Part 6 (1/2)
”We wanted some real ice on the toboggan slide,” explained Ted. ”Rubbing candles on your sled runners is all right, but we wanted some real ice.
It didn't snow, so I said, 'let's pour water on our slide and let it freeze to-night, 'cause it's cold.'”
”And did you?” asked his father, trying not to smile.
”Yes, Daddy, we did. But I guess it isn't frozen yet,” answered Ted. ”We were spilling pails of water down on the slide. We stood on the top platform where Trouble fell off of, and then, all of a sudden, I slipped, and--”
”Yes, and he grabbed hold of me, and then I slipped!” broke in Tom, with a laugh. ”And we both went down the slide together with the pails. It was almost as slippery as if there was ice on it,” he added.
”Yes, it was slippery all right,” chuckled Ted. ”And if it freezes to-night we'll have packs of fun to-morrow.”
The thought of the fun they might have seemed to make the boys forget their present troubles.
”Well, I'm glad it isn't any worse,” said Mrs. Martin. ”You boys should be careful on that slide. Just think! You might have been hurt!”
”Oh, you can't get hurt on that slide,” declared Ted. ”It's nice and smooth. And, anyhow, I didn't mean to slip; I couldn't help it.” He laughed as he remembered it, and Jan laughed too. She wished she had been there to see Tom and Ted toppling down the slide together with the empty pails banging. It was this that had made the noise.
”It was like Jack and Jill, falling down the hill,” laughed Janet.
”That's right,” agreed Tom. ”But I guess I'd better be going home,” he added. ”Do you s'pose my things are dry yet?” he asked Mrs. Martin.
”Oh, mercy, no!” exclaimed the mother of the Curlytops. ”They won't be dry until to-morrow. I'll have Nora hang them in the kitchen by the range.”
”But I guess maybe--I'd like to, but--er--now--I don't guess my mother would like me to stay here all night,” said Tom hesitatingly.
”You don't have to stay here all night,” Mrs. Martin said.
”Well, but if my things aren't dry--”
”Oh, wear those of Ted's that you have on,” laughed Mrs. Martin. ”I didn't know what you meant. That's all right--wear those things of Ted's. He has plenty more. Yours will be dry in the morning.”
”And I hope there'll be ice on the toboggan slide in the morning!”
exclaimed Ted. ”I wish you could stay all night, Tom. Couldn't he, Mother?” he asked wistfully. ”We'd be awful good and he could sleep with me and we wouldn't pillow fight or anything. And Tom's better'n I am about spilling things on the tablecloth at breakfast.”
”Oh, it wasn't that I was thinking of,” said Mrs. Martin. ”I was thinking his mother and father would want him home. It's getting late.”
”But we don't have to get up early to-morrow. It's Sat.u.r.day and there's no school!” pleaded Ted, eagerly.
”My mother wouldn't care if I didn't come home, as long as I was over here,” said Tom, trying not to appear too eager, for that would have been almost like asking to remain.
”Well, I suppose it would be best for you not to go out in the cold again, after having been wet,” said Mrs. Martin. ”We could telephone to your mother, Tom.”
”All right!” he cried joyfully.
”Hurray!” shouted Ted.
”Be careful! Don't awaken Trouble!” cautioned Mrs. Martin.
Thereupon the boys quieted down, but they were still bubbling over with mirth, talking about the fun they would have sleeping together and the other fun they would have on the toboggan slide the next day.