Wait, Doing What In Winter

Everyone loved listening to the wind's whispered stories throughout the seasons. No matter the time of year, people unanimously agreed to listen to whispered legends about the season and to events that happened during the day in the evening. Countless people would crack their windows open just so they could listen to the whispered stories carried in by the wind. Children even listened to the stories to fall asleep since they were calming to listen to.

Many gossipers both secretly relied on and hated the whispered stories, since people could check what they said. They relied on the whispered stories so they could discuss them with each other. But this also made them worry, since whatever they said could be checked. While gossips liked the stories the wind told, others didn’t want the wind telling stories about them. To try to keep out of the wind's stories, they bought wind chimes to avoid becoming a story whispered by the wind. Others put wind chimes up to get a break from the whispers. Yet on a particular afternoon when extremely harsh Arctic winds mimicked howling, a brain-scratching story was whispered to everyone.

Excited wind that many imagined would be vibrating from how excited it whispered about a group of people. And all who listened paused in both disbelief and confusion. The excited whispers told the eager listeners about a group of people stripping down to their underwear and lying down on towels. With sunglasses on, they lay down and began to sunbathe, ignoring the icy bite of the wind, which had already caused their cheeks to be rosy red. Some hands were even shaking involuntarily. 

So many wondered where these sunbathers were, but the energetic wind seemed to dance around the location, or gloss over where they were. Whispers stayed within the state's borders, but whispers could carry from one end to another. Some people considered going out and finding the sunbathers but second-guessed themselves because they weren’t sure about finding them. Many set those thoughts aside to listen to the eager wind whisper more about the sunbathers.

Apparently, some of the sunbathers had poured themselves a tall glass of lemonade that was slowly turning into a slushie. Others had moved from their towels to the snow, which had a thin layer of ice on top. Their front, which had been soaking in the sun, was now up against the icy snow. Turning more skin rosy red, however, fingers and toes were now turning either white, grey, or blue. After hearing this, some went and bundled up to go search for the sunbathers.

After an hour had passed, the whispers from the wind had finally mentioned an age range for the group of sunbathers. The age range was from the youngest being nineteen to the oldest being twenty-five. Hearing the ages caused many to become concerned, since there were many people in that age range whom they knew. Once the sun had started to dip behind the mountains hours later, two things happened.

First. The frantic communities found the sunbathers. They had been on a frozen lake. Those who found them said that the group of seven had severe frostbite. When asked why they’re answer was even more absurd. After finding out due to the reflectivity of the icy snow; they could sunburn faster in winter than in summer. So they thought that they would be able to tan faster. 

Second. The whispers told all who were invested in the sunbather story the ending. But soon after, the wind whispered about a convenience store selling beach supplies. After hearing that, a little girl turned to her father.

“Daddy, why did the wind say beach supplies were being sold?” The father gave a short chuckle.

“I wish I had an answer for you, snowangel.”

“Do you think Darwin would have wanted to go sunbathing with them?” The father's smile dropped slightly, with a hardness in his eyes. 

“I sure hope not. Your brother was raised to be smarter than that.” Just then the father's phone rang. Glancing at the number, he saw it was an unsaved number. Picking up the phone, the father left the dining room. The little girl got up from the table, where she was enjoying her large hot chocolate with rainbow marshmallows. She listened to the conversation her father was having on the phone. 

“Hello?” The little girl could hear another voice, but couldn’t distinguish what they said. The door blocked them from her ears. 

“Yes, this is Charles, father of Darwin Fletcher.”

“I’m home!” A female voice called from the front of the house. As quietly as possible, the little girl hurried back to her spot at the table where her hot chocolate sat, melting her marshmallows. Once sitting her chair, she held her breath, hoping her parents wouldn’t figure out that she had been eavesdropping on her father. Slowly, she picked up her hot chocolate. Still haven’t released the breath she was holding. 

“HE WHAT!!” Jumping at hearing her mother half shout half shrieked causing the little girl to spill her hot chocolate. She yelped from the heat of her hot chocolate coming through her shirt. Her parents burst in, concern etched in their faces. Her yelp had caught their attention. The little girl saw her parents' eyes zero in on her hot chocolate mixed with the melted rainbow marshmallows down the front of her festive sweater. Her mother briskly walked over. 

“Oh, Lana, my sweet snowflake, let's go get you in a new sweater. Then we’ll take you to see your dear brother and the expensive, and quite painful bonehead decision he made.” Her mother said as she scooped Lana up, placing a simple kiss on Lana's forehead. 

“Since stores are selling beach supplies, are we going to have our regular yard sale? That way we can help Darwin avoid making more expenses and quite painful, boneheaded decisions?” Lana watched as her mom and Dad gained slightly tight smiles, and laughter seemed to dance in their eyes. 

“Oh my sweet, sweet snowflake, no, we’re not. Our regular yard sale is for summertime. And as for those beach supplies that are for sale, they are actually winter gear made to look like beach supplies. Besides, your dear brother Darwin is twenty-two years old with a job. He’s an meaning he should pay for his own boneheaded decisions.” Lana's mom answered her daughter with a smile as she carried Lana to her room. A hand slowly circled the back of Lana’s back as Lana watched her dad clean up the spilled hot chocolate. 

“Was Darwin one of the people relaxing in the sun today?” Lana asked and only received her mom humming as an answer. The whispering winds filled the space around mother and daughter. Which didn’t seem to answer Lana's questions either. Making Lana wonder how badly her brother was hurt by the cold air after lying in the sunlight.