Naje was just now coming back home. He was hanging out with his friends over at The Shack. He pulled his key out to open the door and stepped inside. Surprisingly, Fred wasn't in the living room. He was in his bedroom, watching TV. So that's where Naje went.
"Yo dad. I'm home now." Naje greeted him.
"Hey Naje. Had a good time at The Shack?" Fred replied.
"As always." Naje said. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Oh you know. Watching TV and stuff." Fred said.
"Cool. I like watching TV and stuff." Naje replied. "Get a call from mom and Leah while I was gone?"
"No, not yet." Fred said.
"Aw darn!" Naje said.
"Speaking of them, we should go out and get something for them." Fred suggested.
"What do you mean? Like a Christmas gift?" Naje asked.
"Bingo!" Fred said.
Naje groaned. "I don't know dad. I mean I would love to, but let's say I'm not the best gift giver. You know that." Naje stated.
"How come, son?" Fred asked him.
"Remember when I was 5 and I gave mom a rose for Christmas?" Naje asked.
Fred began to laugh because he does remember it. "Yeah I do. She loved it though." Fred said.
"Dad, I had literally picked that rose from our garden outside the day before. I hid it in my room and gave it to mom the next day, which was Christmas! And do you remember what she did after I gave her the rose? She just laughed, hugged me, kissed me on my cheek, and thanked me for it. She didn't wanna break my little heart back then. Even she knew that was a lame gift!" Naje mentioned.
"No, Naje. She laughed because she knew you picked it from our garden. It was funny, but it was a cute moment." Fred told him.
"But imagine if I only give her a rose now at 16. It was different from when I was 5 and I gave her a rose. Just think of how she might feel and react if I gave her one now when I'm 11 years older. She'd be so disappointed." Naje said while shaking his head.
"Who's to say? It's the thought that counts." Fred said.
"And besides, what do you think two Japanese females would like?" Naje asked.
"Not sure, but they have to like something, right?" Fred asked.
"We've known these girls since it was still the 20th century, and we're not even sure about what they may like?" Naje said as he fell back on Fred's bed. "Talk about disappointment." He added.
Fred got outta bed. He held his hand out and Naje grabbed it as Fred helped him up.
"What did I just say? It's the thought that counts." Fred reminded him.
"Oh yeah." Naje agreed.
"And we may not be 100% sure what Leah and Nara likes, but we're 1000% sure what all females in general like. Clothes!" Fred said.
"Right! Clothes, makeup, and boys." Naje said.
"We're not buying them makeup and we're definitely not buy them any boys. We're they're boys. We're all they need." Fred replied.
"You're right about the last part, but why not any makeup?" Naje asked.
"Okay! Makeup; if we think of it and see any they might like." Fred said.
"Awesome sauce! When should we go?" Naje asked.
"Right now. Since you're already dressed, you can just wait for me." Fred said.
"Okie dokie arti- Whoa! What am I saying? Leah's gotten into my brain." Naje moped. Fred laughed.
"But roger that." Naje said as he went into the living room to let Fred get dressed up.
Naje sat on the couch and was playing with a yo-yo as he looked at the Christmas tree. He was thinking about if Leah and Nara made it to Japan yet and forgot to call them.
"Nahhhhh." Naje burst out.
"Nah what?" Fred asked as he came into the living room. Naje got startled.
"Sheesh dad. Knock much?" Naje said.
Fred looked to his left and then to his right. "Um, Naje. There are no doors to our living room.." Fred mentioned.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about Leah and Nara. Was wondering if they made it to Japan yet and forgot to let us know." Naje thought.
Fred put his hands on his sides and gave Naje a look. "Do you really think they'd forget us?" Fred asked.
"No. That's why I said "nahhhhh."" Naje told him.
"Oh!" Fred said as he and Naje laughed. "That makes sense. I thought you were talking to yourself."
"I do talk to myself." Naje mumbled. "Just to myself, and not out loud, because, well, it's to myself. No one needs to hear my conversation with myself except me, myself, and I."
"I know you talk to yourself. I do too. So does Nara. So does Leah." Fred said.
"True that." Naje said.
"Now let's go." Fred said. Then he and Naje left the house, got into the car, and rode to the mall.
They had had it to the mall and went inside.
Fred took a deep inhale and exhale as he stepped inside the mall.
"Nothing like that fresh mall aroma, son." Fred stated.
"No, I don't." Naje said. Fred looked at him. Naje started to grin.
"Kidding!" Naje said. Then Fred inhaled it again. This time, Naje was the one looking at him. Fred noticed.
"Can we go shop now?" Naje asked.
"Yes we can!" Fred answered.
First, Naje and Fred went into a place that sold perfume and girly lotion.
"Dad..." Naje called.
"Yes, son?" Fred answered.
"I feel so uncomfortable right now." Naje told him.
"How come?" Fred asked.
"How come?! We are in a place filled with girly perfume, girly lotion, and girly girls, and we're literally the only two guys in here! You talk about aroma. It's pretty strong in here!" Naje mentioned. Fred was laughing.
"No one's paying any attention to us. They're just minding their own business just like we're minding our own." Fred said to him. "And look. There's a few other guys coming in right now." Fred said. Naje looked back and saw that Fred was right. Then he sighed in relief.
"See? They're probably getting stuff for their loved ones just like us." Fred thought.
"I'm just glad we're not the only guys in here now." Naje said. Then they laughed.
After an hour and a half of shopping, Naje and Fred felt good and satisfied enough as to where they think Leah and Nara will like the gifts they bought them. Then they went back to their car and drove back home. They began to wrap the gifts up in Christmas wrappings then put them all under the Christmas tree. Fred and Naje stood there in front of the tree and smile as they felt they accomplished something.
"Honestly, that wasn't as hard as I thought it was gonna be. Quick and easy. In and out." Naje said.
"I knew it wasn't gonna be that difficult." Fred said. "Sometimes, Naje, you just gotta trust your old man."
"I do trust you, old man." Naje replied. They started to laugh.
As they were laughing, they get a Facetime call from Fred's phone. It was none other than Leah and Nara. Naje and Fred looked at each other and grinned. Fred picked up his phone and answered the call.
"We're hereeeeeeeeee!" Nara first said. Leah was right next to her, waving.
"Hey guysssssss!" Leah shouted.
"Hey mom! Hey Leah!" Naje shouted.
"You girls finally made it, huh?" Fred said.
"Yep! You guys should see how it looks right now. Show them, mom." Leah said. Nara slowly switched the front camera to the rear one and slowly rotated to show Fred and Naje their surroundings.
"It looks great out there." Fred said.
"Sure does. Oh other home sweet home." Leah said.
"Nothing like that fresh Japan land aroma." Nara said. Nara and Leah both inhaled then exhaled together.
"That's what dad said earlier when we were in the-" Naje said until Fred elbowed him in the chest. "Shack! When we went to The Shack earlier." Naje said to play it off.
"It's so beautiful and peaceful here guys. I can hear that Japanese music playing in my head right now. We really wish you guys were here so you can experience what we're feeling right now." Nara said.
"I almost forgot how amazing our home country was." Leah said.
"Me too." Nara replied.
"We know how great of a place Japan is, mom. We've been there before, remember?" Naje mentioned.
"Yeah, but it's been a long time since you guys were here. Longer than us." Nara said.
"We'll be there again next year. Or the next year after next." Fred told them.
"We hope so." Nara said.
"But I'm really glad you guys made it there safe. I was starting to think you forgot to call us." Naje said.
"What makes you think we would even think to forgot to do something like that, Naje-san?" Nara asked him.
"That's what I told him!" Fred said.
"And I told you I knew that! Sheesh, I was just worried." Naje said.
"Aww that just means you care. Nothing wrong with that at all. But what do I always tell you? Don't overthink." Nara said.
"Yes, yes, I know." Naje said with a grin on his face.
"Leah-san and I are gonna go call for a cab and search for a hotel now." Nara notified them. "We'll call you guys later."
"Alright hon. See you later. Love you." Fred said.
"Love you mom!" Naje shouted.
"I love you guys too." Nara told them. Leah was in the background, spinning around with her arms out, eyes closed, and an open mouth smile. Taking in the feeling that Japan was giving her.
"Leah-san! Come say bye to Fred and Naje." Nara told her. Leah stopped what he was doing and ran back to Nara.
"Bye dad! Bye Naje! I love you guys!" Leah said to them.
"Love you too Leah." Naje and Fred both said.
"I'll remember to take pictures." Leah mentioned.
"Awesome sauce! Be sure to do so." Naje said.
"Okie dokie artichokie!" Leah said. Naje just sighed.
"You had to ruin it, didn't you Leah?!" Naje said.
"Yes I did, doofus!" Leah replied.
Naje just facepalmed as Fred and Nara laughed.
"We'll call you later boys. Byeeeee!" Nara said.
"Buh-bye!" Said Leah.
"Ok girls!" Fred responded.
"Have fun you guys!" Naje said.
Then they ended their Facetime call.