Many of the colorful fallen leaves bustled upward in a dance. Seeing the stark, bare trees sent shivers up my back. The crisp autumn air flared my nostrils. My brother Billy bounded over to me wearing enough clothes to be sledding.
He asked, “Becky, do you want to climb some trees with me?”
I responded, “Sure Billy, we can go up the big Maple together. You’ll have to help me get started.”
A lot of girls miss out on the joy of being up high in a majestic tree. I admit that having Billy up here with me makes it easier. The wind gusts are slapping our faces. It felt like an early winter was upon us. We had a nearly panoramic view of the area. Billy laughed as we looked at the fancy Dan houses of the snotty neighbors.
He spoke, “Becky, you notice that they have parlors which you can only admire and never sit anywhere? I’m glad we have a living room. We can live in our living room.”
I could not help giggling. I added, “You have to be all stuffy and proper in the formal dining room. If you use the wrong fork for the potatoes, you get the glare.” Billy gestured with his pinky up in the air while batting his eyelashes and pursing his lips. He quipped, “They still stink when they go to the toilet.”
I had to cling tightly to a large branch as I was shaking from our gaiety. Between the strong wind and our silliness, I wore myself out. So, we climbed down and headed into the house.
Dad sported that mischievous look and asked us, “Well, what did Shackleton and Nansen do today?
Billy slyly retorted, “We went polar.”
Dad put an arm each upon us and declared, “It’s good that the acorns don’t fall far from the tree. Everyone should be sane tonight as it is a new moon.”
After a lot of banter and chatter, we sat together at the table and ate. I smiled within myself of being so blessed to be part of this family. Mom and dad turned their attention to each other and Billy gave me head gestures to help him clean up the table and wash the dishes together. When we finished, he gave me a high-five.
We headed to the living room, and suddenly everything went dark. I grabbed Billy’s hand, and we maneuvered toward the door. Outside was an eerie blackness which one could feel. The misty cloud layer blocked the starlight. The earlier talk of Arctic exploration had come to visit us. I quickly shut the door. Brrrr! It was cold.
Between the two us of groping around in blindness, we located the stash of candles and some matches. The small flames high-stepped into the night. The frigidness overran the walls. Billy and I made it to our rooms and secured some of our bedding. Billy formed himself into a chrysalis with his blue blanket he calls Fred. I am far more practical with Maude, my comforter.
Billy was making things worse with causing fog from his deliberate exhales. He calmed down, and we stared across the dim light of the candles at each other. The darkness and the cold were almost surreal.
The next thing that I knew was opening my eyes to the morning light. Billy hopped over to me with Fred tightly around him and reported that trucks were out on the streets working on the lines. Mom and dad made an appearance as if nothing had happened.
Dad had his back to us, as he offered, “It looks like the power went out during the night. Well, everyone survived I see.” (Grr! That’s not funny dad.) Then out the door, he went with a pause to kiss mom goodbye. (What’s with these two?)
I thought that I had become an ice cube. Mom had to go all soda bubbly on us.
She blurted out, “Would you like some potato puffs for breakfast?”
Billy accommodated her by nodding his head. I glared at him. I was not in a good mood. I had to go to the toilet, and I did not want to move. I didn’t think that I could budge. I begged Billy to help me up. He’s a sweet brother.
When I set foot in the bathroom, the power came back. The seat was cold. I had a fear that my butt would stick to the seat.
When I made my grand entrance into the living room, mom informed us that we didn’t have to go to school. Hours went by before I thawed out. Billy came over to me all bundled up again. He smiled and said, “You want to go climb trees?”
Life is good. Have I ever told you that my sweet and kind brother is slightly nuts?