As the slopes were closing for the night, Charlie led his group to the lodge. "Well, how was it?" he asked.

"Marvelous!" Ben replied.

"Wonderful," Maggie added. "Wasn't the sunset amazing tonight?"

"It was," Larry agreed. "Though there were times I despaired of surviving to see another sunset."

"Oh, Larry, it wasn't that bad. You did a terrific job," Megan said.

"I do believe eventually everything worked out all right," Larry said. "Perhaps tomorrow I will be able to perfect my technique to the point that you won't need to hold my hand."

"Aww, Larry, I enjoy holding your hand, but it will be wonderful to see you going down the hill on your own."

"So, Charlie," Alan said, "what do you have in mind for supper tonight?"

"Well, if it's okay with everybody else, I thought we'd eat here tonight."

"Works for me," Alan said. "The rest of the gang should be along shortly, I would assume."

Megan said, "Probably taking one last run as the slopes are closing."

"Here they come!" Amita said, pointing toward three figures walking toward them in the gathering dusk.

"Hey! Don!" Charlie shouted, waving.

The three figures waved and picked up the pace.

Don, Colby and David were flushed and grinning. "That was awesome!" Don said. "Charlie, you should try the black diamond slope with us tomorrow. I think you'd enjoy it."

"Go ahead, Charlie," Amita said. "I think I'll stick to the green circle. Megan, why don't you..."

Megan glanced at Larry who said, "Yes, Megan, you should spend some time doing something a little more challenging. At least for part of the day."

"Are you sure, Larry? I don't want..."

Larry pressed his fingertips against Megan's lips. "Shhh. I am absolutely certain. Now, shall we go inside and get something to eat? I am starving."

They stowed their gear and went into the lodge. Since Charlie hadn't made reservations, they left a name with the hostess and headed for the bar. They ordered their drinks, and Megan said, "Well, I think I'll go freshen up. Ladies?" She turned to Amita and Maggie.

"Sounds good to me," Maggie said as she and Amita rose to join Megan.

As the women left, Charlie shook his head. "Has anyone ever figured out why ladies need to 'freshen up' as a group?"

"Well, Charles," Larry said, "there are many theories. One theory is that they do so for protection, since men's rooms and ladies' rooms are usually adjacent to each other. Some women feel uncomfortable passing the men's room alone."

"I think they just want to gossip about the men," Colby said, taking a handful of peanuts from the bowl in front of him.

"There is that, as well," Larry agreed. "In fact, a woman filmmaker in Texas did a movie called 'The Ladies Room,' documenting the conversations that take place in ladies' rooms."

Charlie glanced toward the restrooms. "I wonder what they're saying about us."

David chuckled. "I don't think I want to know. I don't know Maggie all that well, but I've known Amita and Megan to be kind of sharp-tongued once in a while."

"Megan? Sharp-tongued? Never!" Don chuckled as he raised his beer mug.

"Well," said Alan, "I think Ben, Charlie and Larry have all done very well for themselves."

Ben lifted his glass in Alan's direction, "I'll drink to that, Alan."

Larry and Charlie joined him in the toast just as the ladies returned.

"What are we toasting?" Megan asked.

Larry stood and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "We were drinking a toast to you three lovely ladies."

"Well, in that case," Megan said, lifting her drink, "I propose a toast to our handsome escorts on this delightful weekend."

Maggie and Amita lifted their glasses. Amita kissed Charlie on the cheek. "Thank you for planning this vacation, Charlie. Megan's right. It is delightful."

"I agree," Don said, "but I'm not going to kiss you."

"Thank you for that!" Charlie said.

The hostess paged, "Eppes, party of ten," and they collected their drinks and followed the hostess to their table.

When they had finished eating and retrieved their ski equipment, the group hiked back to their cabin. "So," Colby said, "has everybody been thinking about their snowmen?" Grinning at the chorus of 'no's,' Colby said, "Well, I have been thinking about it all day. And I think I have an idea that will absolutely knock your socks off."

"Ooooh," Megan said, "Granger! This sounds like a challenge! You're on!"

Maggie leaned toward Ben and said, "I think with our eye for art, we should have a definite advantage here."

Charlie said, "But you can't discount the math and physics involved in constructing a snowman."

"I don't know, Charles," Larry said. "I've been pondering this since we discussed it over lunch. I know I bragged that we would be able to build the largest snowman using physics..."

"In fact," Colby interrupted, "I believe you mentioned a wager..."

Larry waved his hand dismissively. "I'm afraid I spoke in haste. I'm afraid that the classic snowman model, ever increasing balls of snow, stacked from largest to smallest, is the optimum model. I don't believe it is possible, even with Charles' mathematics and my physics, to improve upon it."

"So," Colby said, grinning wolfishly, "this whole thing may come down to who's the strongest."

"No," Charlie objected. "There has to be a mathematical way to improve the original model. I find it hard to believe that there is no room for improvement in a design as ancient as that."

"You know, Charlie," Alan said, "Just because something's old doesn't mean it's poorly designed."

"That's true, Charlie," Megan said, "look at Larry's car. It's old, and it's beautiful."

Charlie threw his hands into the air. "I give up!"

"Really?!" Amita exclaimed. "I never thought I'd live to hear those words come out of your mouth, Charlie."

"Well, let's just say I am giving up discussing this with you Luddites. I am not giving up trying to invent a better snowman."