Author's Note: Hello! If you're reading this, I would just like to extend my thanks to you for continuing to read this story. Seriously, it puts a huge smile on my face. :)
I hope you enjoy! Feel free to offer any comments/critiques.
Again, thanks for reading!
Chapter Three: Counting Games
For the next two days, Sora scoured the islands, looking for the perfect present for Kairi.
On Wednesday afternoon, Momma took him to the marketplace. Sora had mixed feelings about going to the marketplace, even when accompanied by his parents. He wasn't very fond of the smell of raw, sometimes rotting fish being sold, and he didn't like being surrounded by so many people as they shoved their way through the crowds, attempting to catch themselves the best bargain. If it was possible to drown in people, Sora thought to himself, the marketplace was probably where it happens.
Sora gripped Momma's hand tightly as she led him through the crowd, stopping every once in a while to suggest a gift. He wasn't too interested in the trinkets Momma pointed out, though; instead he was preoccupied with a rather unpleasant smell coming from one of the vending carts to his right, and with the lingering desire to go try to win something for Kairi at the boardwalk.
"What about this, Sora?" Momma was holding a small, hand-woven coin bag. Sora reached up and took the tiny treasure from her, scrutinizing every inch of it.
The bag was a beige color, and was woven together with a thread Sora believed to be something like a mix between cotton and straw. The front had a bright pink heart with a red border carefully painted on, and tiny pink beads were sewn in all over the bag. It was closed by tying a small, bright red leather strap, which was carefully laced through small fabric loops, similar to that of a belt loop.
It was very useful and nice, Sora thought. It wasn't special, though. No matter how much munny this little coin bag cost, it just didn't seem to match up to Riku's gift. That little chain necklace was something Riku had actually won, which made it just that more special. Sora was unable to see a coin bag being as neat and fun and cool as a gift Riku had won all by himself.
"I think it's pretty, Momma," Sora said, pulling the bag open and peeking inside. "But I don't think it's as good as a prize from the boardwalk."
Momma frowned. "You want to give Kairi something from the boardwalk?"
Sora nodded eagerly. "I want to get a present that's just as cool as Riku's, and…" He handed the bag back to Momma, "The only way I can do that is if I get a present from the boardwalk."
Momma set the bag back on the stand, then reached down to take Sora's hand again. "Sora-bug, I don't think you should be turning this into another competition with Riku," she said.
"I'm not!" Sora exclaimed, waving a hand at her frantically, as if doing so would convince her further. "I just… I just don't want to disappoint Kairi if I can't get her a really, really neat gift."
"Well, okay, Sora," Momma said quietly. "Just don't forget though; you only have three more days."
He nodded. Three days would be enough to win a prize, he hoped.
On Thursday evening, Dad took Sora to the boardwalk. Sora reached into his pocket, nervously regarding the feeling of coins slipping through his fingers.
This was his big chance. He absolutely had to win something tonight, or he would never have a gift as cool as Riku's. And what would Kairi think if she got such a lousy gift from him? It was a stupid thought, and probably the result of him feeling tense, but if Sora didn't win something at the boardwalk, he wasn't sure if he should get Kairi anything at all.
But, now that he thought about it, that idea wouldn't even work. Sora had already promised Riku that he was getting Kairi a really cool present. He had an obligation. Tonight was not just his big chance; it was his only chance.
Sora clung to Dad's leg nervously as they stood at the entrance to the boardwalk.
"Think of who you're here for, son", Dad advised, patting Sora's head gently. "You're a man on a mission. You're here for your best friend, for her birthday present, and she's gonna love whatever you win for her, all right?"
Sora nodded, feeling more confident. He started walking slowly, gazing at all the different games and prizes. He walked past dolls with bright red yarn for hair, boats that propelled themselves through the water after winding them up, candy that lodged itself to the roof of your mouth and wouldn't budge unless you pried it off with your fingers, glittering jewelry that hung from hooks on the booths and swayed in the wind…
Something suddenly flashed brightly that caught Sora's eye.
"Look, Dad!" he exclaimed, grabbing his father's hand and dragging him towards a certain booth while pointing ecstatically. "That's it! That's what I want to get her!"
Sora had never seen a prize so perfect. It looked as if someone had taken a stick and reached up into the night sky, capturing a star and pulling it back down to earth. The star, which appeared to be made of an iridescent paper, spun in the gentlest breeze, capturing any light and refracting it any which way in a dazzling array of different colors. Sora stared up at it in awe, thrilled with the chance of being able to see such a brilliant star up close.
Kairi would love it.
"All right then," Dad said, picking Sora up and setting him down on the booth table. "Go for it, son."
Sora pulled the coins out of his pocket and handed them to the booth operator, who in return gave the youngster three balls. Sora immediately tensed.
In order to win, he had to land only one ball in one of several cups set on another table several feet away. In previous attempts, Riku had always made it look so easy when he landed a ball in a cup, but every time Sora tried, the ball would simply bounce off the edge and land on the ground.
Sora had three shots. He leaned forward slightly, biting his lip in concentration. This, he told himself, is for Kairi.
One.
The ball rolled around the edge of a cup sitting at the front of the table, then fell off, bouncing off the table and landing in a spectacular, splashy display in the booth operator's cup of water at the far corner of the booth.
The booth operator was impressed with the effort, at least, but Sora had hit the wrong cup.
Two.
The ball fell short of the cups, hitting the corner of the table at an odd angle and sending the ball right back into Sora's hands. He looked up at Dad with glee at the idea of getting an extra try.
Sora was rather disappointed when he had to return the ball.
Three. This was it; he had to win this next shot. Kairi was depending on him! He had to prove to Riku that he was just as good at winning prizes and giving presents!
But Sora overthrew the ball, and it sailed completely over the table and hit an unfortunate man passing by the booth right in the face. Sora felt his heart break.
"Hold on just a minute, Sora," Dad said, before Sora had a chance for tears. Dad dug around in his pocket for a few seconds, and then produced several coins.
Sora's spirits soared. What luck! He had another chance to win the star!
He continued playing for twenty minutes. He took extreme care with his aim and strength while throwing balls, and he muttered in dismay whenever a ball missed, usually hitting some target other than the intended one.
When his hands were empty, Sora looked up at his father, ready for more coins. But Dad shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Sora. I'm out of munny."
Sora had failed. He couldn't believe it. He failed to win a prize with his munny, and he couldn't even win a prize with Dad's munny. He bit his lip, his eyes burning, and his face hot.
The booth operator frowned, noticing Sora's expression. "Listen kid," he said, reaching underneath the counter. "I don't normally do this, but I gotta give you credit for hitting so many things other than the actual target… I especially gotta give you something for hitting my boss." Straightening, the booth operator handed Sora a small, oddly shaped brown figurine.
"I was saving this for when a kid manages to sink all three balls in one go, but I think you deserve it," the booth operator said, grinning. "You like slugs, right?"
Sora cried the entire way home.
After a night of fitful sleep, Dad dropped Sora off at Riku's house Friday morning on his way to work.
"Don't you worry," Dad whispered to Sora as they waited at the front door. "There's still plenty of time to get Kairi a present. Try to cheer up, okay?"
Sora nodded silently, rubbing his nose with his arm.
Riku's house was, in Sora's opinion, the neatest house in the entire neighborhood. It wasn't surprising, then, that a neat guy like Riku would be living in it. It wasn't very large, but it was the one closest to the ocean and the boardwalk. The house itself was built into the side of ah hill, and Sora always took great pleasure in rolling down the hill in the backyard. Despite the house's size, Sora always felt he was stepping into a castle whenever he walked through the front door. His favorite aspect of Riku's house, though, was the tiny spiral staircase that led up to Riku's bedroom, which was separated from the rest of the house.
It was there that the two friends sat, in the middle of the room, surrounded by wrapping paper and ribbons. Riku's mother sat at her son's desk, reading a book and glancing at the boys every so often.
Riku never seemed to express interest in wrapping gifts before, but Sora couldn't help but notice the excitement in his older friend's face as he held the small box to be wrapped in his hands. Undoubtedly, the litte box held that chain necklace. The perfect gift. It wouldn't make sense for a perfect kid like Riku (who also lived in a perfect house) to not have a perfect gift.
"Did you bring your present too?" Riku asked. He had already given up on trying to fold the wrapping paper properly, and settled on slapping on several different styles of paper all over the box.
Sora swallowed hard. "No, 'cause it's a secret," he said, hoping Riku would still buy that lie.
"Oh," Riku said quietly. "It must be something really special, then."
Sora mustered a slight nod, and then offered a piece of bright orange wrapping paper to add to the box. He was starting to feel nauseous with anxiety.
"I can't wait", Riku said proudly, holding the wrapped gift up as he examined it. They couldn't help but admire their handiwork, the most colorful present Sora had ever seen. It was as if a rainbow had exploded all over the box, and tape, glue and glitter was placed all over the gift like randomly strewn debris.
"Look Mom, it's perfect!" Riku turned to her, showing off the present eagerly.
Riku's mother commented that it was certainly the most creative wrapping job she'd ever seen.
The older boy beamed, setting the gift back down. "Kairi will love it," he said confidently.
Sora did his best to smile, feeling himself shrink away from his best friend and the perfect present.
He was returned to Momma earlier than expected that day. Sora clung to Momma's neck as she held him, chatting with Riku's mother. Oh the poor dear, he hardly ate any of his lunch. He seems pretty lethargic; do you suppose he has a fever? No, I don't think so… I'm sure he'll feel better after he has his nap.
That's what Momma reassured him as she tucked him in, anyway. "Sora-bug, I know you're upset about last night," she said, pulling the covers up to his chin and patting his cheek gently. "But I promise you, Kairi will love any present you give her, whether it's from the boardwalk or not. Okay?"
Sora muttered an "okay" and turned on his side.
"Just get some sleep for now." Momma rubbed his back a bit before getting up and leaving, closing the door to his room softly behind her.
Sora was, without a doubt, utterly miserable. Sleep came eventually, though, and he napped fitfully, dreaming of torn ribbons and disappointment.
A cool breeze hitting his face woke Sora up rather abruptly hours later. He sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and gazing out the open window. The sun was halfway concealed by the horizon, and the sky was blazing with reds, oranges, and deep purples. It must be close to dinnertime.
Dinnertime?! Sora breathed in sharply. It can't already be dinnertime; he still had to get Kairi a present! He leapt out of bed and grabbed his sandals, knocking over his fishing pole and sending a few books flying off his desk in the process. Not even bothering to pick up after himself, he swung his legs over the edge of the window, and quickly began lowering himself onto the ground.
Sora had no time to convince Momma or Dad to take him to get a gift. The day was already almost over; it'd be bedtime by the time he got his parents out the door. Tomorrow was the party! He had to hurry!
Once his feet hit solid ground, he took off, disappearing alone into the quickly approaching night.