On the local mountain, sledding slope, a child: underpants, tights, warm socks, undershirt, warm shirt, sweater, another sweater, more pants, snowsuit, boots. Gloves, hat, scarf.
“Mom, I have to pee!”
Later, trudging back to the top of the mountain, she went on strike.
“No, honey, it’s too steep. If Papa pulls you to the top on the sled his heart will burst.”
Sits in snow.
“And this little cord on the sled may break, and you’ll slide out of control to the orchard at the bottom of the hill. Backwards.”
Lies on back, staring at beautiful blue sky.
“Ok, bye!”
Looks at sky more.
“Really, I’m going.”
Lalalala, she can’t hear me.
“Children your size can cool off incredibly fast, you know.”
No luck. At the top of the hill, her mother asked where she was.
“See that neon orange speck down there?”
Alpha sledded back down and fetched her. “If you get sick or freeze to death, you’ll miss the birthday party tomorrow.”
I pulled her the rest of the way home.
What kind of monster abandons his child in the freezing snow?!
I think it is a trait only puppies and children seem to share..
I took the in-laws shopping on Telegraph, this weekend, and one store was playing that J-Lo song. From which I had been comfortably insulated, until then. Now whenever I see your title I have to sing “Lalala, I can’t hear you.”
Being an orange speck sounds kind of fun, tho.