be a great day.

  Even if he did have to take time out to write a stupid report.