On the fourth day of Christmas James Cameron gave to me
Four pairs of Binoculars
"Bloody Hell, why do we have to be out here on Christmas Eve anyhow?" Fredrick Fleet grumbles as he sits in the crows nest with his partner, Reginald Lee. The four lookouts had drawn straws earlier that day, and now the losers were sitting out in the cold on Christmas Eve watching for icebergs. Lee shivers and hugs himself, rubbing his arms "What iceberg is gonna hit us on Christmas Eve anyhow? Would be rather rude of em eh?".
Fleet chuckles, before bring his hands to his mouth and breathing on them "Not that it matters anyway. Can't see a bloody thing. It's pretty useless of us to sit up here. Really wish we had some binoculars or something" he replies. Lee nods and leans back in the crows nest, still shivering "I can't feel my arse, is that a bad thing?" he asks. Fleet, who was rubbing his hands together, shoves him "Sod off, I'm not rubbing your arse to help it get warm" he replies.
Reginald looks away from him, his eyes falling on the sky. It's a crystal clear night, and every star in the sky is visible. Suddenly his eyes widen and he grabs his partner by the arm, pointing at the sky "Look at that!" he exclaims. The two men watch as a shooting star streaks across the sky, before vanishing just as quickly as it appeared.
Lee smiles "Ah! That means we get to make a wish right?" he asks, grinning like a fool. Fleet nods, before resuming his efforts to keep his hands warm "It does! But I don't believe in that sorta stuff" he replies casually, to which Lee nudges him "Come on Fredrick! It's Christmas Eve! Maybe we'll have some sort of Christmas Miracle!" he encourages. Fleet rolls his eyes "Fine, what are you wishing for?" he asks through chattering teeth, finally getting ready to give up on his efforts.
"I can't tell you! It won't come true!" he replies. Fleet raises an eyebrow "Well make it something good. Like wish for fur lined jackets for the pair of us or something" he tells him. Lee chuckles "Who says I'm going to wish for anything to benefit you? You don't even believe!" he says. Fleet crosses his arms "Fine! I'll never help you out in a spot then! In fact. I'm using my wish to spite you!" he declares. Lee raises an eyebrow "Oh yea? Well whatever you wish for to happen to me I'm going to think of something a ton worse to happen to your sorry arse!" he replies.
After an intense stare down Fleet rolls his eyes "Alright. You make your wish and I'll make mine and we'll see who's is worse!". They continue to glare at each other a moment longer, before they each turn and sit with their backs to each other "Fine" Lee nods. Reginald closes his eyes, whispering his wish under his breath, while Fleet just squints into the darkness trying to spot icebergs. He makes his wish in his head, and he thinks it's a very good wish. Once Lee is finished making his wish, they begin to banter over who's colder. They still don't look at each other, but as the night gets colder they eventually end up pressing their backs together.
Several hours later, in the early light of Christmas morning. The other two lookouts come to relieve the two frozen men from their post. Their fingers are so numb they can hardly climb down from the crows nest, and they stumble across the deck like a pair of drunkards to get into the warm ship. Wordlessly, they part ways and go to their own cabins to defrost. They have hardly been in their rooms a moment when they both fly out, brandishing a box wrapped in shiny paper and topped with a festive bow.
"Bleedin Christ! You got one too?" Fleet asks as he stands face to face with a stunned Lee. His partner nods and they both look down at the boxes. Finally Lee breaks the silence "You don't think-?" he asks, but Fleet is already tearing the paper away. An officer walks by, giving them a strange look, and the two decide it would be best to bring the gifts out of view of their crewmates.
Ducking into Fleet's cabin, he puts the box on the bed and finishes tearing into it. His eyes grow wide as he reaches down, pulling out two pairs of binoculars. Lee's eyes grow wide as well "Why the hell did you wish for two?" he asks and Fleet smiles sheepishly "Well I wished for binoculars for each of us" he replies. Lee suddenly begins laughing, so hard he has to support himself on Fleet's desk. Fredrick stares at him, totally bemused before asking "What's so funny?".
Still laughing, Lee opens his present, pulling out an identical set of binoculars "I wished for the same bloody thing!" he replies. The two men both stand there and laugh, before Fleet smacks Lee in the back "Merry Christmas you bastard" he says cheerily. Lee returns the gesture before picking up his box and heading for the door. Before he leaves he looks at Fleet over his shoulder and smiles "And a Happy New Year you twat".
