The Jaguar Versus the Wolf
Chapter 26 - Stupid Phones
Orbiting Satellites Book Two, Chapter 26 - Christmas Morning companion
Santas, wreaths, bows, rocking horses, angels, candy canes, Christmas trees, and a whole slew of other things; I had never seen so many different kinds of wrapping papers in my very long life. The Cullens had gotten presents for each of us.
Carlisle and Esme got me, my Aunt, and Roberto each a journal. Not just any journal, but one with vellum pages and a soft leather cover. Things like this have not been made for decades. Things like this are the only ones that would last for decades. Each was handmade and bound in the traditional way. They were beautiful.
Emmett and Rosalie got my Aunt and Roberto a private gift that, according to the card my Aunt read, they were to open when they were alone, so I was not exactly sure what it was, but Roberto seemed very happy about it. There gift to me did not make me as happy. Not surprising since Rosalie pretty much… no she completely and absolutely hated me. First chance I got I planned to dump the thing in the closest river.
Jasper and Alice on the other hand were so thoughtful with their gifts that I began writing a thank you note almost as soon as I tore off the wrapping paper. How they knew I would like a Swiss Army Knife was beyond me. It was so amazing; something so small, but held so many tools that could do a plethora of things. Just thinking of the amount of instruments, and beads, and jewelry I could make with it gave me so many ideas. This little tool will keep me occupied for a very long time.
I knew Alice would be able to see Aunt Huilen and Roberto so naturally their gifts were perfect for them. And likewise Edward must have read my mind and he and his wife had procured gifts that he knew we would approve of.
That there was a present for each of us from Renesmee was surprising. I assumed she would have gotten something for my Aunt, since the rest of her family did. Either that or I would have figured she'd have gone in on a present with her parents. I was surprised to see that she had not only gotten my Aunt and Roberto their own gifts, but she also had given one to me as well. But for some reason… I don't know why, but I was even further surprised that she had also signed the dogs name to the cards.
After everyone opened their presents there was one other box. It was plain brown, no wrapping paper, no bow, no card.
Who was it for?
My Aunt reached for it and as she opened the lid I saw that while it was a gift, it wasn't a Christmas present. The Cullens had purchased two cell phones, one for my Aunt and one for her mate. There's also something else in the box. At first I thought it was a mirror but while it was reflective I couldn't exactly see myself and it was hooked up to a bunch of wires. Whatever it was must have been important, but I put it aside until I could get in contact with one of the Cullens to find out what we were supposed to do with the thing.
Later in the day, just like I had expected, my phone started ringing.
Alice.
She explained that the mystery item was a solar battery charger. Now the phones made more sense. She and her family wouldn't have given phones if we wouldn't be able to use them in a day or two once the initial battery died.
"They're not actually cell phones either, Nahuel," Alice went on to explain. "Their satellite phones, just like yours. Cell phones wouldn't work in the jungle. These don't have to be within a cell tower's range for them to work." The fact that mine was a satellite phone and not a cell phone was news to me. Though I didn't really know what the difference was, but it didn't seem to matter. In the end they worked the same, at least on my end - you pressed buttons and were connected to people you wanted to talk to. That's all I cared about.
I was trying to explain the phones to my Aunt as best I could when a new chime started going off on my phone; one that I've never heard before. "Hello," I said into the phone, but for some reason was assaulted with Alice's hysterical laughter.
"Nahuel, take the phone away from your ear, but don't hang up."
Once I did I saw her face on the screen instead of just the phone number that normally showed up.
"I thought it would be easier if we could talk face-to-face," she said, and then went on to explain the concept of Skype calls to all of us. Roberto ended up admitting he'd seen people using phones like this before but never used one himself.
He was turned only in the 1940's, and though phones had been around for decades at that point, he'd once mentioned how his family didn't have one; actually no one in his village did except for at the Governor's House. Still the arrogant prick somehow seemed fit to deem himself an expert in all things phone related now.
The next hour was spent trying to ignore him as Alice instructed us how to work the video call feature. It would have gone easier, faster, if he didn't continually try to give helpfully tidbits of nonsensical information that had nothing to do with our current situation.
"Roberto, I don't care if you single-handedly inserted the climbing spikes for every telephone pole in your city, while you were still human!" I finally shouted. I was trying to hear Alice explain how to make, not just receive Skype calls versus regular phone calls.
"Hey, I'm trying to help. But if you want to stay technologically ignorant then fine," he shouted back before taking off further into the forest. My Aunt quickly followed.
Holding the phone in front of my face I told Alice that they were both gone.
"Do you think you'd be able to explain everything to them when they get back or should I call back tomorrow?" she asked me. "There's still a lot to go over."
Roberto was right about one thing… I was technologically ignorant. "You better call back tomorrow." Though she just explained how to do it I wasn't sure I would even be able to figure it out again myself to call her.
"Okay, well then I guess I'll talk to you later."
"Wait!" I shouted, hoping to catch her before she ended the call. Her image was still on the scene. Good. "I was wondering if I could talk to Renesmee." I wanted to thank her for the present she got me.
"Oh… um… I think she's still sleeping. She and Jake haven't come over yet. We're actually all at Esme and Carlisle's just waiting for them."
"Oh, alright. Would you ask her to call me later? And please tell everyone else a big thank you, from my Aunt and I, and Roberto," I added as an afterthought, "for all of the Christmas presents."
It was over seven hours later when my phone began ringing again. A regular ring, not that strange video ring. I was thankful for that. While I could see the use for talking to someone face to face it still seemed unnatural (like most technology). It probably was my mind connecting it to all things Joham – he was obsessed with anything new, to which I naturally became repulsed against it, and him.
"Merry Christmas," "Happy Holidays," Renesmee and I both said at the same time when I answered the phone.
We both started laughing then I asked her how her Christmas was going.
"Pretty well, my grandfather flew here for a visit. It's really nice to see him. You know I don't get to see him all that much; and with my rapid growth and certain... developments he was a little shocked by things but Jasper's working on him." I assumed by that, she meant he was using his gift to calm her grandfather down. "How is it seeing Huilen and Roberto again?"
"They're fine," I assured her. "But I really wanted to talk to you and thank you for your present. It was so thoughtful."
"That's... great to hear. I wasn't so sure but Jake thought you could use it." It was the dog's idea to get me a subscription to eHarmony? I wasn't exactly sure what it was, but assumed it had something to do with music and relaxing, which was exactly what I needed with everything going on with my father.
"He um... he didn't write anything ... err, inappropriate on the card did he?" she hesitantly asked me.
He wrote the card, too? "No," I replied, in shock. "It was fine, very nice. I thought you would have written it."
"I'm sorry. I should have. I was just very busy at the time. Jake and I were tag-teaming, trying to get everything bought and wrapped. But I'm glad you liked your gift," she said switching the subject back.
"Yes, it's perfect. Although I don't know how much use I will get of it in the rainforest."
"I actually thought you'd be coming back here soon, that's more where you'd use it."
"Of course I will. I should be back within the week."
She started laughing. "Did I say something funny?"
"No, it's not you," she's giggled. "I'm sorry, Jake was just kissing my arm and it tickled."
Right, of course. Some of the anger I was still holding onto returned, tenfold. "I should go. Huilen and Roberto will be missing me," I quickly said, then ended the call before she had a chance to say goodbye.
A.N. So what did you think? Was Nahuel's gift from Nessie and Jake funny or too mean? Please review.
