Winning Skylinn

14

A/N: I found out who Skylinn is! Her name is Emily Rudd in real life. And I found some more pictures of her, so I'll put some in here at random. Okay bye.

- - -

Fall turned to winter and Thanksgiving turned to Christmas. It wasn't my favorite time of year, but who didn't like Christmas at least a little? I guess it just wasn't as fun without the snow and the cold, windy nights. Few people went caroling, and since it was always sunshiny and warm in Orlando, we just didn't get that authentic Christmas feel. But it was alright. I liked giving gifts and being with my family.

We had a class Christmas party at Sunrise a few days before the big holiday. It was on a Friday this year, so the kids wouldn't have school. The party was on Wednesday.

I made my grandma's famous peanut butter ball recipe, and thought about making some eggnog as well. But then, no kid really liked eggnog anyway! I didn't either, to be honest.

I wore the Christmas sweater I'd worn to go Black Friday shopping-Wow, had it already been almost a month since then?-but I took time on my hair and makeup. Unlike last time.

I didn't like to get the kids gifts, because then I'd have to buy them all something. I wished I could, but I just didn't have the money. However, I did get Matthew a little something.

After the party, when his mom came to pick him up, I went out to the car with them. That's when I gave him his gift.

"For me?!" he exclaimed, grinning.

"Yes, of course. Open it!"

He tore open the paper and when he saw the Ninja Turtles action figure set inside, his face was priceless. Matthew was going through a Ninja Turtles phase at the time.

"Yay! It's so cool!" he cheered, clapping his hands.

I bent to his level and kissed him on the cheek. "I knew you would like it. You've gotta bring it to class and play with me, okay?"

He nodded excitedly. "I will!"

"Good. Merry Christmas, Matthew."

"Merry Christmas!" He gave me a big hug around the neck.

"Thank you for doing this, Skylinn," his mom spoke up. Tears glistened in her eyes. "This means so much to me-to both of us."

I felt myself get a little choked up hearing her speak. "No problem. I just love this little guy." I ruffled her son's hair playfully.

"Well he loves you too. He talks about you constantly back at home!"

I looked down at Matthew. "Do you really?"

He nodded, and my heart swelled.

"Thanks again, Skylinn." His mom looked down at him. "Matthew, can you tell Miss Sklylinn 'see you tomorrow'?"

"See you tomorrow!"

"See ya later, big guy." I gave him one last hug before he got in the car.

- - -

After work, I went home and put on some of my Christmas pj's. Then I made some hot cocoa and curled up on the couch to watch Rudolph. It was my favorite Christmas movie when I was a kid; now it was probably Elf.

I was about twenty minutes into the movie when there was a knock at the front door. I paused the movie and got up to see who was there.

"Jonny, hey! What's up?"

"Nothin. Just thought I'd come over again and see what you're doin."

What's his deal with dropping G's? I thought, but didn't call him out on it.

"I'm watching Rudolph."

"Ah, a classic. That was your favorite, wasn't it?"

"Always was. Until Will Farrell came along."

"Right, right. So can I come in?"

I'd forgotten we were still standing on my front porch. "Oh! Right, come in. Want some hot cocoa?" I asked, closing the door behind him.

"Sure," he answered. "I'll get it."

"I can get it-"

"No, no. Just sit. I bet you've had a long day."

I smiled appreciatively and sat down at the kitchen table while he made his cocoa.

"So. How was work?"

"Great. We had a Christmas party."

"Oh fun. Did Matthew like his present?"

I was flattered he'd remembered. But then, Jonny remembered everything. "He did. His mom was really grateful, too."

"I bet she was. I feel so bad for parents of kids with special needs... I mean, no offense, but it would be so heartbreaking to carry around a child in your stomach for nine months and find out it's, like, disabled at birth."

I frowned sadly. "Yeah. But I don't think it makes them love the kid any less. In fact, it probably just makes them even more grateful. To even have a kid."

"True. And he is pretty cute."

Jonny had come by the daycare a couple times to see me, when I first started working there. So he knew what Matthew looked like.

"Definitely. So how was your day at work?"

Jonny just worked at the local Culver's. He said it was stressful but I knew how much he loved it.

"It was good," he said. The timer on the microwave beeped. "Oh, there's my cocoa. Shall we watch Rudolph?"

"We shall." I smiled and grabbed my own cup of cocoa. Now, back to the movie!