Christmas Short Story Competition - Voting ends 31st, 7 Entries Options

[Charmy]

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Hosted by Eliza and Charmy

A merry early Christmas to you all! It's that time again for a short story writing competition! Yes, yes. Again, hosted by myself and Mizuko. But this time I have posted the competition topic to make things a little easier, see?
As you might have guessed, this competition will revolve around Christmas joy!

And since a months time has past now, WRITE YOUR FRIGGIN' STORIES.

Guidelines;

- It's a short story competition. So don't go overboard with how much you write! Keep in mind that your story can be no longer than approximately 7000 words.
- Title your short story! If you forget to your will not be accepted until you do. And also when submitting, please list the number of words used in the story.
- Make sure the story won't scare the pants off of us. We are a family forum. Remember?
- PM your story to myself (Charmy), so I can approve of it. If it's a-Okay the story will appear at the bottom of this post. They'll be posted up anonymously! So don't spoil which story is yours. It's fun to have a guess. ;D
- After a good number of stories is submitted, a deadline will be set. So keep checking on this post to see when the deadline is revealed.
- When the deadline is reached, follow the rules of voting and PM your votes to me.
- When the voting is over the results will be posted in this topic, also stating which story was written by who!
- Have funz. Or you'll make Mizu-Cookie sad.
- No being a sore loser!
- No being a sore winner either!
- Remember there is a theme set. Your story can be strongly or loosely set to the theme. If your lost with idea's, just ask me or Mizuko for some! We can help you. And if your unsure if your theme will fit, it doesn't matter. Just PM your story to me and I will tell you if your missing the theme.

Voting Form;

Their are a few categories in which you can vote in for and win! Enter the title of the story for voting. And please do, enter the title. In the last competition people used the entry numbers and I miscounted, so I had to count again. So PLEASE, the title, so I don't get the votes wrong. Also, Place them in the right order. :P

CODE

[b]Merriest Story[/b]:
[b]Funniest Story[/b]:
[b]Greatest Plot Line[/b]:
[b]Best Structured Story[/b]:
[b]Story with Best Character[/b]:

[b]Best Story Overall[/b]:

Keep in mind that anyone can vote.
And that you may also vote for your own story, but only for 2 categories. Otherwise, that's a little snobby, isn't it? Also, the winner for the overall prixe will be rewarded with a crown medal (PM Jason) and a fabulous prize from me and Eliza! We will draw you an art piece that relates to your story. PM us about the scene you want illistrated. ;D For the others, you have the prize of being congratulated! Xq If Eliza has the time, she will create graphics for you all.

Theme;

The theme for this story competition is Christmas joy! Like said in the guidelines, your story doesn't have to be strongly related to this theme. Be creative, and think of different ways to use it.
And just so you know, your story doesn't have to be at the time of Christmas. ;D

Entries;

Entry #1
Soothing Snow
It was 6 o'clock in the morning. Why was Kyusai up at six? Well. It all started a week ago. Kyusai was attacked by a gray old man, so naturally, he threw the old fart at a brick wall...but it was then that he dully noted something. The old fart was fat...very fat. He was Santa.
----
Santa told Kyusai that he had planned to go to the mall and ask the little boys and girls what they wanted for Christmas. "Crap...uh...you are on your own buddy." Santa grabbed Kyusai by his shirt "Look here you whippersnapper. You will take care of these children, and you will take care of them good. Now either you dress up as me and ask kid's what they want for Christmas, or you be an elf and find someone else to be me." After hearing that last part, Kyusai threw the old fart against the wall again, and ran off to his friend's house.
----
Ah. Good old Tripp. His house was a shack to preserve his life’s fortune, but yet his safe was the world’s most expensive thing ever. Kyusai landed, folded his wings, and went up to the door. It was so old, that Kyusai took a few minutes to decide on whether or not he should knock on it. Finally, he decided to try. He knocked on it once, but it didn’t make a sound. Kyusai tried twice more, but got fed up after that, so he kicked the door down. It creaked as it fell, landing at Kyusai’s feet. “Well, if he can’t hear that, he’s deaf.” Kyusai murmured to himself as he went deeper into the house. As he walked past the bathroom, he heard water running and someone singing about money. “Tripp, is that you? If it’s not, I’ll eat my wings.” The water stopped, and a pale man with blue cat ears growing out of his head stepped out. “Wow. You couldn’t get enough of my body, so you came back for more, huh Kyusai?” Kyusai chuckled and clapped his old friend on the shoulder. “Sadly, that is not the case this time…” he explained the situation to Tripp. “…Heck no. I hate children. They are so expensive.” Kyusai grabbed Tripp by the chest and shook him back and forth. “Come on! I need you man! You know what’ll happen if I have to be Santa!” Tripp stared past Kyusai. “Uhh…yeah. Better me than you…aren’t I a little young to be Santa?” Kyusai laughed through his nose. “You’re 5000 years old man. I feel you are over-qualified.” Tripp smirked – now fully clothed, or otherwise he’d get arrested – and went out with Kyusai into the night to get ready.
----
So anyway. It was 6 o’clock in the morning. Kyusai was wearing his usual punk shirt and ripped jeans, his elf costume in his bag. He wasn’t so stupid as to wear that in the city. Where he lived, if you were good looking and wearing something like that…well…let’s just say you shouldn’t. Very soon, Kyusai reached the town’s shopping mall. Tripp was standing there cleaning his glasses, but once Kyusai reached the door; he put them on and gestured for him to follow. Kyusai did so, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do. Was he going to be able to live this down? Of course not. This isn’t a francy-prancy-fru-fru story with a happy ending.
----
The first kid was Tripp's grandson. "What a horrible way to start it off…" Kyusai thought to himself. Regardless, Tripp sat down in the chair with his ridiculous white beard and blue hair. "What…uh…what do you want for Christmas, little boy?" The boy simply smiled and said "Lots of paper and pens please, Santa." Tripp just started to laugh like an idiot. "Didn't your parents raise you any better? I'll give it to you later when I have the money." Ryo, disappointed, stepped down from the man's knee and waited for his baby sister to talk to Santa. After disappointment, they all left.
----
After a few hours of no other kids showing up, Tripp and Kyusai decided to finish. They were about to leave, when a blue haired boy came running in, tugging on Tripp's pant legs. "Santa! Santa! Please! You have to make it snow!" Tripp looked disapprovingly at the boy who had just barged in. "I'm sorry boy, but I forgot how to make it snow long ago." The boy tugged more, each tug becoming more urgent. "Sir! Please! She loves snow, and she's dying!" Immediately, the boy disappeared from Tripp's sights. All that remained was a little home movie maker playing some old clips…the first reel shot to Tripp and his sister freezing on the side of a street. "Hey brother. When snow melts, what does it become?" Tripp popped some moldy bread in his mouth and replied. "Water, of course. That's a silly question, Nya." Nya hugged her brother for warmth and shook her head. "That's wrong. It becomes spring. That's why I love snow so much! I hope it snows when I die…" That reel stopped and soon cut off to another…Red…all over the streets. Blood pooling in the cracks…Tripp's tears mingled with his sister's blood…and soon snow started to fall…
----
"Mister? Mister?!" Tripp came back down to Earth, looking seriously at the boy. "It is snowing outside. Send your sister my regards." The boy smiled, and hurriedly took off. Tripp, having nothing left to do, decided to go home. Day in, day out. He did the same thing everyday…that is, until Fate came knocking at his door many years later…
----
Tripp was talking with his now fully grown grandson. They were just randomly speaking, until Tripp brought out an old photo album. He turned pages, but soon stopped and pointed to a picture of Ryo sitting on a blue-haired-white-bearded Santa's lap. "You were so polite that day, Ryo. Why can't you be that way now?" Ryo snorted. "Buzz off…wait. That day? You were that Santa?" Tripp smiled and handed Ryo the stuff he asked for over twenty years ago. "What's thi-" "Shush. Even fake Santa's keep their word. Now I must be leaving now…" Ryo got up from his chair, following Tripp to the door. "Do you need help getting home?" Tripp laughed. "I'm not that old. I'll speak with you tomorrow." With that, Tripp left. Ryo had no idea that five hours later, he would get a call from his grandmother, asking him to mourn for Tripp's sudden death.
----
Walking up to the graveyard, Ryo tried to cheer himself up. Tripp was dead, meaning that Nya spent a good fortune of his money burying him here…that didn't cheer him up, so he stopped thinking. Slowly, Ryo's sandals clacking on the rock way, he retreated further into the graveyard. Tombstones left and right left a bit of an ominous feeling, but Ryo was used to it. After all, he did live in Heaven. As he neared the back of the cemetery, Ryo could see his grandmother standing with a man and a woman at Tripp's grave. When Ryo reached her he asked who the extra two baggages were. "Ah. This is Roselie, and her brother Andrew. When you went and asked your grandfather for the pens and paper, he denied it, right? Well, this boy came after you, saying that his sister needed snow. Apparently, he made it snow alright, but made it healing snow. I wish that he could have done it for himself as he was dying…" That thought hung in the air for about three seconds, but then Ryo's pocket watch went off, signaling the new day. Along with it - seeming as though it was on cue - the sky opened up, clear and blue…and it started to snow! Each little snowdrop fell, as if to say "Let your problems fall as this snow does" Everyone from around the town came out, and everyone was merry. Even little God came and trumped around in the snow, until he fell on his butt and started crying. Ryo looked up in the sky, swearing that he could see his grandfather's face. "Love ya kid. Don't lose your charm." He seemed to be saying. Ryo was about to think more, when his wife and son teamed up and threw a snowball at him. Ryo let out a laugh that sounded like silver bells, bending down to prepare one for them as well. Pass the word! When snow falls, let all your problems float away!





Entry #2
Just a Christmas Story
Green and red wrapping paper, printed pictures of holly and snowflakes, and to top it all off, a delicate, white ribbon - All being ripped up in moments.
My heart jumps a beat and I'm prevented from breathing.
What is that, stars? No, that must be my imagination, covering the real prize today. My parents are both standing next to me, side by side with upbeat chests lookin' proud. This is the best present I will have ever received on Christmas Eve. The best. My smile turns wider and wider and my teeth are shining bright, just like my eyes, just like my heart. I tear at the last quarter of cheap Christmas wrapping. Is this the present I've been waiting for these last few weeks? Could it really, really be? Is that why my parents have the dorkiest grins known to man kind?
Oh, what's this now?
'Oh! A.... A book! A Story Tale! Oh my god! This is so awesome. Thank you sooo much, I love it.' I held the thick book next to my silent chest, the air seemed awkward.

I knew it was too good to be true.

'Well, you can start reading it now, darling. I'll go and cook some dinner while your father makes some phone calls. He has to tell family that we can't attend the Christmas party due to the weather.'
'See you soon doll.'
They still had their dorky grins on, but it didn't look like real feeling any more.
I knew it. I'm awful at lying. I should have pranced around the room squealing. Holding the book up in the air. But no, I'm left with them feeling guilty, hopeless, like they can't even impress their own daughter.
After there was an echo of my dad closing my door, I lunged to my bed and chucked "A Story Tale" beside me. My stomach's pinching itself and I feel too empty inside to read my gift. My wish was for a how-to-draw-anime book. They know how much I love the art style. I have random pieces of paper all across my bedroom floor with illustrations of failed art work. I curl myself into my cold blanket, slowly, as my face starts to turn stale and thoughts swarm with want and guilt. Want and guilt.... Want and guilt.... What a selfish child I am. Ridiculously selfish. Cruelly selfish.
I have a large book right beside my stale face that has read me written all over it. Come on Vether, perk up! It's the evening of Christmas Eve, I shouldn't be curled by my blanket thinking like a pessimist.

Ouch.

No, pinching myself doesn't turn my head.
And pouncing on my extra-soft mattress isn't releasing a single giggle. Then I look down at my book. 'Crap!', I fall to my knees and grab the neglected book and tug my fingers tight to it. 'Half-off my bed you.... About to fall on the ground and bend all your pages? I don't think so.' What am I doing? I'm talking to a book. I slap my fore-head and gently descend back to my pillow to lay down.
I mumble curses to myself. If only life wasn't so difficult and we could all get our way. 'Aw, what the heck.'
I open my book and flick it open to the first page. 'Once upon a time....' I begin reading out loud. 'Oh, another simple fairy tale.' I blow a raspberry and continue reading. You can't always judge the tale with the first sentence. I know that.



"Lariella ran as fast as she could. It couldn't capture her now. It is only the beginning of her journey! The dragon emerged from the darkness and--"


'Vether.'
'Huh?' I shook my head. What was that?
'Vether!' My mum's calling my name. Dinner must be ready. I leave the book on my bed, opened at chapter four.
Screech! Scruch! The stairs squeaked as I thumped down each step, and my face slowly turns back to emotionless. I smelt guilt, I tasted guilt. Oh, wait. Isn't that the steaming smell of pancakes?
'Hey mum.' I dragged the seat of the dining table back and sat on it while I watched my mum pour glistening maple syrup on my good-lookin' pancakes. When they were fully prepared she crawled along the dining table with my plate and placed it right in front of my face as I licked my lips rapidly. Special delivery. You know, pancakes for a Christmas Eve dinner could make up for mishap of my present. ....But really, the book isn't an awful read.... My parents do have a good eye for things. Especially for things that I like. 'Thanks for the pancakes mum.' I grab my fork in an instant and stab it into the soft texture. Ooh, that feels good.
'Sweetie.' Yummy. Flat food. 'Vether?'
'Oh, huh?' I glance away from my dish to find my mum has taken a seat next to me. And that she's wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

'I'm sorry.'

I rip my fork out of the pancakes and drop it next to my plate. 'What for?' I whisper.
'I'm sorry. Sorry for not buying you that how-to book. I know how much you wanted one. But....'
My face responds to this, and returns to that gloomy state from before. They know I wanted it. They know I did. But what?
'But, it was too much money.' She sighs and her arms depart my shoulders. 'Those an-ee-me books you want cost a little too much for us. And they'e hard to find. So instead.... We came across a book on sale and bought you that.... I heard it was a great read, so that's why I chose it.' I slowly nod in response. It is a pretty good book. Even if it has no pictures. But I'm too glum to even mouth those words. 'So you understand? About the cash situation?' Her voice sounded shaky and disappointed. But again, I nod my head. 'I promise to buy you as many books on an-ee-me as soon as I get the money. 'Kay?' She reversed the chair and stood up. Patting my shoulder before she left the room.
'Uh, mum?'
'Yes Vether.' She answered, her back in my direction.
'When you ask someone where the books are, make sure to pronounce it as anIme.' She left with no words, and I was isolated with pancakes. Really, I don't feel hungry any more. Even if I do have those 3 large, wonderful pancakes with maple syrup poured on top ready for me to eat. Though, I take my fork and knife and cut it all into bite-size pieces and practically drag the food into my mouth.

I knew the size of the Christmas Eve gift was all wrong.

The width and height was all wrong for a how-to-draw-anime book. The proportions are defiantly not for a book with pictures. But since I've finally finished these pancakes of emptiness I think it's best to head to my room and finish that tale.
'Yeah. She knows.' My ears perk up. Mum? I take a few steps back and peek into the living room. Only to find my mum and dad having a conversation with each other.
'Do you know when we'll gather enough money?' I saw a blur of mum shaking her head. Are they talking about my how-to-draw-anime books?
'Well, I'll make sure to take more shifts at work then.'
'I'll use less supplies on cooking?' Mum gestured with a shrug. 'I feel like a hopeless mother....' She sighed. Dad gave her a hug and whispered something in her ear. I pull my head further out from behind the arched door, trying to hear the low, soft whispers of my dad. But fail. After a while they finish their cuddle and start talking again.
'Poor Vether....' They're never getting me the book? 'And she's been so patient,' Ever? 'And she ends up with a book she's displeased with.' I like the book. I like anime too though.
'Yeah, I know.' My dad responds depressingly. 'It's a shame that it will take a while....' Take a while for my book? So I am getting it? I inch further away from the arch in excitement. My foot twists as I just manage to stand still. 'She looked happier than ever when she was opening the present. And now she's left with a stupid book.' I said I liked the book. Didn't you hear?

'Ahhh!'

'Vether?'
'Vether!'
I tripped.
Ouch, my butt.
I'm sitting on the floor with my eye's squinted and my fingers scratching at my backside. I hear my parents do nothing in response. So I open one eye and peak beside me. 'Vether. What are you doing? Eavesdropping? I hope not.' I give a sheepish smile at them and a nervous giggle. 'Vether,' My father starts. 'You shouldn't be doing this.' My sheepish smile turns to a frown. My eyes droop. And I start blabbing. I won't shut up. I want to.
'The books not bad. I love it. It was just a shock, I'm sorry. I really do like it. And you're both good parents. And I love you both. Don't work extra hard for a clutz like me. A selfish-eavesdropping child like me. Please don't. Really, I don't like seeing you both over-work yourselfs. It's not good for your system anyway. Even though I do really, really, really, really want the how-to-do books you don't have to sacrif-'
'Vether.' My mum stops me in mid-sentence. I cough, and look up at her asking yes? 'You're the best daughter anyone could have.'

What?

'We both love you very much.' My father continues. My mouth is now shaped like a zero, or an O. I'm shocked.
'Like you love us.' My mum sits on the floor and gives me a warm hug while I stare at my father who's nodding with a forgiving smile for me eavesdropping on them during private conversations with each other. But, eavesdropping is the best thing ever.
I return the hug to my mum and send a smile to my dad.
'Don't worry about the book.' I tell them. 'I'm happy with the tale. And you know that I'm a slow reader. So it should last to next year. I'm sorry for upsetting you.' My mum stops cuddling me and my dad bends down to the floor too. As if we're having a picnic on Christmas Eve. Inside the house. On the rug. On a Winter's day where if you peer out the living room window you'll see snowflakes falling from the sky. Pleasant dreams it feels like, but no, it's love.
'If you don't want as to work harder,' My father interrupted.
'We won't.' My mum.
My dad wraps his arms around both me and mum, gives us kisses on the cheeks and laughs. I giggle and wipe off the slobber with my palm. 'I'm sorry for ever worrying you in the first place. I didn't mean to.' I whisper to both of them in the never-ending family hug. 'I can be such a brat.'
'A wonderful brat.' We all share a laugh at my father's joke and retrieve our arms to return us back as individuals. Both my parents waved themselves off and headed back upstairs to their bedroom while I stayed sitting on the floor with my hand resting on my leg. I sit still with a smile while staring out the living room window again, to see the snowflakes still falling.

This is the best Christmas Eve gift ever.




Entry #3
The Merry Martian
The very young little Tabitha sat out in her front yard on quiet winter evening. She was currently just finishing up the final touches on the snowman she had been working on all day. Her mother had tried to make her come in, but Tabitha kept refusing. In her purple gloves she picked up one last bunch of snow and softly patted it against what was the head of the snowman. She stepped back to look at her pretty piece of art. She ran to the side of the house. She took a few rocks from the landscaping, and ran back to the front yard. Tabitha got down on her knees and placed the small rocks into place to form a face.
“Now you have a face,” she said smiling at the snowman.
Tabitha focused hard on the snowman overlooking it. A piece of her brown shoulder length hair fell down into her face, so she pushed it back behind her ear. The front door opened and the light from inside fled out into the front yard adding a sparkle to the snow.
“Tabby dear come inside,” said the quiet voice of Tabitha’s mother. “You haven’t eaten, and if you stay out here you’re going to get sick. Come in, I just finished up the soup”
“No thanks mom!” Tabitha got up on her knees and began to run around the yard in her little purple boots humming Christmas songs. She paused for a second, and dropped straight backwards into the snow behind her. She stared up at the evening sky. She noticed something wiz across the dark sky.
Tabitha slammed her eyes shut, and she slowly began to make her wish on the shooting star. “I wish I had a friend for once,” she began. “A friend that would like me, not one like those girls at school who tell me my hair is cut too short, or my eyes are too big, just a friend that would like me.” Tabitha opened her eyes.
In that instant there was a loud crash. Snow shot down into Tabitha’s face. “Hey! It’s not nice to kick snow into peo…”
Tabitha stood up. Where the snowman had just been resting, now sat a large circular dome with gleaming lights around its edge. The young girl went up to the object. Tabitha bent down towards it. The glass lid shot up.
Inside the object, sat a small and green little creature she had never seen before. It had a plump little body, webbed little feet attached directly to the body, two thin arms each containing a hand with three fingers, and an abnormally large head compared to the body that had two eyes, two holes for a nose, and a small mouth. On top of its head sat a short antenna that came right up from the center. It had a shocked look on its face and began to whimper.

“Well hello,” Tabitha said putting a big smile on her face. The small creature looked up. It has big black gleaming eyes that didn’t have any pupils. “H-Hello,” it replied with a soft and squeaky voice. Tabitha picked up the little creature; she exclaimed that the little thing couldn’t stay out in the snow naked, so she ran inside with it.
“Well it’s about time you came in, want some soup?” asked the quiet voice of Tabitha’s mother. “Not hungry!” replied Tabitha running past the kitchen doorway and running up the stairs while trying to take all of her cold winter ware off.
Tabitha ran into her small bedroom that simply contained a bed, a small desk, and a closet in the corner. The room was decked out in purple. She placed the alien on the desk, and she sat down. “What’s your name?” she exclaimed.
“My… my name is Zala 134578. I come to your planet seeking required information on the precise event of what a majority of you Earthlings refer to as Christmas.” It sounded like he had memorized this. “Do you know of this subject?”
“Christmas is my favorite season!” Tabitha became filled with excitement. “Firstly though, we will have to change your name and give you a real one. Hmm…” She began to think about Christmas. “Aha, your name will be Merry!”
“Merry.” The alien began to ponder. “What does ‘Merry’ mean?” He then looked up at her. “Merry means joy and happiness, and that is exactly what I think of you because you’re my first true friend!”
“Friend…” Merry then shook his head. “I seek information on the holiday known as Christmas. The Zalas on my planet of origin Zalaria wish to adopt such an event so that we can celebrate. I wish for your providing.”
“Of course I’ll help you! What do you want to ask?”
“The object that was near the entrance of your lair,” began Merry “What was it? What is the substance my aircraft landed in? Who is the leader of Christmas? What is special about the event?” Tabitha quietly waited until he finished.
“Well, the object we passed is a Christmas tree. We decorate it every year to celebrate!” Merry stared at her as she talked. “The white stuff you landed in is snow. It comes every year at this time. The leader of Christmas, I would say Santa Clause. What is so special? Hmm… I would say being with those that you love.”
From downstairs came the voice of Tabitha’s mother. “Get to bed Tabby, tomorrow is Christmas and you have to sleep if you want Santa to come!” Tabitha changed into her pajamas. In her closet, she made a little bed out of an old box and a blanket for Merry. The two went to sleep.
The next morning, Tabitha woke up. She ran into her parents’ room and jumped on the bed telling them to wake up. Her older brother, Daren slowly walked into the room. The four of them walked downstairs into the family room to open gifts. Merry woke up and sort of hopped down the stairs. He quietly waddled to the doorway of the family room, but quietly sat outside of the room keeping out of the family’s site.
Daren opened up his few gifts. He got a sweater, a coffee mug, and a new pencil case for school. “I’m going to Mike’s house,” he said glumly as he walked out of the room and upstairs, not noticing Merry. Tabitha opened her one and only gift, to find that it was purple sweater. She placed it on over her pajamas. “Thank you,” she said aloud, not really directed towards anyone. “Well maybe we, uh Santa didn’t get you toys because you can’t take care of them. In fact, on my way home from work last night I found a broken toy laying in the snow. I threw it out,” said the grumpy father of Tabitha.
Tabitha found Merry on her way upstairs. She picked him up and went to her room.
“Honey we are leaving for a Christmas party. We’ll be back around 11:00,” said the voice of Tabitha’s mom.
“What were you discovering?” Merry started up his questions again. Tabitha didn’t react at first. Instead, she kind of just sat there looking down.
“Those are presents. Loved ones and Santa get them for you,” said Tabitha in a quiet and depressed voice.
“Who is this Santa Clause you keep on mentioning?”
“He brings joy and cheer to everyone. On the night before Christmas he goes from house to house delivering presents to all the good children.” Tabitha paused, and then began to cry.
“Are you making snow?” Merry asked as he waddled towards Tabitha to stare at her.
“No,” she said with a smile as she wiped her tears away “It’s just that I’m not a good girl. Santa doesn’t bring me anything because I must be bad.”
“Well you seem good to me,” said Merry with what looked like for the first time a smile. “It seems I have collected enough information and I shall begin to prepare my ship to go back home now.”
Tabitha walked outside and turned to the side of the house towards the garbage cans. Merry was slightly behind her. She went up to the garbage can lifted the lid, and pulled out what was now a trashed space ship. The two of them went back inside and walked down into the basement where her father’s tools were. Tabitha lifted Merry onto the table so that he could work on his ship.
After a few hours of sitting in the cold basement, Tabitha finally spoke. “I think you’re the best present I’ve ever had. You’re someone who actually listens to me, and is there.”
“So are we what you call friends?” asked Merry as he continued to work on his ship. Tabitha hugged him.
“That is called a hug. It’s something you give to someone you love.”
The rest of the day really went by quickly. Daren never stopped by, and Tabitha never received a call from her parents. Merry had continued to work on his ship, and he said he would come up to bed as soon as he was finished. Tabitha gave him another hug and went to bed.
The next morning Tabitha woke up. She opened her closet door to notice that the little box bed was empty. The little girl ran downstairs looking anxiously for Merry. As she walked into the kitchen, she noticed a post-it note saying “Out running errands,” that her mom had left her. Tabitha then went down to the basement.
Sadly, Merry and his spaceship were gone. Tabitha ran upstairs into her room, slamming her door behind her. She shoved her face down into her pillow and began to cry.
That night, as Tabitha was getting ready to go to bed, she couldn’t help but notice a glimmer coming from the window. Tabitha walked up to the window and peered out. She had never seen something so beautiful. There was a clump of stars that seemed to have been placed together to form the word “friend”.





Entry #4
Tannenbaum
James yawned loudly as he ran a hand through his rumpled hair. The other was cradling a mug of piping hot coffee.

Lord knows he needed it.

Pulling out a bowl and a few eggs from the refrigerator, he glanced out the window. Snowflakes were descending languidly from the gloomy clouds, who seemed less than eager to share their treasure with the world.

Delicately cracking the egg’s pale shell, James skillfully broke it open and allowed the contents to plunge into the bowl.

He repeated the process mindlessly, until his wandering hazel eyes caught sight of the calendar.

December 15th.

That meant Christmas was fast approaching.

James nearly choked, bringing the egg down forcefully. As the yolk dribbled between his fingers and onto the counter top, he grabbed a towel and cleaned the mess with a slight grimace.

The holiday sure had snuck up on him this year. He doubted he would be able to buy his son Danny that new bicycle he had wanted.

As he turned on the stove, James wondered if he even had enough to buy a tree this year. It would be close. Too close.

He hadn’t counted on Danny breaking his arm a few weeks ago, nor had he thought that a rock would sail through his windshield. But it had happened, and now James felt that he was running on empty.

Sighing, he prodded the eggs with a fork. He would have to pick up extra hours at work this week. And the week after.

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard sleepy footsteps in the hallway.

A familiar shock of messy blonde hair padded into view.

“Mornin’ squirt.” He greeted with a warm smile, shoving his previous thoughts to the side.

“Hi dad.” Danny yawned and took his usual seat at their round table.

James finished preparing their breakfast, chatting quietly with his son about this and that.

“Hey dad?” Danny asked as he set his glass of milk down.

“Hm?”

“When are we getting our tree?”

James froze. He looked at his son’s eyes, wide and expectant. Putting his fork down carefully, he cleared his throat.

“Soon.”

“How soon?”

James scratched an imaginary itch on his jaw line and sighed, “Soon”.

Danny stared at him for a second and then nodded, taking another sip of his warm milk.
James resumed eating, glad to have put the subject to rest.

“What if all the good trees are gone before we get there?” Danny blurted suddenly, brow furrowed in evident concern.

James smiled softly, “no matter which tree we bring home, the two of us will make it the best one of all because it’s our tree. I promise.”

Danny’s eyes lit up in understanding, “You’re right dad. Ours will be the best!” he nodded determinedly and hurried to place his plate in the sink.

“Hey squirt, go get dressed and I’ll take you to the park okay?” James proposed as he headed towards the sink.

“M’kay!” Danny squealed in delight before rushing off.

“Don’t forget to wear your warm socks!” James called over his shoulder.

“I won’t!”

“And don’t forget to get your mittens, I know you don’t like them but you can’t play outside without them!”

“Okay!”

“And don’t-“

“Daaad!”

~*~*~*~*~

James pulled his beat-up Ford into a parking space at a local church that sold Christmas trees at a lower price than most stores.

“We’re here!” Danny grinned and hopped out of the car, “C’mon dad!”

“Hold on there squirt, the trees aren’t going anywhere…” James chided and he grabbed hold on his son’s hand, leading him through the busy parking lot.

“Wow look at this one!” Danny marveled at the one of the larger and fuller pines.

James eyed the price tag warily, “How ‘bout we look back there, huh squirt?”.

“I see your eyein’ that tree” a cheerful voice came from behind the pine. It belonged to a middle aged man with an open face, and honest brown eyes. His copper beard held had flecks of gray in it.

“Actually we were about to go look at some other ones…” James said scratching the back of his neck and looking towards the smaller trees.

The man paid him no mind and fastened his gaze upon Danny instead, “Do you like this tree son?” he asked kindly.

Danny nodded enthusiastically.

The man chuckled and looked up at James, “well how about I cut the price in half?”

James flushed, “that isn’t necessary, really we were going to look at some other trees—“

He was cut off with a wave of the hand, “It’s no trouble, this is a good tree and it deserves a good home.”

Danny grabbed his father’s hand and bounced on the balls of his feet, “please dad! Please can we get this one!?”

James shook his head “now Danny we don’t want to be rude"

He was cut off yet again “I said it’s no trouble. Please take the tree; I would like it very much if you took off my hands.”

“I don’t want you to lose money…”James protested weakly.

“It’s no trouble” the man repeated.

To Danny’s sheer delight, James caved in and agreed to take the tree for half of its usual price. The adults loaded the tree into the back of his truck, which groaned under the strain.

As Danny sat in the passenger seat, James turned to the man and held out his hand, “Thank you sir, I really appreciate it.”

The man chuckled and shook his hand warmly, “Name’s Nathan Turner, and it was my pleasure. It is Christmas after all.”

The two men parted ways and James drove home, listening to his son gush over the tree the entire ride home.

“Are we gonna decorate now dad? Huh dad?” Danny questioned excitedly as he helped his father haul their tree up the porch steps.

“Sure are” James , who was bearing the lion’s share of the weight, grunted.

“Can I go into the attic this year dad? Please dad? I promise I’ll be careful!” Danny pleaded, eyes bright and lower lip jutted out.

“Not this year squirt” James shook his head.

Danny’s face fell “why not?” he whined.

“When you’re older you can do it” James promised.

Danny huffed in annoyance “you said that last year! I’m almost 8 you know!”

James chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair affectionately, “okay then, when you’re taller.”

Although this was met with an eye roll, Danny faithfully followed his father in order to fetch their ladder.

James pulled out his trusty ladder and placed it against the wall in the hallway. Their attic was hardly an attic, instead, a door (as Danny put it) could be pulled down from the ceiling, and it opened to a small space for extra storage.

James ascended the rungs of the ladder and began to hand down the worn cardboard boxes containing various Christmas ornaments. A chilling sensation tickled the back of his neck as a few spiders peered at him from their silky webs.

Grateful that they did not decorate the house extensively, James descended the ladder and headed back to the living room with a box in his arms and Danny at his heels.

After stringing on the lights, the ornaments were carefully positioned all around the tree, each one held delicately so as to prevent any accidents.

“Come on Danny,” James said, pulling out the final ornament “you have to put on the star.”

Hauling his son up on his broad shoulders, James held out the glittering star.

Danny took it solemnly; face more earnest than James had ever seen it. He delicately topped the tree with the star and held his hands out in case it were to fall.

Only after he had achieved perfect success did a large, toothy grin. James felt the corners of his own lips curl as he put his son on the ground and praised him for a job well done.

After making some chocolate, the boys plopped on their couch and admired their handy work.

“It looks great huh?” James mused, sipping his hot chocolate and nodding.

“It’s awesome” Danny commented.

“Well, I kept my promise didn’t I?”

Danny grinned into his father’s arm before looking back at the tree “Yeah, Its the best tree ever!”

With the ushering in of the Christmas spirit, the issue of affording a new bicycle and the hassle of shopping amongst the Christmas mob seemed to fall like snow from the heavens.

As they sat in a comforting silence and sipped away hot chocolate, James was suddenly happy that Christmas had snuck up on this year.

It had turned out to be a lovely surprise.





Entry #5
It’s A Wonderful Tardis Life
Becky Nez woke up slowly. She groaned, stretched, and laid in her bed, for a few moments, before getting up. She didn’t bother putting on regular clothes, instead walking out of her room to go to the console room in her PJs.

Captain Jack Harkness looked up from his computer wristband as Becky walked in. She smiled at her future great, great, great, great, great (well, I guess you get the picture) grandson (time travel is a wonderful thing). The Doctor laughed when he saw her. She glared and stuck her tongue out, playfully.

“Hello, sleepy head,” Rose said, grinning, as she walked to the kitchen. Becky smiled at her as she left, and sat down next to Jack. The Doctor hopped around the control panel, flipping switches and pumping bike pedals. The Tardis roared to life, and they went flying through the time vortex.

“Where to today?” he said enthusiastically.

“How about Japan?” Becky said. She’d always wanted to visit the beautiful country. The Doctor made a face.

“Maybe some other time.” He glanced between Jack and Rose, as she walked back in. “Any suggestions?”

“Oh! How about Japan?” Becky opened her mouth, ready to quote the Doctor in a very sarcastic imitation of him, when he spoke first.

“What a wonderful idea!” In a blink of an eye, the Doctor was back to flipping switches. Becky stared, slack jawed. She looked over to Jack for help.

“What?” he asked.

“Wha…did you miss that?!” She gestured her arms wildly.

“Miss what?” he replied, honestly not knowing what she was talking about. Becky groaned and threw her head into her hands.

***

The Tardis doors slammed shut behind the gang, as they collapsed, panting, in the console room.

“Why,” Becky panted and laid on her back, “did you land us in Japan 1942?” The Doctor shrugged.

“I thought it was 4219,” he replied simply.

“What, are you dyslexic?” she laughed. They all rolled their heads to look at her. None looked amused. “Tough crowd,” she muttered.

“Oo! The Netflix movies came in today!” the Doctor said excitedly as he jumped up towards the console. “Wolverine! Ooo! Let’s watch it!”

“Okay, we can watch it later ton--,” Rose began, but the Doctor was already taking off to the entertainment room. She sighed, shaking her head, before they followed after him.

***

The movie was good, but at the end, they wondered what happened to Victor, Logan’s brother. All except for one young Ruffian.

“He’s Sabertooth,” she said with a shrug, as if it was obvious. They snorted, and she wrinkled her nose in annoyance.

“No he’s not. He’s like Wolverine. He’s like a wolf,” Jack said, rolling his eyes.

“Nuh-uh!” she protested. “He’s like a cat!” The Doctor and Jack began snickering.

“Oh yeah,” Jack said to the Doctor, “I can see it now. Catman! Mreow!” He curled his hand like a cat in a girly way, and he and the Doctor howled with laughter. Becky could feel her patience slipping.

“Then he’s a tiger! Or a lion! He’s feline!!” They laughed harder, as the Doctor held an invisible tail and looked cowardly.

“Someone’s got my t-tail!”

“If I, were king, of the foreeeeeest!” Jack sang loudly, and they fell onto each other, laughing, and even Rose giggled. Becky stood up, angry, and marched to her room. She opened up her laptop, and went straight to IMDB. She typed in the movie, clicked the character, and there he was, in X-Men. Sabertooth. She was right.

Rather smug, she strode into the console room, where Rose and the Doctor were sitting, Jack having wandered to bed. She crossed her arms and smirked.

“Look it up. He is Sabertooth.”

“Who is?” the Doctor looked up, confused.

“Victor Creed!” she said in annoyance. “Wolverine’s brother! I told you!”

“Told me what?” he asked, grinning. “I don’t remember you saying that.” The fury inside of Becky could no longer be contained, and she let out a frustrated growl, before twirling around. She only faintly heard Rose say exasperatedly,

“Why do you have to wind her up like that?”

She stormed down the hall, the lights flickering and the shadows growing around her. She felt hot tears in her eyes, and she rubbed at them viciously. She’d never felt so angry in her entire life. She opened up her door, and, thinking it would feel rather satisfying to do so, threw all her weight into slamming it shut. She heard her dry erase board on the other side fall off. That did it. She let out an enraged yell and began to kick everything in site. She punched a wall, kicked a pile of clothes she tripped over, and threw almost everything off of her desk. Finally, she fell onto her bed and began to sob. She hugged her pillow close to herself, and whispered softly to herself.

“They never listen to me. They always treat me like a child. I hate them. Why doesn’t anybody ever listen to me? I’m smart!” She let out several more sobs, and hiccupped a few times. “I bet they wouldn’t care if I disappeared. I wish I’d never been born!!” she screamed.

“Your wish is my command,” someone said gently behind her. She gasped and whirled around. She saw a small girl with white hair and impossibly pale, blue eyes. She swallowed hard, trying to control her hiccupping and steady her breathing.

“What?”

“Your wish,” she said. “I’m your guardian angel. My name is Katsa. You wished to never be born. And so it is.” The room around them glowed brightly, and suddenly, it was dark. The once bright colored walls were now gray and cobwebs inhabited the corners. A layer of dust covered the bed, door, and desk. It grew cold.

“Wh-what wish?” Becky knew the answer in her heart, but couldn’t bare to hear it.

“Would you like to see what life would be like if you were never born?” Katsa held out her hand and stared hard at the other girl. Becky couldn’t find the words to speak. She slowly touched Katsa’s hand, and suddenly, they were on a different planet. She recognized it. Ruffielionisans. Her home. She watched as her sister, an adult, walked through the streets.

“Lily?” she called after her. She ran in front of her, but, to her discomfort, her sister walked through her. A shudder ran through Becky, and she resisted the urge to vomit. She turned to the little girl. “What just happened!?”

“You asked to never be born. You don’t exist. These are shadows of what could’ve been. You see them, but they can’t see you.” She watched as her sister walked down the dark sidewalks, and snuggled further into her coat.

“What happened to my sister?” Becky asked softly.

“Your family never moved to Earth. She was stern, and a very studious student. She never laughed. Today, she’s a very successful musician around the world. Ruffielionisans, that is.” Becky sniffed, and tried to hide her sadness.

“Looks like she’s happy,” she said, trying to sound happy.

“Does she? Look again.” She looked, and suddenly, she saw the wrinkles on the young woman’s face. The frown looked frozen on her face, and where there had once been a gold band lay a ringless finger.

“But…why?” She turned to look at Katsa.

“She didn’t have you,” she said simply.

“But…why me? What did I do?”

“You gave her joy. You made her laugh, and taught her to just let go.” Becky nodded, and looked around.

“Wait. Why did my absence prevent us from moving to Earth?” She raised an eyebrow and looked at the white haired child. She scuffed her feet awkwardly.

“Time to move on to our next person!”

“Katsa,” she began warningly.

“Okay, okay!” she raised her hands in surrender. “Your parents never told you, but…” She trailed off, and Becky took a step forward, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow higher. “You set the mayor’s cat on fire and out of embarrassment they moved to Earth,” she said quickly. Becky stared, mouth hanging open.

“So, I saved them from the embarrassment by not being born, I suppose.”

“Well, there was that. And your dad had always had a problem with the mayor. It was really just an excuse.”

“Whatever. Let’s go,” she said. Katsa nodded, and took Becky’s hand again. They were in the Tardis again, staring at the Doctor. His face was grim, and he looked almost evil in the lighting and narrowing of his eyes. Becky rolled her eyes. “I know what happens here. And with Jack, and with Rose. They live happily ever after.”

“Do they?” Katsa’s eyes flickered to the Doctor. “Tell me, Becky. This man…what happens to him? Time heals the wounds, but you know that what he did haunts him.” Becky’s crossed arms slowly fell, and she felt her eyes water.

“He should’ve gone back to the Tardis. He should’ve left it alone.”

“You stopped him from it. You prevented him going to Mars by joining him.” Becky sniffed and looked down.

“But he’ll never gets to travel with Donna because of me. Or Martha.”

“And he’ll never got his heart broken. And don’t count them out so quickly. They may yet join you and your friends in the time to come. But things will work out differently if they do. The Doctor did what he did because he’d had his heart broken too many times. You stopped the tragedy.” Becky stared at the ground, crossing her arms again, as if they would protect her.

“So what. I know that he gets better. And Rose and Jack live happily without me.”

“Do they?” Suddenly, they were on a beach. Becky shivered. Rose stood next to a man who looked like the Doctor, but wasn’t. She saw it right away. Rose was uncomfortable. It was the Doctor, but at the same time it wasn’t. It was different than him regenerating; he wasn’t the man she’d traveled with. That man had just left.

“It won’t be like when he regenerated,” she said. It wasn’t a question. Katsa nodded.

“They will be a couple, yes. But she will never fully love him like she does the real Doctor.”

“Do I even want to see Jack’s?” she asked grimly. Suddenly, they were on a hill at night. Gwen was crying, and pregnant. Jack stood, telling her he’d never come back. “Time will heal them,” she tried.

“But the scar will still be there. The hurt; the distrust. Jack truly feels worthless. He feels like he has done nothing to help the Earth, but he has. He leaves them and breaks Gwen’s heart. He leaves Gwen all alone. She’s already lost all of her friends via death. And now her last surviving friend leaves, thinking himself scum? It crushes her.”

Becky brushed away a few tears roughly.

“They get over it,” she said shakily. She felt Katsa’s eyes boring into her.

“Must we take a hit closer to home?” She said nothing. “Fine.” Suddenly, they were in a run down neighborhood that Becky wouldn’t want to be walking down at night. Or, day, really. A young man with dark hair sat up against a wall, his hair falling into his face. He smoked a cigarette, and glared at the ground.

“Max,” she whispered. She dropped to the ground in front of him. “What happened to him?”

“Well, his getting sent to alternative for a semester had nothing to do with you, so, of course, it happened. Instead of staying for the full semester, he paid the fine instead, and went back to school for a week.”

“Why would he do that when I wasn’t here?”

“Because you pushed him to do better,” Katsa said simply. “You were the one person who always told him he was smart, and never talked down to him.” Becky felt a tear slip down her cheek. “He dropped out a week after coming back. He got arrested twice. Spent six months in jail both times. His record is shot. He has no degree.”

“What about Kylie?” she asked softly. Max had been the love of Becky’s life throughout high school. He’d never known; she’d been the girl next door. The love of his life had been Kylie, and, being a good friend, Becky never interfered. In fact, she and Kylie were actually good friends, and she had been pretty sure that Kylie had liked Max, too. Especially after they started dating in high school.

“Her parents didn’t approve of him. She tried to make them see what a good person he was, but he wasn’t willing to work with her to make her parents like him. She didn’t want to be torn between her family and him. So, she broke his heart.” More tears slid down Becky’s cheeks. She reached out to touch his cheek, forgetting she couldn’t be seen, touched, heard, or smelt by anyone.

“Max,” she whispered. Her fingers went through him, and she felt the tears come down harder. He looked up, suddenly, and she gasped and fell backwards. He almost looked like he was staring straight at her, but then she realized his eyes were looking through her. She slowly looked around at Katsa, her eyes still full of tears. “I wanna go home.”

“You don’t have a home,” Katsa said. “You wished it away.”

“No! I wanna go home! I wanna go back to the Tardis! I want Lily to be happy, and married, and a mother, and a teacher! I want the Doctor and Rose and Jack to be happy, and not faking it! I want Max to be my friend, and to be goofy, not sad! I wish I had never made the other wish!”

Becky clawed at her sheets, crying out.

“I wish I were home. I wish I were home. I wish I were home,” she whispered as she tossed and turned in her bed. She gasped and sat straight up. “Home?” She looked around. The walls were brightly colored again. The room was warm and cozy. Her laptop sat on her desk, her cell phone lay on her nightstand, both charging. Her breath quickened. She flew down the halls, back to the console room, where Jack, Rose, and the Doctor sat around, the Doctor tinkering, Rose reading a magazine, and Jack fiddling with a swiss army knife. They looked up as she came in, and Jack sat down the knife as she flew into his arms.

“Jack! Oh my gosh, Jack! You’re here!” She pulled away from him and threw her arms around Rose. “Rose! You’re here, too! And with the Doctor! Doctor!!” She flew into his arms last, burying her head into his pinstripe suit. “I thought I’d never see you guys again.”

“You ate sugar before you went to bed again, didn’t you?” Rose asked with a grin.

“No!” she denied. “Well, yes, but no! It wasn’t a dream! I wished I’d never been born, and Katsa showed me you guys, and it was terrible!” They laughed, and rolled their eyes.

“Of course you did,” Jack said with a wink at the others, placing a hand on her shoulder. Rose grinned at the other girl, and handed her some cocoa as she released the Doctor.

“Cocoa?”

“Yeah. Why not?” she asked simply, taking a sip of her own. Becky shrugged.

“You just usually have it wintertime, I suppose.” Rose laughed.

“It’s Christmas Eve on earth, silly.” Becky’s jaw dropped.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah!” Jack laughed, too.

***

The next night, after all the festivities, and Becky was asleep in her room, the Doctor, Rose, and Jack stood across the street from a small home where an elderly couple lived.

“Why are we here?” Rose asked softly.

“Today is December 24th, 2004. Becky told me about it once. Tonight--,” he stopped as a young girl that looked an awful lot like Becky came outside. She stood, staring up at the sky, shivering slightly, despite her heavy coat. Rose looked at the Doctor questioningly, but he simply put a finger to his mouth. He raised his sonic screwdriver to point at the Tardis. There was a small pop, and Becky looked around, eyes wide and searching. Then, slowly, snow began to fall. A flake fell and touched the small girl on the nose. She gasped, and looked around excitedly as more began to fall. She scurried back into her house, before coming back outside to run around in the snow. After a few moments, a younger looking Lily came outside as well. Her eyes widened unbelievingly at the snow, and she ran around, laughing. Together, the two sisters had a snowball fight.

“Merry Christmas, Becky,” the Doctor said softly.

Deep in the heart of the Tardis, Becky snuggled further into her covers, and smiled softly.

The END

o<|:]





Entry #6
A Trip, A Blizzard and A Baby
“We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

“Okay, are we done caroling now, Omar?”

“Dude, you didn't have to come if you didn't want to, you could ha-”

“You are the one that told me we were going sing at Daicey's house!”

“Well, I thought we were; I had no idea that caroling would take so long.”

“Whatever, Christmas is just one big Hallmark card. Happy-this, merry-that; it's all a lie. They sure as heck don't mention the bad sides to all this holiday cheer.”

“Don't be such a Scrooge, just be happy. I mean everyone gets to be with family, people by each other gifts and we even get a break from school, which is a clear sign that this holiday is important.”

“This holiday? You know not everyone celebrates Christmas; how do you think the rest of the religions feel seeing a giant Christmas tree at their local mall?”

“Most people celebrate Christmas, so it's no big deal, Aldan.”

“I'm outta here, I'll see you later.”
I didn't get what the deal was with everyone. Christmas isn't that big of a deal. I was looking more forward to the senior field trip which only the 20 top students were allowed to go. We would be taken high up to the mountains for some skiing and then taken to the lodge to watch a movie. I was the seventh top student at Cherry Drive High School and I was sure proud of it. Not only that, but Daicey was going. I had had a crush on her since middle school and we actually managed to date just recently, but it only lasted three months. And now it had been two weeks since we broke up. Daicey was one of the most popular, smarter, and prettiest girls in school; she had it all. I, of course, was not so popular and almost as smart as her. And my looks? Well, I guess people don't consider me ugly, but that's what I like to think made her attracted to me. We ended up breaking up because I was not popular and she could not be seen with me. I was heartbroken, but I never got over liking her.


*-*-*-*
“Finally, it's the 22nd, time for the senior field trip!” Omar yelled to everyone as he entered the bus.

“Relax, I don't even know why the school calls this the 'senior filed trip' when there are very few seniors actually going.” I said as I pushed Omar to get to the window seat.

Suddenly, I saw Daicey, she was walking up the steps with a smile so big you would think she was the queen of the world. She was wearing nothing but designer labels. Her long blond hair swayed side-to-side as she walked and her book bag was full of pictures of her and her friends. She sat towards the middle and also pushed her way for a window seat.

“Okay, looks like everyone is on board, let's go!” The bus driver said as he smiled at all of us.

The road to the mountain top was a long one and very secluded. I had been up to this same resort once with Daicey and her family. It was the last month we were together and the last time we were happy together.

BUMP

The bus had swerved a little and ended up hitting rim of one of the tires pretty badly. Which was a bad sign, because the resort still was at least an hour away and it was snowing like crazy. The wind's howling kept everyone wide awake. I was disappointed, because even though I had gotten the window seat, I was unable to see anything because of all of the snow flying around everywhere.

All of a sudden I heard the bus driver yell “Hang on, kids,” and then I slowly felt the bus slip to the left. Everyone was quiet, I had no time to react to what was about to happen, no time to think.

BUMP, CRASH, BUMP, CRASH

The bus had swerved out of the icy road and down the mountain, it rolled hitting what seemed like a thousand branches, until it ramped off of a ledge and into a small field. Luckily, the bus had gone down a path where there was nothing but branches hitting the side of it and the ledge we ramped off of, wasn't too high from the field. But all of that noise had cause an avalanche and the bus had been covered completely by tons and tons of snow.

“Are you o-o-kay?” The bus driver was running around the aisle checking on each individual.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” I said and looked around and saw everybody's frozen faces.

“Alright, it looks like nobody is hurt, that's the best part. Now let me just cal-dang it! I have no reception! Is anybody's phone working?” The bus driver said as he looked frantically around us all.

Nobody had service and everyone surely thought they were going to die.

“Maybe we can dig ourselves out of here?” Omar said as he tried to get a fake smile across his face.
“Hmm, I think that's a good idea, Omar!” The bus driver exclaimed and quickly opened a window, allowing some snow to crumble down and soon began to dig with his bare hands.

Everybody then began to take turns digging with anything they could find. Some used notebooks, others used their skiing equipment and most people used their hands.

Finally, I was the one to reach the top. I peeked through and my face immediately felt like a million needles had just been thrown at it. The wind was ferocious and it was still snowing like crazy.
The bus driver decided that only four of us should be allowed to go out and look for some help. It was much too risky to let everyone go and far too cold. He would have volunteered himself, but he wasn't exactly skinny enough to fit through the window.

“I'll go!” Omar yelled.

“Looks like I'll be going with him.” I said

“Umm, I wa-want to go.” Daicey said as she got up.

“Well, then that means I'll be going with Daicey.” Mary (who was Daicey's best friend) said and quickly walked towards us.

We all crawled out through the tunnel, one-by-one. We all had at least three jackets on (which some of the other people had volunteered to give to us), mittens and wool caps.

“This is like something out of a movie, huh?” Omar said and looked around at us.

I pulled Omar to the side. “Look, this is your chance to get closer with Mary. I know you've liked her since you first saw her. So, why don't we split up; you go with Mary and I'll go with Daicey.” Omar looked at me and a small smile came over his face. “You're right, Aldan. This is my chance. But in an hour we'll meet up here if we can't find help, but I'm sure we will!”

Both girls agreed to split up and we were off into the blizzard. Daicey and I were quiet the whole way. The only communication we would have was by nodding at each other when one of us pointed a direction we could go.We ended up coming across a small river.

“I'm a bit thirsty,” Daicey said and kneeled down to get a quick sip of water.

“I can't believe this little river isn't frozen, it's so cold out here and how can you drink that water? It's bound to be freezing!” I said to her and sat down on a nearby rock.

Daicey looked back at me and just stared at me. She began to cry. I looked at her and was about to say something when she bolted, jumped across some rocks but right when she was about to reach the other side, she slipped and fell into the water.

“Daicey! Daicey! Get out of there! Now!” I yelled at her, but it was useless, she was struggling to reach the other side and the current was pushing her fast. I had no choice, but to jump in to save her.
And so I ran onto some rocks and dived right into the rushing cold of the river. I quickly swam towards her. “Daicey, grab my hand!” I showed her my hand, but she couldn't reach. I swam faster and was able to just barely grab on to her waist. I swam to the other side and got us both up to the land.

“Aldan...thank you.” Daicey said and looked at me with a kind smile. We rested for a while on the ground, until the wind forced us to get up. Daicey noticed something in the distance.

“Look!” Daicey shouted and pointed towards a small cave on the side of a hill.

“Yeah, we should rest there for a little bit,” I said and ran along side her.

The cave was extremely dark, so we stayed mainly near the entrance. But Daicey kept walking around, she had something on her mind, I just knew it.

“What's wrong, Daicey?”

“Aldan, I need to tell you something.”

“Umm, okay. Go ahead.”

“I don't know why I was not planning on telling you this, but I...well, see, I'm...” Daicey stopped and I noticed she was about to cry, when she started up again.

“Part of me wanted to go out here with you because there's something very important that I should tell you.”

“Yeah, uhh, okay. And what it is it?”

“I'm pregnant.”

I stared at her and my mind went all over the place. Everything got blurry and I remembered our last night at the resort.

“I wasn't planning on telling you. I bro-broke up with you, because I found out I was pregnant and I began to think of you as a father. I couldn't imagine having you and your family, who are much less wealthier than mine, have to pay for taking care of this kid. I began to think of other boys around the school that were much wealthier and that had chances of going to college to be my baby's dad. I would never tell them that you were the dad or that I was pregnant until after, well, you know. But I would tell them it was theirs. I'm sorry, please forgive me.”

A wave of anger came across me. “What?! You were not planning on telling me you were having my kid?! I can- I just, well, you are, why...I plan on going to college, and my family being less wealthier than yours has nothing to do with this! Here I was thinking of our break up being because of my popularity status, when it was about you being pregnant. I don't know if I can ever forgive you.”

“Look, Aldan, I know what I did was wrong, but seeing you jump into a raging river for me made me realize how stupid I am.”

“Yeah, that water was very cold, you better hope the baby is fine...”

“Please, let's talk about this, Aldan.”

“No! We're out here trying to save the lives of at least eighteen people and you want us to talk?! I'm leaving, I need to find help, you just stay here, I don't need you.”

“I can't believe you are going to leave me here, Aldan!”

“Fine, you've proven yourself to be Miss Trustworthy anyways, so why don't you go ahead into the freezing blizzard and bring back some help, huh?”

“Sure! That sounds like a great idea! If anything happens to me, you can be glad that you won't have to worry about being a father anymore!”

“I don't care....”

Daicey ran outside and I saw her slowly disappear into the blizzard. After a couple of minutes of thinking, I realized I couldn't let her go out there. She was just scared, that's why she broke up with me, she wanted the best for our kid. I still liked her and I wasn't going to let her stay outside alone. I ran out of the cave.
I saw somebody walking ahead of me, I knew it was her. I ran faster and faster, dodging pine trees. “Daicey, I forgive you, Daicey!” She looked back and started running towards me, but at that moment, a bear walked right in front of me. The beast growled at me and I began running another direction. The bear got on all of it's fours and started chasing me. “Run, Aldan!” I heard Daicey's voice. I looked back and couldn't see anything, but unfortunately the ground ended and I fell down, way down.

*-*-*-*

I woke up inside a hospital. There were flowers and balloons all over me. “Get well soon,” they said. All I could remember was being chased by a bear and falling down an endless stretch of snow. I had no idea how I ended up getting saved, I had so many questions. What had happened to the others in the bus? Did Omar and Mary make it out safe? Where was Daicey with my kid? Was she okay?

My mom came in and explained everything to me. She said that Omar and Mary were able to find a small search crew who was looking for the seniors that were supposed to be at the resort. They had led them back to the bus where Daicey was waiting. She had told them about me, she said I had fallen down and was unconcious. She barely was able to drag me into a cave, where she took the rescue team and had them call an ambulance.

I was relieved everyone was okay. I was happy, but I really wanted to see Daicey. I didn't want to tell my mom about the kid just yet, but I was planning on telling my family soon. I needed their support and I knew they would be there for us. I fell asleep.

I woke up by a small splash of water. “Good morning, sleepy head.” It was Daicey. “Aldan, I'm sorry, but I still have feelings for you, I have never lost them...” I looked at her and smiled, “Me too and I want our kid to grow up with us as a couple, not as separate people.” She looked at me and bent down towards my face and kissed my forehead. “Merry Christmas, Aldan.”




Entry #7
THE VERY MERRY BUMBLE BEE!
Once upon a time,

There was a very merry bumble bee,
with a very merry hat,
he lived in a merry, humble tree,
that had a merry welcome mat.

But one day a young boy came along,
and stole his merry hat,
but the boy was very wrong,
and got stung on the bat.

If you have any questions, you may ask myself or Eliza.

(IMG:http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww149/KibaMizu66/Christmasbanner-1.png)
Made by Mrs. Eliza

[Mizuko]

MIZUKO ELIZA IS IN! And Eliza is doing the banner now. :P

[Oscar]

Awesome! Another one! I totally am joining. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalagrin.gif)

But about the theme. So, it's Christmas joy, but it doesn't have to be based around Christmas? Do you mean like a miracle, happy-go-lucky story? That's really all I'm confused about.

[James]

I might join if I have time... I am working hard on this new ... I can't go spoil what THAT is....

[Mizuko]

I might join if I have time... I am working hard on this new ... I can't go spoil what THAT is....

The voices are calling you! Join. join, join~

And now Liza is curious~

[Mizukithepanda]

Well, with this long of a time-frame, I might actually be able to finish a story for entry. :D I already have a couple of ideas... I just need to flesh them out and put them to words.

[Tolby]

I'm not sure if I have 7,000 words in all my previous posts combined.

[Mizukithepanda]

I think I'm pretty close to (if not over) that already... I tend to be fairly wordy no matter what medium I'm talking through. Also Tolby, you'd be surprised at how quickly 7000 words'll come up on you when you're writing. I actually have trouble keeping my work that short. (Unless of course, it's stylized and not meant to be that long.)

[ZBoy]

Well seeing that I had such a great time doing the last competition, I'll be sure to enter this one! Thanks for putting these together you two AMAZING AUSTRALIANS!!! :D

[Zen Clarke]

Zen's in. Yay, I rhymed! ;3 Kay. Already got an idea flowing...can it be fanfiction...?

[ZBoy]

Ideas are rolling around in my head. I really want to try to get a warm feel. :)

[Mizuko]

Well seeing that I had such a great time doing the last competition, I'll be sure to enter this one! Thanks for putting these together you two AMAZING AUSTRALIANS!!! :D

XDDDDDDDDD Charmy's the amazing one~

[ZBoy]

NO!!! Your both amazing! Don;t deny it! >:D

[Mizuko]

Denied! >:D Charmy does all the work~

XDDDDD

[ZBoy]

But your name is still in the title! That still makes you awesome! :D

[Charmy]

Eliza, you brought up the first thought of actually having a great competition. I just fancied it up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

Oscar: Well, yes. It's meant to be happyl-Go-Lucky somewhere in it and STUFFZ. I'm just hoping for a few more Christmas themed ones, but I'm not strict.

Zen: Yes. It may be a fan fic, but it seems to be with original characters people tend to appreciate your story more.

And now to sort out another prize. I think I have something in mind, who doesn't mind me and Mizuko drawing art for the overall winner?

[Mizuko]

Eliza, you brought up the first thought of actually having a great competition. I just fancied it up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

And now to sort out another prize. I think I have something in mind, who doesn't mind me and Mizuko drawing art for the overall winner?

Oh yeah Eliza forgot about that~

*Raises hand* Miss Charmy, what will we draw?

[Charmy]

Something related to the winners, story, how they'll like it. :D If everything likes the idea. Or I might ask someone to make another graphic.... *Looks in HS' direction* By the way, hpw's that banner going? Because HS made one too. :3

[Mizuko]

:P Eliza is nearly done! Just a few things that Eliza has to change~

[Charmy]

'Kay. Because I'm putting btoh yours and Harvest Sprite's banners up. :3
You better remember to actually save it this time. >.>