June 6, 2015

I had hoped to go outside again today, but it was far too cloudy and gloomy. The sun peeked through the clouds, but those clouds were big and ominous and threatened rain.

I looked out the window and sighed. I'd been cooped up inside for more than a month watching MyLittleMegara study for finals. I'd enjoyed being in the room where the humans spent a lot of time, sure, but there's a huge window in that room where I first glimpsed the outside world with Olaf. Today, I'd ventured as far as the sliding door/ window hybrid. I'm not sure what the humans call it. Still, my trip had done nothing but make me feel more trapped- and bored. I began to walk away.

I still took one last look. I couldn't help it.

As I was gazing out the window, I heard a familiar voice call "Yoo hoo! Anna!"

I looked up and laughed.

"Hello, Olaf!"

There, peeking around the corner of the bookshelf, was my snowman friend.

He was way up at the top (how he got up there, I'll never know!) and I knew I couldn't just climb up to where he was. I looked up at the shelf, trying to come up with a solution.

Before I could think of anything, Olaf jumped. As before, his balance was perfect. I wondered again how he did it.

I caught him easily, the confidence gained from my excursion in April still flowing through me.

He sat up and looked at me. Grinning toothily, he thanked me. "Thanks! That was like a crazy trust exercise!"

"Or something," I laughed.

"I know what we can do today," Olaf abruptly changed the subject.

"What?" I was still laughing.

"That cabinet over there is full of games." Olaf was gesturing to a bit of furniture by the door.

"Great idea, Olaf!" I half shouted while racing over to the cabinet and pulling out two games: Boggle and Tri-Ominos.

We chose to start with Boggle.

Olaf and I sat down with pens and paper and started our game, which I think I won.

Tri-Ominos ended up being a team effort, trying to get all of the numbered triangles to fit in the pattern. We didn't get all of them but we came close!

That evening, after we'd played the games again and again, I turned to Olaf.

"Thank you," I smiled, "thank you so much."

"For what?" he asked.

"For everything."

I started to wonder just how much I had to learn from the little plush snowman.

-Anna