YOU CAN DO BETTER
“We can totally beat you.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. You’re old.”
“Old? We’re not that old.”
I watch the argument between Brooks and two teenage boys as we stand at the top of Farmer Dan’s hill. Every winter, as soon as the first, thick snow blankets the town, everyone comes out here to go sledding. It’s a tradition that goes back as long as I can remember.
If we’re really lucky, Dan’s wife will occasionally set up a hot chocolate stand at the bottom of the hill to help warm us up. One of the many reasons I love this small town of mine.
That and the fact that Brooks is arguing about who can go faster down a hill right now.
“Okay. You’re on.” Brooks extends his gloved hand for a quick shake before trudging back over to me.
“What did you get us into?”
Brooks scoffs at me. “They can’t just tell us we’re old and get away with it.”
Glancing behind Brooks, I see the two snickering kids can’t be older than thirteen. Then again, all kids looks younger than they probably are. “You realize we’re close to two decades older than them?”
“It doesn’t mean we’re old.”
I shift the blue, plastic sled from one hand to the other. “So you challenged them to a sledding contest?”
“Yes,” Brooks says matter-of-factly.
“And what happens if they win?”
“I owe them twenty bucks.”
“And if you win?”
Brooks smiles at me. “Bragging rights.”
I burst out laughing at how ridiculous my best friend is. Even though things might be changing between us, some things will always stay the same. Like the things Brooks ropes me into.
“You ready, sir?” the kid asks as he drops their sled so they can get ready for our competition.
“Sir. I’m not a sir,” Brooks mumbles. “C’mon, Charlie. Time to go.”
“You know you can take them on by yourself.”
Brooks grabs the sled from my hand and drops it down a safe distance from the kids and settles on it. “No, I can’t. You’re my best friend which means you’re here to make sure I don’t look like an idiot alone.”
“As long as we’re in agreement about that.”
“That I’m an idiot?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t be saying that when we beat them.” Brooks laughs.
Settling behind Brooks, I scoot in as close as I can. The plastic groans under my added weight as the two of us try to fit onto this tiny sled.
“We can barely fit on this.” I shift again, making sure my ass isn’t hanging off the back. I don’t think Brooks would appreciate that being the reason we lose.
