19 KiB
Christmas Special
“Wake up!” Abraham bolted up from the bed and looked around to see Michelle standing by his bed. She was fully dressed and with her arms crossed. Abraham rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching. It was too dark in the room to see anything except her. “What time is it?” “It’s 2 in the morning.” Michelle replied. “TWO IN TH-” “SHUT UP!” Michelle hissed, slamming her hand over Abraham’s mouth to quiet him. “I don’t want to wake the whole house.” “Mmmf!?” Abraham mumbled behind her hand. “Listen to me…Christmas is next week and it’s time to do the ‘divide and conquer.’” She whispered. “The what?” “Each member picks a night and they take a partner to go out and get gifts with them. Usually it’s best if a humanoid like myself or Asher went with someone who was a bit more monsterous in appearance, that way the humanoid one can go in and get the gift without drawing attention.” “Then…are you my partner?” Abraham asked. “No. Sarah is. She’s the only one who hasn’t gone shopping yet. She’s waiting outside for you, so hurry and get dressed.” She growled. I rolled out of bed and wandered to my bags to throw on some clothes. “And don’t forget a coat…it’s snowing out tonight.” “I’m surprised Sarah can stand it.” Abraham pointed out. “Hmph…you’ll see.”
Abraham hurried out into the snow and rubbed his hands together as the bitter chill snapped at him furiously. The snow was falling slowly and a soft blanket of white coated the entire ground around him. The green grass that had been there before was all but gone and instead what lay before him was a sea of endless white. In front of him was Sarah. Her entire abdomen was covered in a large white silk wrapping that was beautifully sown. It looked like something one could easily slide on and off like a tube sock. On each of her feet was a legging made from thermal wear, and around her neck was her own designed scarf. She turned when she saw Abraham so he could see she was wearing a pink sweater. She beamed when she saw him and scuttled over. “Hey! Oh it’s so cool out here. Are you warm enough?” She asked. “I’ll be fine.” Abraham answered, rubbing his arms. She raised one of her eyebrows, as if to indicate she didn’t believe him. She took off her scarf and quickly wrapped it around Abraham’s neck snuggly. “There, that’ll help.” “Don’t you need it?” Abraham asked. “I can always knit another one.” She winked. “Now what are you thinking of getting for everyone?” “For everyone?” Abraham asked. “Abraham, we don’t have much money…Solomon gives us all a 50 dollar allowance to go buy something we want…but it has to be something for the club…not just for each one of us individually. We can’t afford that. So we all go out and get something special for the club.” “Well, I’m…not sure then.” Abraham laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been put in this kind of situation.” “Well I’ll be happy to help.” She winked. “Ya know, there are a few things I know the others are hoping for. Michelle, Tamil, Calypso, and Katie pooled their money together and got him a piano!” “Can anyone here even play that?” “Oh Asher can!” Sarah giggled. “And I think I’d like to give it a try. But see, that’s what I mean by buying for the club. A piano is for everyone, not just one of us, so we didn’t mind pooling money for that.” “Then…what’s something the whole club could have or benefit from?” Abraham asked. “I don’t know what…wait…don’t you decorate for Christmas? I’d almost forgotten that Christmas was even coming.” “Actually no…I mean…other than a few wreathes or lights we find lying around…we don’t have anything to decorate the house. Besides, Asher, Michelle, and Annie are the only ones who’ve ever had a REAL Christmas outside the club…” “Then…then that’ll be my gift. Let’s get a tree and some decorations! Let’s actually have a REAL Christmas with everything we need!” “But how? That’s a lot to buy.” “Some we can buy, some we can find. C’mon! I have an idea.” Abraham cried, sprinting to the street with Sarah hurrying behind him. If his plan worked, then Abraham couldn’t wait to see the looks on the clubs faces the next morning.
Near the edge of town, just down the road where the grocery store was, Abraham spotted a fenced off area with lights lining the fence. Inside the fence were a bunch of trees of various sizes, all Christmas trees. Though it was dark and snowing out, the man out front selling the trees was still smiling, his arms wrapped around him tightly. Abraham turned to Sarah and took off his scarf, giving it to her. “Here, wear this and stay here.” “Can’t I come?” “You…might spook him.” Abraham muttered. “No offense.” “Fine fine…I’ll wait.” Sarah grumbled. “Just wanted to see a few real trees and help decide…” Abraham ran through the snow to the gentleman out front. “Excuse me sir, I’d like to buy a tree?” The man looked at him and smiled. “You don’t look older than 15.” “I’m actually 18…but sir I’d still like to buy a tree. How much?” “Sorry kid, I can’t sell you one. You don’t have a car right? You’d never be able to haul one out of here, and I can’t be held liable if you get injured transporting one. Go get your parents and then we can talk.” Abraham started to argue, but the man turned his back on him to pull out a cigarette for a smoke. There was no helping it…time to use Sarah. “Sarah? Could you come talk to this man?” Abraham asked. Sarah scurried out of the shadows of the night and towards the tree salesman. One look at her, and the man’s face went as white as the snow around him. Screaming like a child, he ran as fast as he could from the stand he was working at and into the night. “Well THAT was rude…” Sarah scoffed. “I hadn’t even said one word to the man.” “You’re worth a thousand words, Sarah.” Abraham laughed. “Oh shut up, you flatterer. At least now I get to see the trees. Let’s get a big one!” Abraham and Sarah hurried into the large plethora of trees until they found one of modest size. Tossing his money on the table where the salesman had been before, Abraham grabbed the trunk of the tree and began to tug. It was massively heavy, but the thought of the other club members faces upon seeing it would do more than make up for the effort. “Here, I’ll help!” Sarah offered. Climbing around Abraham, she began to weave silk threads all around the base of the tree until she’d created a harness line to help drag the tree. Grabbing onto the line, both Abraham and Sarah pulled the tree out of the gate and back down the road towards the club. “Glad I brought you along for this, Sarah.” Abraham smiled. “I think your gift is a perfect idea! I’ll bet the club will love decorating it.”
The next morning would bring a slight chill throughout the house. The snow had stopped falling, but it’s waves of soft and pillowed layers were left as far as the eye could see. The lake, usually vast and churning, was now frozen over with a thin shit of ice. The trees outside bore long icicles that glistened in the winter sun. An overhead sea of grey lined the sky above, inviting more snow later in the day, but that hardly mattered to Abraham who had been sitting up all night, staring at the tree that Sarah and he had put up. Sarah had fallen asleep next to him, exhausted and cold from being out so long. Abraham didn’t move so that she could sleep in peace. As he gazed at the tree, memories began to crawl into his mind…distant and fragile visions of a tree slightly smaller than this one…lights surrounded it…and a mother and father were there smiling at him. Christmas with a family…how he’d missed this. “What on earth?” Abraham turned to see Asher wandering in through the den door and staring at the tree. “When did this get here?” “It’s my early Christmas present to the club!” Abraham smiled. Asher glanced back at him, shaking the wet snow from his hair and shoulders. He must’ve been out all night looking for blood. “A tree?” “What? You don’t like it?” “No I do just…in the two years I’ve been here, we’ve never had a real Christmas tree…” Asher muttered. “It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to decorate one or appreciate it.” Asher smiled at Abraham and lightly pat his shoulder with his cold and chilled hand. “You did good, Abraham…this was a great idea.” “Well it still needs decorating.” Abraham replied. “Leave that to us. You’d be surprised what this club can do when they get creative.” Asher replied. Checking his watch he smirked. “9 o clock already? Well I think it’s that time. RISE AND SHINE!” Asher roared loudly, knocking Abraham off his seat and right ont Sarah’s shoulder, who fell over screaming. “EEEK! ASHER!?” Sarah cried. She wasn’t the only one either. Soon the entire club was stirring and wandering downstairs to see what Asher had called them for…until they saw the tree. Then all eyes fell on it (except Tamil, who still seemed a bit lost).
“When did this get here?” Michelle asked. “Abraham was this your…” “It’s BEAUTIFUL!” Calypso cried, running closer and admiring the pine fronds. “I’ll say. I always see pictures of these but it’s really something else!” Katie agreed. “It smell strange…” Tamil muttered, walking closer. “Can touch it?” “Sure.” Abraham said happily, pleased and filled with happiness at the club’s excitement. Annie, who was still yawning and rubbing her eyes, crawled onto the couch next to Abraham and lay down with her head in his lap, barely able to stay awake. Tamil however had approached the tree and was now reaching out to it. He touched a frond and retracted his hand in surprise. “It is coarse…sharp in places…it feels…tough…but…” He wandered around, a finger running up and down the tree, causing small needles to tumble off at his touch but never once letting the tree falter from its stand. “It feel…fresh…alive. It smell so sweet, like nectar. This is…Christmas tree?” “I wish you could see it.” Michelle said sadly. “No need…can experience. Is what matters, yes?” Tamil asked. “Is wonderful!” “It’s not done yet though.” Asher announced. “Now we decorate it. Calypso, go to the lake and see if you can’t find some abandoned fishing hooks! Michelle, look through the attic and find anything valuable. Katie, you take Tamil and tie some bows or string. “Who died and made you boss?” Katie asked with a snort. “Oh stop whining and do it.” Michelle scoffed. “I think I get the idea.” The club scattered to go do their jobs. Calypso had no trouble getting into the lake despite the ice. With a simple kick of her mermaids tail, the ice cleared away as she dove through and into the icy depths. Katie and Tamil began searching through old boxes to find ribbon or threads and began tying them into bows and ribbons. Up in the attic, Michelle could be heard rummaging around for anything of value or anything lovely. Asher, while everyone did this turned to Sarah. “Could you maybe give us some long thread? Make it glistening if you could.” “Sure…but why?” “I’m gonna wrap it around the tree.” He explained. Sarah stood and began extracting thread from her abdomen, and as it caught the light above it shimmered like diamonds made of string. Asher took the end and began running it around the tree carefully, doing it in a spiraling affect climbing up the tree like a slithering snake. When he had gotten it all the way around, he stepped back to admire it. The tree practically glowed and glittered against the light of the overhead. No sooner had he finished, than Tamil and Katie returned with their ribbons and string. Not even having to be told, they began setting them gently in the tree, tying them to different branches and long needles, allowing the glittering thread to compliment the red and yellow ribbons. “Wow…it looks fantastic.” Katie breathed. “I take word for it.” Tamil teased. “I’m gonna go out and wait on Calypso.” Asher replied. “She’ll need someone to dry her off so she can walk again.” “I’ll bet she does.” Katie teased. “Ignoring you.” Asher shouted back as he sprinted out into the snow and towards the lake. Abraham laughed only to feel a slight stirring in his lap as Annie looked up at the tree and smiled. “Pretty…” she smiled. “Sleepy?” Abraham asked. She nodded. “While you and Sarah were out doing your running around, I took Annie to do hers.” Michelle replied, walking downstairs and carrying a box of coins, glass trinkets, and knickknacks. “Oh is THAT why she’s so tired?” Abraham laughed. “That would explain why you were up early enough to get me.”
“WE GOT THE HOOKS!” Everyone turned to see Asher walking in with Calypso in his arms. In her hands was a pile of rusty fishhooks she’d picked up from the bottom of the lake. She was still wet, so her tail was still there. Michelle walked over and took a few hooks. Sarah approached and extracted inch long silk threads from her rear and began fastening them to the hooks and then the other end of them to the trinkets. Soon the box of shiny trinkets and knickknacks were suddenly a box of ornaments. Abraham laughed at the ingenuity of it as the club rallied together and finished piling on ornaments on the tree. When they stepped back, the tree was a radiant thing of beauty. The room felt so warm, despite the winter chill washing through. “Abraham…this is probably the best gift we’ve ever gotten on Christmas.” Michelle beamed. “And I think, since we’ve already gone this far, we can go ahead and see the other gifts we all got. Call it an early Christmas. Everyone…let’s do this one at a time!
Asher went first as he walked up to his room for a few moments and returned carrying a large quilt made of yellow wool. He held it out at its full length to show it could have easily wrapped around four of him. “I know it gets really cold here around winter since our inner heating is crap…but this should help the cold blooded folks here heat up quicker, right Katie? Calypso? Sarah?” “Did you HAVE to call us out?” Katie snapped, though she couldn’t hide her smile. “Thank you Asher! This is so sweet…but I know who you REALLY wanna cuddle up with under that.” “Katie, stick that forked tongue behind your teeth.” “Oh har har.” The club laughed as Annie stood, giving a long and solemn yawn as she clambered to the back of the house near the back door to bring out a large pot with assorted flowers on it. “Tamil will probably like their smell…but they are really pretty too…” She whispered. “I thought everyone would like these. Michelle helped me pick them out.” “Awww, Annie they’re beautiful!” Sarah squealed, hurrying over to the pot and giving them a sniff herself. Sure enough, each flower gave off a smell of lovely fragrance, but all melded together beautifully. While she was up, she too retreated up the stairs to fetch her gift. She returned carrying a strange looking book. It was large and black with musical notes inside of it. She handed it to Asher who opened it in confusion and flipped through a few pages. “This is a piano music book.” “I knew you’d recognize it…you play piano don’t you?” She asked. “It’s been a really long time.” Asher replied. “Well…maybe you can try again?” As she spoke, Katie and Michelle ran out of the room and towards the master bedroom. There was the sound of a heave and everyone stood as Michelle and Katie came staggering in, dragging a massive grand piano behind them, the sleek black finish and the beautiful ivory keys reflected the light coming from the tree and the lights above, making it seem just as festive as the tree itself. Asher just stared in awe at it. “Guys…we’re supposed to get gifts for the whole club!” Asher shouted. “You shouldn’t have!” “I’m sure others in the club would love to learn.” Michelle argued. “And even if they don’t, Asher…you can give us music any time! Now get up here and give us a song!” “But how did you…” “Michelle, Tamil, Calypso, and I pooled our money together to make it happen.” Katie laughed. “You’d be surprised how many people drop wallets and loose change into the lake while fishing.” Calypso giggled. “Don’t just stand there slack jawed…play us a Christmas song!” Asher stood still for a moment before finally taking a few tentative steps towards the piano and running his fingers along the keys. “I…need a chair or something.” He muttered. Abraham jumped up and grabbed a chair from the kitchen and dragged it over to Asher for him to sit down. Asher took a seat and with shakey breaths and trembling fingers he touched the keys, pressing a few and feeling the sound reverberate from within the instrument. He leaned forward and his fingers began to steady themselves as he played faster…smoother…and in moments the fumbling and simple sounds tumbling from the piano were now soaring sonnets of grandeur. “It’s…coming back to me now.” “WAIT WAIT WAIT!” Katie cried. “I wanna try something.” She slithered out of the room and disappeared into her room once more. She returned just as quickly…in her hands was a violin. “A violin?” Abraham asked. “Katie used to play that thing all the time.” Calypso giggled. “But after things got kind of out of hand with the Dawn Bringers, she put it aside…it’s nice to see her pull it out again.” “Katie, I’ll get a song started, you follow my lead, okay?” Asher asked. “Alright, I can try if I know the song.” Katie answered. Asher nodded and lay his hands upon the piano and began to ply a simple but unrecognizable sound…until Katie began a few moments after.
It was like a painting in the air. When she drew her bow across the strings, the air filled with a sound like Abraham had never imagined. It was not short but long and vibrating. She ran up and down the bow, drawing on more dips and waves of musical power. Abraham knew this tune…he knew this song. He’d heard it before. Slowly the words dripped back into his head like dripping water from melted ice. The sound of a Christmas song so old that it felt archaic…and yet so beautiful that it couldn’t be forgotten. “O’ Come O’ Come Emmanuel…” Abraham whispered. The entire club was lost in the music. The lights seemed to dim as Katie and Asher filled the room with a sound that caused the air, so cold and frosty to warm like a fire. The tree sparkled and shimmered like a gemstone and for the first time since its founding, the Monster Club had a Christmas to celebrate. A tree to stand beside. A sound to lose themselves in. And so much more to be thankful for than they had ever thought they could be. And for the rest of that day, there were no worries. There were no scwabbles or concerned directions. There was a club of misfits and outcasts. A tree. And a resounding musical arrangement that brought all differences to the background and love to the foreground. This was a Christmas for the Monster Club.