Robert Earle (Bob) (Bobby) Watkins- age 19. works at a shoe store & attends Junior College
Nicole (Nicki) Watkins -age 18 (Barely) Senior in H.S.
Vern Watkins - age 39, works in advertising
Ellen Watkins- age 37 ,Housewife, works part-time at the library
The horse was pulling the sleigh in a gliding motion across the sparkling snow, headed toward the town ice rink in the park.
"Oh, Bobby, I really appreciate you taking me tonight. Everyone is going to be there."
"I don't understand why you didn't just get a date like everyone else. For that matter you could have just gone and skated by yourself or found someone there."
She looked at him incredulously. Her lip started to tremble " oh well, I guess I shouldn't have even asked you Robert," the name she reserved for when she was angry with him, " I'm sorry I spoiled your plans for the evening."
"Hey kiddo", Bob replied, " I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought you might like to hang around with your classmates instead of an old stick-in-the-mud like me. "
"Are you serious? You're one of the sharpest guys in town, who wouldn't want to go with you. Besides, I can't skate much and you can so I figure you can keep me from falling down......
But if you'd rather not, we can just turn around and go back home."
Bob turned to her, put his arm around her and pulled her to him. He kissed her on the cheek, " what are you talking about. I'll be with the prettiest girl there. We'll skate circles around everyone else."
Nicole felt very comfortable in the arms of her big brother. He was 6ft. 2 in. tall and had a magnificent body. He should, he lifted weights and worked out all the time. When he was in high school he was a star running back on the football team, even made All State. He couldn't do his lifting at the school now that he had graduated and so had set up his own little gym in the large basement of his parent's home. Bob was finishing his 2nd year of junior college locally and also worked part time at the shoe store in the mall.
She gazed into his smiling face with a tear in her eye, " I love you."
"I love you too little one, now let's get ready to skate," as they pulled up to the park which was already full of chattering teens and a few people his own age.
There were three large bonfires going at various locations around the lake and a small tent in which hot chocolate was being prepared. It was, Bob had to admit, a very festive looking site. It was only just the first week of December and this was early for the lake to be so well frozen.
They sat on one of the benches and began putting on their skates. Bob once again realized that Nicki was staring at him. It was a different look, almost an adoring look, and it was making him uneasy.
"What are you looking at kid?"
"I don't know, I just realized how tall and handsome you are."
" Yeah, right."
"I'm serious Bobby, just look around you, half of the girls here are looking at you in that dreamy way and the same number of guys look like they would enjoy shooting you."
"That's just your imagination" he said, even though he had actually noticed what she had said was true. Even some of the mothers in the hot chocolate tent had looked at him in a flirty sort of way.
"OK kid, let's go." With that he stood, took her left hand with his left hand, put his right arm around her and stepped off onto the ice.
" Oh Bob!" she squealed, " don't let me fall please. " He gripped her tighter, molding her body into his own, " don't worry little sister, I won't let you fall."
They skated for hours, but to her it only seemed like minutes. With his help they were soon gliding around the lake. He taught her how to place one foot over the other as they moved smoothly along. He wanted her to skate backwards but she was afraid.
"Look, I will hold you like this," it was just like dancing, " I will support you and guide you, I promise you won't fall sweety."
He had never called her sweety before. She was so happy. It was if she had her own boyfriend, except that was impossible, Robert was her brother.
They had hot chocolate, doughnuts and some wonderful conversation. Robert seemed to be treating her differently, looking at her in an unfamiliar way. Or, then again, maybe it was just her imagination, maybe she just wanted him to look at her differently. Soon it was time to leave. She would like to have skated all night but the park was closing tonight at 11 which was later than normal. The fire department arrived to put out the bonfires and they all knew that it was time to go.
They returned in a sleigh being pulled by a beautiful white horse. The horses and sleighs which had been provided by local area residents, particularly farmers. It was not unusual in this part of northern Ohio for residents to have a horse and sleigh, this was the snow zone and it was also a semi-rural area. The trip from the park to the town center only took about 10 minutes. The walk from the town square to their home was only 3 blocks and they talked all the way. Nicole was ecstatic, this had been a wonderful and most memorable evening.
"Well, the skaters have returned," Vern Watkins bellowed, " I thought I was going to have to come looking for you."
It was quickly obvious that Vern had consumed a few drinks as was his normal weekend habit.
Ellen Watkins hurried in from the kitchen, " lands sake, were you the last to leave?", she inquired.
"No Mom, I tried to drag Nicole away for over an hour but she just wouldn't leave."