Shout-outs!
Raliena: Thank-you very much!
Rogue77: You think correctly. I'm probably going to continue this up to Christmas. And then there's the Christmas music…
torque: Well, this is another conspiracy, and you have a pretty good idea on what's going on. But I'm afraid this fic will be Danny centric, no road tripping buddies, but I do imagine some familiar faces will show up. In response to your other review, would you like me to beta read for you? If so, then of course! I like to read other people's writings. If you mean for someone else, then I can do that too.
Laureate: I'd give him fruit, he's partial to chocolate covered cherries. I always liked the names Cassius and Brutus. I've heard of Castor and pollux, but I can't remember what they did or anything. She may very well be eccentric. That does seem to be a habit for Danny's relatives. Thank-you!
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Ray and Roberto loaded up the vans with bags as the other institute kids ran around, getting things ready. Rogue, Scott, and Jean were staying at the institute this year. I think Jean and Scott are quite a serious item now. And the butt of a lot of jokes, even though they don't hear them.
I hefted Amara's bag and set it outside in the pile with the others so the boys could load them The girl took more than her fair share of stuff.
"What does the girl carry, bricks?" I grumbled as I picked up her other two bags.
"Mom!"
"Yes?" I looked up to see Julian bounding across the snow.
"The bald man wants to see ya."
"Professor Xavier."
"But he's bald."
"Yes, but it's rude to point it out. It's like Amara when she has pimples, okay?"
"Oh. Alright. Professor Xavier wants to see you." His ears waggled as he hopped from foot to foot, on which he had no shoes.
"Okay." I set down Amara's bags and went inside as Julian dashed off.
I walked up the steps to the second floor study and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
I opened the door and walked in. "You wanted to see me, Professor?"
"Yes. I just wanted to give my condolences about your trip to home."
"Thank-you, sir."
He looked at me closely. "I sense your mind has been in a bit of turmoil lately. Is there anything I can do?"
"No sir. Don't worry about it, Professor, I'll make do."
He rose an eyebrow at me.
"Truthfully, that's what I'm worried about."
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After the goodbyes had been said and the vans had returned after taking their charges to the airport and letting them go to their planes, I sat in my room, watching snow drift lazily across the lawn. It was well into the afternoon.
I tapped the side of the window as I let my thoughts wander. It was true; I had gotten a reputation for doing stupid things on a regular basis. And it seemed I was on the verge of another one.
Kentucky was full of snow right now. It would be suicide for a normal person to hitchhike there.
Fortunately, I was not normal, and certainly not without resources.
But a few things had to be done first.
I got up and walked over to Julian's room. He was reading a book that he had gotten from Professor Xavier's library.
"Hey honey. Whatcha reading?"
"Professor Xavier gave me this cool book about Knight Errant."
"That's cool. Baby, I got to talk to you."
He looked up concerned. "What?"
"You know how Jamie was really upset because he didn't have anyone to really spend Christmas with, but then you got to stay and you made him happy?"
"Yeah! He's my friend, I'm glad you let me stay!"
"Yeah, well, there's somebody else like Jamie."
He considered this for a moment, and then his ears drooped. "You're not staying for Christmas here."
"I'm afraid not."
"You should go." He said with an air of finality.
"Oh?" I asked playfully. He nodded solemnly.
"Jamie said that Christmas was about making other people happy and getting presents, but not necessarily in that order."
"I'm so glad Jamie is showing you the ropes and priorities." I deadpanned. He grinned.
"So how long are you going to be gone?"
"Don't know. Couple weeks, if I don't get caught for doing something stupid."
"You don't do stupid stuff, Mommy."
"You're sweet. Really, you are."
"Thanks Mom. Can I have a cookie?"
"I knew I was being buttered up for something, go on you charmer." I patted his head as he padded out.
I walked back to my room, where the twins and Doggy were waiting for me.
"I suppose you know what I'm planning."
You leaving off?
Where you going?
"I'm going to Kentucky. I'd like you two to stay here and keep an eye on Julian. Do you mind? Doggy, do you want to stay?"
Doggy gave me a look that explained his feelings on the matter. "Alright, so you're coming."
We'll keep the home base covered.
And the cookies.
"Cool. I've got to get dressed for a trip."
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A couple hours later I walked up to the gate of the racing track a couple towns from Bayville.
Getting out of the Institute hadn't been much trouble at all. I slipped through the woods and called a taxi at the payphone and trekked over here. I'm notorious for not spending money on anything but music, and I haven't been shopping for a while, so I had a nice little nest egg. But it wouldn't take me all the way there, and I sure wasn't going to be able to hitchhike there. There are creeps just haunting the roads this season.
I walked into the track and headed towards the stables. Usually, people will have a four legged persuasion on sale or know where to get one.
"I don't care what you do with the nag; just get him out of my stables! Sell him for a Christmas tree if you have to! Then we could give it to the other horses for food!" A man came walking out furiously gesturing and yelling.
"I'll take him." I said. He whirled around and looked at me. "What?"
"I'll take him. I have a hundred dollars. That's two Christmas trees."
"So it is." He shrugged. "Alright, hand it over, take the nag."
I gave him the money, mentally thanking my luck and trying not to get my hopes too high. If it was a nag, then he or she may just make the journey longer.
He directed me to his associate who gave me the papers and led me into the stables.
"He's actually a good horse. But he's stubborn as a mule and kicked out the teeth of our best rider."
We stopped at the last stable, where a big black horse began snorting angrily at him, with laid back ears and a mouthful of teeth.
"This is Jingle Bells."
"Jingle Bells." I stated, looking the horse in the eye. "That's convenient."
You think that's a feminine name, girly?
"Not really." I said. The associate stared at me. "What?"
"Nothing." I said quickly. "Do you have gear for him?"
"Yes. You can have them." He went off to get them. Doggy looked up at the horse, and curled back his lips to show off as many teeth as the horse had been.
You can understand me.
"Yep."
Oh, You're HER. Okay. I get it. What d'ya want, girly?
"I need a ride to Kentucky. Think you can do that for me?"
I'm a racehorse, not a pack donkey.
"Really? Cuz right now you look like worn out nag with a bad temper."
Yeah? Well they got names for girls like you. And it's their fault! I got stones in my shoes; they've been there for a week!
"Stones, hunh? Well stand there, I'll get them out for you." I ducked under the bar and picked up a big hoof and liberated my knife from the pocket of my jacket.
In my rush to get away from the institute, I threw on a blue winter coat over my maroon sweater and black pants, and a red and green stocking cap that went down to my midback. My gloves were blue to match my coat, but I had them off so I could better deal with the stones.
I cleaned the first hoof with ease, and the next two. The last hoof, his right back leg, was more difficult. It had a large pointy rock stuck right up next to the nail. Every time I moved it, Jingle Bells would throw his head and snort angrily. Finally, I knocked it out of the hoof and used a flat rock to fasten the hoof more tightly in place.
"Better?"
Yeah. Thanks. So where you want to go again?
"Kentucky."
Count me in, girly.
"Woof." Doggy wagged his tail.
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A couple hours later, I was singing at the top of my lungs with Jingle Bells singing mentally along. After he got over his initial bitterness, he was a fun guy to be along. Doggy just ran along beside us. Jingle bells had a Christmas blanket on and a brown saddle with reins that were decked with holly, oddly enough. It was reject gear from a parade that the owner needed to get rid of.
Oh well.
"Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Through the fields we go
Laughing all the way. Hahaha!
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, O
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh."
I was about to belt out the next verse when a car rushed by the road and frightened Jingle Bells. He jumped up and I fell off.
"Ooph!"
Oops. Sorry girly, you okay?
"Peachy."
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Brutus will take the reviews this time as the journey goes on!