16 Nights of Jingle

CHAPTER 2

"As long as you have a family whether it be by blood or chosen,
Nothing in your life will ever feel lonely."

11 DECEMBER
05:30AM

In the past few years that the Weinhurst Family have resided in Sexton, Brinchwood, it rarely snowed or rained all year round, the small town was withering and losing it's fertility, but this year was unlike any other, the rain poured dayly and snow dropped nightly, which aided all the townsfolk in getting into a properly sensible Christmas mood.
-Given all that has occurred this year-
  Waking up, Leslie took a long glance outside of her bedroom window. Rain. It was raining, again. She placed her feet -covered in the most warmest socks- on the cold, creaking wooden floor, as she tirelessly walked over to her private bathroom a few feet away, switched the bright light on and hissed before entering. She brushed her teeth, one at a time, and took a hard, good gaze at the mirror above the basin before returning to bed.
  Leslie grabbed her laptop laying on her bedside table and turned it on. She logged into her email account and scoured it for any new work updates. Nothing, except for a surprisingly sudden email from Hitler Waters, her boss. She opened it and read one specific line;

'Congratulations Ms. Leslie Weinhurst.
You have been selected for one of our promotions to serve at our base operations located in Wittens, Pennsylvania.'

She read more;

'Should you choose to accept, you are subject to receive a salary five times larger than your current one.
You have 24 hours to make your decision.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Waters'

It was finally happening. Her dream of working in  Pennsylvania, the state her late grandfather spent most of his life residing and working in. She figured building a life there would make her feel even closer to him than before, which made her want it even more, so much so, she only had one thought -to make a leap of faith-.
  There was only one issue. It wasn't the thought of moving into a whole new state or rebuilding her life from scratch that scared her, what deeply worried and scared her was how her daughters would react to the news, in particular Nubia.
  Leslie went downstairs, laid on the comfortable couch and waited for Amarie and Nubia to awaken in order for her to share the news she had just received with them.
  A few moments later, Nubia walked into the room, "Oh my gosh! Mom! You won't believe what an amazing night I had. It must've been that delicious Chamomile tea I drank last night or something, because mom when I tell you I slept amazing, I mean I woke up refreshed." She boasted still stretching and yawning.
  "It must be." Leslie replied as she laughed out loud. Amarie walked into the room a few minutes after Nubia sat down on the brown couch.
  "And you?" Leslie, still smiling, asked Amarie,
  "What?" Amarie innocently replied,
  "How did you sleep?" Leslie repeated the question. Amarie raised her arms high up in the air, her voice still crusty, and squeezed out the words,
  "Like a baby!"
  Amarie places herself on Nubia's lap and covers them both in the colorful quilt she'd been carrying the whole way down.
  A quiet and peaceful silence fills the whole room as Leslie blurts out, "I got offered a promotion for job! A dream job actually."
  The sisters rejoice and show their happiness by hugging and kissing their mother's face. After a bit, Leslie signals them to sit back down, before she shares, "There's just one slight issue." As the tension and suspense grow larger Leslie continues, "If I accept it, I'll have to move to Wittens."
  "Wait as in Pennsylvania?" Nubia replied,
  "Yes, and I'm so excited, aren't you excited?" Leslie euphorically exclaimed,
  "What's going to happen to us? Are we going to be orphans?" Amarie quietly asks,
  "No, no, no. You'll come with." Leslie answered.
  As Nubia tries to digest the news, her thoughts slip and she rhetorically answers,
  "Look. I'm very happy for you and all but, now mom? You decided to unravel this life-changing opportunity now?" She adds, "You didn't even ask Ama and I how we'd feel if we moved. You know what, I'm going out for a walk." Nubia opens and shuts the door quickly, as she steps outside,
  "Really? You're going to leave an arguement you started, a battle you wilfully picked!?" Leslie exclaimed, "It's fucking raining outside and you're in your pajamas!"
  Amarie spreads her happiness and says, "Well I'm ready to pack. Just say the word."
  Leslie sadly replies, "I don't think I'll be accepting the offer anymore."