Skating in the Wind

by Kristine O'Connell George

I crouched, my brother Bill shoved hard.
I held up my jacket
the wind caught it.
I shaped it like a giant sail.
The wind slammed into my back.
My skates clattered, skidding and skimming like butter on a hot skillet.
Mouth dry, the wind roared in my ears.
Bill said I was almost flying-
until the fence.