He threw down the stick, adjusted his rope and knapsack, and sat down on the ice as if on his own toboggan. Without another word, he slid down the ice. It was over. Before they knew it, they saw him roll over, pick himself up, and wave. Mr. Lurie went next, then Karl. There were the three of them waving and smiling, urging Judy and Marian to follow.
Judy turned to Marian, “You want to go next?”
“No, you go. I want to see how you make out.”
Judy sat down as the others had, closed her eyes to block out the steep drop. She shot out like an arrow and before she knew it, she felt her father’s powerful arms grasping her.
She stood up now and waved with the others. “Come on, Marian, it’s nothing.”
“What’s she waiting for?” grumbled Fran.
Marian stood there, Fran’s discarded stick in her hand, looking like a statue contemplating the ice.
All yelled together, “Sit down! Slide! Don’t keep standing there!”
She heard them for her answer came clearly. “No, I can’t sit down on that cake of ice! It’s too cold. I’ll go down standing. I’ve got the stick.”
“You’re crazy,” Fran shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth to make sure his voice carried. “Sit down! Don’t be an idiot! Sit!”