.....mountain

Grant swished across the smooth afternoon snow on his skis, taking one last turn before gliding to a stop at the bottom of the run. The soft gray sky darkened as Grant waited for his friend. “Theron!” Grant called out. “Let’s try the other side of the mountain!”

Theron slowed to a stop beside him and looked up at the towering ridge. The peak disappeared briefly into a fast-moving band of clouds. “It looks a little darker up there,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “But sure, let’s go!”

The friends pushed off toward the ski lift. A gust of cold wind sent tiny crystals of ice stinging across their cheeks. “You guys ever been up there before?” the lift operator asked as he pulled the safety bar down over their legs.

“No, first time,” Grant answered.

“It’s pretty intense,” the operator said. “Have fun—and be careful.”

Grant and Theron exchanged a glance. “Pretty intense?” Grant murmured. “What does that mean?” Theron shrugged, and his scrunched eyebrows reflected Grant’s uncertainty.

The lift climbed higher and higher, the metal cables humming overhead. As they floated above the widening slope beneath them, the boys’ stomachs tightened. This side of the mountain looked nothing like the one they had just skied! Below them were steep, narrow ski runs. Next to the advanced ski runs were scattered boulders and dense trees.

Theron looked down the hill. “Grant…we need to pray.” Grant nodded. “Definitely.”

Theron prayed softly, “Dear Jesus, please get us safely off this mountain.” “Amen,” they whispered together.

The mountain wind shifted. It picked up speed, scattering loose powder into the air. The lift swayed slightly. The sky turned dark gray, and shadows settled over the trees. Grant zipped the neck of his jacket higher. “I think a storm’s rolling in,” he said. Theron nodded, gripping the safety bar tightly. “Yeah…this doesn’t look good.” As the ski lift reached the top of the mountain, the wind howled and blew snow around as in a shaken snow globe. The boys skied off the lift, heads ducked against the wind.

“There!” Grant pointed through the blur of white. “The ski patrol shack. Let’s see if there’s a map.” They pushed toward it, the edges of their skis scraping over a hard crust of wind-packed snow. Pasted on the ski shack window was a sign that read Closed due to storm.

Grant and Theron skied around the shack, still looking for a map. Snow was plastered across a large map mounted to the back wall. Theron brushed it off with his glove. The words that appeared made his heart drop. “Grant…this isn’t good.” Grant leaned in. Every trail was marked Double Black Diamond or Expert Double Black. “These are all for expert skiers,” he said, his voice tight. “What do we do?”

Theron pulled out his phone instinctively. “Maybe there’s a beginner route online.” He tapped the screen. A loading symbol spun for a moment, then the words No Service blinked at them.

Before the rising panic could swallow them, they heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow. They turned. A tall snowboarder approached, wearing an official red ski patrol jacket. His name badge read Ben. He carried his snowboard casually under one arm and offered a warm, reassuring smile. “You guys okay?” Ben asked. Grant swallowed hard. “We, uh…we’re not expert skiers. And this storm makes it hard to see. Is there any way you could help us down?”

Ben didn’t hesitate. His expression softened. “Of course. I’ve got you.” Relief flooded Grant so quickly he almost fell into the snow. “Stay close,” Ben added. “With this whiteout, you’re not going to see more than a few feet ahead.” Grant followed close behind him, and Theron stayed right at Grant’s heels. The wind roared around them, tugging at their jackets. Grant kept his eyes locked on Ben’s red ski patrol jacket. It was his lifeline in the storm.

Suddenly Theron shouted, “Grant! I’m stuck!” Grant turned to see Theron buried thigh-deep in a snowdrift. “I’ll wait for you,” Ben called out from ahead, his voice steady and calm. Grant pulled on Theron’s arms. Theron wrestled his skis free and pulled himself upright. The friends skied toward Ben. They were exhausted and breathing hard from the cold and the workout.

A few turns later Grant’s ski hit a hidden dip, sending him tumbling into powder. His ankle twisted sharply. Before he could call out, Ben had already turned back, his snowboard tucked under his arm again. He waited patiently as Grant brushed snow off his legs and gingerly tested his ankle. The pain pulsed, but he could still ski. “Are you OK, Grant?” Theron asked. “I’m good,” Grant said, though his voice wavered.

“All right,” Ben said with a firm nod. “Let’s get you two down.” Turn by turn, they descended. Ben led the way with practiced ease, pausing at every twist in the slope until the friends caught up. The storm raged around them, but Ben remained steady, calm, and sure.

At last the ground leveled and the wind calmed. They’d reached the base of the mountain. “You guys did it,” Ben said with a wide smile.

“We couldn’t have done it without you,” Grant said, nearly breathless with relief.

“Thank you, Ben,” Theron added. “You got us safely off the mountain.”

Ben nodded. “You’re welcome. Now hurry, catch that lift back to the lodge before they shut that one down too!” Before they could say another word, Ben hopped onto his snowboard and glided away, disappearing into the lightly blowing snow.

The boys skied quickly to the lift. “Hurry,” the lift operator said. “You’re the last two.”

“Sorry it took us so long,” Grant said as they climbed on. “A ski patroller stopped to help us. We never would’ve made it without Ben.”

“Ben?” the operator repeated. “There’s no one on patrol named Ben.” The boys sat in stunned silence as the lift carried them back to safety. Below them, the gentle slopes looked warm and familiar again. Finally, Grant spoke. “Theron…you don’t think…?” “…that Ben was an angel?” Theron whispered, finishing his sentence. “He might have been,” Grant said. “But one thing I do know.” “What’s that?” Theron seemed thoughtful. “He was the answer to your prayer,” Grant replied. “God used him to get us down that mountain.” Theron nodded slowly. “He sure did.”

“And Theron?” Grant added, cracking an exhausted smile.

“Yeah?” “Let’s stick to the easy runs from now on.” Theron laughed. “Agreed.”

- jean boonstra