Chapter 10: Chapter 10

To:MCEMMETT

From:LITTLESWAN

EM, it's Christmas Eve and it is so quiet here. My Mom and Dad are fighting, who knows why, it's odd they never fight. Alice is at her Grandma's for the weekend. I guess it's another month that I won't be seeing you. So Joel, I have listened to quite a bit. I never noticed how much of a downer he really is. Good lyrics I will give you that. So my selection for you is Simon and Garfunkel, classics, love them learn them. So what's going on for you now that football is over and school is on break what are the McCarty's doing for fun. My Mom's shop is closed down for the school break, my Dad has a week off then he is back to work just before the New Year. School has been fine, Alice is fine, and she is the same as always. I really have nothing going on but I was thinking maybe we could chat so I set up my id as the same as my email and I login when I am home so sign up as soon as you get this. How did we ever get through last year with only a journal, is it just me or do you need some instant gratification. I mean I am logging in to my email all the time waiting for your responses. So Bridge over Troubled Waters, Kodachrome, and Cecelia, listen embrace the fro. And please login so we can chat.

B

I was sitting on my bed in my room lit only with the strings of Christmas lights my Mom and I hung in here. My IPod was playing and I heard the tell-tale ding of a new mail. Hope filled me that it was Emmett, and not junk mail. I knew it wasn't Alice her Grandma's house is a dead zone for technology. Clicking the open button just as fast as my fingers would allow I was rewarded with the smallest email he had ever sent. But as I read it a smile grew on my face.

To:LITTLESWAN

From:MCEMMETT

B, I am signing up now so just read this while you wait. I will be logged in soon. I am also already listening to the S & G. I love the fro. I hope your on, I am dying to talk to you live!

Em

He was logging in to the chat, mine was up it was up all the time since Alice suggested it when she realized how bummed I was that I wasn't hearing from Em as often as I had hoped. Things where different since we went to his game. It was no longer just what I thought about how he felt or the way he acted now Alice was weighing in too. She was sure that there was more of a connection between us. I had a whole conversation with her about how we are just kids and she pointed out all the couples at our school. I hoped it would never be like that. The kids at our school who were considered couples were always holding hands and sneaking kisses at their lockers. But the couples were only couples for a week or two then on to the next person. I felt this connection to Em, and Alice was sure he felt it too. I just know I missed my friend and how comfortable I always felt with him. I heard two small beeps and looked up on the screen and saw the chat request waiting for my reply.

E: Little Swan, where are you?

B: I am here Em, I am so glad you were on-line tonight.

E: After dinner Riley and I always hide out waiting for Santa.

B: I hope that works out for you, how is Riley?

E: His playing is still bad but getting better, he says hello by the way.

B: Tell him I said hello and Merry Christmas.

E; Speaking of what is going on over there at the Swan house?

B: I don't know what they are arguing about just that everything they say is angry.

E: I'm sorry B, my parent's fight about money all the time but that is it.

B: It's fine they are human it just never happened before so it's weirding me out.

E: So lets talk about something else. I am going to tell you something but I don't want you to think I am a weirdo.

B: That ship has sailed. Go ahead tell me anything.

E: Nice, I miss you B. More than last year more than I thought I would.

B: That isn't weird I miss you too. You're my friend.

E: Thanks I wanted to tell you two emails ago but I didn't want to risk you not answering.

B: Oh Em, I would always answer, so what was up with your grades?

E: Uh, well I was distracted with football and helping Dad, and do you remember the girl you met Rose?

E: B are you still there did you lose your Internet connection?

B: Sorry I am still here, yes I do remember Rose, so tell me what happened.

E: Well the guys on the team all thought we were going out because we ate lunch together and had some classes and she came to the games. I guess she told some kids she liked me a lot.

B: Do you like her Emmett.

E: My whole name? I like her I guess, but she wanted me to call her all the time and go to the eighth grade dance with her.

B: So what did you do.

E: Well I called for a while but with practice and calling her, my homework got behind so I got grounded just before the dance.

B: Oh Em, you're a good student don't let that go I bet your Dad was mad.

E: Pissed is a better description, he was giving me the scholarship talk, B I'm in he eighth grade for God's sakes. When I said that he pointed out that I was too young for girls.

B: So you got grounded, then what?

E: I couldn't call anymore so she was pissed too and I missed the dance, so she went with someone else from the team. But I couldn't email you I tried to get Riley to email you for me and at least tell you why I wasn't able to. But he told me to fix my own problems.

B: I was worried but I figured football had you busy. So how are your grades, now?

E: Fine, back to normal, hey have you ever been skating in Rockefeller Plaza?

B: Random but yes my Dad used to take us every year. My Mom loves it.

E: My Dad has been talking about it this year to cheer my Mom up.

B: You will love it, the tree is beautiful, I'm sure she will love it too.

E: Are you thinking what I am thinking?

B: Clearly not I haven't any idea what is going on in your mind right now.

E: Harsh but what if I talk Dad into taking us on the same day you talk your Dad into taking you?

B: Wow that could work, I could tell Dad was trying to get Mom to stop being mad at him. I will work on it and email you the day they want to go.

E: Ok let me know, I have to go B, my Dad saw the light from the computer, Merry Christmas!

B: You too don't get in trouble; I hope we will skate this week!