Winter Warmers - Dec 2020 Writing Competition

Story Seven

'Sticks'

By Junit

"Any idea what your folks're doing for the Holidays?"

"No, no idea."

"Well, my family's gonna be having a huge party! You can come over!" "I'm gonna have to pass on that."

"Why did you reject my offer so quickly?! You could at least pretend to consider it!"

"I don't really see the value in pretending to consider something I would never consider doing."

"You're too honest for your own good sometimes, you know that?" I could have said that the reason I won't consider it is that he's the last person I'd ever want to spend a holiday with, but I kept that quiet. I wouldn't even want to trick-or-treat with him. Nod is the type of guy that would run around in a candy cane morphsuit just because. The two of us are probably too old for that, anyway.

Nod and I have been friends for a while, too long if you ask me. "Well, at least think about it, alright? My house can get pretty boring, even during parties."

Ah, so that's why he wanted me over.

"Fine, I'll think about it." I don't mind lying if it'll satisfy him. He wasn't going to drop it if I didn't say that.

"Welp, there's my place, see you later!"

Nod's house is on the way, I don't enjoy his company so much that I'd want to walk him home or anything.

I walk past his house almost every day, but this time, I noticed something that wasn't there ever before. Still as a statue, there was a small girl with a large scarf, looking up a tall tree in the front yard. It looks even bigger than usual with her standing next to it.

"You look confused. That's my sister, Namonia." What a name. I imagine they probably thought it sounded nice, but all it does is make me think of the lung infection.

"You never told me you had a sister."

"Why would I? It never came up in conversation, and I wasn't going to bring her up for no reason." Fair enough.

"How old is she?"

"Eight. And a half, I think." He thinks.

The girl, finally noticing our presence, hid behind the tree. She peeked out of the side and started calling out to her big brother.

"Nod! Who is that strange lady?"

Apparently I'm a strange lady.

"This is my underling, Petra!"

"I'm not your underling."

"Just go along with it."

"Why would I go along with it?"

"Because you're my best friend." I'm definitely not going along with it now.

The girl emerges from behind the tree, but still keeps a fair distance away.

"Is Petra coming to our party?"

"Yeah, of course she is!" A shameless lie.

After getting that answer, the little girl trotted over to the modern-looking house and went in.

"She probably just went to tell mom and dad that you're coming." He looks so smug.

"Fine, I'll come. When is it?"

"Christmas Eve! See you then!"

Nod cheerfully ran to the house, victorious for today.

"I'm home."