In honor of Christmas Day, this whole entire chapter dives into Cloud's childhood during the holiday.
Read and enjoy.
Christmastime for the Strife family was considered both a blessing and a curse. On one hand there was that warm cheer. The kitchen was perfumed by cookies, cinnamon, turkey, and all the like. The maids and menservants laughed and joked all day long in the halls, much to the chagrin of the butlers. It was the perfect time for a child. Then, one the other hand, there was Scarlet.
Mrs. Elizabeth Strife paced quickly through the halls toward her husband's study. Knocking frantically on the door, Jonathan Strife was startled from his papers.
"Come in," he beckoned. "It's open."
Elizabeth quickly rushed in looking as pale as a ghost. Jonathan stared at her for moment before getting up from his desk and rushing towards his wife.
"Lizzy?"
"They are here," she stammered. "All of the family is here…that means…Scarlet."
Jonathan light rubbed the back of her shoulder.
"It'll be fine this year," Jonathan replied soothingly. "We've talked to him several times…"
"And you actually think that this year will be any different from last year?!" she whispered harshly. "We even talked to him last year. It didn't work then!"
"Have more faith in him, dear…"
"Cloud set Scarlet's dress on fire! He was eight-years-old."
Jonathan held Lizzy close and rocked her gently.
"And now he's nine," he said. "I'm sure that he has a matured just enough to keep some self-control…he's a good boy…"
Lizzy nodded…but she still had a bad feeling.
Shera's eyes lit up when she saw the freshly baked cookies on the counter. She looked to her cousin for advice.
"Ah, have all you like," said Cloud. "They won't mind…they never do when I take some."
Shera's hands were on the nearest cookie before Cloud even finished speaking.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Not without me!"
Robby Cumberland, the cook came in the door in a huff. He eyed the children and sighed with relief.
"Good," he said. "I needed an extra opinion. How are they?"
"Yummy!" Shera cried.
The young cook put his hands on his waist and smiled.
"But you'll want something to drink with it," Robby said. "Milk or eggnog?"
Cloud and Shera answered 'eggnog' in unison. Robby gave them a salute and went to fetch it.
"Scarlet was afraid to come this year," Shera said. "I think it was because of last year."
"Wouldn't blame her," Cloud replied. "I'd be scared too if I got my clothes set on fire."
"But that was you!" Shera squealed. "How could you plan something like that?"
"I didn't plan it," he whispered mischievously. "It just came to me…the opportunity was thrown in my face…and I couldn't help it…not after what she said…"
Scarlet nibbled the last of her cookie. Her small hands seized a second one.
"What she say?" Shera asked.
"I can't remember what I get revenge for," he said sheepishly.
Robby came back with two glassed and a pitcher of homemade eggnog.
"Here we go," he said proudly. "Drinks for the beautiful young guest and the little master…but save some for Scarlet."
"Scarlet?!" Cloud asked in surprise. "Ha…ha…ha…"
Robby grabbed a cookie from the counter.
"Now listen here," the young cook said. "Scarlet is still your cousin."
"A bat of one too," Cloud replied. "I hope her turkey gets cold."
Robby looked at the young master sternly.
"Santa Clause doesn't like young boys who play mean tricks on their kin."
"Santa will understand," Cloud mumbled. "He always does…I still get presents under the tree."
Robby stared at the young Cloud in bewilderment. He walked out of the kitchen without a word.
"That boy gets smarter every year," Robby said quietly.
Scarlet weaved her way into the warm great room amongst the chattering adults. In a short, red dress and matching boots, she strolled through proudly like a movie star. Scarlet noticed the table of cookies and eggnog and went towards it, seeing Cloud at the last minute. She shoved him roughly out of the way.
"Move it, twerp!"
Scarlet received a good raspberry before Cloud left. Lizzy watched the whole thing in anxiousness.
Aunt Lucrecia found the camera in her purse and announced that she wanted photo.
"I want one of you and Johnny," she said to said to her sister.
Lizzy giggled and dragged her unwilling husband forward. Shera watched with curiosity.
"What's wrong with Uncle John?" she asked. "Does he hate pictures?"
"He says he not "photogenic," Cloud replied. "Whatever that means."
An idea came to Lucrecia's head and she called her nephew forward.
"Scarlet!"
Scarlet snarled lowly and set her plate down on a table.
"Yes, mom?"
"I want a picture with you and Cloud."
Nearly the whole family stopped what they were doing and at Lucrecia as if she was a madwoman. Her sister, Elizabeth, pinched her on the arm and whispered in her ear.
"Have you lost your senses?!" Lizzy asked. "Are you trying to cause a ruckus?!"
"They have to get along sooner or later," Lucrecia retorted quietly. "They must."
"I don't want to take a picture with him," Scarlet whined. "I'll get infected by his weirdness.
A momentary scowl appeared on Cloud's face. Then, it changed into an innocent smile. That was never a good thing.
"I don't mind taking a picture with ya, Scarlet," he said excitedly.
"It's settled then."
Lucrecia grinned to Mrs. Strife triumphantly. While no one was watching, Cloud reached into his pocket, took a small object, and popped it into his mouth. Scarlet sat on the couch, and Cloud climbed onto her lap.
"I want to see a nice, big hug," Lucrecia cooed.
Cloud immediately wrapped his arms around Scarlet and smiled. Scarlet cringed, but hugged him back. Suddenly, Cloud buried his face into her hair, as if he were nuzzling it, and then faced the camera. Scarlet was glad to shove him off after the camera flashed. Nevertheless, Cloud walked away…with an evil smile on his face.
Scarlet went back to the table to retrieve her plate. Uncle Thomas, walked over to the table as well to get eggnog. Something else caught his attention.
"Scarlet dear!" Thomas cried. "What on earth is in your hair?"
Scarlet stared at her uncle funny and reached into her yellow locks. Her fingers made contact with something rubbery and sticky. Her eyes widened. Scarlet stretched the sticky substance out and found that it was gum. Scarlet opened her mouth to speak, but she screamed instead. The whole room had her attention.
She slowly turned around and spotted Cloud standing near the door.
"Demon child!" she screamed.
Cloud took a hint and stampeded out of the great room.
"That was a very uncouth thing to do, Cloud."
"What's uncouth mean?" Cloud asked.
Jonathan Strife sat down on the bed and sighed.
"It means rude… ill-mannered…uncivilized."
Cloud burrowed deeper into the blankets.
"But Scarlet's a witch!" he whined. "She's always mean to me…I tried being nice until I was seven…ain't she being uncouth too?"
Jonathan patted his son on the head. He tucked the blankets closer.
"Yes," Mr. Strife said. "She is…but that doesn't give you an excuse to be the same…"
Cloud folded his arms and pouted.
"Promise that you will behave this Christmas," Jonathan said earnestly.
"Can't promise that."
Jonathan shoke his head and kissed his nine-year-old son on the cheek.
"Then I'll be disappointed if you do."
Jonathan bide Cloud goodnight. He walked to the door, turned off the lights, and shut the door.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
Then tearing through the halls, like a thief's knife
Came tiptoeing gently the young Cloud Strife.
His ears were alert; his eyes darted left to right.
The coast was clear and nothing was in sight.
He scurried to storage room and found a stool.
And found what he seeked in the room so cool.
The red dye paint left over from the science fair
And green glitter glue; it wasn't paint, but he didn't care.
It suited him just fine; it made it just right
So he took his treasures and raced through the night.
He knew his dad would be sad if he caused more trouble
And so, Cloud decided that this last trick would be double.
Just one more evil deed, an endeavor so fat.
Then I'll never do it again…and that it that.
With gentle care, Cloud opened the door
To Scarlet's room, and lightly scaled the floor.
Scarlet lay in bed, snoring a storm
Nothing would wake her, nothing of any form.
Cloud entered the bathroom, and in his robe
He pulled out a flashlight, and began to probe
Where is it, where can it possibly be?
And there on the counter, he finally did see.
He reached for Scarlet's shampoo and her bodywash too.
Cloud already knew just what to do.
He finished his vile work with time to spare.
And snuck out the bathroom and left with a speed so rare.
Cloud returned his tools and fled to his room
And once more the estate was like the stillness of a tomb
Cloud curled into his blankets and bid his sweet time
For tomorrow, in a few hours, it would be Christmastime.
Scarlet struggled to get out of bed early. Scratching her head vigorously, she entered the bathroom, took off her clothes and jumped into the shower for a wake-me-up. The lukewarm water awakened her senses. As usual, Scarlet reached for her bodywash and rubbed it onto her skin. She put it back and squirted the shampoo into her hair. She leaned forward to rinse the back of her hair and noticed something strange. Something green was going down the drain.
Scarlet turned off the water and gasped. Her hands were bright red. Her arms were bright red. Her feet were bright red. Scarlet ran out of the shower and rubbed the steam off of the mirror. Her face was bright red. To make matters worse, her hair was full of glitter and green. Scarlet opened her mouth and shrieked.
"DADDY! DADDY!"
Scarlet ran through her room and opened the door.
"DAAAADY!"
The guests opened their doors to investigate the uproar. All of them stared at Scarlet in horror. Some chuckled. Cloud opened his door and surveyed his handiwork. Uncle Matthew raced towards his daughter to comfort her…but he never got to her in time. Scarlet's eyes searched through the many faces and found Cloud. He was smiling. Scarlet saw red; she began to gnash her teeth. With a bound, Scarlet lunged forward, screaming bloody murder.
"You sick, little brat!" she screamed. "Wait till I get my hands on you!"
Cloud yelled a terrified yell, turned around, and ran like he had never run before.
I would like to take the time to say to everyone:
CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
I love you people...
-Lord Divestre Croft