Christian watched Syed through half closed eyes as he stood framed in the window, naked skin gleaming in the sulphurous glow from the street lamps. Noticing him shiver, he rose to stand by his side, dragging the duvet with him and wrapping it around both their shoulders.
"What are you doing Sy?"
Syed turned to gaze at him, eyes alight with joy.
"Look at it, Christian! Look at the square."
He rubbed his eyes and dutifully peered through the glass.
"It's snow Syed. Cold, wet, nasty, annoying snow. Snow that means we won't be able to go anywhere for days"
Syed started to rush about the room, gathering up discarded clothes and dragging them on. Pushing his feet into his boots he grinned.
"Surely that's not a bad thing? It's deep snow. Beautiful snow that no one has trodden on. Quick, get dressed!"
Christian laughed, bemused, and did as he was told.
"You big kid."
Syed grabbed his hand and dragged him down the stairs and out into the silent street.
Christian looked on fondly as he charged around the gardens twice, crunching his footprints into the untouched whiteness.
"Oi!"
He ducked as a carefully aimed snowball whizzed past his ear and bent down, picking up handfuls of snow to retaliate.
Other front doors opened and Bobby, Tiffany and Liam appeared, all looking twice as wide than they normally did, due to the amount of jumpers, scarves and hats they had been forced to put on.
Bobby pulled at the sleeve of Christian's coat.
"Uncle Christian, help me make a snowman!"
Christian patted his head.
"Ask your Uncle Syed, he's more your age."
Syed slid to a halt in front of them.
"Yes I am, not like this miserable old git."
He danced about, trying to poke Christian with an icicle he had found on the railings.
"Come on then."
With Bobby and the other children, Syed began to roll the snow into a giant ball, shouting;
"Let's give it big muscly arms, we'll make a snow Christian!"
Christian scooped up a pile of ice and forcibly pushed it down the back of Syed's trousers, making him howl with shock. He allowed himself to be wrestled to the ground while Christian heaped snow on top of him. The shrieking children attempted to protect him by bombarding Christian's back with snowballs.
Soaked and breathless they fell side by side, both helpless with laughter.
Syed touched Christian's face tenderly.
"Who's a big kid now?"
"Me. Shall we go home and play Doctors and Doctors?"