Hard to Explain

“That is a solid no.”

Josh looked at him. “Really? What is?”

“Winter, when all the plants are dead and I go outside without feeling like I’m going to die from allergies.”

“I’ve never been crazy about winter.”

“I think it’s fantastic. Everything smells so crisp.”

“Really?” Josh asked. “I associate crisp more with fall.”

“Fall smells mushy. All the wet, dead leaves.”

“Spring smells the best. I don’t have allergies, though.”

“Absolutely hate spring.”

“Everything feels alive.”

“I suppose, but sneezing.”

“The only place I really like winter is back home in NYC. Or, like, somewhere where you get a lot of snow. It’s not worth it otherwise.”

“I love the snow.”

“It’s pretty as it falls.”

“It makes the air smell clean. Or well, cleaner than usual, at least.”

Josh considers that. “I guess.”

Aiden nodded very seriously.

“Are you from somewhere cold?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, really? Where?”

“Chicago. And then my mother’s family lives in Alaska, so we go up there sometimes, too. Have a house there and everything.”

“So lots of cold places,” Josh commented. “I like Chicago. I’ve been there a few times.”

“It’s alright.”

“Is it weird moving from the midwest to the East Coast like this?”

“Not really. I mean, we used to do family trips when my father had business here, so I was here when I was younger, if not for extended periods of time.”