Jeremy's POV
You have never known humiliation until you've seen your aunt and uncle square-dancing to Peanut Butter Jelly Time. If this is what it looks like to grow up, then I'm GLAD I'm only 15.
It's a New Year's Eve party, and I'm sitting on the top of the staircase waiting on my uncle Derick to arrive. He promised me a surprise. I have no idea what it could be, but knowing my uncle, he probably has something… interesting… to give me.
My uncle's a pretty weird dude. He's interested in rare plants. Last year, uncle Derick spent two years looking for a plant called a Nirnroot. I've never heard anything like it before. The way he described it was weird too. Uncle Derick described it as a plant with four blue-green leaves and visible roots. Also, he mentioned that it is commonly found by a body of water. Let me tell you, I've been to the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Gulf of Mexico, the Cape Fear River, AND the Atlantic Ocean and I've never even seen this so-called Nirnroot. That must explain why it's so rare.
Uncle Derick just arrived, and, like always, my mud-brown cat Reilly dashes to the doorway and licks his hand. Reilly loves people – maybe a little too much. The only reason he's ever with me is because I have his favorite toy mouse being held in my closet (like I'd ever get it out in the first place). I bet if Reilly put his mind to it, he could be a walking cat who completely understands English. I know. I have crazy ideas.
"Jeremy! How's my favorite nephew?"
As always, my three cousins turn their heads towards Derick and look at him with these sad eyes. Their eyes are so sad-looking; I bet they could make YOU cry. They slowly shuffle away while my uncle walks towards me with this wrapped cylinder-shaped object in his hand.
"Hey uncle Derick," I say. "Can I just have this surprise you promised me? I'm real tired and I want to sleep soon."
"Well, it's a good thing I brought this then!" he cheerfully says, and he unwraps the gift and hands to me… a cup full of a blue-green liquid. "Okay now, drink up!"
I sigh and ask why I have to do this, and he replies with a quick shrug.
"Oh, all right then," I say. "Hand it over."
I take a small sip, and instantly I taste this salty, yet fresh sensation of water. Weird, right? But, it's so delicious that I decide to chug the rest of it. All of a sudden, it feels like all my energy is fading away. I feel suddenly exhausted, yet all I've been doing is standing and sitting. I tell uncle Derick that I feel tired, and then slowly make my way to my bed upstairs. Reilly, of course, follows me.
I was about to turn off the lights when I noticed a little bit of juice left. Since I had a feeling that strange liquid made me tired, I just let Reilly lick the cup clean. He then jumps onto my bed and yawns the way only a cat would yawn. I turn off the lights and lay in bed, and sleep rushes over me. The last thing I heard was a whisper. "Let the Nirnroot bring sweet dreams, Jeremy."