Sorry, it took me so long. No excuse. Keep in mind the next few chapters are gonna be a bit hard for me for I lost my grandfather nearly 2 years ago to the day. He was a heavy smoker of cigarettes and he died from Alzheimer's, heart attack, and COPD back in 2020. It's too personal but in a soon-to-be chapter, you will read what I dreamed about when my grandfather died.

Chapter 12

It's been a few days since the first Nutcracker ballet Mary and Abby did and thanks to their funny bits, the company sold out their shows 5 times over cause they were really good. Well, it was New Year's eve and the dancers including the tech crew had the day off until January 3rd to enjoy the celebration including recovering from their hangovers. Luckily the girls haven't seen their co-workers going through the 40-day recovery after Mardi Gras. It wasn't a pretty sight. Anyway, Abby was already packing cause after new year's she was going to her father's. Luckily, both families live in the same town, so school-wise and work-wise, it's no problem on that end. The only difference is instead of living in the northeast side of town, it's northwest of town and like Ziva said, every three years Abby goes back and forth and everyone would be together depending on the holiday. Last year the twins stood up until 9 pm and missed the party, but this time they have a plan. They've been stalking up candy since last Halloween, not the current one that VoicePlay turned into monsters but the one before that, which means they have 2 batches of Halloween candy and Easter candy. They tried to save last Easter's candy, but almost lost a couple of teeth cause they were so stale. The plan was that starting at 9 like before, they would each one of the twin's batches of candy, and every hour or so they were going to another batch from the other twin and eat that candy. So in turn they have 6 batches of candy in the stalk to keep them up until midnight. They'll have one hell of a tummy ache but they agreed it'll be worth it.

So far so good on their candy plan. But what they're also gonna do to stay awake is watch scary movies. They tried it a few years ago, and surprisingly it didn't work. Probably cause they were crappy Freddy sequels and those can go more comedic than horror. This year they're gonna do a different theme. This time it's J-horror and even those some don't age well, it's still creepy enough to keep them up but at the same time no nightmares. The last time one of the twins had a nightmare, the bedroom lamp was on all night for a couple of weeks. Luckily they're too young to suffer sleep paralysis, especially if they're on their backs, eyes open, and they see a scary face that puts Sadako's and Kayako's faces to shame(True story. The face was scarier than theirs combined. Since then, I sleep on my stomach. Only last week it happened again when I was sleeping on my side. After saying my prayers 7 times, I was able to move to get more comfortable and the numbness thankfully went away. Any sleep paralysis horror stories you wanna get off your chest?). Anyway, the 2 got their tablet out and were watching a J-Horror called 'House' from 1977. It's a film on the campy side but it does have some scares though. When the film ended, the door opened and the twins turned around and saw their grandfather. "Trying to stay up until mid-nigh huh?" Then she looked at the tablet. "And J-horror to boot." He turned back to the twins. "Are you sure you can take it? Some of those movies are scary."

Max asked, "You wanna picked them then? That way we won't get nightmares."

Mary said, "Please grandpa."

Grandpa smiled. "Alright, but NO complaining." He took the tablet, looked through the movies, and picked 2. Kuroneko, and Throne of Blood. "Here are the next ones you can watch. They're tamed and not that scary than the modern stuff they made." He gave the tablet back to them. "However when it's time for the countdown, I'm coming to get you 2."

They said, "Ok grandpa."

He replied, "Good. Start with Throne of Blood. It's less scary than Kuroneko, especially if you're a cat person." Then he left the room. Once he made it to his bedroom, he started to have a coughing fit. Soon he felt something come up. He opened his hand and saw nothing…until he spotted a little bit of blood. "Shit." He rushed to the phone and made a call. This time he can't have it on speaker so he put the phone against his good ear. It rang for a bit but then it answered. "Dr. Igor it's me, Alexander," He took a pause. "It's starting. When can I come in?" His wife came in and saw he was on the phone. She knew it was important cause he always put the phone is speaker unless something is wrong. "Yes, just now…How soon can you see me?" He turned his head and saw his wife. "Tomorrow is perfect…no my wife just came in…she knows." His wife sat next to him and saw his hand. She looked at him with worry. "Well, we both knew this time was coming." His wife cleaned his hand as she hugged him. "Let's get the tests done and we'll go from there. Bye." He hung up the phone and hugged his wife back. "Well, smoking 5 cigars a day for decades have finally caught up with me."

Omi asked, "When did it first happen?"

He replied, "I got the mild's when the twins were born. I stopped right then and there and the doc gave me pills in hope that maybe," He shrugged. "It'll go away since we didn't know. But now…" He turned to her and smiled. "looks like I'll be leaving first."

Omi started to cry. "Did you start smoking because-"

He cuts her off. "No, I didn't start because of what happened when we were kids, nor the wars. It was a choice I made that has no relation to anything." He chuckled a bit. "Now I know why people said 'smoking isn't cool' cause I was one of the idiots that did think that. Maybe I should be on one of those anti-smoking commercials. Could do a lot of damage to that kitchen than that frying pan girl."

Omi chuckled but tears were still falling. She wiped them away. "You do have a great batting arm." She said. She put her head on his shoulder. "When should we tell the family?"

He replied, "Tonight after New Year's when the kids are asleep. We're gonna talk to both of them." Omi nodded. After a while, the 2 stood up. "Mind helping me with the present? I want to get the colors right." Omi smiled and nodded. The 2 walked arm and arm to the workroom, and the 2 sat on the bench. Alexander for the tools out and Omi got the paint out. "The second one is easy, but I don't know about the third one."

Omi said, "I got an idea for that one. You start painting the box. I'll be doing some sketches." Then the 2 got to work.

Later on that night, it was 1 minute until midnight. Alexander went to get the twins and the 2 were sleeping while the credits of Kuroneko were playing. Judging by how they were sleeping, they were knocked out as soon as act 1 started. Alexander turned off the tablet, put it away, and started to put the twins to bed. First Max then Mary. "So close kids, so close." Once in bed, he went to check on their sister and she was out like a light too. He chuckled and tucked her into bed. After that, the adults were in the living room. Tom asked, "How far are they this year?"

Grandpa replied, "Judging from how asleep they are, at least one and a half hour short."

Sarah said, "Well there's always next year."

The 4 gathered around each other and looked at the TV as the numbers went down. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!" All 4 hugged and kissed each other and the noise from outside from fireworks was going like crazy. After they hugged and sing, Grandpa started to sing the New Year's song and soon the rest of the family joined.

Grandpa: Should old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne?

Sarah: We twa hae run about the braes And pu'd the gowans fine We've wandered many a weary foot Sin auld lang syne

Grandma: We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn From morning sun till dine But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin auld lang syne

Tom: And there's a hand my trusty friend And give us a hand o' thine And we'll tak a right gude-willy waught For auld lang syne

Ladies: And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp And surely I'll be mine And we'll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne

Men: For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We'll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne

All: For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We'll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne

But alas, the time of joy had to end. While the 4 were in the kitchen getting their drinks out, Tom noticed that his father got an old cigar out. "Dad! What are you doing?!" He snatched the cigar away from him. "You haven't smoked in 4 years and you promised."

Grandpa snatched it back. "I can do what I damn please son and I saw it's time for a smoke!" He pulled one of the lit candles, and after cutting off the mouth end piece of it, he lit it up.

Sarah asked, "What's going on? Something big happened if you're smoking again."

Grandpa took a suck and let out the smoke. He was silent so Omi did the talking. "I'm afraid this year may not be a good year."

Tom sat down next to his wife. "What's going on mom?"

Grandpa took the cigar out and said, "I had a coughing fit earlier, and…small specks of blood came out." Sarah gasped and covered her mouth. "I'm going in tomorrow to the docs to see if it is what I fear might be it."

Tom went wide eye. "You mean it might be-"

Omi stopped him. "We won't know until tomorrow, but it might be what we've feared."

Sarah started to tear up. "Is there a way to…to…"

Grandpa said, "Like I told my wife, I got the milds when the twins were born. I stopped right then and there and the doc gave me pills in hope that maybe, It'll go away since we didn't know."

Sarah said, "But you haven't smoked in years and you love a healthy lifestyle. Hell, you can fix a toppled army jeep by yourself without breaking a sweat."

Grandpa chuckled. "Just thinking of that gives me a backache." He said. "Looks like I can't do that anymore. For now, we need to think of 'what ifs' until the results are back." He held Omi's hand. "Right now, I think it's best to keep this a secret until we know for sure. I don't want the kids to worry." Tom and Sarah nodded in agreement. Tom got up to get something to drink. He got out a bottle of wine, and Sarah got small glasses. Then they looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement as Sarah put the glasses away and Tom got out another bottle of wine.

Omi looked at them as they were ready to get drunk. "Looks like they're getting a head start for Octoberfest." She sighs and shook her head.

Grandpa got an idea. He put the cigar in the sink put out the light, went to a records collection, pulled out one, put it on the player, and turned it on. Omi recognized the song and smiled. Grandpa walked up to his wife and asked, "Pretty lady, may I have this dance please?"

Omi smiled and said, "I would be honored." She put her hand in his as the 2 walked to the living room, held each other close, and started to dance to the tune. It wasn't Glen Miller since that's their parents' music, but the one they're dancing to is a special one. It was 1961's Moon River. It's a short song but it was their song. Moreover their wedding song. They have it so much that they asked the musician to play it twice as though they never wanted it to end.

🎶Moon river, wider than a mile I'm crossing you in style someday Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker Wherever you're going, I'm going your way🎶

🎶Two drifters, off to see the world There's such a lot of world to see We're after the same rainbow's end, waiting, round the bend My Huckleberry Friend, Moon River, and me🎶

🎶Moon river, wider than a mile I'm crossing you in style someday Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker Wherever you're going, I'm going your way🎶

🎶Two drifters, off to see the world There's such a lot of world to see We're after that same rainbow's end, waiting, round the bend My Huckleberry Friend, Moon River, and me🎶

While the 2 were dancing what they didn't notice is that Mary was awake and heard the whole thing. She was at the end of the hallway sneaking peeking out of the corner like one of those trick pictures where you have to move your eyes around only to find a scary facing in the corner of the picture. That or the eye from either Ring or Grudge. Whichever turns your hair white. She was watching her grandparents dancing and listening to music which thanks to the record player that grandpa made, any oldie record can be on repeat without moving the needle or harming the disk, and was silently crying after hearing her grandfather might be dying. She is only a kid and is already losing her favorite family member in the whole world besides Aunt Dorothy. She slowly walked back to her room, walked to her head, kneeled down, and started to pray. "Father, I lift up this grandfather to you for your healing touch. If it's according to your will, please heal him of the cancer. Surround him with peace and please make yourself known in his life. Remind him that YOU are bigger than the cancer. In Jesus name...Amen."