When I remembered a game me and Rodrick used to play that was actually FUN. We pretended the floor was LAVA, and we had to stay OFF it by using cushions from the couch.
me and Rodrick used to play that game for HOURS. I figured, if I got Manny started, he could keep himself entertained while I wrapped up my chores. But when I told Manny how the game WORKED he totaly freaked out.
So now Manny wouldn't anywhere near the FLOOR. And that made things really inconvenient for me.
But I still had to do my chores, or I'd be in trouble when Mom and Dad got home. And I had a BIG one in front of me, which was clearing the driveway.
I knew Manny would have a total meltdown if I left him inside with all snow gear, which wasn't easy.
I figured Manny could play on the back decking while I shovelled the driveway, and he'd be safe because the decking is closed in.
The snow was on the driveway was wet and heavy, and it was hard to make any progress. After a half-hour, I decided to take a break and soak my hands in some warm water.
While I was inside, I figured I'd check and see how Manny was doing out on the back decking. But Manny was GONE. He had built a little staircase out of snow to escape.
Thankfully, he didn't get FAR. But I realized I couldn't leave him ALONE any more.
I took Manny to the front yard with me. It was getting late, and Dad gets REALLY mad when the driveway's not cleared when he comes home form work.
So I shovelled as fast as I could, and Manny pitched in to help.
But there was jsut too much snow, and not enough TIME. I was ready to give up when some girls from a different neighbourhood walked by and offered to clear our driveway for ten bucks.
These kids looked YOUNG, and I didn't see how they could do any better that me and Manny. But we could use all the help we could get. So I was willing to give them a CHANCE.
I had five dollars in the drawer next to my bed, and I got the other five from the big jar of change Manny has in his room. But what I didn't realize when I agreed to the deal with those girls was that they had a SNOWBLOWER.
So they were done clearing the whole driveway within five minutes.
I felt liek I was getting ripped off, so I tole them I'd pay them three bucks instead of ten.
But I guess thsi wasn't the FIRST time someone had tried to stiff them on payment. They moved all the snow BACK onto the driveway and added the snow from the front lawn just to make a point.
By the time my PARENTS got home, things were worse that when I STARTED.
After dinner Mom and Dad lectured me until about eight o'clock for not finished my chores. And that's when Rodrick got out of bed to start his day.
Saturday
I usually sleep IN at weekends, but this morning, Mom had OTHER plans for me.
She said I was going to spend the whole day OUTSIDE. I told her I'd go out in the snow after I'd played some video games, but she reminded me about Screen-Free Weekends, and I knew she wasn't gonna budge.
When I was youger, I could spend HOURS playing in the snow. But, nowadays, after about ten minutes I'm ready to come inside.
Grown-ups act like being in the snow is the most fun you can ever have. But you never see THEM out there rolling around in it.
I can only remember one time Dad played with us out in the snow. But THAT ended the second Rodrick dumped snow down the back of Dad's NECK.
Mom's ALWAYS making us kids go outside because she says we need our vitamin D, which you get from the sun. I tell Mom I get PLENTY of vitamin D from the sun in my video games, but that kind of reasoning never works on her.