Mr. Mercer took them into his small office. There, Jimmy gave Mr. Mercer the equipment shop keys. Then, he told his story. The man sat silently, listening.
“It was a dumb thing to do,” Jimmy concluded. “And I’m really sorry. I’ll do anything I can to make up for it.”
Mr. Mercer nodded. For a long time, he didn’t say a word. He just kept nodding. The room was so quiet Jimmy and the Aldens could hear themselves breathing.
Finally, Mr. Mercer said, “Telling me this has not been easy.” He paused. “I think we’ll just keep it to ourselves.” He glanced at Jimmy. “Is that all right with you?”
“Oh, yes, sir,” Jimmy replied. The color came back to his cheeks.
“Fine. Now go on out of here, all of you.” Mr. Mercer turned his chair toward his desk. “I have work to do.”
They started out.
“Oh, Jimmy, there is one thing you can do,” Mr. Mercer said.
“Anything, sir,” Jimmy responded.
“For the remainder of the games, I expect you to do your best — like the champion you are.”
Jimmy smiled broadly. “You can count on it,” he said.
He went back to his room to phone his parents. The Aldens waited for him in the lounge.
“Maybe Jimmy’s parents will change their minds and come for the awards dinner,” Jessie said.
“I hope so,” Violet said.
Jimmy came toward them. His eyes were sad.
Benny was surprised to see him back so soon. “You didn’t talk very long,” he said.
“I didn’t talk at all,” Jimmy replied. “They weren’t there.”
“Maybe they’re out to breakfast,” Violet said.
Jimmy shook his head. “They’ve checked out of the hotel. No one knows where they went.”
At last it was time for the judging of the ice carvings. Watch sat very still beside his ice self.
“He wants everyone to know he posed for it,” Benny said.
Nan’s group had turned their ice castle into a dog house. Watch’s name was carved on the door.
The judges called it a tie.
The next two days were busy.
As he had promised, Jimmy did his best in the remaining events. Everyone else did well, too.
Everything was more fun. The lounge was always full of people playing word games and talking. The teams mixed more freely. Benny did very well in his sledding race, and afterwards, everyone — even the adults — had a gigantic snowball fight. No one won. But it didn’t seem to matter.
Skating was the last event. It was held on the afternoon of the awards dinner. Once more, the ice was smooth as glass. Beth and Jessie did figure skating dances. Jimmy and Matt raced against Freddy and another member of her team. All the skaters took part in the last race, a relay.
The crowd roared as the baton was passed from one person to the next. It was the closest, most exciting race of the week. Only Pete and his stopwatch seemed to know who had won. And he wasn’t telling.
Back at the lodge, people talked about the games.
Jimmy stood by the fire, talking with the Aldens. “This was probably the best — ” He broke off. The smile froze on his face.
“What’s the matter?” Henry asked.
Jimmy didn’t say a word. He just kept staring.
The Aldens followed his gaze. Standing inside the door were Mr. and Mrs. Phelps!
Jimmy sprang into action. “Mom! Dad!” he called and sprinted across the room to meet them.
Mrs. Phelps hugged her son. Mr. Phelps hugged him, too.
“I called you,” Jimmy told them. “You’d checked out.”
“We decided to surprise you,” Mr. Phelps said.
Jimmy took them over by the fire. “These are my friends,” he said and introduced the Aldens.
“No wonder you like it here, Jimmy,” Mr. Phelps said. “There are so many interesting people.”
“The whole time we were away, we kept wishing we were here with you,” Mrs. Phelps said.
Jimmy couldn’t hide his surprise. “And I was wishing I was there with you,” he told them. After that, all his feelings came tumbling out.
The Phelps were stunned. They had always thought he wanted to come here for the winter games. And they thought he liked being on his own.
“What a terrible misunderstanding!” Mrs. Phelps said.
“From now on, we’ll discuss these things,” Mr. Phelps said. “And the next time we take a vacation, it will be together.”
Mrs. Phelps glanced around the room. She seemed to like what she saw. “And maybe we’ll spend it at Snow Haven,” she said.
“That’d be great,” Benny put in. “We might be here, too.”
The parade into the dining room began. Mr. Alden stood at the door beside Mr. Mercer.
“Well, Benny, are you ready to eat?” Mr. Alden asked.
“I’m too excited to eat,” Benny said. “I can’t wait until we find out who won.”
Mr. Mercer laughed. “I’ll save you the suspense, Benny,” he said. “In my book, you’re all winners.” |