Merry Christmas! ^^ Just a reminder, Jake and Elwood are still kids in this. In this chapter they are visiting the Museum of Science and Industry which every Christmas has a display of Christmases Around the World and they are usually trees from different lands like Japan, Mexico, etc. It's really awesome. ^^
Elwood belongs to Dan Aykroyd/Universal
Jake belongs to John Belushi (may God have mercy and bless his soul)/Universal
Curtis belongs to Cab Calloway (may God have mercy and bless his soul)/Universal
Penguin belongs to Universal
Girl belongs to me but IS NOT A MARY SUE
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Chapter 3: Delightful and Frightful
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They pulled up to their destination of choice as to them it appeared almost dull with a time of ancient history for a building as none of them seemed impressed (except for one girl who practically wore Coca-Cola bottles for glasses). Upon parking and exiting the orphans watched the Penguin with her thwacking stick as she stood like a lieutenant of religion to which the children followed suit which caused the Penguin to smirk a bit in satisfaction.
"Now," the woman in black and white started as she observed the orphans. "Please stay in a single file line," she spoke with an eerie kindness in her voice as she gently smacked the ruler against her palm to which some of the children swallowed in slight fear at that.
"And if any of you get out of line, as stated before, we will drive back to the orphanage. Understand," she asked in a more strict tone as the orphans nodded vigorously at her question, especially Jake and Elwood as they turned with the other children to form a single file line as commanded. While the Penguin took the lead (considering she knew Chicago better than the children), Curtis took the rear where Jake and Elwood were as the young boys smirked in satisfaction to see their fatherly like figure be close to them.
As they entered the museum, it seemed like more of a march if anything. A few people stared at the line of orphans which caused the Penguin and the janitor to look at the personas from the corners of their eyes to which they seemed to almost cower or sulk away. Soon they approached the escalator and climbed on as children were almost freaked but curious as to how high the moving stairs would take them.
"Elwood, don't look down," Jake told his younger brother as he did so anyway which caused Elwood to rush to Jake's side and hold his hand tightly which caused the older brother to internally groan and sigh some. Sometimes Elwood would listen to him, other times his curiosity would get the best of him. He couldn't blame him though and neither could Curtis. Elwood was a curious boy as most children were to which he often found himself in trouble with the explanation of his curiosity.
Jake, on the other hand, when he got into trouble he knew what was coming to him (even though he continued to cause mischief anyway) but would also find himself defending Elwood for whatever prank or crime of curiosity he committed. Upon him being used to this, he didn't mind it as he considered Elwood as his brother to which he knew he had to defend him and that it was destiny to do so.
The escalator stairs and floor were united as they reached the floor to which the Penguin (or other orphans) had to drag orphans off from the sudden shock and awe they received from the beautiful sight before them. What lied before them was possibly the biggest tree in the Windy City that they'd ever seen. The object glistened and glowed like a colorful angel of the Heavens above as even the Penguin smiled at the lit up spectacle before them.
It was a tall evergreen tree decked out with paper chain garland as well as numerous lights and different colored ornaments from balls to stars and others. Atop the tree was a bright star as a sign of hope and joy for all who should embrace it during the holiday. What a beautiful sight before them and how bright it shined; it was as if it were a beacon for all those who ever dreamed and for all those who ever wanted to believe or see the magic that lied within Christmas.
By now, Elwood's jaw was dropped to the floor as his eyes were wide like saucers. Jake's eyes were the same as Curtis' grin was wide with joy and Christmas spirit. Most of the other orphans were the same as the Penguin led the children to the exhibits which were of different Christmas trees around the world. There were ones from Japan, Mexico, China, everywhere. By now the children were fascinated as their minds grew with wonder and curiosity of the foreign lands displayed through the miniature pines and ornaments.
One tree that sparked Elwood's attention was awkwardly one from Holland or someplace he couldn't remember. He stared at it as though entranced by it while Jake was a bit amused by the one besides him as he looked at as though searching the details. However, Elwood pondered one thing: why the Hell were spider webs used as ornaments? He admitted it was odd and rather unheard of (considering he had a slight fear of spiders but then again who wouldn't have a fear of something black with long creepy legs?) as he cocked his head a bit in confusion only to return it to normal and blinked as he attempted to figure out the meaning of it.
Curtis watched over the younger boys of blues as he laughed inside. How innocent they were to foreign mannerisms that were laid before them on such a traditional tree of the holiday. Then again, the two boys were innocent to the ways of life and only by today had seen how beautiful people could make it through twinkling lights. The boys were like the sons Curtis never had (aside from Cabel Chamberlain but that was in the future as Elwood would discover) as those who saw how Curtis treated the young boys often glared at him to show their hate and slight prejudice. Nonetheless, Curtis brushed it off and stuck with the boys who admired the glisten and glow.
It was at then a small, girlish voice seemed to poke through the crowds' footsteps that walked throughout the museum and gently broke through the barrier of Elwood's mind. The young female side stepped her way past Curtis and to the tiny Elwood as she stood besides him, admiring the tree as well and grinned some.
"They used spider webs as decorations because there's some story that a family over there couldn't afford to decorate their tree so they went to bed and when they got up, spiders had decorated their tree so it was something naturally beautiful or something like that."
With this, Elwood looked over and turned an immediate shade of red to which he saw the prettiest girl outside the orphanage. Curtis saw this and grinned even wider as he had to restrain a laugh as to how Elwood reacted to that of the opposite sex who was adorable. In Curtis' view, Elwood looked like a child's surprise upon opening a present on Christmas. It was sweet and charming as he could hear Elwood swallow hard and attempt to regain himself over the girl's charming appearance.
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Soon it was time to leave as one by one, the Penguin counted the heads of the orphans who had attended the field trip as she murmured the names beneath her breath as though she had mastered everyone's names, ages, and other personal information from the orphanage. She managed to get to Jake (who suspected that Elwood was behind him and naturally quiet all this time) and that's when she started to panic. She counted everyone's heads again, did a roll call but when she came to the name of Elwood there was no response as Jake jumped out of the car, and bolted for it. Curtis joined him
"Where's Elwood," the Penguin shrieked loudly as people were drawn to her tone before going back a bit at the horror and volume of it.