Something in the Way You Move [O'J]

A Christmas Eve Tradition

Callie's POV

I wake up first the next morning, but since I'm in the middle of the pack, I can't really move. I roll over onto my back (the only way I can move) and look up at the ceiling. I wonder what we're going to do today. I hear groaning and turn to look over at Elaine, on my left side. "Morning, Callie," she murmurs. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah, great. You?"

"Same."

"What are we doing today, do ya think?"

"Definitely a snowball fight, complete with snow forts and stuff! The snow is the perfect snowball making quality. It's also tradition, on Christmas Eve!"

We keep talking for a few minutes until others start to wake up. We all unscramble from each other with some difficulty and slowly, a few at a time, head upstairs. Elaine and I head up first and sit down at the island in the kitchen, where we have a conversation with Jessie and Mandy. Words really can't describe how happy I am to be part of this family.

A hand ruffles my hair. I lean my head back and stare up at Danny. "Morning!" I say. He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. "Morning, love. Sleep well?"

"Yup!"

He chuckles and says, "Good." He walks over to Jessie and kisses her cheek from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. God, he's so sweet to her. Wait, why am I surprised? He treats me like that too, just on a less-intense level. Which is okay. After a while, we have all had something to eat and Ian asks, "So, children...you ready to get your butts whooped in the greatest snowball fight ever?"

"I'm sorry, what was that, Uncle Ian? I couldn't hear you over the sound of...hmm, how would you describe that sound, David?" John retorts.

"Hmm...maybe the sound of us winning for the past three years in a row?" David suggests.

"Yeah, that's it!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's get one thing straight, chumps," Danny says, "You only won because we were going easy on you!"

"Oh really? You all seemed pretty panicked when we invaded your base last year. If you were going easy on us then, why didn't you just go full-on hard?"

"Because we didn't want to hurt you little angels," Dara growls in pretend anger.

"Lies! All lies!" At this point, everyone starts yelling abuse at the other side. After five minutes of hard-core smack talk (it was surprising how fast family turned on family when provoked about something as simple as a snowball fight), Andrea jumped up on the table and cried, "Hey! Why don't we go settle this, then? And prove, once and for all, the adults are better!"

Another wave of abuse slams her from the children, but we do end up heading into the basement to get ready. We pull on shorts, tank tops, our snow pants, jackets, gloves, scarves, beanies and boots before racing out to the front yard. After a coin flip, we manage to get the top of the hill as our base location. We take the trek all the way to the top laden with sleds and snowboards. Once at the top of the hill, David turns to us all.

"Alright, guys. They're out for blood, they've made that much clear. We can't lose the battle this year. So here's the basic plan. Boys, we're going to build the fort---thick, tall walls with sleds on either end as a last resort. You know, if they're getting too close for comfort we can just jump on our sleds and fling snowballs at them as we pass them. Girls, start making snowballs. Big snowballs.

"Now, we have a really great base location, but there is a slight problem with this. To get supplies---like hot chocolate and food---we'll have to go straight through enemy territory. We need someone to do that who is both fast and unafraid of getting caught. But we all know the risk of getting caught..." He pauses. "But, in case we forget that risk, we will be taken to their base and subjected to whatever tortures they have in store for us to get us to join their side or drop out of the fight. Could be anything; we won't know until one of us is captured and then escapes and makes it back. Now...any volunteers for supply runner?"

I look around at everyone. They are all looking at the ground. Clearly, this job is not one for the faint hearted. Not that they're faint-hearted, but it's probably terrifying and extremely dangerous.

My kind of job, in other words!

"I'll do it," I offer, stepping forward.

"You're a brave girl, Callie. You are aware you will be the main target of many of their attacks...?" David asks. I nod. "God bless you, then. Your main job will be to run and get supplies every so often. A bell will toll when you can go and pick them up, but you have to get there quick: the enemy can steal your supplies if you don't get there fast enough! This is how you'll be getting the supplies." He shows me a single-person sled with sides and a back to prevent our supplies from falling out. "Two or three people will go be ready to defend you if they start trying to attack, so you won't be alone."

After this, we have exactly two seconds to react before snowballs are flying towards us. We duck behind a wall that's been formed quickly and start sending our own snowballs flying. This continues on for a good half hour until our fort is completely built before we set out on the offensive. Well, they set out on the offensive while I run to get supplies. It's truly terrifying; I feel like a deer surrounded by a billion hunters. Hell, I basically am. I manage to get the supplies without incident and return to base. There is a pause in the action while we all wolf down food and hot chocolate. Then it continues, much more vigorously than before. This process repeats itself at least a dozen more times until darkness falls with both forts still standing. Danny's ma comes out onto the porch and calls us all in for dinner. When we start protesting that there is no winner, she yells, "It's a tie! Now come inside before you catch your deaths!" Reluctantly, we head inside, strip ourselves of our snow gear, and sit down to dinner.

Everyone's exhausted after the massive snowball fight, so there isn't much talking at the table. After dinner is over, everyone gets up one at a time or in pairs and heads off to bed. John and I are leaning on each other trying to stay standing; we did most of the running and hard-core fighting. Snowball fighting can be hard-core, you ask? Yes. Yes it can. Especially with this family. We all change into our pajamas and settle down in our massive nest. "Okay guys, same deal as always. First one up wakes everyone else up and then we go and wake up our parents. We give them until the next hour to come downstairs. Like if we wake up at 8:30 we give them until 9:00 to come down. Clear?" Elaine asks, taking over David's usual leadership role. Apparently she's the next oldest. Everyone murmurs assent and we all fall into a deep sleep.

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So basically a filler chapter. I didn't know what to write here, so I present you this.

Gonna be some good O'J time towards the end of the next chapter...! ;)