I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels

I?”
    â€œI’ll drive. Sleds in the back,” he said, tossing in both Flexible Flyers.
    An hour later they were hurtling down the hill, whooping and hollering, their laughter ringing in the swirling snow.
    On the second trek up the hill, Peter said, “Have you noticed we’re practically the only two people here except for those three kids who are using pieces of cardboard to slide down the hill?”
    â€œThat’s because we’re crazy. Cardboard’s good, so is a shower curtain. You can really get some speed with a shower curtain. A bunch of us used to do that in Minnesota.”
    Peter clenched his fists tightly as he felt a wave of jealousy river through him. He wanted Andi to slide down a hill on a shower curtain with him, not some other guy, and he knew it had been a guy on the shower curtain next to Andi. He asked.
    â€œYeah.” He waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t.
    â€œHey, mister, do you want to trade?”
    Peter looked at Andi, and she looked at him. “The cardboard is big enough for both of us to sit on. Wanna give it a shot?” he asked.
    â€œSure. You sit in the front, though, in case we hit a tree.”
    â€œOkay, kid.” He accepted their offer, then turned to Andi. “Did you notice they waited till we dragged these sleds to the top of the hill?” Peter hissed.
    â€œI don’t blame them. I think this is my last run. My legs feel numb.”
    â€œSissy,” Peter teased. “Cardboard’s easy to drag. We’ve only been here two hours.”
    â€œIt seems like forever,” Andi said. “I can’t feel my feet anymore. How about you?”
    â€œHey, mister, Where’d you get them yellow boots?” one of the kids asked.
    â€œMacy’s. Neat, huh?”
    â€œThey look shitty,” the kid said.
    â€œThat, too. You kids go first and we’ll follow.”
    â€œNah, you go first. You might fall off and we’ll stop and pick you up. You might break a leg or something. You’re old.”
    Peter settled himself on the slice of cardboard that said Charmin Tissue. “Hang on, Andi, and sit up straight.”
    They were off. Andi shrieked and Peter bellowed as they sailed down the steep hill. Midway down, the cardboard slid out from under them. They toppled into the snow, rolling the rest of the way down the hill. The kids on the sleds passed them, waving and shouting wildly. Andi rolled up against Peter, breathless, her entire body covered in snow.
    â€œNow that was an experience,” Peter gasped as he reached for Andi’s arm to make sure she was all right.
    â€œI feel like I’m dead. Are we?”
    â€œNo. Those little shits are taking off with our sleds!” Peter gasped again.
    â€œWho cares. I couldn’t chase them if my life depended on it. Every kid needs a sled. Let them have them.”
    â€œOkay. Are you all right?”
    â€œNo. I hurt. This wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be. God, I must be getting old. My eyebrows are frozen to my head. They crunch. Do yours?”
    â€œYep. C’mon, let’s get in the truck and go home. The first run was fun. We should have quit after that.” He was on his feet, his hand outstretched to pull Andi to her feet. “Ah, I bet if I kissed your eyebrows they’d melt.”
    â€œNever mind my damn eyebrows, kiss my mouth, it’s frozen.”
    â€œHmmmnn. Aaahhh, oh, yes,” Andi said later.
    â€œWas that sweet? I have a kiss that’s a real wake-up call.”
    â€œOh, no, that one…sizzled. Let’s try it out,” Andi said.
    â€œOh, look, they’re kissing. Yuk. Here’s your sleds, mister.”
    â€œI thought you stole those sleds. Your timing is incredible. Go away, you can have the sleds.”
    â€œMy mother ain’t never gonna believe you gave us these sleds. You gotta write us a note and sign your name.”
    â€œDo what he says.”