The Happiness Thief (TEGSA)

→01. Beginning of chaos←

As the sun peeks from the mountain's rim,the rooster glances at his watch and keeps his newspaper aside. He climbs on the top of it's house and crows. A cacophony of human sounds filled the air:clattering of utensils, angry shouts,sweet goodbyes,deceptive whispers and infant's wails.The rooster could not help but stare at the chaotic lives of humans,who according to him, were the slaves of time."I pity them." The hen quoted and gestured to her husband to come in.

Meanwhile,sun rays and wind were inducing a runner. Both of them wanted to caress Maxwell's cheeks first. Unfortunately, for sunray,wind winked at him which caused him to close his composure.He unknowingly slowed down to absorb the moment while wind flicked Maxwell's hair and proceeded ahead with a cheerful giggle.

Max enthusiastically wakes and up stretches his arms.He closes his eyes and brings his hands together and prays,"O almighty, I hope that one day it rains chocolates and I get to swim in caramel.I hope that I am a magnet, and all the happiness of the world sticks to me. After all, I have been a good boy! You can ask Santa for confirmation!"

He flips out of the bed,tidies the bed sheet,folds his blanket and keeps it in the closet. The door of his room unlocks,"My baby, the water is ready! Why don't you quickly take a bath and join us downstairs for breakfast?" His mother tells him. He beams at her and salutes before breaking into giggles and running towards the lavatory. The moon could not help aw at his cuteness while the sun rolled its eyes in jealousy.

While scrubbing himself, he turned towards the wall which he had painted. "Hey buddy! Have you freshened up? Are you ready to steal the stars from the sky,to keep them for yourself till the day you die?"He questions the astronaut and splashes water on himself. He wraps a towel around his torso and before leaving he yells," I will collect more happiness then the stars which you collect during your venture buddy!Adios!"

After dressing up in his favorite green jumpsuit, Max slid downstairs. He playfully dances throughout the lobby, as if he was transported to the cretaceous period. He abruptly stops and his eyes narrow as he sees a small dinosaur munching on cereal. It was none other than his younger brother, Carl. A boy, of age four with an astonishing amount of curly orange hair and brown eyes.He was lost in his own thoughts and seemed to be engrossed in his own company. Max, looked around. His mother was preparing breakfast while his father was busy on the phone. He seized the opportunity, and grabbed the remaining cereal.

An evil smile creeps on his face, and he harshly bops Carl's nose, making the little one cry. Clara, Max's mother, quickly arranges the dishes and takes the younger one in her arms, in a desperate attempt to calm him. Max settles himself on the high chair, and starts eating his omelet while smirking at his brother.Creaking sound of a chair is heard and his father,Vincent settles beside him.

"David and his family are visiting us. They will stay till dinnertime," Vincent announces and eats a morsel," I urged him to stay for the night, but work calls him."

"Aw, that's really sad! I wished to spend time with Ellena, after all it's been a while since I last met her. Not to mention the gossip which she holds!"
Clara brings her hands together, and her eyes sparkle like glitter. The three of them simply stare at her. She quickly regains her composure,"Gentlemen,do not give me that look." She says and fixes her hair to hide the embarrassment.Vincent couldn't help but chuckle to himself,and wondered how did he even fall in love with her.

In the midst of the romantic moments and munching,Max was on high alert. David and Ellena were his uncle and aunt who had a son named Jaden. He had recently turned eight,and was the center of attention.This was envied by Max,as he was the apple of everyone's eyes and he had vowed that all the love shall be received by him... Even if that meant eliminating someone else's happiness.

***

David cranks up the volume of the car's stereo,letting the thumping beat fill the air. Jaden continued to vibe on the backseat while Ellena, who was sitting beside him winced slightly at the sudden increase in the volume,but David simply grinned and turned it up even more. As he glances at his wife, his expression shifts from carefree to concerned. He notices that her belly, slightly bulged out,with her pregnancy, was slightly constricted by the seat belt. Without a word, he gestures to her to loosen the seat belt. She flashes him a warm smile before subtly arranging it.
"I am extremely excited to tell my brother about the good news! After all, it's been a while since the Wynter's house was filled with the giggles of a newborn baby!"

Ellena nods,while David fixes his eyes on the road,a wave of nostalgia hits him. Vincent and David were brought up in a town called,The Cape of Cordan. They grew up in a farmhouse, where their father earned just enough to feed them.When the boys entered their teenage days,the town was divided into two parts.David decided to move to the city for higher education while Vincent stayed back to preserve their memories.

The road which leads to the Old town is now popularly known as,"Old Town Road".

***

Max was playing in the corridor with his car. He was driving the car, and blabbering a storyline to himself. He hears his parents whispering in the main hall,and stops to eavesdrop.

"Did you wrap the gift properly? Ah, yes, yes , keep it on the table!"

He heard his mother say that. The word"gift" particularly piqued his interest. He barged in,and his eyes shined at the sight of a huge box,which was a gift wrapped in his father's hands. He sprinted towards it, and tried to pull it but his hands slipped.

"Father, give it to me!" He demanded.

"No Max.This is for your cousin brother!" Vincent answered and kept it on the table.

"What does it contain?" Max tried to dig deeper."It is a remote control jeep." Vincent answers while staring at the box."Can I get it?" Max asks, in the sweetest way possible, hoping to melt his father. But he received a huge no and he huffed before leaving the hall.

When the doorbell rings,Max stands there in the most decent way. The door opens,and Max's eyes narrow as he sees a smiley Jaden.

[A/N- The first prompt,"Old Town Road" is the setting of the story. I hope you all like this chapter. Stay tuned!]