Erl is a young man from Voidview down on his luck, after a months long job search he finds himself working in small corner store called Crapola Convenience, trying not to let the odd customers drive him crazy.
(For best experience put on a nostalgic Christmas playlist for this chapter)
Here's one from last December, I think it was the 22nd, the last day that Doug had the store open before Christmas and the night of the tree lighting at Judas park, I was ecstatic, I have always loved the holidays. Capitalistic manufactured joy hung heavy in the central heated air alongside the smell of dried soda when Sparkplug started pawing at my arm, "Are you okay?" He asked, "I've never seen you this consistently happy before, it's unnerving." He finished, I planted 2 pats upon his head while I answered, "Better than okay lil homie, this my favorite time of year, Gonna take Merl to the tree lighting tonight, you coming?" He rested his elbows on the counter as he answered, "No, I don't really wanna." I tossed him a cookies and cream chocolate bar from the display, "That's fine, guess you're man of the house tonight."
The work day seemed to fly bye and I found myself walking home with Sparkplug, "So," I started, "You seem a little downtrodden, got a history with the happiest time of the year?" He just stared at me, "All right then, keep your secrets." I said before laughing at myself. Right as we got through the door Merl ambushed me, grabbing at my hair, "Ugh, Scruffy, why are you doing this to me? It gets worse every day!" I freed myself from his grasp before responding, "I'm growing out my hair because it's cold. And just to spite you." He made a face not unlike an snarling chihuahua, I laughed and moved on, got in the shower and got dressed for the tree lighting in an hour, When I came out Sparkplug was watching tv laid up on the couch While Merl pretended we wasn't also invested in the show with a closed book in his lap.
When the time to go came Merl and I told Sparkplug to lock the door behind us and off we went. We stopped at Hammerhand liquor to grab Me a fireball to sip during the event, we found a nice rail to lean on and chat, "How many Christmas together will this be now scruffy?" He said as he rubbed his gloved hands together, "3 I think," I answered. He looked at me for a long time, "I'm glad to see you so happy Scruffy." I took a swig and turned to him, "I like seeing you happy too Merlin." He kissed me on the cheek and stretched his arms high above his head. "I gotta piss. Stay here okay?" He said "My feet are planted." I responded with a smile.
While he was gone John wandered up to my side following Kreeg, "Hey Erl." He said from under his bandana wrapped around his lower face, "How's it hanging John?" I asked as I watched Kreeg run in a circle and trip and shatter her head. "Pretty good so far." He responded, I stared at her corpse as I sipped my fireball, "How do you deal with that?" I pointed with the bottle, "her dying all the time." John went silent and then sighed, "You want the real answer?" He looked me in the eyes while he asked, "Hit me with it big guy" I responded, he sounded soulful as he started, almost like he did when he sang. "I had a daughter once, Kayla," he tapped the rail a few times with his palm, "She was a product of a few bad decisions, I was 18 when she was born." He paused for a long time, "When she was 14 she got mixed up with an older chick, real bad influence. So I broke it off." I could hear the heartbreak rising in his throat, "She took it real bad. Hurled herself off the cliff by the Lamb family farm." He stopped, his eyes were wet. I held out the bottle to him, he took it gently and pulled his face covering down and took a swig, "Thanks," he took another.
"Kreeg reminds me of her. And you know she's not the fastest horse in the field. She needs someone to watch her back. I'm just hoping I can do a better job with her." I thought for a moment, "You did the right thing it sounds like," I started, he turned to look me in the eyes as I continued, "You couldn't have known she would do that." He laughed under his breath, "That's what they tell me." He took another drink, "So," he pointed at me, "Where's Sparky? kid normally tails you like he's tied to your shadow." He asked, "Ah," I responded waving a hand, "I don't think he cares much for the season." I finished. "Really? Figured a whimsical little guy like him seems like he'd love the vibes." He said. "I don't know, not my business." I shrugged. John repressed a laugh, "Smart, gossip is the devil violating your mouth, that's what Eddie used to say," I took a sip, "My brother."
"Sounds like a wise man." I said, John laughed hard, "No he was a dumb fuck." Just as he finished the tree lit up, he pointed with the bottle as the blinding light illuminated the falling snow, "That's fucking beautiful." He said softy.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He stared at it for a few minutes before handing me back my drink, "Welp.. I better get going. Kreeg will be wandering back up to my van soon," he said, "Merry Christmas Erl!" He added as he slipped away into the crowd. "Merry Christmas John." I said more to myself than him. Just then Merl came back and leaned against me, "Damn, I missed it!" He pouted, "Sorry big guy." I responded, "Whatever, I saw it last year." We stayed for a while longer to listen to the band that always plays after the tree lighting, but Merl was getting cold and it was only getting later.
On the way home I pulled into the GameStop, Merl asked me what we were doing there, I told him it will just be a quick stop. As we stood I front of the display I counted what I had in my wallet, "You're not buying that. He said, "but I am." I responded, "That is like 3 months of your salary, Scruffy! Your heart is too big for your brain!" He whisper-shouted, "Your nose is too big for your face." I responded. as I left to get an employee I heard him scoff. When we got home Sparkplug was doodling in his sketchbook on the ground in the living room, Merl passed me on the way it and tapped him on the shoulder, "I don't know what you did get so far under his skin," he pointed over his shoulder at me, "But you gotta teach me." He finished and went to our room to change, Sparkplug looked at me confused as I made my way over to him, I handed him a store wrapped box, inside was a Nintendo ds and a copy of Chrono Trigger, it's what the guy at the store recommended. I looked at him for a moment before turning around and heading to the kitchen, "Merry Christmas." I said quickly as I left.
