Bob Wittersheim

They'd gotten a new puppy a week or two ago. And their two sons, along with their grown retriever Clover, had been making the most of the days off.

Well, not walking him, really. It was too cold, and the pup too young for walks. But they romped in the snow with him, threw balls which disappeared into snowbanks, and kept the path from the door shoveled and clear.

Well, not walking him, really. It was too cold, and the pup too young for walks. But they romped in the snow with him, threw balls which disappeared into snowbanks, and kept the path from the door shoveled and clear.

Well, not walking him, really. It was too cold, and the pup too young for walks. But they romped in the snow with him, threw balls which disappeared into snowbanks, and kept the path from the door shoveled and clear.

And once my own sidewalk was shoveled, I'd sneak over to their house to visit. I smiled to myself, thinking about the wild puppy kisses I'd be gifted and the happy, excited energy of their household. I shuffled down the long hall, a sweater around my shoulders, and thick socks on my feet.

And once my own sidewalk was shoveled, I'd sneak over to their house to visit. I smiled to myself, thinking about the wild puppy kisses I'd be gifted and the happy, excited energy of their household. I shuffled down the long hall, a sweater around my shoulders, and thick socks on my feet.

And once my own sidewalk was shoveled, I'd sneak over to their house to visit. I smiled to myself, thinking about the wild puppy kisses I'd be gifted and the happy, excited energy of their household. I shuffled down the long hall, a sweater around my shoulders, and thick socks on my feet.

While the snow had finished falling, the temperature hadn't, and my old house had chilly, drafty spots that I dodged in the winter.

While the snow had finished falling, the temperature hadn't, and my old house had chilly, drafty spots that I dodged in the winter.

While the snow had finished falling, the temperature hadn't, and my old house had chilly, drafty spots that I dodged in the winter.

This time out to the street, where a few neighbors were beginning to dig out from the snow. One was standing, her hands on her hips, knee-deep in the stuff, with a discarded shovel tossed down beside her.

This time out to the street, where a few neighbors were beginning to dig out from the snow. One was standing, her hands on her hips, knee-deep in the stuff, with a discarded shovel tossed down beside her.

This time out to the street, where a few neighbors were beginning to dig out from the snow. One was standing, her hands on her hips, knee-deep in the stuff, with a discarded shovel tossed down beside her.

He taught history at the high school.

He taught history at the high school.

He taught history at the high school.

and went right back to focusing on the snow. The waving neighbor clapped her hands happily, reached for her discarded shovel, and began trudging back to her garage.

and went right back to focusing on the snow. The waving neighbor clapped her hands happily, reached for her discarded shovel, and began trudging back to her garage.

and went right back to focusing on the snow. The waving neighbor clapped her hands happily, reached for her discarded shovel, and began trudging back to her garage.

I picked up the phone and dialed the inn out on the lake.