The Pond in the Woods

The sound of sharpened metal scraping against ice pierced the frozen air. Everything was perfectly still in the frigid morning, as if frozen in place. The only thing that moved were the two figures that glided easily over the uneven ice of the frozen pond.

The pond was in a small clearing surrounded by a dense forest, with only a small path that led to the tiny cottage beyond. Fresh snow had fallen in the night, but not so much that Mick and little David hadn't been able to reach the pond with relative ease.

Ever since the pond had frozen and Mick had taught David the basics of ice skating, he'd wanted to spend every free moment out on the ice. Much like he had been as a child, Mick recollected.

He himself had learned to skate on this very pond. That winter too had been very similar to this one; bitterly cold with plenty of snow and ice. However, Mick reflected, there had been one time that winter, close to spring, when everything seemed to thaw, as if spring had come early.

Mick had been thrilled when snow fell again, and the pond was once again safe to skate on. Or so he thought. A shiver rippled down Mick's spine as he recalled the terror he had felt when he heard the loud snap. The ice below his small skates cracked open, and he plunged into the icy cold water below.

Once below the surface, everything was dark and quiet. Any sounds that there were had been completely muffled by the water and the ice above. He struggled towards the tiny point of light he knew had to be the opening in the ice, but the cold water made it difficult to move. His limbs felt like lead, and his heavy, water-logged winter clothes pulled him toward the depths.

Just as Mick thought all hope was lost, a strong hand gripped him by the back of his neck and hauled him to the surface. He broke through the water coughing up water and gasping for air.

"Mick, everything is going to be okay. I've got you now!" His father grasped him tightly to his chest and ran for the house...

"Dad, watch this!" David's excited voice retrieved Mick from the swirling eddies of his memory and dragged him back to the present. Mick pivoted towards his son with a flourish, not quite sure what to expect.

David stood still at the edge of the pond until he had his fathers attention, then he skated slowly towards him. When he was a few feet away, David jumped up into the air and landed gracefully back on his skates and closed the distance to his father. He had only managed to jump a few inches, but his face beamed with pride, and Mick couldn't help but be proud as well.

"Good job, David! That was impressive!" The little boy wrapped his arms around his fathers legs for a moment before pushing away from him and skating backwards a few inches. Once again, his face lit up with excitement before the blade of his skate caught on an uneven place in the ice and he toppled over. Before Mick could even lend a hand, David had scrambled back up to a standing position.

"Woah, hey, are you okay?" Rosy embarrassment bloomed across the little boys cheeks. He nodded before quickly spinning around and gliding a few feet away. He turned and looked back at his father.

"Can we play hockey now?" Mick grinned at his son, knowing that, although he was trying to move past the embarrassment of his fall, this question had been inevitable. Not a day would go by without him asking if they could play hockey.

"Well..." Mick scratched his jaw theatrically as he considered the question. Of course it was all just for show, but David's eyes and mouth opened wide in anticipation of his answer.

"Yes, I suppose we can play hockey now, since you have mastered skating backwards." David let out a squeal of excitement as he jumped up and down, all the while clapping his gloved hands.

Just then, a woman's voice called from the direction of the cabin in the woods beyond the pond. "Mick, David, supper is ready. Time to come inside." David's head dropped in disappointment.

"It's okay, David. We can play hockey tomorrow." David's head snapped back up and he grinned gleefully at his father.

"Really?" Mick smiled warmly at his son as he nodded.

"Of course. But right now we better get back inside before your mother sends out a search party after us." They quickly exchanged their ice skates for their winter boots and hurried hand in hand back along the trail through the woods to their cozy cabin.