December 25
“I got it, I found the Christmas pickle,” a small voice shouted from underneath a massive pine tree. This year’s Christmas detective is my nine year old brother, Bryson, and with the assistance of his taller twin, Braedon reaching a thin arm into the tree he retrieved the glass pickle. This 22 year old tradition was the starting point of my family’s festive gift massacre. Gathering together in our large family room, my two little brothers and I sit around an overly decorated pine tree while our parents sit on the couch.
The morning was sure to be filled with my brothers shouting ‘I told you’, ‘oh wow thanks’ and the ever so popular ‘thank you so much mom and dad’. Filled with traditions, exhausted parents and two over active twin brothers, it was my second favorite event of the year, aside from my birthday.
Three piles of gifts were arranged along the edge of the tree. My pile was the farthest from my parents, while Bryson was the closest. Another family tradition my family adopted after my brothers were born was that ‘Santa’ made three piles for three children, so no one opened the wrong gift. This was my parents attempt at keeping their three children from fighting on Christmas, but despite the piles fighting still broke out among the boys.
Being the most organized of my family, I knew every gift my brothers were getting, action figures, fake hardware, and other random activity sets that nine year old boys like. As the boys ripped through their gifts, I took my time and making sure every piece of paper was neatly placed in the large trash bag beside me. Since I’m graduating this coming May, my gifts consisted of college necessities, extra-large twin sheets, a comforter, and three large bottles of laundry detergent. Its official adulthood has officially hit full force.
I moved through my miniature hill of gifts neatly and after an industrial sized shampoo and conditioner I was hoping for something that I could use right now. Gazing at my pile, a thin rectangular box caught my attention. Although it would be nice to get a necklace or bracelet, but I have enough to own a jewelry store. Examining the thin box in my hand, it’s almost too thin to be a box. The corners are sharp from the multiple layers of gift wrap, moving my hand over the top to the box. Any raised letters? The go to option for guessing a gift, but as my fingers ran along the surface of the box no bumps or dips could be felt. Shrugging my shoulders I pulled on one of the corners, ripping the blue paper.
“Stop,” my mother’s voice cut through the room, silencing the sound of ripping paper and laugher, to shocked and wide eyed stares. Her hair is up in a messy bun of light brown waves, long strands fall around her face. Sitting on the edge of our family couch she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sank back into the cushions. “Um, I was hoping you could save that one until Megan got here.” Reaching across the coffee table, I met her half way, and placed the box in her hands. Setting the box on the coffee table, her eyes shifted up to meet mine and she smiled.
“Alright,” I sighed and turned back to my pile. I grabbed another small box from in front of me, while readjusting sitting positions from sitting on my knees to my butt. Slowly I opened the box at the corners, only to be interrupted by a musical ringing that echoed through the house. The Lannon’s!
“I’ll get it!” Three voices screamed in unison. My eyes snap toward the other two voices that echoed mine, the turd twins. Their thin blue eyes glared back into mine as a terrifying smile stretched across their face. This was my tradition, the one thing that only involved me, this year they can’t ruin it for me.
Every Christmas my best friend, Megan, and I do a little thing called ‘The Christmas House Swap’, where every other year my family goes to their house and the other years in-between her family would come to my house, if that makes any sense. The best part about the whole tradition was that everyone had to stay in their new PJs so we could admire the hideous designs. This year Megan’s family was coming over and I always opened the door and greeted them with the merriest greeting I could think of, until two years ago when the turds opened the door.
Standing to my feet I looked down at them and shook my head. ”Don’t you dare,” I spoke slowly keeping my eye on both of them. Their smiles sent chills down my spine and caused my left eye to violently twitch.
“Victoria Lynn, Bryson Lee and Braedon Lukas, don’t do this again,” my mother calmly demanded her children to behave from the couch. After this mornings ‘pickle dash,’ claimed an irreplaceable tea cup, after meeting the hardwood floors in a loud and messy array, she has every right to demand good behavior from us.
“Boys,” my father’s deep voice cut between our Wild West style standoff and causes us to turn our heads. “Sit down right now, don’t mess with sisters.”
“No,” I cut my father off, bringing the two sets of eyes to look back at me. Feeling confident I smiled and continued. “If you want to play, let’s play.” Hearing my parents sigh in frustration, I turned on my toes and scurried out of the room, only to hear bare feet following behind me. It’s almost too easy.
Turning the corner I could see four shadows shifting from side to side in the doors glass panel. Thankful the front hallway was short I stated to run toward the door. Small fingers wrapped around my ankles, sending my body hurling toward the hardwood floors. I let out as groan as my body came in contact with the cold floor. Noticing two small legs passing me I lurched forward and grabbed whatever I could. A small body fell to the floor, Braedon, the sound of flesh meeting the tile was my cue to start moving again. Leaping over Braedon’s arms I reached the door handle, turning the dead bolt in a panicked motion I looked over my shoulder to see both the boys leaping in my direction.
“Merry Christmas Lannon Family,” I exclaim, while fighting off the terrible twins
“Merry Christmas Layton’s.” Like my parents the Mr. and Mrs. Lannon, were up at the crack of dawn thanks to Megan’s little brother, Tyler. Unlike my terrible brothers, Tyler is a sweet child and doesn’t wake up his sister until 8:00am, when it’s completely acceptable to partake in the Christmas festivities. Looking at Megan she got an extra 30 minutes this year, Lucky.
Taking the gifts from their hands, the boys and I walked back to the family room. As we walked in and set the gifts on the floor, laughs and hugs are exchanged along with offers for coffee or tea. The three boys rummaged through the open gifts and started creating a busy construction lot. Sitting on the couch, Megan and I talked about how Christmas went at their house and the gifts she received.
Soon both sets of parents returned with coffees in hand. In separate groups we all opened gifts and gave our thanks. I got Megan the ultimate make-up kit she picked out in June and judging by her excited squeal she never forgot about it. Even though she doesn’t need it, Megan can rock some crazy make-up styles and designs. Opening my gift I couldn’t think of anything I really wanted, but knowing her this gift has been sitting in her closet for months. I opened the gift slowly and was shocked at what hid inside the box, two shirts that we found in May. Holy cow how did she remember that? Another shriek came from our small group and I leaped to hug Megan.
“I love so much! I totally forgot about these.” Taking the thin fabric in between my fingers I fell in love with the light pink tank top all over again. The other tank top is light salmon with clear sequins dripping down the front and a full lace back, it sounds weird, but I love it.
“Oh girls, you forgot one,” grabbing the mystery box off of the coffee table, my mother handed it my way. Giving one end to Megan we ripped the small package open together. The words “Autumn Fest” came into view. Autumn Fest, like the all day concert festival? This has to be a cruel joke. Pulling the remaining paper away, we found two tickets folded in half along the title. Looking at Megan I knew it wasn’t a joke she saw the two tickets too.
In that moment we broke windows, ear drums and my neighbor’s dog. Attending Autumn Fest has been our dream since we were high school sophomores and now it was coming true, in June we were headed to Tampa to spend all day listening to our favorite artists. Extreme sun burn, here we come!
Hello! Thank you for reading the first chapter of Dreamer.
I’m so excited to write this it’s been running around in my mind for a while now so better late than never. I hope you enjoyed it and you want to keep reading it! I don’t know what else to say, so I’ll just end it here.
Thank you again! :)
