Winter with friends in a country park

At a pond; with an ice sheet wedge

First steps taken, safely to the edge

“Dare you to walk on it”. Says a bright spark

Fully confident I relent: “Yeah I will.”

“Prove it!” A chill comes over the ice sill

I take a second step into the breach

Foot locked in midair, frozen in fear

Surely it’s not deep? But it’s not clear

I hesitate; my leg extends its reach

Planted lightly, press, ice burdened, it’s worked, yes!

Crack. My leg lands with a thud against stones and mud

The shock clamps my leg down, in the surging cold flood

Their laughing stops. They shriek at my duress

“Oh no, what have yae done!?”

“Help us out, before my leg goes numb!”

Yanked out, the snow cushions my bum

“You better no tell your mum”

“We havenae had a snow fight yet, no one!”

So I carry on in silence. Walking now a chore

That squelching sensation; just like the step before

Their sly looks prevent me from revealing the blunder

Do I bear it, or confess, and face their thunder?

Misery makes me relent

I tell mum about my shoe’s extra content

Snow balls are fired at me in resentment

“But my foot feels like cement!”

“You did what? You stupid boy.” Scolds mum

“Oh son, your foot’s purple like a plum!”

“Right, that’s it. We’re off home everyone”

“Just great, now you’ve spoiled oor fun”

At the car’s boot

They laugh, doing a nosy

As I put on a large welly

But I don’t give a hoot

I know soon, I’ll be cosy

In front of the telly