The Ranch

Happy Holidays (11)

It's the second to last day. Tih walks about, enjoying the scenery, the atmosphere. In the evening, he finds Instructor Maddox by Lake Phil. They catch up and Maddox brings Tih to a stall selling lanterns. A lantern festival is held at the lake. They can buy floating or flying lanterns.

Maddox buys a pair of each type. They find a place to sit and he explains the meaning behind the lanterns. When it was first introduced to the island holiday it was more traditional, but it's morphed slightly over time.

"Here, write a wish on this one." He hands Tih a marker from his inside pocket and a sky lantern. Tih scribbles on it. It's a mess and Maddox can't make out what it says.

He hands Tih a floating lantern next, "For this one, you should write something you're grateful for." Tih does the same thing. The two scribbles are different but no one can tell what they say.

Instructor Maddox writes on his and lights the four lanterns. As the sky darkens, they find a nice spot and let them go. The sky and surface of the water are filled with the lanterns.

Some people have taken small boats out onto the lake. The lanterns bump into the sides of the wooden vessels. Many stand along the shore to watch.

"A grand sight to behold."

"Truly magnificent."

The flying lanterns will slowly drift down and disintegrate in the water. So will the floating ones after a specified amount of time.

Tih follows the lanterns downstream, leaving Instructor Maddox behind.the lanterns float out to sea. There's a man sitting on the beach. He notices the boy and offers," This your first holiday?"

Tih nods.

"Would you like to hear my story?"

Tih walks closer. The man pats the sand beside him and Tih sits down.

The man's been on the island for a years now. He always misses the family he left behind during the holidays. He tells Tih stories about his childhood. They're all fairly average. Falling off the swing and breaking a bone. Going to school and hanging out with friends. Opening birthday presents with his family. Riding scooters around the neighborhood with his friends.

The man looks off into the distance with a somber gaze. Tih notices something different in his eyes however. The man talks about his nostalgia for those simpler times, how he'd do anything to return to that period of his life.

Someone in headquarters monitoring their talk shakes his head and tsks. He had the man's file in front of him on a separate screen. A compulsive liar. Everything he's said so far has been bull.

He's weaved his own childhood memories to cope and escape reality. The man is calm for now, but he periodically goes into hysteria. He no longer contains any potential. The observer in headquarters types on a holographic screen.

[enter command]

He types [Terminate].

The observer hears someone say from the side, "Aren't we worse off than them? We don't even get a vacation."

Someone looks up from their screen, "Come on man, we have this argument every year."

"Isn't it annoying though? The other departments take time off."

"Yeah, to allow the islanders to have their holiday in peace."

"Whatever man." He looks around the room, feeling more gutsy than usual due to his annoyance," You got any plans after your shift ends, leader?"

"Tch, courting death." The guy next to him mutters.

Icy eyes stare at the man that asked a question. He stutters," N-Nevermind then."