58Community It’s Tuesday, Jan. 16th, 9am, and the possibilities are endless: sledding, baking, movie-watching, gaming, socializing, sleeping in. Classes are out, and snow is here. How could the second week of school get any better? Though each individual has their personal favorite snow day pastime, of course, a guaranteed place of socialization is Midnight Oil Coffeehouse, packed to the brim with snacks, drinks, games and a good laugh with a fellow customer or barista. When a snow day hits, you can bet that every table will be occupied and every chair filled. Midnight Oil has been a favorite landing spot for Harding students and Searcy locals alike, offering space for games or conversation and connection with both old friends and new acquaintances. As students file in, the baristas flurry behind the bar to prepare hot chocolates and lattes. Customers wrap their fingers around their mugs, slowly thawing and sparking up conversations newly energized by the promise of no classes and maybe (fingers crossed) no homework. A rousing game of Codenames occupies a group near the fireplace while a chess competition between Willie Black—a MO regular and famous cat-lover—and anyone brave enough to face him for the chance of a free drink. Hands shake in greeting, and names are exchanged between individuals who were until now separated only by class schedules. Some more studious individuals take some time to get a head start on papers or projects, but no one is too busy to remove an earbud and chat for a moment or two. Friendships blossom despite the cold as the chess game gets heated, the allure of competition pulling strangers in closer—checkmate, Willie wins again! A girl looks up from her novel in the corner as the loser laughs and shakes his head, heading to the bar to order from the barista he hasn’t chatted with in a while. He has always been rushing to class or chapel, after all. But no one is rushing today, slowed to freezing by the ice, snow and wind that toys with the ends of scarves and corners of textbooks. Time doesn’t pass here. It sits demurely in the corner, twiddling its thumbs patiently until the ice slips away, and it may return to regulating the ten-minute breaks between lectures and lunches with friends. No, time has stopped for just a day or two, so dust off your coat, thaw out your fingers and stay a while. Written by Cerra Cathryn Anderson During the snow day, students warm up and enjoy together’s company at Midnight Oil. MO IN THE Worthy Competitor | Midnight Oil regular Willie Black opens a game of chess. Black challenged anyone for a chance to win a free drink if they defeated him in the game. Photo courtesy of Hannah Carpenter Snow
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