The Sociopath Society

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Deck the halls with bells of holly

John woke with a sense of excitement in the pit of his stomach. Christmas was here! A day with his family all coming round to his house, celebrating. His family wasn't exactly large but it was never a dull affair. Grinning widely John sat bolt upright on his bed, grabbing his phone to check for messages. There were four. Two whole hearted ones from Molly and Lestrade, wishing him a merry Christmas and promising to exchange presents at John’s New Year’s Eve party, and two half hearted one from Sally and Anderson. None from Sherlock. He hadn’t expected any but he still couldn’t help feeling disappointed. He quickly replied to the ones he’d gotten before sending one to Sherlock with the contents Merry Christmas xxx. He doubted that he’d get a reply. After all it was Sherlock. So who knew?

A light smile framed John’s face as he got up and ready for the day. He pulled on his best checked shirt, a snug wool jumper and some nice trousers. Nothing fancy. When he was younger he would always run downstairs to the living room in his pyjamas, raring to open the presents from Santa in his stocking above the fireplace. Santa no longer visited (he knew the truth) but his two younger cousins would undoubtedly be full of the tales of the marvellous presents they got.

“Morning mum, dad!” John called as he ran down the stairs and into the kitchen nearby. His mother was making fresh pancakes, the tempting smells making his mouth water, and his father was reading a newspaper at the small four person table. They normally ate in there rather than in the dining room. There was no sign of Harry. She was undoubtedly still asleep in preparation for whatever large Christmas party she was going to attend before returning in the early hours of the morning drunk.

“Harry not up yet?” John commented wryly as he sat down, running a hand through his hair.

“Nope!” His mum replied brightly as she flipped a pancake. “I’ll g wake he when the panvakes are ready. Then presents before everyone else arrives!”

“Great!” John grinned, leaning back. His phone buzzed causing him to pull it out, shocked at the announcement that he had a text from Sherlock.

I presume this is where I’m meant to wish you a ‘Merry Christmas.’ –SH

John smirked as he typed up a reply. Yes. Have a good day. BTW my mum says its fine for you stay whenever you want. John was surprised at the speed that he got a reply.

I won’t. Oh, great. –SH John rolled his eyes, pocketing his phone as he heard another person enter the room. Harry. He hadn’t expected her to get up of her own accord.

“Morning, sis,” John’s tone was teasing as Harry sat down beside him with a grumpy glare. She so obviously had a hangover.

“Just in time for breakfast, Harry dear!” Their mum announced as she place a plate piled with steaming pancakes. John grinned, blue eyes glued to the food. Christmas was already looking up.

“I’ll go get the presents!” Their mum continued brightly, scurrying out of the room.

Soon the family of four was digging into pancakes and exchanging presents. John received a Harry’s old phone from her (she claimed to be broke) and all the course books he needed for his first year at university from his parents. He had already found one leaflet about the army jammed into a book. Undoubtedly there’d be more lying about.

The day gradually got busier as more family arrived before the Christmas dinner. By the end the total stood at twelve. The four Watsons, three cousins, two aunts, two uncles and a grandmother. Two cousins were quite a bit younger than John, the other Harry’s age. Of course John got stuck with the job of looking after the six and eight year old while they were in the house. Yippee.

Thankfully the day went by reasonably quickly with dinner being a typical fun Christmas one and more presents being given. John ended the day with quite a few more wool jumpers, shirts and loads of vouchers. People really were getting uninventive.

Though it had been a good, rather entertaining day John was glad to retire to his room after everyone was gone. The silence was welcome as John plopped onto his bed in preparation to read through his new course book. His actions were interrupted by the beeping of his phone, though, and a text.

Coming to stay at yours. Be there in fifteen minutes. Things bad at home. –SH