The ground was cold and unyielding. Even the sharp point of the spade would not penetrate it. Shaniqia sighed. She knew she shouldn’t have waited this long to plant the spring tulip bulbs. But the cold had snuck up on her. Last week it was 75 degrees and this morning, 23? “Oklahoma weather is crazy!” She thought, the wind whipping her face. She couldn’t believe it felt as cold as her hometown Chicago, with its mighty winter wind that natives called “the hawk.” But there was that line in the musical Oklahoma, “with the wind come sweeping down the plains.” She sang it under her breath but her chattering teeth made it sound like a stutter.
She threw down the shovel. She’d had it and walked back inside. “A nice cup of tea would be lovely,” she thought and walked into the kitchen to boil the water. She breathed in and smiled. The air was fragrant, perfumed with vanilla and mint. Her traditional Christmas peppermint rolls were in the oven. She went over to check them, carefully opening the door. Heat whooshed out, warming her cold and aching bones.
What a beautiful slice of fall!