The Gift of Chaos

1 - Riley

Everyone has an opinion about Christmas.

Some say it's just a huge marketing scam to sell candy, toys and other useless items. Others love its poetry, and the rest can't stand the memories the holidays bring back. In my case, I loved Christmas. Most of the time.

"Riley Lane, please stop scowling," Mum said from the front seat.

"Your mother's right, dear, cheer up," Dad said beside her. "It is Christmas, after all."

It's true I'd been glaring out the snowy window for the past hour. We were driving towards grandma Velma's old house in Hollybridge, about two hundred miles away from London, where we lived. Now, don't get me wrong. I loved grandma Velma, even if she always pinched my cheeks when she saw me and tried to stuff me with fourth helpings of every meal because I looked, in her opinion "dangerously thin".

But I hadn't been there in three years, and had to admit Christmas at home in London had been more fun. I hadn't had to worry about being "proper" as much as I did with grandma. She insisted on us being properly dressed at all times and not being too exuberant. I was sixteen, I needed to express my feelings!

"I know, I know..." I replied, still sulking. "I still don't see why we couldn't stay in London this year. We did last year."

"And the two years before that," Mum reminded. "We haven't seen Grandma Velma in ages."

"She's itchy!" Lucas complained.

Lucas, my ten year old brother, was sitting next to me, a stack of comic books between us. Which was pointless, since he almost always felt sick when he read while driving.

"Lucas, really!" Mum chided.

"Now, now, he does have a point. Your mother is a bit scratchy."

Mum didn't answer, but I could tell she wasn't pleased by the comment.

"Hey, Rie, let's play a game!"

"Ri-ley, Lucas," I sighed. "And I don't really feel like it."

He always called me 'Rie". Mum said it was affectionate, like Soph for Sophie. But I didn't like it, or understand it. I didn't go around calling him Lu, did I?

"Come on, Rie, please?" he begged.

I looked down at his big green eyes and red hair, which he'd inherited from Dad.

"Go on, darling, the poor thing's bored," Mum said coaxingly.

What about the fact I might not want to play? But of course, that was put aside, as usual.

"All right..." I said, if only to get some peace.

"Let's play the guessing game!" Lucas said excitedly. "You guess first!"

"Fine... is it a man?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"Does he wear a red cape?"

"Yes!"

"Is it Superman?" I asked wearily.

"Yes! How did you guess so fast?"

"You always choose Superman." I sighed. "Your turn."

"... Hm... is it a woman?" Lucas asked.

"No." I replied.

"A man, then?"

This was wearing on my patience fast. But I forced myself to calm.

"Yes."

"Is he dressed in black?" Lucas asked, his tone indicating he was starting to feel confused.

I usually picked characters he knew just to get my turn over. But I hadn't this time.

"No."

"... Is he a comic book character?"

"No."

"Does he have red hair?" he asked, glancing Dad's way.

I racked my brains trying to remember.

"No," I finally said.

"Um... does he have glasses?"

"Yes."

He was really struggling to find the answer, I noted with amusement.

"Is it Harry Potter?"

"No."

Lucas scratched his head.

"Is he real?" he asked.

"Yes."

"... Is he a neighbour?"

"No."

"Does he live in the country?"

"Riley, enough. That's not fair. Your brother can't know uncle Jeffrey," Mum interjected shortly. "He never met him!"

Uncle Jeffrey was Mum's brother who'd died in an accident before Lucas was born. I admittedly didn't remember him that well, but I had met him when I'd been younger.

"You told me to play with him!" I protested.

"Yes, but play fair!"

"It's okay... I don't want to play any more..." Lucas said.

That was him. As soon as things got tense, he would recoil and say something to stop the conflict. I sighed and pulled out my notepad which I began scribbling ideas for my next story on as the snow flew past us outside.

*********

Here is the first chapter to my exciting new Christmas story. Hope you like it! More chapters to come! I am aiming to have it complete by Christmas. Happy Holidays!