Chattel *Larry/Zialliam* BoyxBoy

The Toy

CHAPTER 2
The Day before Christmas

Crystals of ice floated from the skies above and settled as thick layer of white on the lands below, covering up the vibrant greens and baring the dull brown trunks.

Louis stuck his tongue out, mesmerized by the flake of snow sizzling and disappearing on his tongue. It was too early to be outside, and far too early to be out on a day that snowed and chillness easily seeped into the bones.

The sun hadn't even properly woken up yet and so they flooded their lawn with artificial light.

"Walter, can I decorate the snowman?" He asked, getting up from the mound of snow he made himself which had initially been the precursor for the snowman. It was almost flat now.

"It looks really good, Walter!" Louis exclaimed looking at the traditional three-balled snowman.

Walter was the butler. He was basically the manager of the house. He was middle-aged, greying at the edges. He was skinny and lanky and was known for his quick temper among the help. A perfectionist at heart. However, when it came to the young master, he had bountiful of patience.

Walter exhaled and smiled. He already felt so exhausted. He had been woken up at four in the morning, only to find piercing blue eyes and small hands pulling on his pajamas telling him that it was time to make a snowman. When he pulled a sock out of his mouth, Louis quietly reasoned that he was snoring too loudly.

"Of course, Louis. Here you go" Walter said and offered him a plate that held carrots and other random vegetables, a couple of sticks and other apparel.

"Walter, Mummy's going to get me a really special toy this year and I'm going to get it today!" He excitedly spoke up as he pushed in the carrot, standing on his tippy-toes.

"Oh, really? That's wonderful Louis" Walter commented, this wasn't the first time Louis talked about it. Walter and Christina knew how long Louis had been waiting for this day to
arrive. He wondered now, if the kid had even slept. He glanced at Louis and decided he probably hadn't, not with such bundle of excitement unwrapping inside his head.
He even crossed off the days with a big red marker on the calendar, till the day he would be able to open his present that his mother had promised.

"It's looks magnificent, simply marvelous" Walter commented excitedly looking at Louis' fully decorated snowman fully equipped with buttons and scarf. This had been a tradition since Louis had turned four.

Louis grinned wide. He pulled off his ear mufflers and put it on his snowman.

Once inside, Louis flooded his stomach with hot chocolate. He wasn't allowed such food usually but since it was birthday and it was nearly Christmas, hence that was equivalent to an all access pass to the pantry.

He patiently waited for his mom to wake up but failed miserably with his eyes fluttering shut in minutes and he soon fell asleep on the dining table.

"You better not disappoint the kid" Walter mumbled and carried the kid back to the bed.

Louis's eyes fluttered open slowly but then closed once again. He didn't want to wake up. The morning was so chilly and underneath the blanket, it was so warm and snug. Louis smiled and snuggled further into the sheets.

"Louis! Happy Birthday!" A voice boomed into the room.

Louis's eyes shot open. It was his birthday! It was his birthday!

He quickly shed the blankets that had pooled around his waist. He even pushed past Christina who was now laughing.

Louis continued running, almost rolling down the stairs. He was so excited. The thrill of opening his soon-to-be surprise was burning his body with exhilaration. He felt his tiny heart flutter like a humming bird in his miniature caged chest.