You're Not Always Alone for the Holidays

a three view point story

Cliff's view

I lay on the bed at the Inn. I saw out of the corner of my eye that there was a light snow starting to fall outside. My roommate was getting ready to head out for the Starry Night Festival. Most likely to his girlfriend's house. I find it hard to believe that he has two caps that have the word Uma on it. Why does he have one that is blue and the other one black?

I asked, "So going to see Mary for the Festival? "

"What of it? ", he replied.

"Well this is the Starry Night Festival. Most couples spent it together. "

"I don't think it is any of your business who I see tonight, but if you really want to know, I'm spending it with my grandfather. ", he replied.

With that last comment, my roommate left. I heard his footsteps leaving. I decided to stay in the room, since nobody had asked me to celebrate the Festival with them. I think I'll get some sleep. The money I have will at least last me until the end of next year. I don't see many jobs available here. I started to doze off, and then a knocking sound happened at the door.

"Hey Cliff, are you awake? ", came a soft female voice.

"Yes. "

"Are you decent? ", she asked.

"Yes. "

The door opened and the Innkeeper's daughter came in.

"Ummm, Cliff? Ahh, would you like to have dinner with my father and me? ", she asked, blushing slightly.

"That would be great Ann. "

I got up and went downstairs with Ann.

"Nice to see you join us. I'm glad that Ann took my advice. ", said Doug.

"That's nice of you. "

"Well since you don't have any family in town, you shouldn't spend it alone. ", said Doug as he placed a third plate down.

I noticed that he placed it next to Ann's plate. Is he trying to hook me up with his daughter? She is beautiful, she reminds me of my sister. So this shouldn't be too bad of a dinner. I hope I can spend next year here, Mineral Town has a lot of nice people.

Ann's view

I was getting the table set, when I saw Gray coming down the stairs.

"Wow Gray, you are looking sharp tonight. "

"Thanks. ", he said in his usual manner.

"I hope Mary likes it. "

"I don't think it is any of your business who I see tonight. ", he replied.

Being used to his surly manner this comment didn't faze me. I do know that he his seeing Mary, since she told me she was going to ask him to dinner. Some guys don't know that we girls have a 'network' of sorts to relay messages and information to one another.

I said, "Well then have fun with whoever you are seeing then. ".

He came closer to me, and looked around and softly said, "Look why don't you invite Cliff to your dinner with your dad. He looks a little down. ".

I blinked my eyes in surprise, "You are you? What have you done with the real Gray? "

He sighed, "Look I know it doesn't seem like me to say that, but I feel that nobody should spend the holidays alone.

"That's a good idea. ", said a deep voice.

We both jumped and looked around to see my father.

"I heard the whole conversation, since it would ruin Gray reputation, why don't you tell Cliff that it was my idea to invite him. ", said my father with a grin.

"Ok dad. ".

Gray then left the Inn, and I headed up the stairs to the room that is used by guys who stay at the Inn.

I knocked on the door to the room.

"Hey Cliff, are you awake? "

"Yes. ", he replied.

"Are you decent? "

"Yes. "

I opened the door and entered.

"Ummm, Cliff? Ahh, would you like to have dinner with my father and me? ", I said blushing for some odd reason.

"That would be great Ann. "

We went down the stairs to join my father.

"Nice to see you join us. I'm glad that Ann took my advice. ", said Doug.

"That's nice of you. "

"Well since you don't have any family in town, you shouldn't spend it alone. ", said Doug as he placed a third plate down.

I saw that my father was placing the plate for Cliff next to mine. What is my father up to? Is my father trying to get me married? I don't think I'm ready to get married. I then went into the kitchen to finish the last of the cooking. Maybe Cliff could spend next year's Starry Night Festival with me and my father.

Gray's view

I looked into the mirror adjusting my black cap on my head. I saw that my roommate was moping on his bed.

"So going to see Mary for the Festival? ", he asked.

"What of it? "

"Well this is the Starry Night Festival. Most couples spent it together. ", he said.

"I don't think it is any of your business who I see tonight, but if you really want to know, I'm spending it with my grandfather. ", I said to him.

The truth is I am seeing Mary, but she also invited my grandfather to the dinner as well. So I left the room, and headed down the stairs.

"Wow Gray, you are looking sharp tonight. ", said Ann.

"Thanks. "

"I hope Mary likes It. ", said Ann

"I don't think it is any of your business who I see tonight. "

She looked at me oddly.

"Well then have fun with whoever you are seeing then. ".

I came closer to Ann, and looked around and softly said, "Look why don't you invite Cliff to your dinner with your dad. He looks a little down. ".

She blinked her eyes in surprise, "You are you? What have you done with the real Gray? "

I sighed, "Look I know it doesn't seem like me to say that, but I feel that nobody should spend the holidays alone.

"That's a good idea. ", said a deep voice.

We both jumped and looked around to see her father.

"I heard the whole conversation, since it would ruin Gray reputation, why don't you tell Cliff that it was my idea to invite him. ", said her father with a grin.

"Ok dad. ", said Ann.

I left the Inn, and headed to Mary's house. I felt a slight grin was spreading on my face. I may be a bit anti-social, but I to those that I consider my friends, I feel that I should help them out now and then. I wonder where Cliff will be next year. I wish that my grandfather had a second opening at the foundry, Cliff could use a job. I don't think that he has enough money to stay at the Inn forever. He is a nice guy, and Ann is a nice girl, maybe they should be a couple.