We walk to a nearby pond to skate wearing our rubber boots, as we don’t have money for skates. My sister arrives first to sweep the snow off the ice. Her scream of “Help!” sends me running. She’s fallen through, and the surrounding ice is treacherous, breaking as I try to reach her. The broom’s still on the ice, and I remember a commercial where a person used an oar to rescue someone. I hand her the broom. Her hands slip on the slick handle. I shout, “Use your teeth!” As she bites, I slowly pull her from the water.
Sheila M. Byrnes has been writing for a long time. She is the National President of National League of American Pen Women, Inc.