Danger!
Thin Ice!
The two dogs tugged frantically at the boy’s coat, pulling him back into the frozen ruts of the road that led toward home.
“What a watchgog! Nip, you wouldn’t let me go skating on that ice, would you?”
The dog barked a decided “No!” and planted himself firmly in front of his master.
John rubbed Nip’s ears. “You must have heard the teacher warn us to stay away from the pond! “The boy looked down the hill toward the tempting sheet of ice. “Nip you and Tuck watch me even closer than my brothers do. That’s a mite too close! Skeedaddle, dogs. Go home. “ Tuck’s answer was to take John’s coat sleeve gently in his mouth. His half-growl, half –whine said,” stay out of danger!”
Another warning came from the schoolyard ,”Stir your stumps, John Burroughs! Nobody’s allowed to skate on that new ice.” The high-pitched voice of his brother Curtis was a shrill echo on the winter air.
“No skating. Johnny!” Wilson’s gruff words had a different tone but the tune was the same. “Pa said no skating and so did Ma. Looks like there hustle home and get your chores done before it storms. The wood box’ll be empty and the cows waiting for their hay.”
Curtis snickered. ”The cows are waiting for their hay, But Lazy John would rather play.”
Wilson gave a shout of delighted laughter. “How’s that for a poem John? Better’n some of those poems in the books you’re always reading, I’ll wager!”
John hid a grin. Curtis was funny sometimes but the two older boys seemed to make a contest out of teasing him. What one didn’t think of, the other would. For once, he’d fool them both.
“Teacher said no skating. Father said it. So did Mother. But who said anything about looking? I’ll take a gander at that ice____”
He whistled sharply to the dogs and took off down the hill on a run, leaving the two boys still standing in the middle of the road.
“You’ll get your come-uppance, John!” Curtis screamed at the top of his lungs.