In the winter of 1970 we had a snowstorm that caused school to be closed for the day. When you're a kid you wonder why your mother is so upset that there is a snowday when you are so happy.

My Uncle came early to plow the driveway. He piled all the snow into one big bank in front of the house. Us kids wrestled on the snowbank for quite awhile when our dog Mitzy decided that it looked like so much fun that he had to join in.

Mitzy ran to the top of the snowbank and tackled my little sister Tina. Oh how as kids laughed as Tina and Mitzy tumbled head over heals down the snowbank. The rest of us kids tried to get Mitzy to play with us but he just had no interest in us. we told Tina to go back up to the top of the bank and play again. Tina was a baby, she coplained, "I'm getting tired you guys play with Mitzy." We tried again but again Mitzy refused to play with any of us other kids.

Cars were starting to stop along the side of the road to watch. Us kids were so happy to see how much fun everyone in the cars was having watching Tina and Mitzy play King of the mountain. Tina was really getting exhausted from having to climb to the top of the snowbank so many times only to have Mitzy jump on her and away they both would go again, head over heals to the bottom.

Tina wanted to stop playing so bad but us other kids begged her to keep playing because not only was it fun for us to watch but the people in the cars that were lined up along the road were having so much fun too.So back to the top of the snowbank Tina and Mitzy went and then back at the bottom they both would be in no time at all. They were always tangled up when they got to the bottom.

Tina was at the top of the snowbank again with Mitzy when my mother opened the front door and screamed, "TINA MAY YOU GET THAT DOG OFF YOU AND DON'T YOU EVER LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN!" Tina and Mitzy tumbled to the bottom of the snowbank and Mum made us chase Mitzy away from Tina. It was to bad the fun was over. The cars started pulling away but the people in the cars were still laughing. Us kids wondered why Mum was so mad that Tina and Mitzy were playing King Of The Mountain? Afterall Tina was in her play clothes.

Years later I was talking to my brother about that day and he said, "George, Mitzy was not playing king of the mountain with Tina. Think about it." All of a sudden the vision of Tina and Mitzy on that day was as plain as if it were happening right then. I said to my brother, "OH, you're right they weren't playing King of the mountain were they."

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), January 26, 2002

Answers

George, tonight after dinner, my children and I came down and read your stories for about half and hour. They LOVED them. They were laughing out loud about this one since their best friends just down the road have a puppy that likes to play "king of the mountain" all the time! They have really enjoyed Robert Newton Peck's Soup stories, so I thought they would like what you've written. You already have quite a fan club. They want the book!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 26, 2002.

Hi Sheryl.

I read your post before I went to work this morning. It made me feel good knowing your sons like my stories. Knowing this made Monday easier to deal with.

After the thread about grammer I decided to re-read my book. 81,166 words later I think I have it polished enough to get things moving. I picked up a lot of helpful information from the grammer thread, and e- mail. Thanks to everyone who posted to the thread and e-mailed! George

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

Hello Uncle George, this is your nephew, Jonathan St.Peter. I was just reading the stories that you wrote about my mother, how dare you! LOL!!! I,m staying at mom's until August 26. I just wanted to tell you that I loved your stories. Bye

-- tinamclellan (tinamstpeter@aol.com), August 12, 2002.