saw nick take a running start with his sled. he was back over too close to the depot’s pillar and i watched frozen as the sled slid over toward the pillar. i started to run, yelling at nick to roll off the sled, please get off the sled. he shot down the hill right for that pillar. i ran as fast as i could, knowing i’d never cut him off. time slowed down. everything moved in slow motion.
the sled ran up a stiff drift in front of the pillar and stopped short, sticking nick in the snow in front of it. i reached the boy as he struggled to get 