At first light, Fiona woke up.
She glanced at her husband, who was still sound asleep. Not wanting to wake him, she quietly put on her shoes and slipped out of the bedroom. She went to the window first, intending to see whether it had snowed last night, but caught sight of a familiar figure in the yard.
Wade wore a thick dark-blue coat and stood by the fence near the gate, driving a wooden rod like a javelin into the ground.
The winter ground should have been frozen solid, yet Wade's movements looked effortless, as though he were sticking a fork into a soft cake.
Seven or eight more such "javelins" lay casually scattered on the ground beside him.
Fiona blinked, curious. She immediately wrapped herself in a thick coat and walked briskly out into the yard.
"Morning, Wade!"
Seeing Wade finish planting a "javelin" beside the iron fence, Fiona quickly bent down and picked up another one. "Let me help! Where should this go?"
Only when she held the "javelin" did Fiona realize it did not seem to be made of wood. It was also heavier than it looked. Though it was so slender, it felt like it weighed six or seven kilograms in her hands.
"Good morning, Mom."
Wade took the "javelin" from her and planted it in the soil beside another section of fence. "There's nothing here that needs your help. It's cold outside, so go back in."
"Oh, I'll go in if I get cold."
As she spoke, Fiona hefted another "javelin" and headed toward the fence beside her.
She had taken a quick look earlier and noticed that Wade was arranging them in a symmetrical pattern. Before long, she had placed all the rest in their corresponding positions. Rubbing her slightly numb hands together,