Teddy and Puppy were enjoying a brisk walk in New York City on a cold winter night. Beautiful Christmas lights lined the streets.
Teddy turned to Puppy. “Look, Puppy! Remember Central Park? I think that’s it!” he said, pointing.
Puppy turned his head. “You think so?”
Teddy smiled. “And you know what they have? Ice-skating!”
Puppy’s eyes lit up. “No way! Let’s go!”
Teddy raised his paw and shook the snow off. “There’s a sign that says, Central Park Skating, New York City, let’s follow it!”
They took off toward the sign, walking as carefully as possible so they wouldn’t slip on the snow.
There it was—a gorgeous ice-skating rink, lined with trees, lights, and buildings that were all lit up. The lights reflected off the snow, making it look like daytime. You could feel the energy as parents and children were eating hot dogs and hamburgers, drinking hot chocolate—and, of course, skating around the rink.
Puppy grabbed Teddy’s paw and headed toward the skating rink. They quickly bought their tickets and lined up for skates.
“Can I help you?” asked the nice man behind the counter.
Teddy raised one of his rear paws. “Yes, skates that will fit a paw, please.”
Puppy laughed, raised a front paw, and added, “And skates for my four paws too!”
They both thanked him and sat down to tie their laces. Teddy stood up in his skates and wobbled over to the ice.
“Here we go,” thought Puppy.
Teddy stepped onto the ice. His front paws went out as he tried to steady himself. “Whoah! Puuuuppy, Puuuuppy…”
In the meantime, Puppy was expertly skating around in circles, looking up at the sky, enjoying the snowflakes that were falling on his nose. “Try this, Teddy!” he exclaimed.
Teddy tried to push off and skate toward Puppy, but… BASH, he fell on the ice. Teddy rolled over, muttering to Puppy, “Oh, this sure is harder than it looks.”
Puppy laughed and helped him up. “Teddy, let’s take it easy and skate around the rink together.”
As Puppy started skating with the wind in his fur, he excitedly asked Teddy,
“Did you know that this rink opened in 1949 and that ice-skating season in New York is typically October through March?”
Realizing that Teddy was no longer beside him, he turned around to find Teddy upside down on the ice again, covered in snow, his skates in the air.
Puppy skated over to help him, but noticed that Teddy’s skates seemed loose. “Um, Teddy, I don’t think you tied your skates tightly enough.”
Puppy knelt down and tied his skates tighter for him.
“Oh wow! That’s so much better! I was just trying to tie them quickly to get on the ice.”
Puppy extended his paw, helped Teddy up, and together they skated under the beautiful lights, listening to the music and admiring the snow. After a bit, Teddy glanced over at Puppy and raised his eyebrows. “Hot chocolate?”
“Sounds perfect,” replied Puppy.
Teddy and Puppy sat down at the edge of the rink, enjoying their hot chocolate and watching people skate while the snow fell. Puppy looked at Teddy and said, “Good idea, Teddy. This must be one of the best places to go ice skating in the whole world. What a perfect snowy day.”
