The Cold

Chapter 4

I spent the rest of the week exploring the enormous house that my uncle Jasper owned and had apparently lived in for nearly his whole life. There were three stories, not including the attic. There were also fourteen bedrooms, half a dozen bathrooms, a kitchen the size of three cars end on end, three living rooms, an eight car garage, a safe room and nuclear bunker, two ballrooms, sixty-four chandeliers, eighteen potted plants, fifty-seven doors and archways, four swimming pools and one hundred and three stained glass windows. I got lost, just once, and had to wander around until I found a staircase. All the house seemed to be decorated similarly to my bedroom. Jasper spent most of his time in his bedroom, and seemed more than happy to leave me to my own devices.

There was no doubt about it, Jasper was a rich man, a very rich man. I wonder how he got to have such a swollen income... It's none of my business, however. I suppose this is my life now. I have gone from whiling away my life in a small, dark, tasteless room to living in a marvellous feat of architecture. Jasper seems to like me. It was only when I had finished exploring the attic that I decided it was time to go back downstairs, perhaps I could go swimming, or examine my new and expansive wardrobe. I could brush my hair... I thought of what else I might do to entertain myself when I reached the main hall, and a brilliant idea occurred to me.

In the middle of the hall was a huge, ancient pine tree that was inches of touching the ceiling. It was richly adorned with baubles and tinsel and fairy lights, and grouped around its base were wrapped presents piled on top of each other. Ten...twenty...thirty, I couldn't count them all. "Christmas..." I mumbled. It was Christmas apparently, or nearly. I ran away from the dazzling tree and its hoard of bounty and came into my room, where a pleasant breeze met my skin coming in through the French doors. I checked the electronic calendar on my wall, which I had not cared to check this last week, so indulged was I in my new surroundings. I flipped to December and saw that 15 was highlighted. So, it was ten days until Christmas, well, since there were so many presents, I guess Jasper plans to have a great family gathering.

I should buy him something. But, I don't, have any money, or even a wallet. I was never old enough to have any use for money before my parents died... I ran my fingers along the clothes hung up in my wardrobe, but then I three small drawers, one atop the other, at the bottom left of the cupboard. I opened the bottom one. Various classics such as Austen and Dickens were there. The drawer in the middle had various ointments and sunscreens, cotton balls and combs. The top one was empty except for a jewel encrusted hairbrush with my name on it, a music box and a sleek leather wallet.

I grabbed the wallet. Unzipping it, I looked inside to see an Opal card, credit card and roughly 3,500 dollars in cash. My jaw dropped. I found a tan leather bag in a wicker basket under my bed, and put my new and jam-packed wallet inside, along with the hairbrush, my new iPhone, a small aluminium water bottle, a pair of sunglasses, a light but warm jacket... and pepper spray (am I the only one that has that when I go out? Okay...). I crept out the front door. I hadn't been in the house all day, I had explored the lonely town by night, so I knew where I was going, but I didn't know anyone down there. I tripped down the path, well away from the gravel driveway, and made my way onto the main street.

Then it occurred to me that it might not be easy finding something to give to a man such as Jasper... What did you get a man who had everything? I was still deciding what I should get him when a woman came up to me. "Are you lost?" She said, glancing worrisomely either side of the road. I was flustered slightly, pulled away from my thoughts. "What? Oh, no I'm not lost." She didn't seem convinced. "I haven't seen you around much, are you a tourist?" I shook my head, inwardly wondering what on god's earth a tourist was supposed to be. "No, I just moved here, I live up the road with my uncle Jasper." The woman's eyes widened. "You mean; you live up there?!" She gestured to the top floor of the house, which could be seen over the massive oak trees that surrounded the house. "Yes, I got here just last week." The woman seemed much more interested in me now.

"What's your name?" She asked me. "Julee." She smiled. 'Well, it's nice to meet you Julee, you stay safe now, and tell Mr Jasper that Mrs Voltur wishes him a merry Christmas and a happy new year." I said I would do so as soon as I returned home, and then I thought of the perfect thing to give Jasper for Christmas. I went to the copier store, on the way flipping through my camera roll, stopping on a photo of me and Jasper standing outside the house, both of us smiling contentedly, me a little mischievously. I asked the man at the counter if he could frame it for me, and he gave me an email to send the photo to, and I had it half an hour later, safely wrapped and in my bag. I hurried home, ready to put it under the tree, where Jasper would not know of it until the eve came.

Merry Christmas!!!! Have a great holiday!