6:30 was far too early to be up. I knew it couldn't be more than 20 degrees outside, so I curled up a little tighter and tried to ignore Annetta.

"Sir? Sir?" she called through the tent, then shook it vigorously. "Sir, are you alive?"

"Yes, I'm alive," I answered, rolling over and noticing the depression my body had made in the snow overnight. It was still dark outside the tent. "Is this room service? Could you send up some hot chocolate, please?"

"Sorry, sir, today's special is oatmeal. Would you like apple cinnamon or brown sugar and maple?"

Even oatmeal in bed was more than I had hoped for. "Which would you recommend?"

"I recommend whichever one I happen to pull out of my pack in the dark."

"Sounds excellent, I'll take that please." My eyelids drooped shut again as Annetta’s footsteps crunched through the snow toward the center of camp.

A moment later I awoke again as the zipper of my tent opened. I thought I noticed a little more light in the sky now. I could hear the sounds of others moving around camp and the hiss of camp stoves heating more water. Annetta stepped into the tent, kicking a bit of snow in with her boots, and handed me a steaming bowl of oatmeal. I sat up in my bag, reaching out for the bowl while trying to keep the bag sealed tightly around me.

"Thanks! If you'll sit down for a moment, I'll get your tip."

Annetta sat down cross-legged next to my backpack and watched as I ate. I finished, scraped my bowl, and closed my eyes. It felt good to be warm inside. "That hit the spot," I said, leaning down on one elbow. "Now for my after-breakfast nap."

"How can you sleep, Spencer?" she asked, brushing a few chunks of snow toward the door. "This is vacation, it’s beautiful outside!"

"Jet lag, I guess."

Annetta just shook her head. "Crossing one time zone doesn't create jet lag. And besides, you gained an hour. For you it's already eight o'clock."

"Must be the altitude, then. Without as much oxygen, my body needs more sleep to function."

"We're only at eight thousand feet, there's plenty of oxygen."

"Maybe..." I was running out of excuses.

"Maybe you're just lazy," Annetta offered.

"Yes, that's it, that's the word I was looking for." Netta laughed, then leaned forward to give me a kiss. I was a bit surprised, after the way she had acted when she picked me up at the airport yesterday. No matter, I was glad things were getting back to normal again. "Ah, yes," I said, sitting back up, "your tip, I almost forgot."

Just as I closed my eyes, she slipped her hand behind my neck and dropped a chunk of crusted snow down my shirt. My eyes shot open. My heart skipped a beat.