“Nick, wake up!” Leslie’s voice was heard as Nick opened his eyes keeping his buried face in the pillow, buried and submerged in the two plies of blankets he had used. The bright sun managed to creep out of the window on the side of the bedroom as he felt his sister, Leslie’s hand shake his body. “Nick, come on, it’s Christmas, wake up!” she persisted in a whiny voice.
“Yeah, I’m up, I’m up, I’m up!” Nick assured her as he groaned and turned his body around so that he would be lying flat on his back, he looked up at his sister, whom had a hopeful expression on her face with hidden excitements from the fact that it was Christmas day. “Merry Christmas, Les!” he greeted while smirking
“Yeah, yeah,” she kidded while grabbing her brother’s hand and forcing to pull him out of his bed. “Everyone’s waiting for you, stop being the Grinch who ruined Christmas!”
Nick gave in and allowed his body to follow on Leslie’s pull as he teased, “Wasn’t it the Grinch who STOLE Christmas?”
“Shut up, you know what I mean!” she giggled as the two of them made their way down the stairs and eventually the two of them re-joined the rest of the family whom was sitting around the 7 feet high fresh Christmas tree that Nick had gotten with Riley, chatting with one another, as the room was filled with Christmas joy and the air with Christmas music, the scent of the biggest holiday was sensed while half the room was covered with Christmas presents for one another; one would say that it had rain inside that part of the living room with nicely wrapped gifts.
After greets and kisses were given to each other, the Carter family engorged in the presents, as laughters and love were shared. It seemed that for that moment, the hatred Nick had for his mother, Jane, was none existent. They enjoyed each other’s company, as conversations were thrown between them, revealing a type of relationship a son should have with his own mother.
Within a matter of time, all the once-nicely wrapped presents had all been ripped, revealing in them, one’s Christmas wish lists come true, and after all the efforts and excitement, everyone had gotten what each had asked for, as good feelings were felt for having the ability to give and receive and being able to share their Christmas day with their own family.
“Who’s ready for pancakes?” Jane asked gleefully as she glanced over her 5 kids.
“Chocolate pancakes!” Aaron, the youngest, requested excitedly
“No! Blueberry!” Leslie disagreed
“It’s Christmas guys, you can all have what you want!” Jane announced while the doorbell rang. “Who could be visiting you on Christmas day, Nicky?” she asked puzzled while looking at Nick, whom was seated on the floor while his back was leaning against the couch.
Nick grunted while getting up, “I don’t know,” and made his way to the front door and reached for the doorknob only to find himself face to face with Rinoa.
“Rinoa!” he said, surprised. “How…how did you know where I live?” curling his eyebrows.
“Here, open this,” she said while handing Nick a small box, wrapped in gold wrappings with silver ribbons around it. “That should explain everything…well it should, anyway”
Nick took the box Rinoa handed him and opened it up. Inside, there was a brown envelope that had Nick’s name written on it. He dropped the box to the ground and opened up the envelope, taking out three sheets of paper. He looked at each one rather swiftly and after looking at the third and last page, he looked up at Rinoa, whom was watching Nick trying to find whatever expression she could find on his face, they hide none of the obvious shock and disbelief he felt.