Two Elves

Chapter Four

There were no marshmallows in our dinner tonight.

Not one. I practically tore the food apart searching for it. Not that mom noticed, she picked at her food all evening. Eyes downcast, you could tell she was thinking deeply.

"Promise me you'll come home to me." She mumbled

"It's just gift delivery mom, I'll be back before you know it. I promise, I'm sorry for what I said and how I said. I'll be careful.

"Your dad and I wanted you so bad", she continued. Inhaling deeply, she tossed her food around.

" I thought I would be lucky enough to have a child at first try, and then a year passed, soon it was two years and before I knew it, ten years had passed". She smiled wistfully.

I was surprised, and I'm sure I looked it. I never knew about this, and I wondered why she felt the need to tell me this today, seventeen years later.

"And then you came, The morning sickness was terrible". We both laughed at that.

"I couldn't stop eating marshmallows, I craved it all the time and your father was always there to feed it to me".

She seemed to daydream for a while and I watched her. I don't remember my dad, I was three when he passed but mom never stopped telling me about him, it felt like I met him from all the stories she told.

"But I didn't care about all of that". She looked me dead in the eye.

"I just couldn't wait to meet you". She said it so softly, I felt it. All of that love, I felt it deeply.

"I love you Charlie, always remember that. I would do anything for you. I hope you never forget the length I would go for you. Including illegal things."

I laughed so loud at that and sniffed. That was when I realized I was crying, and she was crying too. I stretched out my right hand and she took it, wiping her cheeks with her left hand.

"I love you mom, thank you for everything. I'll be careful, I'll come back. I mean where would I meet someone that adds marshmallows to everything?"

" I thought you loved my marshmallows!" She tried to look offended but was failing.

"I loathe it." I deadpanned.

"No you don't! You loved it when I was pregnant" she tried to argue, but with a huge smile on her face.

"I hated it even then." I replied, smiling at her.

"Well that's too bad, it's staying."

"I wouldn't have it any other way mom". We both stared at each other for a while and I stood up, rounded the table and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"I'll do the dishes, get some rest." I proceeded to carry the dishes to the sink, I could feel her eyes on my back. Watching me, like she had more to say. But settled on,

"Goodnight my baby boy".

And then she left, and I went back to my sketchbook after washing the dishes. Adding new drawings and smiling so wide.

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"Okay so to control the reindeers, you need to_____"

"Tug softly on their reins and speak calmly, this is not a movie, they do not need to be whipped or kicked" I rolled my eyes, repeating what Tim said for the millionth time. I just wanted to leave, it's frustrating how he has been treating us for the past week because he still can't accept the fact that it's happening.

But it is...  cue the chicken dance.

My mother rushed in, talking so fast and panicking that it made me panic too.

"There's a bag of marshmallows in there, your favorite Trojan cookie, a jar of jam, some sandwiches.I forgot something didn't I? What is it? Did you need me to add some ri___"

"Mom, Breathe." I held unto her shoulders, staring straight into her eyes.

"You didn't forget anything, you gave me more than I even thought I needed. It's just a few hours, I'll be back soon okay?"

"Okay but can I give you one last thing?" She added.

"Of course" I stepped back a little.

She pulled out a bracelet I've never seen before, it had beads and a little talisman in it.

"This is a very special bracelet, it belonged to your father, when you need it the most, it'll surprise you."

She tied it on my wrist and gave me a kiss.

"My special boy." She said.

And then stepped back and left the room like she couldn't bear to be there any longer and not drag me back home.

"We have to go Charlie." Anna said that in a way, like she was taming a rabid dog and the dog was me. With a deep breath I walked into the stables, the reindeers were ready to go, And so was I.

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie... what are you doing? I can assure you as the author, even I don't know yet!

Until Next Time.