A Snippet in Time

 I think it was around 1974. I was 10 and mom was slowly granting me more range in roaming around town. I had time limits, so I knew roughly how far I could go. I don't think she was aware of just how FAR my pals and I could go. It was different in the winter though as the bikes had been put away and we were on foot. If we weren't roaming around with shovels to clear driveways or help someone stuck in their cars to make cash, we just roamed and talked and used our imaginations. We were boys, and we had expansive and vivid imaginations. 

One fine afternoon I had been out selling tickets to my Boy Scout Troop's spaghetti dinner. I didn't do too bad, but it was cold and I decided to head home. My pal Kevin was with me. We decided to take a shortcut across Duncan Creek. It was frozen for the most part and we were 10 and skinny. As we were going across we noticed an opening in the ice and, floating in the center, a nice Hockey Stick! What a prize! I started edging towards it and, of course, the obvious happened. The thinner ice at the edges gave way and I went in. Initially, I panicked. The flailing hands, the breathless screams, the whole bit. I realized pretty quick that either Kevin got me out or I was toast. No one could hear us. Needless to say, I beat my way to thicker ice, and Kevin helped me get out. 

I was soaked and freezing from head to toe. Toes that were in my sister's fur-lined boots. She was not happy when I made it home. Mom was frantic and then furious. She was grateful to Kevin for helping me not drown a second time in my short life and told him so. He read the room and made a polite exit giving me that knowing look. The look that says he knows I'm in heap big trouble, was sympathetic, but could in no way help. Yes. I understood. So, as Mom was getting the wet clothes off me and drying me off, she was letting me know just how disappointed she was that I would do something so foolish. I managed to hold my peace and not try to justify just how BOSS that hockey stick was. She wouldn't understand. I was a boy thing. Anyway, I was dried off, dressed in warm and dry clothing, and confined to the house for a couple of days. All was forgiven, and Mom still loved me. My sister? Not so much as her boots were ruined.

I never did get that damn hockey stick.