Post by The Pantheon Dragon on Dec 12, 2007 22:05:23 GMT -5
A/N:This is post Homecoming.In other words,this is before Homecoming.A few weeks before Hairy Christmas.
Jake reclined his back against the wall outside the Biology room of Mrs. Wintergreen.His PE instructor had dismissed them early with the claim of needing to purchase a present for his wife,something huge and expensive.
So he claimed.The word around school was that Mr. Hyde was divorced.
Brrrinnng!
With the blaring of the final bell in Jake's sensitive ears,came the first wave of kids pushing and shoving to get to their lockers.Jake made it a point to flatten himself onto the wall more and stand on his toes for a better view.
And/or to not get trampled.
"I'm sorry,Mrs. Wintergreen.But I just don't have much more to add to this report other then what I basically know about Christmas."Rose was saying to the middle-aged woman."I really can't tell you about past Christmases."
"And why not?"her teacher rebuked."It can't be because you're poor.I have seen the designer labels from all those boutiques,Miss. Dragondoomsday."
With the aid of Jake's dragon hearing he heard Rose release a quiet sigh.
"I expect this assignment done,Rose.And I expect it by January the 3rd."
"Yes,ma'am."
She finally appeared out of the door and walked passed him entirely.
"Hey,Rose."
His greeting fell on deaf ears.
"Rose?"Jake hurried to take up residency at her side.
"Oh,"she turned to look at him,as if interrupted from thought."Jake.Sorry,I guess didn't hear you.But you know it's not a good idea to speak in public."
"As you keep reminding me,"he sighed.All right,what was I going to ask?
"Mrs. Wintergreen has me loaded with this essay over the holidays,"Rose went on to say as they neared the end of the hall."I'm gonna be real busy."
"Well...maybe your Jake-man can make that better."
She smiled at him for the first time now."Oh.How so?"
"I was wondering what you wanted for Christmas."
The smile dropped."Christmas?"her eyes didn't light up a spark,it reminded Jake of a tree bulb that had burned out."I haven't really given thought to it."
"Nothin' too flashy."He hastened to insert."Maybe new shoes or jewelry?"
"I'll take a rain check on it."Rose gave him a quick hug,one that Jake could feel through the two layerings of his apparel."Or in my case,a snow check."
Her attempts at humor made Jake all the more suspicious.
"Is something wrong,baby?"
She shook her head and started away."I have to leave now to get started."
And Jake let her do so.Out into the world of newly fallen snow,the sky was light gray and bathed wintery New York in faint gold.Jake started for home.
x.x.x
"You don't think that's an overload,Spud?"
The taller boy peered out at Jake behind a mountain of wrapped gifts."Well, when you have twelve cousins,eleven aunts,ten uncles,nine pen pals,a total of eight teachers,seven cats,six rabbits,five gold fish,four dogs,three turtles-"
"Ok,ok."Jake sighed in length."I get it."
"Something bugging you?"
"Well,"he gave a little thought to his answer before replying."Do you know what you would do if there was someone you wanted to get a great gift for but you didn't know what.And it's not just because you can't think of one."
Spud gave Jake a thoughtful look as they reached his home."Just get Rose a gift from the heart,dude.Like those friendship sweaters I knitted at one time."
"Uh,yeah.Let's be a little more realistic here.For some reason Rose is totally bummed about Christmas and I have a feeling it's more then just her report."
Jake continued debating with himself,oblivious to Spud trying in vain to open the door behind his prison wall of packaging."The only way to make up for whatever has her down is by getting her the best present she's ever gotten."
But what would she like?he thought,nearly in desperation.I need a sign!
As if on cue,a chilled wind picked up and a flying flier smacked right into his face.Peeved,the dragon grabbed at it and nearly crumpled it up into a rough, fist-sized ball had the person on it not sent a rush of memory right into Jake.
It was Jarred MacArthur,fifteen-year-old teenage heart throb.The flier read that he was auctioning off his favorite,autographed guitar for charity benefits.
The day the auction was to be held was tomorrow evening and the flier also mentioned his guitar was well worth over eight grand.Jake remembered two things in that moment:his college fund and the lost look Rose had harbored.
To be continued...
Jake reclined his back against the wall outside the Biology room of Mrs. Wintergreen.His PE instructor had dismissed them early with the claim of needing to purchase a present for his wife,something huge and expensive.
So he claimed.The word around school was that Mr. Hyde was divorced.
Brrrinnng!
With the blaring of the final bell in Jake's sensitive ears,came the first wave of kids pushing and shoving to get to their lockers.Jake made it a point to flatten himself onto the wall more and stand on his toes for a better view.
And/or to not get trampled.
"I'm sorry,Mrs. Wintergreen.But I just don't have much more to add to this report other then what I basically know about Christmas."Rose was saying to the middle-aged woman."I really can't tell you about past Christmases."
"And why not?"her teacher rebuked."It can't be because you're poor.I have seen the designer labels from all those boutiques,Miss. Dragondoomsday."
With the aid of Jake's dragon hearing he heard Rose release a quiet sigh.
"I expect this assignment done,Rose.And I expect it by January the 3rd."
"Yes,ma'am."
She finally appeared out of the door and walked passed him entirely.
"Hey,Rose."
His greeting fell on deaf ears.
"Rose?"Jake hurried to take up residency at her side.
"Oh,"she turned to look at him,as if interrupted from thought."Jake.Sorry,I guess didn't hear you.But you know it's not a good idea to speak in public."
"As you keep reminding me,"he sighed.All right,what was I going to ask?
"Mrs. Wintergreen has me loaded with this essay over the holidays,"Rose went on to say as they neared the end of the hall."I'm gonna be real busy."
"Well...maybe your Jake-man can make that better."
She smiled at him for the first time now."Oh.How so?"
"I was wondering what you wanted for Christmas."
The smile dropped."Christmas?"her eyes didn't light up a spark,it reminded Jake of a tree bulb that had burned out."I haven't really given thought to it."
"Nothin' too flashy."He hastened to insert."Maybe new shoes or jewelry?"
"I'll take a rain check on it."Rose gave him a quick hug,one that Jake could feel through the two layerings of his apparel."Or in my case,a snow check."
Her attempts at humor made Jake all the more suspicious.
"Is something wrong,baby?"
She shook her head and started away."I have to leave now to get started."
And Jake let her do so.Out into the world of newly fallen snow,the sky was light gray and bathed wintery New York in faint gold.Jake started for home.
x.x.x
"You don't think that's an overload,Spud?"
The taller boy peered out at Jake behind a mountain of wrapped gifts."Well, when you have twelve cousins,eleven aunts,ten uncles,nine pen pals,a total of eight teachers,seven cats,six rabbits,five gold fish,four dogs,three turtles-"
"Ok,ok."Jake sighed in length."I get it."
"Something bugging you?"
"Well,"he gave a little thought to his answer before replying."Do you know what you would do if there was someone you wanted to get a great gift for but you didn't know what.And it's not just because you can't think of one."
Spud gave Jake a thoughtful look as they reached his home."Just get Rose a gift from the heart,dude.Like those friendship sweaters I knitted at one time."
"Uh,yeah.Let's be a little more realistic here.For some reason Rose is totally bummed about Christmas and I have a feeling it's more then just her report."
Jake continued debating with himself,oblivious to Spud trying in vain to open the door behind his prison wall of packaging."The only way to make up for whatever has her down is by getting her the best present she's ever gotten."
But what would she like?he thought,nearly in desperation.I need a sign!
As if on cue,a chilled wind picked up and a flying flier smacked right into his face.Peeved,the dragon grabbed at it and nearly crumpled it up into a rough, fist-sized ball had the person on it not sent a rush of memory right into Jake.
It was Jarred MacArthur,fifteen-year-old teenage heart throb.The flier read that he was auctioning off his favorite,autographed guitar for charity benefits.
The day the auction was to be held was tomorrow evening and the flier also mentioned his guitar was well worth over eight grand.Jake remembered two things in that moment:his college fund and the lost look Rose had harbored.
To be continued...