The rain had been pelting the streets and sidewalks for the last four hours. With the temperature hovering at freezing, Paige and Simon stared out the window watching the cars stop and go at the traffic light intersection seven floors below. For their Christmas holiday they were cooped up in a hotel room while they waited a few hours before going over to relatives’ house for to open Christmas presents.
“Wish we could go out,” Simon said.
“Naa, not me,” said Paige. “Too yucky out there. But are you seeing what I’m seeing? It’s getting slick out there. That green car slid through the intersection after the light had turned red.”
“Yeah, I saw it. Now the red one….oh oh oh, the truck just missed it. Man, were they lucky, both of them.”
“Ow!” both said at the same time. “You see that? Look at that truck now, all banged up,” said Paige.
“What’s all the commotion over here?” their mother asked as she stood looking out the top window pane. “What am I missing? Ah, that accident, huh?”
“It’s just getting started, Mom,” said Paige. “Are you sure we want to go to Uncle Ted and Aunt Judy’s tonight? It’s gonna be a mess.”
“I’ll let your father decide that. He’s driving. Ooo, another one,” the mother said. “That white car just couldn’t stop in time. Glad I’m not out there. I know we’re not supposed to have fun at someone else’s expense, but there’s nothing we can do from up here, can we? It is entertaining. I’ll give you that.”
“Okay, gang. Time to go,” said the father.
“Ahh, Dad. We want to see all the accidents out there. We don’t wanna be in one.”
“You two know you need help, right? I’ve got this doctor friend I know. Ouch! Did you see that one? Ooo, and another. All right, half hour of this and we’ll see if the weather is clearing up to drive in it. Otherwise, we’ll watch accidents all night.”
“Oh goody!” said Paige.
“Yeah, you need help! It’s one thing to watch them but another to be gleeful about it.”
After three more cars slid through the intersection, the father said, “I guess we’ll have to put off opening presents until morning. How’s that sound?”
*******