Luis, thank you so much for your review. That meant a lot to me.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
December 11th: Secrets
The scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. Flo was taking them out of the oven and sliding them onto a tray. Lizzie was helping her. Doc, Fillmore, Sarge, Sheriff and Ramone were impatiently waiting for the oil to heat up, so they could drink it. They had all been out in the cold for hours, clearing all of the snow from the café's entrance and were now shivering. Mater and Fudge were shivering too as they drank hot chocolate. They had just gone sliding down a huge mountain of snow on anything they could. Fudge even went down on her stomach a couple of times. After that, they'd had a snowball fight. Lightning and Sally parked close together by the window, watching the snow fall. They gave each other I'm hopelessly in love with you smiles. Guido came into the café, loaded with presents wrapped better than any store clerk could do and lay them out almost ceremoniously under the tree. Everyone sang or hummed along as the radio played, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."
It was true, too.
"All right!" Flo called as she came past with the cookies. They were shaped and decorated like all kinds of Christmassy things, like Santas and stars and snowmen and Christmas trees. "Who would like to try some of these cookies? Fresh from the oven!"
"I do! I do!" six-year-old Fudge cried eagerly, leaping up to get a cookie.
"What is the magic word?" Luigi prompted her in a singsong voice.
"Please?"
Flo smiled. "Just be careful, honey. They've just come out the oven, so they're still hot."
Fudge wasn't really listening. She was busy biting into the cookie, sending crumbs everywhere. "Yummy!"
Mater took one too. "Dad-gum! These are the best cookies I ever done had!"
Lizzie smiled too. "I'm glad you like them."
Lightning and Sally each took one as well.
"These are delicious!" they both proclaimed.
That's when Terry the blue and white mail forklift came inside the café.
"Luigi Topolino?"
"Yes?" Luigi replied.
"Sign here."
The Fiat took the clipboard and pen and signed the paper. In return, Terry smiled and handed him a package. Then he distributed everyone else's mail and left, taking one of the Christmas cookies with him.
"What's that, Papà?" Fudge wanted to know.
Luigi smiled. "You will find out soon enough. Now, scusi." He carried the secret package home.
"Hey, Sal?" Lightning began. "When did you wanna leave for Velo City? I don't wanna leave it too late 'cause there are still lots of kids who want to meet Santa Car."
"We could go now", Sally answered. "Are you ready?"
"Sure!"
"You're going to Velo City?" Fudge perked up. "Why?"
Sally gave her a secret smile, similar to Luigi's. "Never you mind..." she told her as they were about to run out the door...
...only to immediately almost bump into Red, who was just coming in the door. He was carrying a huge bag with a snow car on it, which he dropped, trying to avoid the race car and Porsche. A couple of gifts wrapped in sparkling reindeer paper fell out.
"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Lightning apologised breathlessly, rushing forward to help him pick them up.
The fire truck waved off his apology affably and was quick to gather up the stray gifts. It was obvious that he didn't want anyone to see what was in the bag.
"I ran out of wrapping paper", Red explained sheepishly. "You wouldn't happen to have any more here, would you, Flo?"
"Sure!" the ex show car responded. "I'll go get some for you."
While Flo searched for the wrapping paper, Red lay out the presents he had wrapped under the tree. Mater leaned over and tried to peer into the snow car bag.
"Mater?" Sheriff scolded.
"Sorry!" he apologised. "I'm just dyin' to know what I'm gettin'!"
"You'll find out Christmas mornin', just like everyone else", Sheriff pointed.
"But that's two weeks away!" Mater protested, but he couldn't help smiling. Christmas was two weeks away. Everyone was acting all secretive. Everyone was hiding stuff.
This was getting very exciting.
Yeah, this time of year, the curiosity as to what I'm getting drives me crazy.
Please don't forget to review. Remember, reviews are what encourage me to keep going.