by C. Fennessy
Chapter 2: Hitting the Slopes
The next morning, Kelly had breakfast and then practiced piano for two hours. She knew that in order to improve, she had to be diligent about practicing. She decided to take her sheet music and try to arrange for access to a piano while she was at White Pines Resort. Even one hour’s practice a day was better than nothing.
The phone rang and it was Keith. They chatted for a while and agreed to meet at St. Mark's Church in half an hour to help with the annual Christmas food boxes. Each Christmas and several other times during the year, the members of St. Mark’s Church donated food to be distributed to the needy.
When Kelly arrived at the church, she saw Keith waiting in the parking lot. They kissed and he squeezed her hand. She smiled back warmly.
Inside the main building, they waved at her dad, who was in his office talking on the phone. From the hallway, they could hear voices coming from the social hall.
Fellow church members greeted them with smiles and thanked them for coming to help pack boxes of food for the needy.
"We wouldn't miss this for anything," Kelly told them. "What can we do?"
"Here are the boxes. Just fill them up with each of the food items we have on the tables."
Kelly and Keith continued filling boxes and talking with friends until all the food was packed. Next, they each took five names and addresses from a list of people who needed food. They helped each other load the boxes into their vehicles and then set out on their deliveries.
Kelly and Keith soon learned that they had to knock loudly on the doors of the elderly people they visited. Some were hard of hearing, but all of them were extremely appreciative of the food they received.
"My Social Security check won't come in until the end of the month, and I was wondering what I would do until then. Thank the Lord you brought me this!" one elderly woman declared. Another elderly man was in a wheelchair and unable to go out alone to the store. Everyone Kelly and Keith visited was very grateful and thankful for the gifts of food. When they entered their homes they realized how needy the people were and how important the food donations were to them.
After Keith and Kelly delivered the last box, they cried, “Merry Christmas” and drove away.
“What about having lunch with me at home?” Kelly asked. Keith accepted her invitation. Back at home, Kelly made sandwiches and soup, and then they talked about her upcoming trip as they ate.
"If I didn’t have a hockey game this weekend, I would be able to go with you," Keith said wistfully. "Promise me you'll call me," he said.
"Of course I'll call, but it may be in the evening. We'll be out skiing and doing other stuff every day."
Keith shook his head, "It sure sounds like fun."
"Maybe next time you can come with us. But remember that we'll be going on a college ski club trip in January."
He nodded, “Yeah, I’ve already signed up to go, and I can’t wait. Well, I have to go to hockey practice. I’ll see you when you get back from your trip. Have fun, but remember: you’re my girl!”
She smiled and gave him a kiss.
“Don’t worry,” she assured him, “I won’t forget!”
That afternoon Kelly was busy packing for her trip between phone calls from Cindy and Jan. Cindy asked whether she should bring her blue ski jacket or her white one, and whether her knee-high boots would be warm enough. Jan called once asking if they could bring their bathing suits to swim in the hotel’s heated indoor pool. Kelly assured them that they could bring as much as they wanted to carry. Each day the girls’ excitement intensified in anticipation of their departure.
Finally, Thursday morning arrived, and Kelly's father drove the girls to the train station. He waved to the girls as they waved goodbye from their window.
The train departed slowly. Soon it picked up speed on its three-hour journey to River Bend, Vermont. The girls sat and talked about their plans as the snowy scenery whizzed past the window.
At River Bend, the girls got off the train. They collected their luggage and loaded it into the hotel van that was waiting to take them to White Pines Resort. They drove through the quaint and picturesque village of River Bend, and beyond into the pine-covered snowy mountains. The road snaked through the mountain passes, steadily climbing upward.
At last the van pulled into a snowy, winding driveway to the lodge. They watched anxiously out of their windows for their first glance. At first they spotted skiers and snowboarders skimming down the trails, and then they saw the lodge. The girls gasped as it came into view.
"Wow!”
“Look at it!"
"It's beautiful!"
They all craned their necks to see the four-story stone and timber lodge nestled among tall, snow-covered pines. Massive stone timber pillars flanked each side of the grand entrance. Bell boys in red ski jackets and tan cowboy hats began opening the doors for the girls as soon as the van came to a stop.
"Welcome to White Pines Resort!" one young man smiled, "We'll take care of your luggage for you, ladies. Just go straight inside to the registration desk."
Kelly tipped the van driver and followed the girls inside. When they entered the lodge, they were awestruck by the enormous five-story lobby. Huge thick timbers served as supports for each floor, and giant chandeliers made of deer and caribou antlers hung from the high ceiling. An oversized stone fireplace with brightly burning logs stood at the far end of the lobby, filling the room with a warm, spicy aroma.
Kelly gave her name to the front desk clerk and he smiled back at her.
"We've been expecting you and your party, Miss Carlson. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. We've reserved a special suite for you on the top floor. It has a beautiful view of the mountain. I think you'll find it quite satisfactory."
"I'm sure we will," Kelly replied.
"Of course, your stay includes all meals, including room service. We are also offering each of you our full spa and salon services at no charge."
Jan responded enthusiastically, "Oh! That sounds wonderful!"
The bellboys had already loaded their luggage onto a rack and rolled it to the elevator as the girls followed. They led the girls to their hotel suite on the top floor and opened the room for them.
The girls “oohed” and “ahhed” when they entered their suite. It had a living room, a small kitchenette, a fireplace on one wall, two bathrooms, and two bedrooms with two double beds in each one. It was richly decorated with cranberry plaid curtains and dark green rugs.
"Does the fireplace really work?" asked Cindy.
The bellboy picked up a remote control, and with the push of the button, started the gas fireplace.
"Wow, that’s so cool!" she replied.
Kelly opened the drapes and gasped at the beautiful view. Their room overlooked the mountain side where they could watch the skiers zig-zagging their way down trails bordered by snowy pines.
After tipping the bellboys, they began to unpack.
The girls decided to have lunch before going skiing, so they considered several of the hotel’s many restaurants before choosing the family-style café.
The café was located on the terrace, facing the mountain. It was filled with tables full of people. Busy waiters and waitresses navigated expertly between tables, delivering food. The girls were taken to a table next to the large windows facing the mountain. Soon their waitress came to take their orders and bring drinks. They chatted about the skiers on the mountain and how much they wanted to join them.
“I can’t wait to get up there!” Jan exclaimed as the waitress set a salad down before her.
Cindy spread mustard on her sandwich as she said, “I sure hope I can remember how to ski when I get up there. It’s been a whole year since I last skied!”
“It’s like riding a bike,” Kelly assured her, “Once you learn how to do it, you don’t forget it.”
“I’m not so sure,” Cindy replied, “I learned how to do algebra in tenth grade and I couldn’t do it now even if my lif
e depended on it!”
After lunch, they changed into their ski outfits and picked up their ski equipment and lift passes. Soon, they were riding on a chair lift up the mountain side. They all agreed to ski the easiest trails first.
Skiing in a single line, the girls traversed their way down the mountain. White powder sprayed upward with each turn as they gained speed. Soon they were at the foot of the mountain, kicking snow upward as they slid to a stop.
“That was amazing!” cried Jan, “Let’s try another trail this time!”
The girls agreed and rode back up the mountain for another run.