Author Games: World Seasons

Task Three - Buttons - Christmas Tributes

Rudolf Snow

“No Rudolf. You may not fucking touch the jam.”

I frown and nod, resting my back against a tree. The green branches rustle and a few small clumps of snow fall into my hair.

Clover still won’t let me touch the jam.

Every time I reach for the jar she swats my hand away and tells me not to touch the ‘fucking jam’. I just want to know what flavor it is. I’ve never seen jam quite like it before. Half of its deep purple and the other half is a vivid green.  I think it’s grape and sour apple, but I don’t know what anyone would want that.

“Can I touch the jam?” Jefferson asks, with a pleading look.

“No one can touch the fucking jam!” Clover snaps.

“Yes Clover.” Jefferson and me mumble in unison. She won’t let Jeff touch the jam either. Maybe it’s special to her.

“What flavor do you think it is?” I whisper in Jefferson’s ear.

“I don’t know.” he replies sourly, still clearly upset about not getting to touch the jam. I wonder what makes that jam so special to her.

“Would the two of you stop staring at the jam!?” Clover barks and crosses her arms, “Neither or you are going to touch the jam in your existence.”

“I’m still hungry.” Jefferson says and pulls one of his loaves of bread from his backpack. It’s nearly in his mouth when Clover smacks it out of his hand. “Why’d you do that!?”

Clover sighs, “We need to be careful with the little food we have. Since we-“

“Maybe we’d have more food if we could eat the jam?” I suggest and Clover immediately glares ta me like an angry elf.

“NO! WE ARE NEVER EATING THE JAM!” Clover explodes and hops up, placing her hands on her hips.

“Why not?” I ask. I really don’t understand why we can’t try just a bit of it. What’ll it do?

“IT TASTES LIKE SHIT!”

“Oh.” Jeff says and frowns again.

I guess it just doesn’t taste good. At least Clover’s looking out for us!

All of a sudden a little rustle is heard and the three of us look at each other. What is that?

“Quick! Behind the tree!” Clover hisses and pulls us behind the tree.

We sit behind the tree for a few seconds before I ask if I can move, which Clover finds to be a ‘fucking dumb’ question and telling me to shut up and sit.

Finally Clover sighs and permits us to go back. “I thought it was a tribute.” she mumbles and sits back down.

“Why? Did you want it to be a tribute?” Jeff asks.

Clover opens her mouth, maybe to another bustling in the nearby bushes makes her drag the two of us behind a tree again. I open my mouth but she slaps one of her hands over it.

Did I say something?

“I’m so hungry…” a tired and quiet voice says.

“Mmmmm mmmm!” I try to talk, but Clover shoves her hand harder onto my face. All I was gonna ask was who it was!

“It’s Snowflake Elfington. You’re only living District Partner. She’s fucking crazy and scared of about everything.” she whispers in my ear, almost as if she’s reading my mind.