The Guys on my Flat

Chapter Forty Four

Alex was next to impossible to get a gift for.

He didn't really like anything in any store we went to, whether it be electronics, books, furniture, clothes or even toys. I found stuff for everybody, but not him!

He trudged along behind me, dodging giggling little children holding balloons rushing to a Santa Clause to get their picture taken. When a choir was singing at the park he literally dragged me away so he wouldn't have to listen to it. What was his problem?

I can understand why he wouldn't like Santa Clause and even I get annoyed by the songs sometimes, but you can't hate the whole event itself... it like hated bunnies or guinea pigs because they poop. It happens.

I stood before a store, a toy store, with a man and a little monkey dancing to a music box. It yelped and cooed in reply to kids who agreed to come dance with it, or even adults who danced with it. I giggled when it walked over to Alex and held it's hand out to dance with him. He tried to refuse, but the monkey knew nothing of the word no and I pushed him forwards so the monkey thought he agreed.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of Alex basically cringing when the monkey climbed up his body and clung to him like some sort of baby.

They looked to be slow dancing.

I was cracking up as he awkwardly held onto the monkey.

The little twinkling song continued, and the man, with a thick accent and an even thicker moustache, laughing and cooing as people crowded around and smiled. Alex tried several times to put the monkey down, but it clung to him tighter and tighter. "This is so cute!" I told Alex as I told him to smile. The monkey leaned back and gave a big toothy grin at the camera, undoubtedly like it was taught to do when it saw a camera.

I giggled again as I sent that to my email just in case Alex tried to delete the photo later on.

When the song finally changed on the music box, the monkey gave Alex a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek and jumped off and started doing its little dance for the children. I couldn't help but take a couple more photos, some were really good, and others were just silly.

I had to show these to Liam.

Alex soon came over, wiping the monkey spit off his face with the back of his sleeve and gagging as he did so. "That's just gross!" he gagged wiping his hand on his snow pants.

I smirked as I readjusted my scarf and linked arms with him as we walked, "I reckon it was kinda cute, really silly, but cute," I informed.

Alex seemed annoyed by this, but a smirk soon came to his lips, "be sure to send me a photo sometime," he requested, which kind of shocked me.

We walked in silence for a bit, the bitter wind nipping at my nose so badly I snuggled into my scarf like a turtle to their shell. Alex seemed to find this funny as he pulled my hat over my eyes and retreated before I could counter attack.

I chased after him when he hid behind a tree. I chased him around it like the classic comic-book style. I soon lost track of him when he ran to another tree. I looked around, but he was nowhere, all I saw were kids throwing snow balls at each other. As I continued looking around for him, I saw a snow man with a carrot now and a demented skull. The snow man was off the park pathway and in between a border of trees.

I smirked as I approached it, tucking my numb hands in my pockets and taking in a deep breath of the cold air. "Hey, how's it going?" I asked circling the snow man, "you okay, you look as pale as snow," I attempted joking. But his pebble face remained blank and staring straight ahead. I fiddled with the scarf provided to give him some warmth, "having fun?" I felt so normal talking to a snow man, "I'm fine, a little cold actually. I'm here with my friend Alex, who is a complete Numb Nut!" I called loudly so he would hear if he was nearby, "he's not helpful with what he wants for Christmas. He seems to find it all a huge waste of time," my hand gestures hit one of the snow man's arms and it fell to the ground.