Set during winter of 1963. The idea came from every romantic Christmas movie always seems to have a snowball fight.
Patrick looked outside and sighed more snow had fallen overnight. Although flakes were still falling, they were light and fluffy. Hopefully this was not a lull, but an end to this current bout of snow. More than once, he wished they were still in the flat for what has turned into a very cold and snowy winter. Patrick felt as if he was constantly shoveling out the drive. Others could take their time digging out their cars seeing as it was still the Christmas holidays, but Patrick did not have the liberty to not go to work. When he was needed, he had to go no matter the weather.
Reluctantly he called upon Tim to help him once again. He ignored the grumbles thinking he had plenty of his own inside his head. They worked in silence. Luckily the physical exertion kept their body temperature up in the cold. Patrick really wanted to feel something other than frustration over the snow and when he threw a shovelful of heavy wet snow he noticed a chunk of snow that looked… well it looked almost round. Bending down he picked it up and formed it into a ball. Debating momentarily if he was willing to face the consequence of attacking a far greater cricket player than him, he decided he did and let it go…
Shelagh had put a sleeping Ted down and had bundled Angela to get some fresh air on the front porch whilst the 'men' dug out. She watched as Patrick picked up the snow and saw the mischievous look come over his face. She smiled and quickly peeked at the baby who was swaddled and safe. Then she put in her own coat, hat, gloves and boots. Growing up in Aberdeenshire where snow was plentiful every winter, she was quite accomplished in the art of snowball fights. She often participated with the boys in the school yard whilst the other girls ran off screaming. Her secret weapon was the element of surprise. She went down the steps without being noticed crouching she quickly made a number of professional snowballs and attacked when Patrick wasn't looking… one, two, three… in rapid succession.
He turned toward her shocked and threw one back and she ducked. When Timothy laughed she aimed and hit him on the shoulder wiping the smile of his face. Breathless and laughing the battle continued for a few minutes. Patrick was again focused on Tim whilst Shelagh moved in and hit him at closer range. "Blasted! I'll get you woman!" he hollered.
Before she knew what was happening, she was on the ground. Patrick rolled so she was on top of him and Angela who was no longer on the porch was laughing and jumped on her back. Both were panting and laughing, without warning Patrick captured her mouth in the type of kiss that was saved for private… certainly not on the drive and not in front of the children.
Timothy wasn't laughing and said with disgust, "Will you stop. My own parents embarrassing me. We don't need anymore babies. Thank you!"
Both Patrick and Shelagh laughed as they stood up. Shelagh said, "Come on finish up and when you're done I'll have a nice cuppa waiting for you. Oh by the way, I won!" "You'll pay for this woman!" Patrick laughed as she ran into the house. Shelagh smiled, thinking of the ways she might just pay for it.