[Contest Entry 2011] A time for giving... and some recieving
0
Too close for a comfort but here's one.
The multi colored lights illuminated the snow covered streets, the gentle snowfall creating a gentle atmosphere of serenity for its witnesses.
Couples walked the streets dressed warmly for the weather, some sharing hot coco inside the shops the warmth of their smiles could be felt even in the cold.
Kids slept in their beds as they waited for tomorrow, when Santa’s overnight visit would bring joy to those who wake on Christmas day.
“Nejik wake up.”
However not everyone was enjoying the joy brought forth by Christmas.
A groan escaped from Nejik as his body seemed to twitch for a moment; the sound of a familiar voice filled his ears causing him to look up.
“Simon?”
Nejik forced down the urge to stay down and forced himself to stand up, his body ached and he could still feel the agony of the earlier assault.
“I’m assuming Melissa paid a visit?”
“Yeah…with Christmas being tomorrow she remembered last year’s gift again and I paid for it.”
Nejik took hold of his chin and cracked his neck before rotating his shoulders.
“She almost pulled out the brass knuckles this time.”
Nejik watched as Simon shook his head before moving into the other room.
He returned shortly before throwing a soda at him, opening the one in his hand afterward.
“So what did you get her this year?” Simon asked taking a sip.
Hearing those words a sly grin found its way onto Nejik’s face, he puffed out his chest as he swelled with pride.
“I didn’t look too much into it this year. I was a very careful and picked out the perfect gift. I even put it in that dumpster outside instead of at Mr. Williams. Picked it up every morning on the way to work and put it back at night.”
Nejik took a quick drink of his soda as he reveled in his genius before continuing what he believed to be a perfect plan.
“I didn’t get her a Fakku shirt this time but a Hen-Tai shirt instead!”
Silence fell between the two, a look of pure confusion on Simon’s face as he stared at Nejik.
“I’ve known you too long to know your joking so I’ll just ask why.”
“Who doesn’t want a shirt with a hen wearing a tie on it? With that knowledge I decided on it.”
Simon reached up and squeezed the bridge of his nose before looking back at Nejik.
“Instead of a shirt why don’t you spend some quality time with Melissa? Go for a carriage ride and share some hot coco, or go ice skating and just enjoy each other’s company. That’s the greatest gift you can give her, just wanting to be with her.”
Nejik stared at Simon who lowered his hand and offered a small smile; Simon firmly believed this was the greatest gift he could give Melissa.
With that in mind Nejik nodded a few times before speaking, as Simon’s words circled in his mind.
“That has to be the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Simon seemed to flinch at Nejik’s words before putting his hand over his face.
“You can’t wear †˜quality time’ Simon nor can you free up your Friday afternoon’s with it if you know what I mean.”
Simon chuckled a little before shaking his head making his way back into the kitchen.
“To my knowledge you’ve never had a Friday afternoon free if I’m correct,” Simon yelled from the other room.
“Shut up, now I’m going to go get Melissa gi-“
Nejik cut himself off as he heard a loud noise outside, it sounded like the pressure of something being released.
Running to the window he saw a man throw Melissa’s gift into the back of a truck before getting back into the truck.
“By the way Nejik that’s not a garbage can,” Simon said from the other room. “He picks up toys for orphans and came late due to multiple requests from people who work during the day hours. He’s collected most of the things but he has to do one last run to be safe.”
“Why didn’t you mention that earlier?!”
“You’re the one who didn’t read the side of the can; of course people still use it as a garbage can.”
Nejik decided to leave their conversation at that, and ran towards the door throwing it open as he made his way outside.
“I’m using your bike!” He yelled before the door shut.
Simon peered out of the kitchen but Nejik was already out of the room.
“I don’t own a bike.”
Nejik peddled down the street at full force after the truck, images of what would come going through his mind if he didn’t get her gift.
He felt something tug at his heart at the thought of being empty handed when Melissa came.
He knew very well that no gift could every truly express how he felt about her, but he thought the shirt was at least a start.
Forcing his emotions down, he focused on catching up to the truck.
He cursed the lights for remaining on green as his exhaustion started to kick in; he quickly turned the bike and moved down the alleyway turning his head to watch the truck.
He turned the corner only to be blinded by the trucks lights as it closed in on him after running a yellow light.
Closing his eyes he waited for the collision as the truck’s horn offered him a too late warning.
However when he opened his eyes he saw the grill of the truck being forced in; the momentum from a sudden collision sent the truck into the air.
Nejik watched as the truck flew over his head before landing on the other side on its back sliding a few feet before stopping.
The driver climbed out of the truck and quickly ran away from the scene screaming.
Nejik turned his attention back to what had stopped the truck before his heart sank.
Momoka stood holding her metal bat as if she had just hit a grand slam with a blank expression.
She lowered the bat and turned her attention to Nejik before flashing him a victory sign.
Nejik fell onto his behind before letting out a sigh, if Momoka hadn’t come along that could’ve gotten ugly.
He hadn’t seen Momoka in a while, not since new years when she was running on the water of the lake. She was swinging her bat at an old man with a bunch of pocket watches on his belt during that time.
Nejik had ignored the scene and continued deciding not to ask questions.
He was snapped out of his memories as he watched Momoka pick up the gift for Melissa and stare at it.
“Hey Momoka that’s the gift I need for Melissa, can I have it back?”
Nejik froze as Momoka seemed to pump her bat causing a shotgun shell to fall out of it and hit the ground.
She pointed the tip of the bat at him before turning the handle.
A bright flash filled his vision before a searing pain seemed to hit his chest following a gunshot. He grit his teeth as a pain coursed through his body causing him to black out.
Simon opened a bag of hot coco mix as Nejik rested in the other room.
He didn’t know when he got home but he was passed out on the sofa without the present when he retuned from the square.
“Melissa!”
Simon glanced over his shoulders as he reached and grabbed the sugar hearing Nejik’s voice in the other room.
There were some mumblings between the two of them before he heard Nejik speak.
He listened as Nejik went to explain that he hadn’t gotten her a gift, Simon expected unbridled rage but hearing Melissa words made him smile.
“Spend the day with me today and we’ll call it even.”
However he soon heard something that made his heart sink.
“So…who is Momoka?”
The question came from Melissa and he could hear the venom in her tone from where he was.
“W-what are you talking about?” Nejik said though it was obvious he knew the answer.
“I found a present on my doorstep with your name and a Momoka! Who is she?”
“It’s not what you think! She’s just my guardian angel.”
Simon heard a gunshot come from the other room as he stirred his sugar.
“Melissa wait put that thing away!”
“I have three clips Nejik and each one’s going into your skull!”
Simon sat down at the table and took a sip as he looked across the table at Momoka who also had a cup of coco. .
Taking it with both hands she took a small sip before Simon looked back towards the living room.
“It get’s like this sometimes, please continue about your meeting with Father Time.”
“I’m sorry Melissa please stop! Simon help me, Momoka, anybody!”
“I’ll wish them a merry Christmas later.”
The multi colored lights illuminated the snow covered streets, the gentle snowfall creating a gentle atmosphere of serenity for its witnesses.
Couples walked the streets dressed warmly for the weather, some sharing hot coco inside the shops the warmth of their smiles could be felt even in the cold.
Kids slept in their beds as they waited for tomorrow, when Santa’s overnight visit would bring joy to those who wake on Christmas day.
“Nejik wake up.”
However not everyone was enjoying the joy brought forth by Christmas.
A groan escaped from Nejik as his body seemed to twitch for a moment; the sound of a familiar voice filled his ears causing him to look up.
“Simon?”
Nejik forced down the urge to stay down and forced himself to stand up, his body ached and he could still feel the agony of the earlier assault.
“I’m assuming Melissa paid a visit?”
“Yeah…with Christmas being tomorrow she remembered last year’s gift again and I paid for it.”
Nejik took hold of his chin and cracked his neck before rotating his shoulders.
“She almost pulled out the brass knuckles this time.”
Nejik watched as Simon shook his head before moving into the other room.
He returned shortly before throwing a soda at him, opening the one in his hand afterward.
“So what did you get her this year?” Simon asked taking a sip.
Hearing those words a sly grin found its way onto Nejik’s face, he puffed out his chest as he swelled with pride.
“I didn’t look too much into it this year. I was a very careful and picked out the perfect gift. I even put it in that dumpster outside instead of at Mr. Williams. Picked it up every morning on the way to work and put it back at night.”
Nejik took a quick drink of his soda as he reveled in his genius before continuing what he believed to be a perfect plan.
“I didn’t get her a Fakku shirt this time but a Hen-Tai shirt instead!”
Silence fell between the two, a look of pure confusion on Simon’s face as he stared at Nejik.
“I’ve known you too long to know your joking so I’ll just ask why.”
“Who doesn’t want a shirt with a hen wearing a tie on it? With that knowledge I decided on it.”
Simon reached up and squeezed the bridge of his nose before looking back at Nejik.
“Instead of a shirt why don’t you spend some quality time with Melissa? Go for a carriage ride and share some hot coco, or go ice skating and just enjoy each other’s company. That’s the greatest gift you can give her, just wanting to be with her.”
Nejik stared at Simon who lowered his hand and offered a small smile; Simon firmly believed this was the greatest gift he could give Melissa.
With that in mind Nejik nodded a few times before speaking, as Simon’s words circled in his mind.
“That has to be the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Simon seemed to flinch at Nejik’s words before putting his hand over his face.
“You can’t wear †˜quality time’ Simon nor can you free up your Friday afternoon’s with it if you know what I mean.”
Simon chuckled a little before shaking his head making his way back into the kitchen.
“To my knowledge you’ve never had a Friday afternoon free if I’m correct,” Simon yelled from the other room.
“Shut up, now I’m going to go get Melissa gi-“
Nejik cut himself off as he heard a loud noise outside, it sounded like the pressure of something being released.
Running to the window he saw a man throw Melissa’s gift into the back of a truck before getting back into the truck.
“By the way Nejik that’s not a garbage can,” Simon said from the other room. “He picks up toys for orphans and came late due to multiple requests from people who work during the day hours. He’s collected most of the things but he has to do one last run to be safe.”
“Why didn’t you mention that earlier?!”
“You’re the one who didn’t read the side of the can; of course people still use it as a garbage can.”
Nejik decided to leave their conversation at that, and ran towards the door throwing it open as he made his way outside.
“I’m using your bike!” He yelled before the door shut.
Simon peered out of the kitchen but Nejik was already out of the room.
“I don’t own a bike.”
Nejik peddled down the street at full force after the truck, images of what would come going through his mind if he didn’t get her gift.
He felt something tug at his heart at the thought of being empty handed when Melissa came.
He knew very well that no gift could every truly express how he felt about her, but he thought the shirt was at least a start.
Forcing his emotions down, he focused on catching up to the truck.
He cursed the lights for remaining on green as his exhaustion started to kick in; he quickly turned the bike and moved down the alleyway turning his head to watch the truck.
He turned the corner only to be blinded by the trucks lights as it closed in on him after running a yellow light.
Closing his eyes he waited for the collision as the truck’s horn offered him a too late warning.
However when he opened his eyes he saw the grill of the truck being forced in; the momentum from a sudden collision sent the truck into the air.
Nejik watched as the truck flew over his head before landing on the other side on its back sliding a few feet before stopping.
The driver climbed out of the truck and quickly ran away from the scene screaming.
Nejik turned his attention back to what had stopped the truck before his heart sank.
Momoka stood holding her metal bat as if she had just hit a grand slam with a blank expression.
She lowered the bat and turned her attention to Nejik before flashing him a victory sign.
Nejik fell onto his behind before letting out a sigh, if Momoka hadn’t come along that could’ve gotten ugly.
He hadn’t seen Momoka in a while, not since new years when she was running on the water of the lake. She was swinging her bat at an old man with a bunch of pocket watches on his belt during that time.
Nejik had ignored the scene and continued deciding not to ask questions.
He was snapped out of his memories as he watched Momoka pick up the gift for Melissa and stare at it.
“Hey Momoka that’s the gift I need for Melissa, can I have it back?”
Nejik froze as Momoka seemed to pump her bat causing a shotgun shell to fall out of it and hit the ground.
She pointed the tip of the bat at him before turning the handle.
A bright flash filled his vision before a searing pain seemed to hit his chest following a gunshot. He grit his teeth as a pain coursed through his body causing him to black out.
Simon opened a bag of hot coco mix as Nejik rested in the other room.
He didn’t know when he got home but he was passed out on the sofa without the present when he retuned from the square.
“Melissa!”
Simon glanced over his shoulders as he reached and grabbed the sugar hearing Nejik’s voice in the other room.
There were some mumblings between the two of them before he heard Nejik speak.
He listened as Nejik went to explain that he hadn’t gotten her a gift, Simon expected unbridled rage but hearing Melissa words made him smile.
“Spend the day with me today and we’ll call it even.”
However he soon heard something that made his heart sink.
“So…who is Momoka?”
The question came from Melissa and he could hear the venom in her tone from where he was.
“W-what are you talking about?” Nejik said though it was obvious he knew the answer.
“I found a present on my doorstep with your name and a Momoka! Who is she?”
“It’s not what you think! She’s just my guardian angel.”
Simon heard a gunshot come from the other room as he stirred his sugar.
“Melissa wait put that thing away!”
“I have three clips Nejik and each one’s going into your skull!”
Simon sat down at the table and took a sip as he looked across the table at Momoka who also had a cup of coco. .
Taking it with both hands she took a small sip before Simon looked back towards the living room.
“It get’s like this sometimes, please continue about your meeting with Father Time.”
“I’m sorry Melissa please stop! Simon help me, Momoka, anybody!”
“I’ll wish them a merry Christmas later.”
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xninebreaker
FAKKU Writer
The dialouge took me a little bit to figure out. I feel that the lack of a description of the characters talking (e.g. "Merry Christmas," said Peter) in the first bit of your story, made your story flow a bit strangely. I kind of had to take my time reading trying to figure out what was going on. Sometimes, dialouge can flow from one line to the next, with the same person speaking even though there is an event going on in between (I hope I'm making sense and not just spouting out something that is wrong >.>).
Nonetheles, the story put a smile on my face as well, which probably started when Momoka entered the story. Cracked me up big time ahaha.
Nonetheles, the story put a smile on my face as well, which probably started when Momoka entered the story. Cracked me up big time ahaha.