Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 22: Glitch

Dean awoke with excitement. He got out of bed, nudging his sister violently. Her eyes popped open, she smiled gingerly. They both knew what day it was: Christmas, the most wonderful candy-filled day of the year.

They raced out the door, giggling and running towards the mess hall, seeing who would get to open their stocking first.

The doors slid open, activated by Dean who led by a few inches. He laughed giddily. "First!"

"No fair," Helen complained, "you run faster!"

He ignored her as he dumped his stocking, sorting and examining the candy on the metal floor. Helen did the same. The twins inventoried, trading candies so both got what they desired, and anything neither wanted was put into a random stocking or thrown at the other sibling as a form of entertainment.

Both laughed and wolfed down their candy, patiently waiting for the others so they could open presents.

The first was Roger, but he could not play with them this time much to their dismay. This holiday season wouldn't be the same due to recent events. With their mother still recovering in the infirmary, their father had taken care of them, and also was the backbone of celebration.

Roger sat down, his leg stretched in a cast as he grabbed his stocking. The twins eagerly approached him. He smiled.

"How did you break your leg?"

"I fell."

"Did it hurt?"

"Yes. A lot."

Helen looked at his blank cast. "Can we draw on it, please?"

Roger chuckled. "Sure."

"Yay," Dean shouted, "I get to draw Santa!"

"I draw the reindeer!"

"I draw the elves!"

"Tree!"

"Stockings!"

"Toys!"

"Presents!"

They bolted, running back to their quarters to find markers. In the mean time, Roger ate candy in silence, also taking some of the children's candy.

The doors opened. A tall light cerulean figure entered.

"Which one is mine?" Prill asked, waving his hand at the display.

Roger pointed the sapphire stocking hanging upon the mess hall bar.

"Thank you. What is inside?"

He swallowed a piece of chocolate. "Candy."

Prill's eyes widened. "Oooh! Sweets and treats!"

In an instant, he buried his hand into stocking and dug out handfuls or candy. The alien ripped open wrappers, tossing them left and right, devouring whole bars in single bites. He licked his lips, his face covered in chocolate, sugar, and crumbs, a mess surrounding him on the floor and table. Prill belched loudly. "Excuse me."

The doors opened again, this time it was Sloan. He smiled as the twins raced through the open doors running around in excitement. He grabbed his sock, sitting down at a corner table. The astronaut looked in his stocking, meticulous with every item, placing each bar down as a treasure of the past. He carefully unwrapped each, savoring the flavor, texture and taste as if it was his last meal.

Tevra entered next, adorned in her dress uniform as she wore on all holidays, this time, however, lacking the long gloves. Confused, her eyes darted about the room, settling on Roger. He pointed towards her scarlet stocking. She took it, sitting next to him. Roger smiled, admiring her appearance.