Chapter 19
McKenzie huffed in through her door, leaning against it in exhaustion. She managed to toddle off to bed and pass out on top of the covers.
Of course, what are mothers for, other than to wake one up when one least needs or wants to be awake? "My dearest, you know sleeping on your face causes wrinkles as you age," Mrs. McPhee tisked.
McKenzie barely cracked open her eye enough to glare at her. "Might this be considered a mild violation of my privacy, Mum?"
Mrs. McPhee chuckled. "For your well-being, nothing is a violation of your privacy, my dove. Speaking of violations, your curtains are horrid! They're violations of at least four health regulations, with their tatters and dust!"
McKenzie grumpily smothered herself with her pillow. Even through the thick, fuzzy fabric, she could hear her mother droning on and on.
The next evening, McKenzie brought along a pair of shoes Ahkmenrah recognized all too well. "No. I refuse to slip on those demonic things upon my feet again!"
"Come now, ice skating isn't that bad! It's one of winter's greatest delights!" She didn't add ice skating was the only physical activity in which she could participate gracefully.
"The last time Teddy and Nicky tried to teach me, I kept knocking the president onto his bum!" He still remembered the irate looks Teddy was giving him towards the end.
McKenzie stared for a bit before dissolving into laughter; the word 'bum' uttered by the pharaoh was simply too amusing. "It'll be just you and me. No need to fear for your friend's dignity or your own. Besides, what is winter without skating?"
"Safe," he retorted.
She all but shoved the skates under his nose, to no avail.
"Thank you, but I prefer solid ground beneath my feet, not frozen water." As if to illustrate his point, Nicky passed by the doorway, caught sight of the skates in her hands, and burst out laughing. "Good luck with him, McKenzie!" Ahkmenrah shot him a rather pointed glare, but he continued. ""He won't move beyond a foot from the edge, and when he's forced to, he just stands in one spot!"
By now, her mind was quite made up. "Come on," she urged.
"Can I come? Before you ask, yes, I finished my homework," Nicky said.
"I don't see why not," McKenzie beamed.
Realizing he was outvoted, Ahkmenrah reluctantly followed them outside with as much dignity as he could muster.
Many adjectives could be used to describe the pharaoh. Yet until she saw him on ice, McKenzie would never have counted clumsy and uncoordinated among them. Nicky's summation of his actions proved painfully accurate. A foot away from the shoreline, Ahkmenrah stood rigid as a frozen water fountain; he looked so terrified, she nearly took pity on him and called the whole thing off. Yet what good would that do? She was his therapist, and as such she shouldn't coddle him so much. As such, she must encourage him to put himself out there, to overcome his trauma and PTSD. She glided over to him, her resolve hardened. "An icicle would be more malleable than you are! I know you're a pharaoh and so must maintain a certain regal air, but your coat would would stand without you in it!"
"Being king has little to do with my current predicament," he chattered. She noticed his eyes darting frantically to and fro, focused on the ground.
"Is it the water? I told you, it's frozen solid, you won't fall through."
He stood stubbornly mute. With an exasperated sigh, McKenzie started pulling him along.
"What are you doing? Stop!"
"Relax, spread your feet apart more! Good! No need to walk yet, I'll guide you," she soothed. Ahk still focused on the ground, but at least he was mobile. Nicky looked up in time to cheer them on while he carved figure eights. Show off, Ahk thought.
"Good! Now move one foot forward, then the other, that's it!" Ahkmenrah fell down twice, but McKenzie merely helped him up. "Get back on the horse after you fall off." He was beginning to hate that saying- horseback riding was nothing like this!
"Believe it or not, it's easier the faster you go."
He didn't believe it. He actually shut his eyes momentarily, blocking out the blurring world around him. An error on his part.
"Watch out!"
He and McKenzie ploughed into a snowbank. He helped her up, nearly toppling over backward onto the less forgiving ice. "See? Fun!" She looked remarkably unflustered for one who now resembled a Yeti.
Nicky skated toward them. "You guys okay?"
Huffing slightly, they nodded. With McKenzie's encouragement, Ahkmenrah grew capable to the point of being able to glide halfway across the pond. It was borderline fun. Until his foot went through a thin spot, causing him to sink down to his knee before McKenzie and Nicky were able to pull him up to safety. The three of them lay sprawled out in the snow, huffing; their breath clouds added to the general surrounding mist.
"Never... Again..." Ahkmenrah breathed. "Snowballs are hazardous enough!" McKenzie didn't argue. It would be quite a while before she could get the pharaoh anywhere near ice again. She also didn't miss his quick backwards shudder at the pond. Was it just because it was frozen over, or was he afraid of water in general?
"Ahk, are you?.."
"I am well," he said shortly. Though she'd heard it occasionally before, McKenzie was still slightly taken aback by his clipped tone of voice. For once, she didn't take it personally, for she could see he was doing all in his power to not look back at the pond. Another mysterious phobia.
"Thank you," he added softly. "It was pleasurable until I fell through."
"You were doing very well- it took me two days to fully master walking! I'll understand if you choose not to partake of skating for a while, however," she pouted.
"Again, thank you."
"You're welcome! Hey, are you sure you're all right? You're limping."
"It is nothing." Nothing- merely his foot freezing solid inside his boot. Some protection! It didn't hurt so much as tingle unpleasantly, like he was stepping on a hundred icicles. He'd survive, and there was no need to bother her with this trouble. He told himself this even as the cold seeped upwards to his leg.
"It's not nothing! Do you have a sprained ankle? Let me have a look at it."
"We are close to the museum; it would be best to check for injuries inside, instead of exposing my foot more to the cold."
"Damn it, I should have thought- your foot was exposed to freezing water! We should check for frostbite-"
"I will be fine once we are indoors, I promise; it is not worth us stopping now." All he had to do was endure the frigid winter air until they did.
Happily, they didn't have to wait until they were inside to get their hot chocolate; Larry and Sacagawea were standing outside the revolving doors, holding steaming mugs for their weary travelers. Ahkmenrah almost collapsed in relief, for by now he was shivering uncontrollably.
Sacagawea frowned. "Ahk, what happened to you?!"
McKenzie explained their mishap as she and Sacagawea lead Ahkmenrah to the night guards' lounge, where the Native American inspected his foot. "You're lucky you don't have frostbite! And your ankle is fine. Your fever is what concerns me." Fortunately, his temperature was mild, but still was enough for Sacagawea to confine him to the sofa by the fireplace. Not that he was complaining- nothing like some hot soup and a novel to settle down with in winter.
McKenzie, on the other hand, was far from content. The pharaoh had been right- skating had been dangerous for him. What had she been thinking? I'm fortunate it wasn't worse! She'd been a fool. Nothing more than a fool.
Ahkmenrah looked up from the page. "It wasn't your fault."
"I did drag you outside against your will. Remember?"
"Perhaps. Yet we were having fun, were we not?" McKenzie grudgingly nodded. "It was worth the risk, then." Difficult to admit to himself, but true. "Thank you for persuading me to join you and Nicky."
"Did you actually enjoy yourself? Then it was my pleasure."
Observing the young people on the sofa together, Sacagawea and Teddy leaned into each other lovingly. "Do you remember the first time Ahk played in the snow?"
Teddy chuckled. "I hadn't seen you angry until that night- you looked ready to chuck me out into the snow!"
"It was his first night outside in winter, in New York City, and nobody thought he should be outfitted appropriately? Of course I was upset. His fever was one hundred and two degrees!"
Precious few people were capable of making the president feel sheepish; Sacagawea possessed that capability. "Yes, well, we learned our lesson!"
"Especially our pharaoh," she replied.
"Especially him."
Sacagawea gently pulled her boyfriend closer to herself. "Look up." she said softly.
"Mistletoe," Teddy whispered. He had no more to say as she pulled him in for a kiss.
Happy Yuletide, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, and Merry Christmas to all! Happiest of holidays to everyone!
Hugs and kisses :* :)
