"Merlin, what are you doing?"

"Oi, put that down!"

"Mer- Merlin! I swear if you throw that, I will never forgive you!"

"Merlin, I'm serious!"

"MERLIN!"

"I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP!"

At the sound of the high-pitched shriek, Mrs. Collins startled awake in her easy chair. Wondering what all the fuss was, the old widow looked out the window and couldn't help the smile that eased onto her face.

Two of the neighborhood boys were tussling in the yard next door again, shoving handfuls of snow down each other's coats, and it looked like the dark-haired one had the upper hand this time.

Shaking her head, the old woman closed the curtain and went to put on the kettle. They'd be half-frozen by the time they got done with each other.