On Three: Special

Christmas

Matt

I walk into the store that all of us call the "Snow Store" for the snow that appears to be on the roof, though we all know it's fake. Except during the winter, which is now, the roof is covered with actual snow and it's even more beautiful. The familiar candy-like smell wafts up my nose as I walk into the clothing area of the gift shop, which is a step down from the normal floor. Well, more like a tourist shop.

The place is jam-packed with almost every touristy thing you would expect a store like this to have. The little keychains with everyone's name on it except the select few like Isla and Iris who never find their names on anything. A few other items such as little stuffed horses with "I heart Red River" written on the shirts the horses are wearing and a basket of special colored rocks are some hits here in this store, and several people are looking at these items.

As for me, I walk right to the back wall where I find only one of these items left. A beautiful stuffed rabbit that has a little beanie bag in it that you can spray a lavender spray on it so the rabbit smells like lavender. I smile. Good. It's still here. I adjust the little light brown bow on the brown rabbit's neck.

Bypassing the tourists once again, I make my way up to the counter. The cashier smiles at me and rings up the little rabbit. I pay for it and step outside the store. The snow on the ground glitters and makes a soft crunching noise under my feet. I make it over to my truck and hop in, placing the rabbit in the chair next to me.

"Iris is going to love you," I say. She's always telling me that lavender is her favorite scent because it reminds her of me.

I drive off into the snowy mountains, to a secluded cabin that only a few people who are really looking can see. The climb up to this cabin can be scary, especially since it's covered in snow, but I'm so giddy I don't notice.

I park my white truck in the back garage, next to Mark's silver Altima. I pick up the rabbit and cradle it as I walk up the stairs in the garage to the door, on which I unlock, which leads to Mark's room. I wave to him as I walk in, but he doesn't look up from his computer. Instead of making my presence more known, I walk into the room next to him, my room, and place the rabbit on my bed. I sit back and admire it for a second before I walk over to my desk and sit down. I pick up a pen and piece of paper and begin my Christmas card to go with the rabbit.

Dear Iris,

You are a beautiful and wonderful person and I will never regret meeting you. I love you so much and I will never stop loving you. You light up my life with your voice and you stun the world with your songs. I hope you enjoy the present I got you. 

Merry Christmas,

Matt

I put my pen down and seal the card. Perfect.

I pull a box out from under my bed that I found at work yesterday and place the rabbit in it. I place tissue paper around it in the box to sort of cover it up. Then, I tape the box shut and wrap it in some snowflake wrapping paper. I place a little bow on top and sit the box back down on my bed. Done.

Iris

I frantically run through the stores around town, searching for the perfect present to get Matt. I don't even know what he likes. Maybe I'm not as close to him as I thought. He's a guy. What do I get him? There are a few cheesy shirts that say something like "I love RR, NM" and other shirts that have bears in Santa hats hanging up in the stores, but none of them are good for a present. I sigh. Isla walks up to me holding a bag that says "Red River Trading Company" on the outside of it. Glad she found something.