Mount Up

Peter sits there mounted on his snowmobile, contemplating the monstrous steep hill in front of him. Jim is sitting as passenger yelling over the engine.

“Peter, you can do this! Stop hesitating!”

“Why did I ever let you talk me into this? I can’t…do this! You drive!”

Peter used to be a hill climber for tournaments worldwide however suffered a major accident leaving him almost paralyzed.

“Look, I am right here man. I’m not going anywhere. You’ve done these a thousand times. This is a hill for beginners. You need to let go and move on. It’s been ten years.” Jim tells him.

Reports of the accident revealed that it was lift from the descending winds that caused him to fall backwards and nearly get crushed. Throughout the past ten years he has been through several physical therapy sessions and has written several self-help books on “Getting back up the hill”, however has avoided the fact that he must revisit this or remain haunted by his past.

“I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN! Too many times have we attempted to do this only to leave me to get us up there! I’m tired of this. You will live out the rest of your life paralyzed with fear unless you make the decision to end this now! Jim yells ferociously.

Peter’s thumb weighs in heavier than usual on the throttle causing the RPMs to slightly spike.

“BETTER ALIVE THAN DEAD!” Peter shouts

“TO LIVE IN FEAR IS TO NOT LIVE AT ALL!” Jim replies angrily

“Didn’t you get that from an 80’s movie?”

Jim slaps the back of his helmet, “JUST SHUTUP AND GET US UP THAT HILL!”

Instantly Peter crosses himself and revs up the engine, they both jerk back as the machine takes off. The skis hold their position aiming right into the heart of the slope. They lunge forward as the hill continues to move progressively vertical. Peter starts to let off the throttle however Jim holds his hand over maintaining the RPMs – it starts to look hopeless that is until they finally clear it. 

Alas the two dismount and join together in celebration of Peter’s breakthrough. Shouts and tears are shared and glory has shed itself once again on Peter as he is now liberated and has regained his confidence.

However, the snowmobile was stopped only at the edge of the hill and while the engine is still running, rolls back off the hill – leaving the two to cut short their celebration only to slide down the hill and chase after the runaway machine.