"It's quiet, too quiet," I say aloud. I walk out of my room slowly. 6:50 a.m. and no one is up yet? Strange. I scale the wall, keeping as close as possible. I reach the staircase, but it's on the other side of the hall. I'd have to leave my wall. Risky, I know, but risks have to be made. I run.
I run down the steps, careful not to trip. I can hardly see the steps at all. I reach the bottom and let out a sigh of relief. Stupid. I gave away my position. Suddenly I'm being hoisted into the air at the hips. Someone has me. I'd know those hands anywhere. I can't keep from laughing.
"Okay, okay, you caught me," I laugh. He hoists me onto his shoulders and the lights kick on. We're not the only ones out here. They're all here. All four of my brothers and my master. They caught me.
"Trying to sneak down here without me huh?" Mikey laughs. The tickles my feet. I'm not wearing my shoes, so it's easy for him to do. I laugh harder, "Stop, Mikey, Stop!" We both laugh and he stops.
"Merry Christmas Lexi!" Mikey yells.
"Merry Christmas Mike," I laugh. He takes me off his shoulders and sets me on the ground. We all exchange Merry Christmas.
"Quick, Lexi, what time is it?" Mikey yells.
I read my watch, "6:55?" My eyes widen. Five minutes. Mikey and I run. We leap over the couch and fall back onto it. "Where's the remote? Where's the remote?" Mikey asks frantic.
"Slow down you guys, we've got plenty of time," Donnie says walking over to us. He hands me the remote. "Thanks Donnie," I say. I click on the TV. Donnie walks around and sits down next to me on my left.
"What are you guys so ramped up about?" Raph asks walking over. Leo is beside him. Splinter went to the kitchen. He knows what we're doing. I don't think he's interested.
"It's A Wonderful Life," I say. Mikey puts his left arm around my neck and nuggies my head with his right. I push him off, laughing.
"You guys still watch that? Hasn't it gotten old by now?" Leo takes a seat on the couch.
"Never!" Mikey shouts.
"We'll keep watching it 'til we're old geezers," I tell him.
"Yeah, Leo, it's tradition," Donnie agrees.
Leo sits down next to Donnie and Raph takes the recliner next to him. There's another chair next to Mikey that Master Splinter later occupies. He didn't leave because he wasn't interested. He went to make us hot coca. I look around at my brothers and my master splinter. I look at the TV as the show is starting. I lay my head on Mikey's shoulder, Yeah, it's a wonderful life.