I stretched my arms above my head and tried to touch the end of my bed with my toes. "Doggone, not happenin' today, but hey, I'm almost ten years old." Mom says I'm getting taller , but the only thing that looks taller to me is my neck. I wonder if that new girl at school thinks I look like a giraffe?

Mindy started at our school last week. She is from Ohio, her family bought the house down the lane from me. When she smiles it makes me feel kinda neat, different and warm, not as good as wakin' up and stretchin', but kinda warm anyway.

I splashed my face just enough to qualify for honesty cause Mom always ask if I washed it and ran downstairs.

"Good morning, Buddy, did you wash your face ?"? Told ya, never fails. Mom inspected me and planted that kiss on my cheek that embarrasses me sometimes. Well, actually it feels pretty good, if none of my friends are around.

"Hey pancakes, my favorite." I ate three then thought, "maybe that's why my neck is getting taller, I eat too many pancakes."

I put on my coat and camoflage back-pack. I love my back-pack, makes me feel like an explorer, or great hunter. Waving to Mom, I headed out the door. The snow was coming down like big white feathers.

I could walk up this lane blindfolded. I shut my eyes and walked just to prove it to myself. The snow flakes felt good ,I could feel them resting on my closed eyelids. I wondered if they would freeze and make my eyelids stick together, I opened them to be on the safe side. If my eyelids were stuck, I wouldn't be able to see Mindy or the bus. A guy really has a lot of things to figure out everyday.

The snow crunched as I walked along the quarter mile lane. Today for some reason, it seemed it would never end. I guess 'cause I really wanted to see Mindy.

Man, nice day for a snowman.

Mindy's mom's car was parked up ahead, she usually waited with Mindy until the bus came. I was going to tell her she could go shopping or whatever, 'cause I'd watch out for her daughter. She'd be safe with me, I wouldn't let anything happen to her.

I think I'll run the rest of the way. "Cool, that's a neat sound," I thought, when I heard the frozen snow 'snap, crackle and pop' under my boots.

As I came closer to the car, Mindy got out and gave a wave and a big smile. "Hey Mindy," I shouted, as I waved and smiled back, I thought, "Awesome, this is what I call a REAL 'Rice Crispy Morning."