by Eva Morian
All was well until she took one boot and attempted to bend over to put it on. Only, she didn’t move. With three jackets, she was too padded to reach her feet. She nervously cut her gaze to the others as the boot hung over her fingers. Margaret strapped herself in while her husband was already testing himself on his skis. Cherish pushed her cheeks out and exhaled against her scarf when she saw Simon’s tall form lower to one knee in front of her.
He took the boot from her hand and pulled her foot out. He tightened them around her leg and gripped against her calf, “Too snug or just right?” he asked tilting his head up. He peeked at her over his glasses and broke into an easy smile, “We’ve almost got you finished.”
She rested her gloved palms on the bench and gripped while watching him, “It’s a little tight, but I think it’ll be alright.” She said staring into his blue hues.
Simon stood to his feet and handed her the poles before he picked up her skis, “Alright then. Let’s go.” He said.
Once out in the sun and thick padded snow, their breaths billowed into a cloud while Simon placed the long sticks in the ground. He held his hand out for Cherish to steady herself, “Put your toe against the clamp and stomp down. If you want to get out of the ski push the tab behind your foot with the pole.” He explained while showing her.
Stopping, she listened to what he said, but his instruction went in one ear and out of the other. She glanced down at the skis in front of her and nodded cautiously, “Uh…alright.” She muttered Stepping in, she felt a snap which caused her to lift her foot with the ski. Cherish’s eyes widened as she stumbled back awkwardly and held her arms out at her sides; catching herself. As Margaret helped her upright again, Cherish clenched her jaw, nodded, and pushed through her inhibitions. Everyone was awkward when they were a beginner. Which is what she’d always be.
Simon smirked as he pushed his right leg out, “Okay, slide forward, one leg at a time, like this.” He said. Scooting onward, he glanced back at her to see if she followed along, “Let’s go to the lift.” He said.
Sliding as best as she could with Simon, there were others who glided around them on snowboards. Cherish blinked at him, “Lift? What do you…” Staring up where the lines were, she finally noticed what he meant. Alike to a pulley system, her mouth fell open as she watched people climb onto the seats, buckle in, and start the ascend further up the mountain. All she saw were lines of dangling feet and skis in the sky. Pausing, she looked at Simon and shook her head several times, “Y-You want…me to go…up there?” She asked. He knew for a fact she was terrified of heights. The airplane alone almost caused her to have a stroke and now he wanted her to brave that? She reached for him and leaned far over before she grabbed his arm, “Do…do we need a lift for the bunny slopes?” she asked.
Margaret turned to see that Simon and Cherish lagged. She nudged against her husband before calling out to them, “Hey! We’re going to go up higher! You stay with Cherish! See you guys for lunch! Love you!” Margaret then pulled along her husband with a grin towards another line; leaving them.
Holding onto Cherish, Simon helped her slide her way across the ski hills before he pointed up to the lifts, “Oh yeah, we’re going all the way up to the tallest, maddest bunny slope.” He teased.
Cherish wobbled from one side to the other, "It all sounds big and it all sounds bad, Simon!" She replied.
As he brought her around to the other side of the lodge, there was a much smaller, man-made hill with kids. A conveyor belt lift helped roll the children and their parents to the top across the packed snow, “There it is.” He stated.
Her lips puckered out because they all looked like little Shawn Whites in the making. "Oh. This is much worse." She retorted.
Simon laughed to himself as he grabbed a hold of her hand tightly and pulled, “Let’s go.” He encouraged while she sighed and gripped his hand in return. Pulling her towards the belt, he helped her side step on first.
She released a shaken pant while she finally got situated on the lift and began to slide along the snow. She wrapped her arms around the pole and used her hair as a cushion against her cheek. Behind her, Simon braced her back, so she wouldn’t fall backwards, “See? It’s not so bad.” He said.
Somehow, she found herself in front of him for another lesson of confusion. He showed her how to go down the hill safely, “So, when you ski down, you always want to either have your skis turned straight or inwards.” He said before he demonstrated the difference, “Straight skis will make you go faster, turned in will be like your brake when you want to slow down or stop. Never, for the love of God, turn your skis outwards. That just spreads your legs and could lead you to a nasty fall.” He said. Her eyebrows tucked together as she tried to mimic what he did and repeated under her breath what they meant. Simon perked up with enthusiasm as he made his way to the edge, “Ready?!” he asked.
Her wary gaze settled on him as she answered him truthfully even though she knew it wouldn't matter, "No."
Holding her hand with their arms out, kids showed them how to go down with how short and even the slope was, “Remember, skis inward…”
A kid slid up beside them, “…pizza slice!” he called out before catapulting himself over the hill with confidence.
At least that’s how it seemed in Cherish’s eyes. She rolled her lips in and leaned her head back. Now the kids were in on it?!
Simon nodded, “Yeah, kids call it pizza slice because…well you get what we mean. Okay ready? One. Two. Three.”
Tugging on her, Cherish rolled her shoulders back and allowed gravity to do its job. They barely moved because she insisted to keep her skis pointed inward. Slow and steady won the race. She held one eye open as they crept down the slope. Simon gave her a widened grin, “Come on, open your skis a little bit. I have you.” He said gripping her hand tighter.
Kids and their parents slid by with expertise while Cherish tried to stay upright. She hesitantly straightened her skis out, but towards the end she could tell it was too far. Her legs started to separate and widen apart. Just when she thought she would fall, the ride had ended, and they had made it down in one piece.
Simon held her up by her arm with a laugh once she was steady on her feet, “You did so well! Do you think you’re ready for the big one?” he asked.
Cherish’s gaze drifted from him to the mountain she held him back from. She just didn't feel the same confidence he had, "N-no. You go ahead. I’ll… I’ll stay here." She replied encouraging him while pointing at the larger hill, "Go have some fun!" She added.
Little mister pizza slice skidded to a stop with a couple of his friends, "My daddy said we will take care of her mister!" He replied.
Cherish found their enthusiasm to be completely adorable. One young girl slid over and tugged on her hand, "My momma says she's tired, will you go down with me?"
She turned her attention to the red faced, freckled little girl and smiled, "Sure I will, as long as your mom says it’s alright." She replied.
With their hands still held, the little girl turned back to a woman who sat and watched, "Momma! Can I?!" She asked as the woman nodded. The little girl turned back to Cherish and pulled along her, "Come on! I'll show you what to do uh.... what’s your name?" She asked.
She looked at Simon with an expression that told him she couldn't say no now. Pulling away from him, she mouthed, "See you soon", as she followed the little girl awkwardly, "Cherish, what's yours?" She replied.
The little girl led her on, "Lily!!" She answered with an exuberant smile.
Simon shook his head at them, “I’ll stay here.” He said to himself as he watched Cherish and Lily make their way towards the lift. He tapped the boy on the helmet and leaned over, “I’ll race you down.”
Pizza slice kid kickstarted with a gasp before he raced after Simon towards the lift. Passing by Cherish and Lily, they met by the edge of the dip and he began to count, “Okay, three, two—” The boy pushed himself off before he could finish causing Simon to char
ge himself after the boy, “HEY!” he called.
With his knees bent and the poles tucked under his arms, Simon sped forward. The little boy could hear his approach and squinted his eyes closed; willing himself to be faster. Simon smirked a bit before he pulled his skis in and slowed down to allow the boy to pass.
By the time he’d had arrived at the bottom, he opened his eyes and saw he’d won; fair and square, “Yeah! Take that! I’m the winner!” he cheered and danced.
Simon smiled and already headed for the lift again, “I bet you couldn’t do it again.”
The kid scrambled to catch up, “I can too!” he exclaimed.
As Simon went along and rough housed with the little boy, the little girl clapped her gloved hands together, "Good job, Cherish!!" She exclaimed. Cherish had bent her knees and pushed herself across the flat surface of the snow. Lily watched her for a long moment, "Pizza slice!" She randomly called out. Cherish immediately turned her feet inwards and skidded to a slowed stop. Lily lifted her poles in the air and cheered, "Woohoo!! You're getting it!!" She said. Cherish slid up beside Lily who then pointed, "Did you want to try the hill now?" She asked.
Cherish pulled down her scarf as she glanced over and saw Simon, once again, slide down in a race with the boy. Nodding, she and Lily made their way towards the slope, "Okay! Skis straight!"
Cherish nodded, "Skis straight." She repeated.
Lily then used her poles and slowly pulled herself over, "COME ON CHERISH!!" she called a loud as she slid down.
Blowing out, Cherish leaned over and did exactly what Lily did. The speed she gained down the hill was alike to nothing she'd felt before. An exhilarating rush made her feel as though she could do anything.
It lasted a mere ten seconds.
At the end, Lily skidded behind her and pulled her goggles off with a grin, "You did it!!!" She exclaimed.
Feeling quite proud of her minor accomplishment, Cherish grinned and nodded, "I did! I did!! Awesome!!" She replied looking around for Simon.
Lily glanced too before she pointed at Simon as he swooshed down towards them, "There he is! There's your husband!" She expressed.
That word jolted shock deep within Cherish's body as she snapped her head towards Lily. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly shook her head, "N-no. No, he...he's not my..." Before she could finish, Simon stopped in front of them.
Lily waved her hands several times, "Hey mister!! Did you see her do it?!" She asked.
Cherish swallowed her words and gave him a closed mouth smile. Simon took off his glasses and wiped them with a tissue from his pocket. He blinked snow out of his eyes and laughed at the girl, “I can’t say I did. Was she good?” He asked placing his glasses back on.
Lily flailed her arms happily as Cherish smiled down at how overly animated this little person was, “She was awesome! She went down the hill so fast like Whoosh!” she said as she waved her arm down and turned to the side quickly.
He looked Cherish over and saw that her hair had been blown back and speckled with snow, “Well, she surely looks successful.”
Cherish shook her head as she shrugged her shoulders slightly, “She did good too! Anyone who can stay upright on these things are amazing in my book.” She added on to Lily’s praise.
From the lift the boy called out to them, “Hey! You’re taking too long! Come on!”
Simon nodded in the boy’s direction once Lily took off after him, “Let’s go down together.” He offered.
The corner of her mouth quirked as she pressed a chilled glove to her mouth, “Sure.” She stated as they all went ahead and climbed the hill again.
As the kids whizzed down with jovial laughter, Simon and Cherish followed behind hand in hand. It was another short, exhilarating rush. His intention was to keep her steady, but the way she wobbled caused him to slip. As Simon’s side pulled against her, Cherish tumbled forward with a shocked yelp which quickly morphed into a roaring laugh. She landed on top of him and he grabbed a hold of her while he slid on his butt for the last bit.
Snow flew up around both their bodies and she held tightly on his shoulders before they finally stopped. Throwing her head back with a laugh, she then leaned her head forward and swallowed tightly staring into her eyes. He pressed his forehead on hers and pushed her mane of hair back. He looked into her eyes, barely a breath away with their noses touching, “Are you okay?” he asked.
She wet her lips lightly before her breath billowed between them and warmed his lips, “I-I’m alright.” She whispered.
A pair of small shadows towered over them to which Cherish pulled away and star up at the kids. Lily clasped her hands together and tucked them under her chin, “Will you and your husband build snowmen with us? Mason and I want to have a snowman competition! Please Cherish? Please Mister sir?” she asked.
Simon was taken off guard at the title these children had bestowed upon them, but even he knew there wasn’t a point in arguing with a child.
Cherish, once again melted for the little ones, and looked to Simon, “What do you say? Mister Sir?” she asked before she tried to awkwardly detangle herself from the skis.
Getting back to their feet, Simon raised his brows as he gave Cherish a once over, “You’re on.” He said unclasping himself from the skis and helping Cherish from hers. Carrying them to the side of the lodge, he propped them and the poles against them wall before the showdown commenced.
One ball after another, the snowmen came together. The boys’ was bigger, yet the girls’ was prettier with far more details than the lumps the boys couldn’t smooth out. The children’s parents were left to judge and overall, the girls won which caused Mason to huff while Lily boasted her victory.
After long, it was time to say goodbye to the kids, after a long goodbye hug, Cherish and Simon picked up their gear, and went to meet up with his parents. Cherish pulled the scarf from her face because, after all that, she finally grew hot. Enough to strip two jackets.
Upon meeting them, Simon swore his dad looked brighter and happier than ever. Being that he knew these people his entire life, he knew exactly what that meant, and he sighed, “Outside? On skis? Really?” he questioned.
His father winked at him and shrugged without an answer. Cherish looked between Simon Sr., Margaret, and Simon before rolling her eyes to the side, “You guys are what I aspire to be one day.” She said.
Margaret chuckled under her breath before she wrapped an arm around Cherish’s shoulder and walked ahead of the men, “Did you have fun on the bunny slops dear?” she asked.
Cherish held both jackets in her arms as she shook her head and nudged her, “Not as much as you.” She whispered.
Returning inside the large, crowded, recreation area, they found Miriam and Jack with the babies by a large fireplace eating lunch. The kids’ little snowsuits were open and damp from where they sat and played outside in the snow. They were almost done by the time their mom and dad had sat down with them, “You got food for all of us?” Simon asked.
Jack nodded while he scooped the last bits of oatmeal for Jr., “We didn’t think you’d be too long behind us. Miriam and I got into a conversation with a guy and he said there’s a pine tree farm not far from here. We thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring one back and decorate it for Christmas. Instead of buying a tacky, plastic one covered in fake snow, with fake cranberries, and fake glitter.” He said before he slowly glanced up at Margaret.
She returned his gaze with a glare and threw a dirtied napkin at him, “It was beautiful! You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” she snapped.
Jack chuckled under his breath before he tossed the napkin back in her direction, “Never.” He answered while the others laughed.
After lunch, they returned the gear and left for the farm. The grandparents stalked through the small sea of trees and looked for the right one; debating, “This side looks too wimpy.” Simon Sr. muttered.
Margaret stood in the background and crossed her arms as Jack gr
oaned, “It looks better than the one you picked out!” he retorted.
Cherish carried Jasmine on her hip while they trailed down numerous lines of Christmas trees. Unlike Jack and Miriam, she didn’t know what she was looking for. Mainly because she’d never had one. Leaning over, Jasmine gripped a few of the needles in a vice grip and Cherish smiled at her while kissing against her chilled cheek, “You can’t have each one you grab baby.” she whispered pulling Jasmine’s hand away.
Moving on to the next, Miriam pointed upwards and shook her head, “See how the top is leaning over? That just won’t do. The angel will lean as well.” She whispered moving down the line.
Simon had Jr. in his arms, but his baby boy wasn’t interested or entertained. Jr.’s big, cold cheeks pressed against his father’s chest. Simon wrapped his scarf around him while he circled one tree, “Hmm, this one looks perfect, I think.” He muttered under his breath.
Jack wandered over and appraised the tree before he reached in and grabbed a branch. He ran the needles through his grip and with him a bunch fell away which meant it was old and dry, “No go.” He said.
Jr. grew restless and wailed out. Large tears rolled down the sides of his cheeks which in turn made his face colder. A cold little man in dire need of a nap didn’t make the trip any easier. Simon wiped at his face and rubbed his back before he tightened the little hood over Jr.’s round head. His cries lessened as he pushed his face back in Simon’s chest again, “Shh. Shh. It’s okay, buddy. Just a little longer.” He whispered.
A few minutes later they found the perfect tree sitting a bit away from the others. It wasn’t too tall or wide, a nice, deep green with healthy needles that were even on all sides. Simon quickly pointed the tree out and bumped Jr. against his bottom, “Thar she blows!” he called out.
Jack and Simon Sr. stepped out between other prospective victims before they approached the tree and wandered around it a few times. Nodding to Jack, Simon Sr. grabbed the other side of the saw in Jack’s hand and they began to cut.
