Scott’s Missing Glove

Scott and Jeremy stop at a mountain picnic bench with Dad. A thin layer of snow lies beside the broad path. Scott keeps his red gloves on until they unpack their sandwiches.

When they are ready to walk again, Scott can find only one glove. He puts it on his left hand and searches beside the bench. He remembers taking the other glove off there.

Jeremy looks beneath the seat without stepping away from the path. A patch of red is near one bench leg. It is a fallen leaf, not the missing glove.

Dad asks Scott to remember what he did before opening his lunch. Scott recalls holding both gloves while Dad moved the backpack closer. He cannot remember putting them down.

They check the ground around the bench, then look at their bags. Jeremy notices a red corner peeping from Dad’s backpack. He points to the side pocket without pulling it out.

Dad opens the pocket. Scott finds his dry glove tucked beside a folded map. He had put it there while making space for his sandwich. Then he forgot about the pocket.

Scott puts on the glove. He checks that both hands are warm before they continue. Jeremy suggests keeping each pair together whenever they stop. The gloves will be easier to look after.

They follow Dad along the broad path towards the car park. Scott looks back at the bench. Remembering their lunch stop helped more than searching farther across the snow.