NARRATIVE of WARD COURIER, Continued

January, 2010

The Towns of WALES, HOLLAND, and AURORA, ERIE COUNTY, NY

The sun had dropped under the frowning clouds and fallen almost completely behind the ridge across the valley. Its corona loomed as I skied hard up the broad trail, and the snow ahead took on a lavender shade. I nursed a horde of thoughts and reactions. I analyzed them quickly to the rhythmic hiss-and-clap of my own strides and pole-plants. I was still ...