After school, I made my way through the students down to the first floor and into the large auditorium. The security guards were too busy noticing the student-filled hallway to notice me. I went and sat on the edge of the large wooden stage, in the middle of it. I'd told Aunt Ruthie I'd be there. After about 20 minutes she came into the auditorium, down tthe aisle toward the stage.
"Hey Savannah," she said when she saw me.
"Hey," I said, getting off the stage with my coat and messenger bag.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Ok I guess."
"Oh. The snow's really comin down out there."
"Yeah, it is."
"I was thinking we could go to a café."
"Ok."
"Unless you'd rather meet at your house?"
"No, a café is fine. Sorry just don't feel much like talking."
"It's ok I understand. You look nice, by the way."
"Thank you."
I was wearing all black, the colour I was feeling.
We made our way out of the auditorium and into the whote front hall where we zipped up our coats and put our hats, gloves and scarves on. As we were leaving the front doors of the school, Aunt Ruthie opened her black umbrella to shield us from the cold snow. We got in the car and Aunt Ruthie closed her umbrella. We closed and locked the doors, put on our seatbelts and Aunt Euthie started driving to a nearby coffee shop. On the way over there, I sighed.
"What?" Aunt Ruthie asked, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Jus..it's winter."
"I know, Savannah. I miss him too."
She knew what I meant by this. Not jus tthat it was winter but what it meant.
She pulled into a parking space in front of the Starbucks. We took off our seatbelts, unlocked the car and got out.
"A nice place to go on a day like this," I said.
"Yeah definitely," Aunt Ruthie agreed.
We went up onto the snow-covered sidewalk and we walked to the front door. Aunt Ruthie opened it and we stepped inside, letting the large door close behind us.
"Do you know what you want?" Aunt Ruthie asked me.
I nodded; "yes. Hot choclit and a choclit muffin. I've been craving choclit all day."
"On a day like this it's hard not to."
We stepped up to the counter and Aunt Ruthie ordered. She had a berry currant scone and an espresso while I had hot choclit and 2 choclit muffins. She paid and we found a table together. We sat on a couch near the large front window and set our beverages and food on the low dark wooden coffee table in front of us. Jazz music was playing, Miles Davis.
"This feels like we're in your office," I commented.
Aunt Ruthie laughed.
"Do you know who this is?" she asked me, about the music.
I nodded again; "yes. Miles Davis."
"Yes."
She took a sip of her coffee as I took a sip of my hot choclit.
"Hey Aunt Ruthie?" I asked.
"Yes, Savannah?"
"I was thinking that maybe after this I could go over to Pansy and Margo's."
"Well, I think your mom wants you home for dinner, Savannah. I'll be coming to dinner though. But maybe after."
"Ok."
"I'll let her know. Exscuse me."
"Ok."
sHE went outside and called Mom to let her know what was going on, then came back inside and sat down.
"Wow it's cold out there," she said, sipping her coffee.
"Yeah I know. And after being so warm you're not expecting it as much."
"That's true."
I started eating my muffin.
"So how was your day?" Aunt Ruthie asked me.
"Ok I guess. Kind of boring. Long."
"Yeah. Winter makes the days seem longer."
"Yeah that's true."
The coffee shop was crowded, probably because everyone wanted to get out of the cold.
"How's the cutting going?" Aunt Ruthie asked me.
"Um ok I guess. It's definitely become more….evident since it started snowing."
"Yes well. It happens."
We finished our food and drove back to my house.
Once at my house we put our winter things away and went into the kitchen where Mom was.
"Hi Lucy," Aunt Ruthie greeted Mom.
"Hi Ruthie," Mom greeted her sister.
"The garlic bread's in the oven."
"Ok."
Aunt Ruthie went to the oven to take the bread out.
"Hi Savannah," Mom said.
"Hi."
"How was your day?"
"Ok."
"Dad's stuck at work because of the snow."
"Oh."
"Savannah, I don't mind if you go over to Margo and Pansy's after dinner."
"Ok."
"I don't know how long your dad will be stuck at the station though."
"Oh."
Aunt Ruthie took put oven mitts on, took the silver tray of bread out of the oven and then sat at the kitchen table. The pasta was in a strainer in the sink.
