By GECKO39632@aol.com
The whole of the story is located in a large Essex new town called "Harlow". It features throughout, a teenage boy; aged 19 who loves parkas and wrapping up warm whenever it was cold.
Several alarm clocks & clock radios began sounding throughout the house. It was 8am on a Wednesday afternoon. First to arise was the father. He was an averaged sized man, about 5ft 9in tall and he weighed about 10 British stones. Next to get up was the sister. She was a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and brown eyes, but she had a short and vicious temper. Finally about 8:45 The son, Gary finally rolled out of bed turning off his clock radio as he did so.
Gary was a short person, about 5ft 6in tall, but he was well built for his size. His toughness ended there. Gary was a generally nice person who would do anything to help someone in need. Soon he was ready for work. He slipped into his down jacket and left the house, heading for the area's main garage's section where his car was parked. "If only I could wear my parka all the time!" he murmured to himself as he climbed the hill up his alleyway.
Upon reaching the top, he descended slightly, and turned right, heading for garage 90 and his car. There in the boot, he kept 2 snorkel parka's and behind and wooden board, he kept another parka. "What shall I wear today?" he questioned himself. Finally he made up his mind. Gary had 3 different parka's all with snorkel hoods, some long and some which were a little shorter, but still made into a snorkel when fully zipped up.
The first was a n2b military parka. He didn't wear it much. Although it was the warmest of the 3, the feature Gary didn't like was the familiar n2b split hood. He preferred a full hood. Next came his old-fashioned n3b 1970's British snorkel parka. Most kids had them during the late 70's and early 80's. Gary suspected that because the temperature only went below zero during the night these day's, there was no longer any need for coats like this.
His n3b parka had a long zip-up snorkel hood, which was trimmed buy some synthetic grey fur, which extended to round to the outside, which was a feature on some older parkas. The hood was lined with plus brown pile, which was a little rough to touch but still very, very warm. This parka had kept him warm during one of the coldest day's Gary could remember back in 1993, when Harlow had some rare snow and the wind-chill was a bitter –15'C.
Finally came a parka he had bought just a week ago. It was a modern parka, and had a strange outer, which felt like rubber to touch. The hood zipped up, like on any parka, but there was no fur lining inside. Inside instead was a fleecy lining which was cut very short indeed, and wasn't very warm. This parka however, boasted the largest fur-ruff of any parka he had warm, and was very good at keeping out side-on winds.
He picked up his old, brown, proper n3b and slid off his down jacket. He opened the boot and threw in the coat. He slid into his parka.
LATER ON….
Gary decided that after a long hard day's work he would go out to watch the Wednesday evening soccer match that his local side was playing. Once again he slid into the down coat and left the house. Unfortunately, Gary had always kept his parka's a secret from his immediate family, as his mother didn't like him wearing hooded coats. Instead she preferred to see him in these modern down coats, wearing his ear-flaps hat.
Gary finally arrived at the football club. He got out of his car and pulled on the parka, placing his down coat into the boot. He slid into the warm, fur hooded parka. The wind was very strong and very cold too. Gary reckoned it was the 3rd coldest day he had experienced. Just then, someone ran over to him. It was his good friend Dennis, whom he sat with at most matches.
"Hiya Gary" he said
"Hello Dennis" came the reply "So you going tonight then?"
"Yep you betcha!" replied Gary
"Ere, stand still a minute" came Dennis. He then removed a glove and felt Gary's frozen ear! "Boy your ears are freezing. They are so cold" exclaimed Dennis
"I know" replied Gary.
"Here let me do you a favour" he then pulled on Gary's hood and zipped it up all the way. As the zip went up, gary could feel the snokel coming into his face really snugly. He then pulled together the drawstrings of the hood, and fastened them in a shoe-lace style knot. Gary was really wrapped up warm. "There, you look much better. Much better dressed for the cold" said Dennis.
"Yeah, thanks. I was going to put my hood up, but you guys always give me strange glances and make fun!" said Gary sadly.
"Yes but the thing is, we are only larking around. We don't mind seeing you dressed like it's the pole! If you are feeling cold, then by all means, put on your hood. That's what it's there for. To protect you from wind, rain and the cold. You keep your hood on tonight…the hood keeps the heat from escaping out your head, and then you feel much warmer!"
"How would you know Dennis?" Gary questioned.
"Well a few years ago, I used to wear one. They are so very warm." replied Dennis
"So why don't you wear one now?" asked Gary
"Cause I don't feel the cold as much now!" he replied
"Gee thanks Dennis" came a muffled comment from inside the snorkel, closely followed by huge plumes of smoke, as the warm breaths mixed with the bitter cold air. So that night, Gary watched the whole game, wrapped up warm inside the parka coat. He loved being wrapped up warm, feeling the wind pound against the coat and not feeling a bit cold. He usually wore the hood a lot, but didn't realise the people were only laughing at the way he looked, not taking the Mickey.
BACK IN TIME…..
"The summary then, reasonable, with dry, clear spells. I will be cold later on next week, but we'll keep you informed" read the weather man.
The next morning, I was standing in-line, waiting for the teacher's to arrive to let them into school. Just then, I heard a shout..It was james, my very close friend. He was dressed in his normal thick brown hooded coat. The coat looked amazing, with all the fur around and inside the hood.
JAM: Hiya buddy
GAZ: Hi James
JAM: How are ya?
GAZ: Fine, but a little cold I began to shiver
JAM: You do look it..
GAZ: yeah, my coat is really for cooler spring/autumn weather, not for winter!
JAM: well, I'll cut you a deal. If you've got a tenner spare, you can buy this really heavy parka from me, tommorrow! Its my birthday on Friday (2 days from now) and I wonna sell this old coat to someone who needs it! (namely you!)
GAZ: That's what they are called!
JAM: yup, you wont it then?
GAZ: yeah, cool, when can I collect it?
JAM: we'll meet in the park, about 4pm?
GAZ: nah, gotta do homework…4:30?
JAM: done! See ya in class, and see ya then.
James then left, walking back to his other mates. Just then the bell rang, and out came the head of year whom unlocked the door.
THE NEXT DAY... Finally my school work had finished, and there was a knock at the door. I stared at the clock, It read 4:35pm. Just then I heard mum calling, it was james at the door. Mum then gave me permission to go outside, and told me to be back for dinner at 6pm. I kissed her and off we went. Finally we reached the park.
JAM: Here we go, one parka coat. Come on, slip off your spring jacket, and try-on this nice warm winter coat.
GAZ: ok.
So I drew off my jacket and shivered a little, informing james it was quite cold. He looked fantastic in his new ski-ing jacket. "There" said James as he helped me get the zip into the slot. I'd started to feel warmer too. Finally the zip began to slide easily up the coat. "go-on all the way, do the zip right up, like I had it the other day" said James
"OK" came my reply. Soon the coat was done-up fully. Man was I nice and warm. "These are great, really warm, the warmest I've worn in a long time" I exclaimed. So we went walking over to gold-smiths, an adventure playground, about 10 minutes walk from my house. We'd only been walking a short time, when my ears began to feel very cold indeed. I'd forgotten the hood!
GAZ: James, do my ears look cold to you?
JAM: well, yes, lets feel them………yikes, they are freezing. You should have told me your ears get cold quick, and I would have shown you how to fasten the hood immediently, and made you have it up all the time, to keep those ears warm..
GAZ: I have to admit, it's a lot colder than earlier!
JAM: true.
GAZ: james, can you put my hood up then!
That question sure showed how I wasn't used to wearing a hooded coat. So like any friend taking care of their mates, James, told me to stop. "Here we go" he said, unzipping my new coat slightly. "Bend over a sec" said James, so I bent over and my whole head was enveloped by the coat's massive hood. James then did up the zip and showed me how the hood zipped right up. After he showed me, I undid it and pulled the fur onto my ears.
JAM: I suggest you let me zip it back-up again and leave it fully done up! You should feel a lot warmer then, and will look warmer too.
GAZ: Won't they laugh at me?
JAM: Well no, I was over here last week, and it was raining, and I had my hood up then. Not fully zipped up, but they never laughed. They just carried on like I was dressed normally!
GAZ: I guess they could tell what you'd look like anyway, even with the hood down?
JAM: well, having one of these was considered normal untill a few years ago. So therefore, I suggest I fasten your hood before your ears freeze!
GAZ: ok yeah..go for it. So james quickly pulled on the hood and again zipping it right up into the famous long snorkel.
JAM: I have to say, you do look absolutely brilliant in that!
GAZ: I do?
JAM: yes, you look great! You look very warm too, just look at the smoke you create when you breathe!
GAZ: oh yeah, condensation! Well, my ears are beginning to get warmer!
JAM: Now you should really begin to feel how warm this coat is
GAZ: yeah, Im warmer, that's for sure, it is pretty cold after-all At last we reached the play-park..I spied a couple of my mate's over there, who were also friends of james too! There was Aron, and Shawn.
SHA: You cold gary?
GAZ: Not now, was freezing earlier, didn't bring a coat!
JAM: So I let him use my old parka! He'll sure keep warm in that.
AAR: well he looks pretty warm to me..
JAM: Well, you should see more of him in it..it's his now, as I've got a new coat!
SHA: Good idea, I seem to remember you were always cold weren't you Gary?
GAZ: YEAH, you can say that again!
AAR: What's it like in there, anybody inside?!
GAZ: Yep, me! Really warm inside ere mate..aint you cold?
AAR: I don't feel it…Shawn's got his hat on, so it's cool!
GAZ: You think I look ok?
AAR: so long as you are warm mate, dosen't bother me if you dress in furs!
SHA: Well I recall those ARE lined with fur arent they?
GAZ: Well yeah, but only the hood.
SHA: Agreed. Keep that head toasty to remain toasty!
GAZ: I quite agree!
TO BE CONTINUED………
If you'd like to contact the author about this story, or other Parka matters then email him at GECKO39632@aol.com
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