Snow falls onto the small town's stone roads.

I stare at my feet in thought.

What if Mom had somewhere warm to stay warm in winter and somewhere cold to stay in summer? I ask myself in my head. Would she finally be able to sleep at night with a blanket without a fuss?

I stare up and see Charlie.

I wave.

He waves back. "Hey."

"Hey."

"What have you been up to lately?" he asks, chewing his nails.

"Nothing in the late, aside from running errands, you?" I reply.

"Playing video games, basketball, soccer, baseball, etc.," he says, waving his hand toward me. "Ooh, Caspian, you wanna do something fun?"

"Sure," I say, and follow him.

<3<3<3

After school I go straight home.

Mom is sweeping the front porch where dirt had collected and sweeps it into the snow.

"Cas, how was your first day of school?" Mom asks, looking up at me.