Someone requested a sequel to "Dreaming of a White Christmas" from last year's Loud Loud Christmas Tales (Chapter 3) . I felt it was kind of final, but did make something as a sequel, from Emily's point of view on the next Christmas.
Thanks for the suggestion. I am still taking more... Requests and reviews welcome! Anywhere here we go!
Story 8: Dreams of a Successful Christmas
Prompt/Premise: In a Sequel ,Lisa's friend with cancer wants to make sure Lisa loves her gift.
A package with green and white stripped wrapping and white bow sat on a desk. The tag on it said, "To Lisa". A girl walked into the bedroom where the present was on the desk, she took off her purple coat and her purple beanie, revealing her bald head. She looked at the gift and let out a sigh.
"Emily!" her mother called.
"Yes, Mom, "she said.
Her mother was in the doorway.
"I'm about to make dinner," her mother said.
"Alright," Emily said.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm just kind of worried, she won't like it."
"The gift?"
"Yeah."
"Who is that one for again?"
"Lisa."
Her mother walked over to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. She looked at her ten-year-old daughter's head then at the gift.
"You know her well enough, you said she would like it," she said.
"But last year, she got me a whole entire snowstorm; anything I give her can't match up to that!" Emily said.
"She'll like it, you picked a nice gift for her, not really something I would have thought to do, but she's not like other girls," her mother said.
"I just want it to be special, she's been so great to me, and I just want her to like it," she said.
"She likes you and will be glad that you thought enough of her," her mother replied.
"You're a mom, you are supposed to say that" Emily replied.
The woman laughed and left to start working on Dinner. Emily sat down on her computer chair and looked at the pictures she had on her desk. They are were of her friend, Lisa Loud, a five-year-old she met when she was getting her cancer treatments at the hospital. They had become good friends over the past year. Emily had finished up treatment about 2 months ago, her hair hadn't started growing back yet. In a desk door was a wig that Lisa had given her, Lisa would take off when she spent time with Emily. Her hair had mostly grown back by this point.
"Maybe mom is right, she'll like it," she said.
Her room was decorated for Christmas, with a small white artificial Christmas tree in the corner, stings of light on the ceiling and walls. It was her first Christmas time in her own room, since she moved then had to spend time in the hospital. She to her mom who was putting salmon on to a large pan. Emily stood there and rubbed the back of her head.
"What's wrong?" her mother asked.
The mother was always worried about her daughter even over the slightest things she would do. Rubbing the back of one's head to others would seem to be just something to be done, for her, it was a worry that something was happening.
"I'm alright, there's something I want to ask you," Emily said.
"Okay," the woman said.
"Since Lisa is going to be here on Christmas day, anyway, could she spend the night?" Emily asked.
The woman grabbed a bottle of garlic pepper and started to season the fish, she looked at her daughter's earnest and hopeful face and smiled.
"Does she know she's being invited?" she asked.
"Well, I thought I should ask you first, then if you said yes, I could ask her."
"If it's alright with her mother and father, I'm sure your father and I won't mind."
"Thankyou so much!"
The ten-year-old ran over to her mother and hugged her.
The next morning, it was Christmas Eve. She woke up and looked out the window and saw fresh snow had fallen on the ground. It was different than the previous year when it was warmer than average and the ground was depleted of snow. She got dressed, then put on her beanie and jacket and waited went to her Dad's car.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, of course., just a little cold," she said.
Her father asked that question as much as her mother did; it was understandable. She still found it slightly annoying. They rode to the mall to see if there was anything else, they needed for Christmas. They stopped at Reininger's , Emily recognized the girl working at the checkout.
"Hey you're Lisa's sister," she said.
"Oh hey, you're Lisa's friend, right?" Leni asked.
"Yep, Emily," Emily said
"I thought my name is Leni," she said.
"I think it is," Emily said.
"So, are you looking for something?" Leni asked.
"Not really, my Dad has to get some things, he's bad at shopping early," Emily explained.
"If he needs help, I'm right here," she said.
"Thank you, I'll check," Emily said.
"Are you looking for something too?" Leni asked.
"Nah, I already got something for my folks, my friends, including Lisa," Emily said.
Emily's father walked over, holding a long red coat with faux fur lining on interior back, and on the hood.
"That's a nice coat, is that for Mom?" Emily asked.
"Yep, I figured out she wanted; she did that thing where she was mentioning how old her coat was or that red is her color, and everything else she was doing," he said.
"Oh, that is a nice coat, you should get the matching gloves too," Leni said.
"I was waiting for it to be on sale, and I guess matching gloves would be good idea, fine," he said.
"Dad, this is Lisa's sister, Leni" Emily said
"Oh, the one of the many," he said.
"No, I'm one of the Louds," she said.
Emily walked into her house first, it was to make sure her mother wasn't inside. She even called her mother's name to make sure. When she was sure she wasn't there, she told her father it was alright. He snuck in the bag with the gifts and went to find a spot to wrap it up. She took off her coat and beanie left them on the couch.
"Maybe, should have gotten Lisa something from that store; nah she doesn't really seem to take an interest in clothes," she thought, "I've already picked her gift, Mom's right, she'll like it."
In the kitchen, she found some leftovers her mother had put in containers. The slow cooker was on and cooking some homemade chili. She could smell it. She hoped it still tasted the same. While she waited for the microwave to beep, her father called her.
"I think, I should have had it wrapped there, after all," he said.
"I'll help you," she said.
She took the coat and folded it better than her father did so it could fit in the box.
"There you go, it fits now," she said.
"Thank you, do you want to wrap it?" he asked.
"Nah, you are better at that then me," she said.
"That's true."
"Thanks for helping with Lisa's gift wrapping it and stuff."
"Of course."
"I'm worried she won't like it."
"What makes you think that?"
"Compared to the stuff she did for Christmas and my birthday, it's kind of not impressive."
"What did she do for you last Christmas, again?"
"The snowstorm, remember?"
"I thought she did that virtual beach thing."
"That was for my birthday."
"Well, when you wanted to go to the beach, but couldn't, she read into that a creative way to give you that; you found something you know she likes and got it for her, that's a good thing, doesn't have to be flashy. She does things her way, you do yours your way."
"I guess, I might be over thinking it."
The microwave beeped. There was some happiness in that salmon still tasted like salmon to her as she ate some. She remembered the last Christmas Eve, in the hospital, bored of out of her mind. She was recovering from the previous day's treatment. The best thing about that day was Lisa coming over and showing her the snowstorm. Lisa never admitted making it snow, but she figured it was something she would do, maybe she didn't want everyone else to know she could do things to the weather. Was that even legal?
"Emily!" her mother yelled; she knew why her mother was calling her.
"You left your coat on the couch, I know," Emily said.
"Hmm, I see," her mother replied.
"Did you get anything; do you need help?" Emily asked.
"Does your father have my gift and he's wrapping it right now?" her mother whispered.
"Uh, maybe," the girl replied.
"I guess, I'll have some help and we can go into the kitchen," her mother replied.
Later, in the evening, Emily called Lisa to make sure the Loud genius was going to come over the next day. Lisa reiterated that she would be there at about 11AM after spending some time with her family, and to expect a gift from her as well. Emily was nervous after that call because Lisa was getting her a present. That was expected, but she kind of worried that Lisa's gift to her would be more impressive than the one she was giving to Lisa.
"No wait, Mom and Dad are right, Lisa will love it," she said.
"Are you coming down to have a taste of the cookies?" her mother asked.
"They're done?" Emily asked.
"Yep!" her mother cheered.
In the kitchen, she enjoyed the warm sugar cookies, warm were the best. She tried some of the chocolate chip cookies as well.
"Mom, we're not going to make all the packs tonight, are we?" she asked.
"Hmm, why not?" her mother asked.
"I want to make some with Lisa tomorrow," Emily said.
"You sound more confident things will go well then."
"I think so."
"I guess I can save a pack of sugar cookie for tomorrow, it's not like these are all going to get eaten."
"We could give some to the Louds."
"I don't think we have that much cookie stuff."
It was Christmas day; it had finally come. Emily woke up, she was wearing her new Christmas pajamas, another yearly tradition, she didn't get sick of P, J's even though she wore them most of the time for the past year. She put on a light up beanie on her head, it was red with green Christmas trees and lights inside the trees. She ran downstairs, her father was already on the couch watching a burning log on TV: it amused him somehow. Her mother was looking at her phone and wishing friends Merry Christmas.
"Merry Christmas!" she yelled.
"Good Morning, Merry Christmas" her mother said.
"Merry Christmas, sweetie, glad you are up," her father said.
The family poured into gifs. There was wrapping and packing all over the floor. After all that, they had a nice little breakfast and watched some Christmas specials together. Emily checked on the clock every few minutes wondering when it will be eleven.
"Knowing that girl, she'll be here on time," her father said.
"Don't worry, honey," her mother said.
"I should get her gift and bring it down here," Emily stated.
"You already did that, an hour ago," her father replied.
"Wow, I must really be nervous," she said.
It was 11:00 AM and right on time, the doorbell rang. Emily got up and sprinted over to the door. She saw both Lisa and Lincoln there. Her happiness overwhelmed her, and she grabbed Lisa and hugged her in a tight squeeze.
"Emily come inside, you really shouldn't be standing in the cold like that," her mother called.
She carried Lisa with her inside. and Lincoln followed the two of them.
"Oh, Merry Christmas, Lincoln, nice to see you again," Emily's mother said.
"Same to you," he said.
"You get anything good for Christmas?" Emily's father asked.
"Uh yeah, it was an interesting Christmas to say the least," Lincoln said.
"Here you go, Lincoln, take some cookies back home with you," Emily's mother said.
"Thanks," Lincoln said.
He said his goodbyes and told Lisa he'd pick her up the next day when she was ready to go. Lisa took off her coat, boots, hat, and other winter wear, and Emily's mother put the stuff in the closet. Lisa was holding two packages in her hands.
"My male parental unit thought it would be a good idea to give you this," she said, handing Emily mother a container.
"Oh, cupcakes?" Emily's mother asked.
"They are made of cauliflower," Lisa replied.
"Oh, tell your Dad thanks from us when you see him next, and I'll make sure his container gets back to him," the woman said.
"Lisa, we get to make cookies!" Emily said.
"With or without a vegetable?" Lisa asked.
"Without," Emily's mother said with pride.
The woman walked to the kitchen, while her husband went looking for something under the Christmas tree. Lisa was still holding a present in her hands, the label said: for: Emily.
"Yes, I have gotten you, as custom, a gift," she said.
"Oh yeah, I got you one, too, hold on," Emily replied.
The girl ran over and grabbed he present from the couch and ran back to Lisa, they exchanged gifts. Emily was slightly nervous, but there was no going back now.
"You're the guest, open yours first," Emily said.
Lisa shrugged but didn't question what could be a tradition. She wasn't the one who tore into wrapping, so she carefully pulled it off revealing an old shoe box. Emily had an expression not showing if she was happy or sad, but she was biting her lower lip. Lisa didn't see that; inside the box was curious. She looked at the stuff inside and set the box on the floor, sat crossed legged in front of the box. In her hands, she held some cassette tapes, and looked at the covers.
"How did you… this is… I…" Lisa was mostly speechless.
"Do…you…like it?" Emily asked.
"You found a collection of Sly Frog albums, he only made four, before he was in a car wreck, and ending up switching to singing gospel under his real name," Lisa replied, "The existence of his stuff has been hard to find because he didn't want it sold anymore."
"So, these are rare?' Emily questioned.
"Very rare," Lisa said.
"My uncle has tons of tapes, CD's, and junk, and I know you like rap, and I asked him if he had anything that you'd like, but wouldn't already have," Emily explained.
Lisa's face was filled with an excessively big toothy smile. She walked over and hugged Emily's legs. Emily was surprised; Lisa rarely did that. At the same time, she was relieved that the gift wasn't a disappointment. She did remember something else.
"I'm sorry that they are tapes, not sure if you could play them," Emily replied.
"No worries, I have it handled," Lisa said.
"I was so...never mind, Merry Christmas, Lisa," Emily said.
They spent the rest of the day making cookies, playing in the snow, watching some Christmas stuff, and Lisa doing some science 's parents had gotten Lisa a matching pair of Christmas pajamas, and Lisa let Emily style her hair, to make up for her lack of her own. This was Emily's second favorite Christmas ever, only being beaten by the previous one.