Wake Up: Undying Christmas Spirit

This is the second out of three installments to 'Wake Up', a short story I wrote a year ago. I thought I'd post this now because it is set during Christmas time and it is likely the last story I'll put up until after Christmas. For this to make sense to you, please read the first installment which is down farther on my page. So here it is 'Wake Up: Undying Christmas Spirit':

After a few weeks, I got used to living in his basement. I mean, it was wonderful, I had everything I needed. I didn't have any run ins with his family at all. I did hear them talking and watching television late at night though, which made me worry I would get caught. During the day hours, I had the house to myself. It was an easy, easy, life. I loved it. One day, Connor came home, he told me about all of the family's plans for Christmas, which was soon, in a few weeks actually. "CJ, we'll be having a bunch of people over and I'm not too sure that you'll be safe here" he explained. "Well, couldn't you just introduce me as a friend?". "Well, ya....I guess that's the only way we'll pull it off".

So we spent the next few days preparing for the company. Connor explained to his parents that he would be having a guest, and they didn't mind one bit. It was Christmas Eve, and they were all sitting by the fire. I was downstairs watching TV and listening to their conversations. The only thing that was on were a bunch of old Christmas movies ( it was a good thing, because I loved them all). I had the Christmas spirit well inside me tonight, it was the best feeling, a feeling I haven't felt in a long time. I guess Christmas spirit never really dies inside of you. Connor even told me that he got me a present, I got one for him. The biggest present he gave was taking me in though. My mind filled with worry about all of the questions his family would be asking me tomorrow, I wondered if I could actually answer them with a straight face. He trained me well, I'm sure we covered all of the questions I could possibly be asked in one day. Connor left me with some eggnog, which was my favorite of course, reunited with an old friend. As I lounged on my pull out couch, I began drifting towards sleep. I tried to keep myself awake, so desperately because of my rude awakening tomorrow. Connor was to wake me up at 5:30 AM, I was to then keep myself busy until 9:00 AM and then ring his doorbell, introducing myself to his family. It sure was a stunt, but due to my expertise in scamming bus drivers, I was positive that I'd pull it off easy. My eyes began to drag themselves down, and I slowly turned the TV off.

I fell asleep. "CJ! CJ! Wake Up! Time to pull this off". I woke up and pulled myself out of bed. "You sure about this, I mean I could just leave for the day" I checked. "No, we'll be fine! Don't worry about a thing." "Okay, so I'll just go through the door and then like hang out til nine?". "You can't go through the door. You'll have to go through the window". As he pushed me through the basement window, I began to have second thoughts on his plan. "Good Luck" he said, and then he slammed the window shut. It was dark, and dreary, no signs of flying reindeer. I was walking through the neighborhood, half asleep at 5 AM, I couldn't help but to wonder how I got here. I reflected on my past, the years that were good, the ones that were bad, and the year that it happened. I'm not even sure if it was an accident anymore, it was so hard to remember. Everybody must have given up on the case now, just assuming my body was too deep to be found. I don't really know, maybe things would have been better if I didn't run away. I certainly wouldn't be here. I'm thankful that I am though. I wonder what people think right now, if they saw me walking around at 5 in the morning. It's really a wonder that I pulled this stuff off, I mean Jesus. I finally stopped at a diner that was open for 24 hours. I swung open the door, waking up the only waitress on duty. "Hello. Welcome to the Diner, only 1 this morning?". "Yes" I said.

She directed me towards a red table with the menu placed inside the glass. I hated these menus. They were the most annoying things ever. I decided to have scrambled eggs. I really think that this diner should change the 24-Hour policy because when the food came out it looked horrible. It was a greenish red color. I managed to eat half of it and then pushed it aside. I wondered something 'Why would they be open on Christmas?'. So I asked the waitress. "I am working too many jobs to count, we had to beg the manager for sone time, and it's technically Christmas Eve, I get off shift and close down in 12 minutes. A better question would be why you're here on Christmas..." she kind of asked, but I'm pretty sure it was a rhetorical question. She gave me my check and I got out of there as fast as I could. The sun finally started to emerge and I was able to see the beautiful Christmas displays. They were really great. I walked through deserted park and found a little hut to hide out in. I checked my watch, it was 8:30. The time really passed, well I took a while finishing those eggs....so maybe not. I shoved myself out of the muddy, disgusting hut, and walked towards Connor's street. Now that people were awake, I saw judgmental faces watching me walk the streets alone on the morning of Christmas.

Finally, I saw Connor's house and hesitated, took a deep breath and turned around. I couldn't do this. No way. I'm so hopeless, I should turn myself into the cops. That's what I'll do. As soon as I took a step, I remembered what happened the first day I met Connor. He helped me, and I'm going to stay with him I knocked on the door, which was stupid because the doorbell was right there, in plain sight too. Connor's mother answered. A woman I have never seen, only heard. "Oh, you must be Jack!" she exclaimed. As soon as she said that, I realized Connor made up a name. "Hey, thanks for letting me intrude on your Christmas, I mean, my parents really feel bad..." . "Well, you're not intruding, Connor's excited to have you here! Go on and have a seat in the living room!". I walked anxiously, into the living room expecting to see Connor. I didn't. He was nowhere in sight. "Where's Connor?" I asked. "Oh! He went to get some logs for the fire with his father, they'll be back in a few minutes, make yourself at home Jack!" I sat down on an unusually comfy couch. It was like heaven for your bottom.

Anyways, here comes the interrogation I expected". "So Jack, what school do you go to?", great the only question we didn't go over.....I replied "Well um, I go to a private school around here, it's....err....called saint... Tab.....uh.....the.....Saint Tabatha's School for the Future Leaders of America. Yeah, it's kind of exclusive...". They all stared, wide-eyed. "Well, that's impressive, haven't heard of that school.....are you sure thats"- He got interrupted with something that saved me. A little old lady, who I'm positive is Connor's aunt exclaimed " O! I sure do remember that school! I knew a few fine lads that attended that school.....yes....they turned out.....fine". Oh god, she must be senile. All conversation stopped and everybody was sucked into the Television screen. It was playing a documentary on the mystery that was Santa Claus, yes, it was strange, but it was interesting to say the least.

Finally, my savior burst through the door with a stack of logs in his arms. He said "Oh! Jack...you're here already! Great, I need to show you something upstairs real quick!". I jumped out of my seat as fast as anyone could. Upstairs, the first time I saw his bedroom. He had many little trinkets and decorations there. " Okay, how is it going?" he asked with measurable concern. "Well, your uncle had me with a question, but luckily your aunt saved me....". "Ya, she is out there". We went back down there and the rest of the day worked, it just worked. It was even fun for me, being part of a family for once. We finally ate a great big turkey, something I haven't ate in a while. Then when it was time to go, this happened. "So Jack, when did your mom say she was gonna pick you up?", "Well, um........I....." My throat choked up, and I got really teary eyed. "He can walk, she told him to walk!" Connor stated, and he helped me out the door while whispering "The basement window is open".

As if my crying wasn't bad enough, the awkward trip down the basement window was horrible. As soon as I fell on the floor I climbed to the sofa and fell asleep. My dreams were filled with a scene in the snow, depicting Santa mugging me...

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!