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Nicky: "It is your turn to do it, Nicky."
Joe: "No, it is your turn because I did it the last time."
Nicky: "You and I remember things differently."
Joe: "No, we don't, because I did it the last time while you lay naked in bed."
Nicky: "That was the time before that. And why are you complaining about me being naked in bed? I thought you liked it."
Joe: "I bloody love it when you are naked."
Joe winked at Nicky, and it made him smile.
Joe: "But it does not change the fact that it was me who did it the last time, so it is your turn now. I promise to wait for you in bed naked."
Nicky caught Joe's collar before he could get away.
Nicky: "You aren't getting away that easily, young man."
Joe: "You do know that I am 1003 years older than you are?"
Nicky: "Joe, your math is still terrible. You are only 1004 years older than me."
Joe: "Are you calling me old?"
Joe looked hurt at Nicky, and Nicky could tell that Joe was pretending.
Nicky: "That is a different conversation, and you know it because we weren't done talking about who should do it."
When Nile came into the kitchen, she saw Joe and Nicky standing out in the snow in the midst of a heated argument. And because Nile was curious, she had to know what Joe and Nicky were arguing about, so she decided to get some fresh air.
Nile: "Morning. Why are you standing outside in only your t-shirts?"
If you asked Nile, it was a valid question.
Nile: "Aren't you freezing?"
Joe and Nicky looked at Nile, who had her big winter coat on.
Joe: "Morning, Nile."
Nicky: "Morning, Nile."
Joe: "And no, we aren't freezing, thanks to Nicky."
Nile: "You mean your own personal radiator."
Joe wrapped his arms around Nicky's waist with a smile.
Joe: "I wish you would call him my sexy, personal radiator."
Nile: "Never going to happen."
Nicky looked at Joe.
Nicky: "You are doing it again, Joe. Starting a new conversation when we aren't done with the first conversation we started 20 minutes ago."
Joe: "Hi, let us settle it all with rock, paper or scissors."
Nicky: "Not going to happen, because you will cheat."
Once again, Joe looked hurt at Nicky, and once again, Nicky could tell that Joe was pretending.
Joe: "I would never cheat when I am around you."
Nicky raised an eyebrow.
Nicky: "Really?"
Joe: "I swear."
Nicky: "Okay, if that is the case, what do you call what happened back in the year 1100? And what about 1231, 1586, or should I mention 1968?"
Joe: "Fine, I admit I cheated back in the year 1100, but that was before we became a couple. And since you brought up 1586. Should we talk about that stunt you did that day to get my attention?"
Nicky: "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Joe: "Oh, really. Well, let me tell you something..."
Joe saw Nicky smiling.
Joe: "Why are you smiling like that? I know it is not because of 1231 or 1968."
Nicky: "Try take a look at Nile and tell me why she can't do it."
Joe looked at Nile, and he realised something Nicky had, and when he also smiled, Nile wished she had never left the cabin.
Joe: "Oh, you are brilliant, Babe."
Nicky: "Thanks."
Nile looked at Joe and Nicky.
Nile: "Guys, why are you looking at me with that smile?"
Joe: "Because you are going to do it."
Nile: "What are you talking about?"
Joe: "You are going to need this for the chore."
Joe handed Nile a shovel.
Nile: "You want me to shovel snow? Have you forgotten we are in a forest in Finland, Joe? And that we wanted to use the snow as a way to keep people away from us during the winter."
Joe: "No, I haven't. And all you have to do is remove the snow from the roof."
Nile looked at the snow on the roof.
Nile: "Why do you want me to do that?"
Nicky: "To prevent the roof from caving in."
Nile: "I don't follow."
Nicky: "If we don't remove the snow from the roof, it can cause the roof to collapse under the weight of the snow. That is why someone has to climb up on the roof and remove the snow. Unless you fancy not having a roof over your head for the rest of the winter."
Nile: "That makes sense, but why am I the one who has to remove the snow when it is clearly you two who have more experience than I have?"
Joe placed his arm around Nile's shoulder.
Joe: "Because one day in the future, you will find yourself all alone during winter and have to get the snow off the roof yourself. So, I say this with love. Get up on the roof and start training. I promise to cheer for you."
Nile: "Thanks."
Nile took the shovel from Joe.
Nile: "Any advice before I do it?"
Nicky: "Use your legs."
Joe: "Oh, and when you climb the ladder, be mindful of the loose step."
Nile: "Got it. Where do I find the ladder?"
Joe looked at Nicky.
Joe: "Do you remember where we left the ladder?"
Nicky: "Somewhere in the snow near the cabin."
Nile: "Thanks, guys, for the help."
Joe: "Don't mention it."
Joe and Nicky watched Nile search for the ladder before she climbed onto the roof.
Nile: "And now?"
Joe: "Use the shovel and your legs to get the snow to move."
Nile kicked the snow, but it did not budge.
Joe: "You got this, Nile."
Nile: "Shut up, Joe. You aren't helping. And besides, this...."
More did Nile not get to say, because suddenly the snow moved and she slid off the roof with a scream, landing on the ground.
Nicky: "I give you an eight for that landing."
Joe: "No, that landing was only worth a seven."
Nicky: "Why?"
Joe: "Because she landed on her ass, and hurting your ass...."
Nile: "If you finish that sentence, Joe, I will bury your sorry ass so deep in the snow you won't be able to dig your way out of it before the snow starts to melt."
Nicky helped Nile up, and she rubbed her sore ass.
Nile: "Now that the roof is clear of snow, you can find me inside."
Joe: "Not to ruin your fun, but you have forgotten something."
Nile: "And that is?"
Joe: "There is also the other side of the roof."
Nile groaned.
Nile: "And what will you be doing while I am up there?"
Nicky: "Start making a pathway that leads to the outhouse, unless you want to use the bucket again."
Nile: "I am going, I am going."
When it became dark outside, the snow was gone from the roof, and there was a new pathway leading to the outhouse.
Nile: "Just so you know it. Thanks, Nicky."
Nile took the mug with hot chocolate Nicky offered her.
Nile: "I am not getting up on that roof anymore this winter."
Joe: "Yeah, you are, because there is a snowstorm coming, which means two things. That you are going back up on the roof and you have to use the bucket."
Nile: "Great."
They drank the hot chocolate.
Nile: "I will never be a fan of the bucket."
Nicky: "You should be that."
Nile: "What do you mean?"
Nicky: "Because during an attack, the content of the bucket can actually give you a head start if you throw it at the intruders."
Nile: "Seriously?"
Nicky: "Yep. Just ask Joe about it."
Joe chuckled.
Joe: "You wanna hear that story, Nile?"
Nile: "Of course."
Joe smiled and started telling Nile the story.