Vehicles, immense, tiny, silver, and midnight blue
carefully turn into our slippery driveway,
my friends wave goodbye, and jump out
They gather around with their homemade dishes
greetings exchanged and smiles growing
We stroll inside the warm home
to see what they’ve all brought
Thirteen excited friends squeeze around our
plain, burnt umber dining room table
My mom carries the heavy bowls of food
from the kitchen and mouths start to water
Just as I remembered last year
I smell the aroma of a creamy tater tot hot-dish
and a hear a small sizzle from cheesy garlic bread
almost drowned out with laughter
All of us devour our roasting fresh delicious meal
then skip into the outdoors,
under the black starry sky
But not before slipping into our winter gear
We all snatch our sleds
round, square, and inflatable
And fly down the hill
Giggling, rolling, and somersaulting in the snow
The cars come once again
We say our goodbyes and yawns start to show
“Next year” I say and we continued again