Good things actually do happen in the cold

There are very few perks to my winter job. The paychecks would be funny were it not for the fact that I actually very much need the money. The work is grueling and the clientele, both big and small, mostly bitches about every single thing. The parents are never quite pleased with our services and the children spend most of their days crying. But my older kids get free ski passes and ski or snowboard lessons from excellent teachers, Devon comes to work with me on the days he does not have preschool and the girls at work adore Devon to the point that he spends his time there as Lord of the Nursery. So indulged is he that the staff has decided to let him ski at an age where all the other kids must wait an additional six months until they reach three years. Deep down I believe that a child has no business being on the snow until ay least five or six, but when I tried to tell Devon that he opened his huge mouth and let out a bellow that silenced any of my efforts to further convince him otherwise.
A few days ago Devon got his first lesson on the toddler ski hill. I wanted to choke my boss when she asked Devon if he would like a pair of skis to go with the boots he had pilfered from another child’s cubby. Did she not understand that now I must take him out on the hill every time he comes to work with me? Of course she did, she laughed and told me to relax, ski season is close to over. Good thing she and I are friends. Devon is never one to miss out on an opportunity, so he got fitted for a pair of skis and out we went before I could change my mind and break his heart. After we had been on the hill for a couple of small runs, Devon went to the edge where the hill connects to the main beginner’s run and yelled, “LOOK, E’ERBODY! LOOK ME! I SKINNNNNNNY! I SKINNNYYY!” I fear a monster has been unleashed.