Clouds

Chapter One Part Four

                                                                   Part 4

            While Colby cleans up the wrapping paper Awesome helps me put the charm bracelet on.

            “I must say,” Awesome mutters, “you had some great gifts there.  I was almost worried.”

            “But it’s fair to say I won this round?”  Colby asks, pausing to look up at her with his puppy dog eyes.

            “I think it was a tie,” I say before Awesome has a chance to mutter anything.  Colby frowns and Awesome smiles.

            “I held my own against some of your darling inventions,” Awesome brags.  She smiles after the bracelet is secured and all six charms dangle off.

            “Hey, Colby,” I say, “can’t anyone just steal this thing?”  I ask.

            “Nope,” Colby replies, still getting up pieces of wrapping paper off the floor.  “Even though it’s a bracelet only you can take it on or off.  Even if, you know.”  He crawls under the table and I nod.  I’m not sure exactly why he bothers.  It’s not like he’ll need the room even again, right?

            As soon as he finishes we head back to the main room where the beanbags lie.  We each take a seat and look to Colby.

            “Give me the tablet,” he instructs.  I look down at the bracelet in question.  How the heck am I supposed to get it off?

            “Now’s the best time to learn,” Colby says, answering my question.  “See if you can figure it out.”

            “Um, okay?” I reply, looking down at it again.  Well, if he talked to the items before, maybe a voice command would work now?  “Um, open, tablet?”  Just as instructed, the tablet appears in Colby’s hands.  I smile and Awesome claps.

            “Bravo, Emedee!”  I laugh as Colby presses the button at the top of the device, turning it on.

            “Alright,” Colby finally says as he pulls up a map of the Sanctuary.  “Gather around you two.”  Awesome and I attempt, and fail, to scoot over next to Colby.  It takes a few seconds, but I finally resort to standing up and carrying the beanbag over.

            “Is that the Sanctuary?” Awesome asks.

            “Indeed it is,” Colby replies.  Awesome smiles and points to a space in the northeast section of the map.  

            “And this is Shrouded Glade!” She exclaims.  “And that’s Merry Vale!  And Briarwood!  This is amazing, Colby!”  I may not show it, but I’m just as excited as Awesome is.  My eyes are shining, wide open.  It must have taken Colby forever to alter this to suit my needs.  

            I watch as Colby plays with it, showing it off to Awesome by zooming into Shrouded Glade and finding his shop among the scattered buildings resembling our small town.

            “You mean you can zoom into each building and such!  Amazing!” Awesome coos.  Colby grins and pretends to run along the streets of our city using the tablet.

            He moves the map back to our shop and his expression turn serious.

            “Pay attention, Emedee.  This will be you soon enough.”

            “I know,” I reply.  Colby nods and begins to explain my route.

            “So you’ll start here tomorrow night,” he says, pointing to the shop.  “Then, you’ll make your way southeast to Briarwood where the Hedges lie by at least two o’clock.  Any later and we’ll be in trouble getting you to your camp there.”