Aaron Shovel Arms

“Why do you keep rubbing your arm?” Holly asked between sips of her coffee.  “Did you pitch another complete game last night?”

It was the final Sunday of January, which meant it was not baseball season, but that only made her comment a bit wittier.  The best friends sat on their favorite bench next to the river.

“I think I pulled or tweaked something from all the shoveling I did this week,” Aaron replied with a slight grimace.  “I was out there so often I feel like the shovel is an extension of my arm.”

“That really was some heavy snow,” she acknowledged.

Aaron took a drink of Snapple and nodded in agreement.  “And I was out there before and after work.  I know the city means well by plowing the streets and sidewalk, but I could do without their leaving a huge mountain of snow in my driveway when they do so.”

“The least they can do is circle back and clean up their mess,” she added.

“Exactly.  I’m paying an exorbitant amount in property taxes, so I think they can afford to put a little extra effort into their snow clearing,” he continued because this was a subject that really got him all wound up.  “Maybe I’ll withhold a little something the next time the tax bill arrives.”

“Power to the people!” Holly declared as she thrust a fist in the air and used her free hand to raise her coffee to her mouth.

“Then Thursday, I was out there after work with the ice chipper,” he lamented.

Holly nodded like she felt his pain.  “That ice storm was a mess.”

Aaron took another long sip of his Snapple and then sighed.  “Wait.  How did you know it was heavy snow?  You don’t shovel your driveway.”

She grinned.  “I could still tell it was heavy.  I mean I had to walk on it when I got to work and the plow guy hadn’t finished clearing the parking lot yet.”

“You should get a plow guy,” she suggested.

He shook his head.  “It’s too expensive.  Plus, I need to prove to myself that I’m still healthy enough to get out there and shovel it myself.”

“It doesn’t cost that much,” she informed him.  “Maybe I just get a nice rate because I’m nice to people.

Aaron eyed her suspiciously.  “More like you get a good rate because you’re attractive and the plow guy is hoping you’ll go out with him.”

Holly slid closer to him on the bench and batted her eyelashes at him.  “Aww shucks, Aaron.  Did you just tell me I’m purty?”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head.  “Why do you have to make it weird?”

“It’s always weird when I’m talking to you,” she countered.

“Agreed,” he replied with a chuckle.  “Do you think if you start dating the plow guy, he’ll give me a good rate to do my driveway?”

“I know we’re close, but I don’t think I could deal with the same person plowing both our driveways at the same time,” she quipped with a devilish grin.

Aaron blushed and refused to make eye contact.  Instead, he just stared out at the river.

Holly chuckled and treated herself to another sip of coffee.