The house felt suddenly colder just before I heard a harsh
rap on the door. He was about to knock again when I opened the door and saw
this large figure dressed in shorts and a tee shirt with the words “Summer
stinks” across his chest.
“Hi, I’m winter,” he smiled, shook my hand then pushed past
me into the house.
“ It’s warm in here. ” Winter said loudly to no one in
particular.
“ I was just thinking the house felt bit cold,” I smiled.
“Cold! I just got here. Wait a month then you’ll know
cold.
He looked around. “Nice house.” Winter pulled a small pad
out of his back pocket and started making notes.
“Can I help you?” I turned up the thermostat.
Winter looked at the setting. “What are you doing?” He
shouted. People like you make me sick. You all want the world to be like Miami.
Have you heard about global warming?”
Winter looked down at my feet. “What are
those?”
“Fur lined slippers, very comfortable and toasty.” I smiled.
He grimaced.
“Does your blood circulate? You should have the windows
open,” he said as he began opening windows. Let in fresh air. Get invigorated.
Who knows, maybe you’ll get some energy, chase the missus around the house a
little.”
“We like the windows closed,” I began shutting the
windows.
Winter sighed loudly and looked out onto the back yard.
“I’ve got to get those leaves off the trees. We need a layer of frost.” He
wrote in his little notebook. “Maybe some flurries.”
“Isn’t it a bit early for snow?” I put on a heavier sweater.
“You’re soft. You’re all soft. I’m trying to save lives. Big
changes are…what’s that. You still have flowers,” he looked at me and pointed
at some cosmos by our fence. “They gotta go. We’ll need a strong wind, I
think.” Winter finished writing in his notebook and put it in his back pocket.
I’ll start later today with the wind. Then I’ll…what’s that
smell?” He made an unpleasant face.
“Cocoa, I’m making some cocoa, would you like a cup?”
“No, of course not. Give me water…and ice, plenty of
ice.”