by Carol Kalmes

Created on: December 13, 2010

Edward and Charles emerged from the library. The weather had turned on them since they arrived a couple of hours earlier. Snow had started falling, and from the looks of it piling up, it had been coming down at a steady pace for at least the last half hour. The cold air felt brutal against their bodies, working its way into their arthritic joints.  

Edward and Charles hunched forward and sloshed through the puddles created by the melting snow. A few cold droplets made their way up and into their black rubber boots, stinging the areas of exposed skin at their ankles.

Edward transferred the cardboard tube he was holding from one hand to the other, allowing his free hand to find warmth inside his coat pocket.

Charles tugged at the collar of his black overcoat, lifting it up around his neck and then pulling his hat down over his thinning gray hair. He pulled the edge of his overcoat up and over his book, holding it close to his body, protecting it from the elements.

Charles and Edward made their way to the weather-protected plexiglass bus stop and sat down on the bench, happy to be out of the wind and snow. The next bus wasn’t due for at least 10 minutes but with the snow greasing up the roads it could be a lot longer.

“Did you win or lose?” asked Charles nodding toward the cardboard tube lying across Edward’s lap.

“You win some, you lose some,” said Edward as a half smile crawled across his face. Edward had been part of the Tuesday afternoon chess club for almost a year now. Edward took the cardboard tube and playful tipped it and listened to the chess pieces roll from end to end. They sat for awhile in silence, watching the swirling snow, and looking lost in their thoughts.

“You really going to Australia?” Edward asked, pointing with a gnarly finger at the book Charles had taken out from under his overcoat.

“One of these days,” he answered as he absentmindedly ran his hands over the colorful picture of sand and sun that covered the front of the book. Edward gave an understanding nod.

The snow started falling heavier and the wind picked up. A few minutes later the big blue bus pulled up to the curb. Charles and Edward pulled their coats tightly around themselves and headed out into the blowing snow. They walked arm in arm, holding each other up as they slipped and sloshed their way to the bus. They welcomed the blast of warm air that shot out as the doors opened. Like a couple of school kids,

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