"TWENTY THOUGHTS"
WISDOMMONKEY
~ Important Note: Here is the fourth installment to "Twenty Thoughts". In this chapter, the chipmunks are around eight years old. I'm pleased to report that the past three chapters received lots of positive reviews! I admit, I wasn't too sure about "Dropping Out is Hard to Do", but I'm glad that you all felt it had reached its potential. I think this chapter will run a lot more smoothly, since the plot is a bit more suited to the chipmunks we know and love. Journey forth and enjoy! ~
(Theme description – Describe a routine or holiday ritual, using first person.)
CHAPTER FOUR
Christmas Don't Be Late
"Alvin?" My teacher called, pointing to the paper in my hands. She smiled at me sweetly... yeah, she wants me. "Why don't you come up and tell the class what you did on your Christmas vacation?"
"Yes, ma'am!" I chirped, waltzing to the front of the class.
I know what you're thinking; When did you become the nerdy teacher's pet of the family?... well, I haven't. But, this project was just too good to pass up! What easier way to get an 'A' than writing about stuffing your face and singing Christmas carols? This was going to be a synch!
I cleared my throat in a very professional manner, swallowing the mint I'd been sucking on for the past hour. This was my moment to shine!
After the teacher gave me that "just get on with your report" glare, I began to read.
"My name is Alvin Seville. And, on my Christmas vacation..."
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
The sun had just started to rise, but I had been up for hours already. I tried to wake up Dave, but he just grumbled at me to go back to bed and fell asleep. How rude! Didn't he realize that this was Christmas? Hello! Christmas!
Simon and Theodore were pretty much the same way. Out of everyone, I was sure my own brothers would be excited for Christmas. It felt like I was the only one who even cared anymore. Then again, I had kept everyone up all night by practicing my carols... nah, I'm sure that didn't have anything to do with it.
Since no one wanted to get up, I decided it would be a good idea to go down and check the goods. Boy, was I ever excited! I sniffed around the Christmas tree, drooling over all the presents. I just wanted to tear into them right then... and, why not?
I had just got comfortable on the floor, pulling a huge box between my legs. I slid my finger underneath the bow, trying very hard not to break the ribbon. The last thing I needed was Dave to find out I had been opening gifts already.
"Heee, I wonder what it is! I hope it's that new leather jacket I asked for; those things are so cool!"
I was getting giddy by now, giving up on trying to be careful. I pressed my claws into the wrapping paper and began to tear.
"Ahem!"
… Busted.
"O-oh! Hi, Dave!"
Dave gave me that look he usually gave me when he caught me doing something I wasn't supposed to. I gave him one of my best rehearsed smiles, hoping he'd give me some slack. I mean, come on, it was Christmas after all! No such luck. I saw that weird vein shaped like a bull's head form on his forehead.
"Alvin," he sternly began, looking down at me. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
Wasn't it obvious? He did just catch me with my hand in the cookie jar... gee, Dave's not so sharp at six in the morning.
"Whatever do you mean?" I charmed, pushing the present back under the tree. I gently retied the ribbon, giving it a soft pat. "I was just putting this ribbon back on the present. It must have come undone in the middle of the night."
I could tell that Dave wasn't buying this. He continued to glare at me for a while, but he quickly got over it and smiled. I knew he couldn't resist this face. Nobody could resist this face.
Just as I thought he was going to let me open one of the presents early, Simon and Theodore came downstairs... leave it to Frick and Frack to ruin my fun. I guess my leather jacket would just have to wait.
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
After we all got dressed and put up a few more decorations, Dave made us go into the kitchen. He sat us down at the table and gave us a long lecture – mainly talking to me – about how we had to be on our best behavior. We were going to be having Miss Miller and the chipettes over for Christmas dinner, so Dave wanted to make sure we understood the rules. But, sometimes, I think Dave just liked to hear himself talk. All I'm saying is, do we really have to have the same lecture every year?
Finally the lecture ended. It felt like we had been sitting at the table for a hundred years before he let us leave.
"Okay, now that we've laid down the ground rules, let's get started on making dinner."
Dave gave us all special jobs to do. Simon was in charge of making the potato salad. Theodore was in charge of making the stuffing. And I had the most important job of all – buttering the turkey. No Christmas holiday was complete without a turkey.
I took the frozen bird into my arms, carrying it over to the counter. It reminded me of when I played football with the other kids at school, except Dave got mad when I threw the turkey on the floor for a touchdown.
"Well, at least it was in the packaging this time," he grumbled. I think he remembered the time when I dropped the fully-cooked turkey on the floor. We ended up having to eat frozen TV dinners that Christmas.
"Dave, stop worrying," I coolly told him, noticing that stress wrinkle on his face. "I can handle this."
"Dave!" Theodore called to our dad, probably wanting some help cutting the nuts for the stuffing.
I couldn't have been more happy when Dave left to help Teddy. Not only did it get his off my back, but it gave me some room to get creative. I tore the packaging off of the turkey and placed it on a big cooking tray. I felt like a real Picasso... you know? If Picasso had been a cook or something. I slathered the butter on the turkey with delicate hands, dashed pepper and salt beautifully across the top to form a moist and crunchy skin, sprinkled spices in an assortment of flavors and colors... gee, I really gotta stop falling asleep while watching the Food Network with Theo.
This was going to be the best Christmas dinner ever!
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
While we were waiting for the dinner to cook, Dave sent us boys outside to play. We all sat on the porch of our house, trying to think of something to do.
"How about tag?" Simon suggested.
Tag? Really? Yeah, because we all wanted to run around in the snow to catch each other. Would that even be possible in the marshmallow coats Dave made us wear?
"No, we did that yesterday," Theodore said.
Yeah, because that was the only problem with that idea.
We went back to being bored and staring at the snow on the ground. I got a little skeptical when I saw Simon was about to talk again. I could only imagine what he'd say next.
"Okay, so tag wasn't one of my better ideas." Could he read my mind? "How about-"
"We make a snowman!" Teddy squealed. I couldn't help but laugh at the face Simon made when he was interrupted. People should interrupt him more often. It's hilarious! "Let's go ask Dave if we care use the left over carrots for a nose."
So, we did.
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
While we were building our snowman, the chipettes and Miss Miller showed up at our house. Simon waddled to the door and opened it for the ladies. I know what you're thinking; Waddled? What? Is a penguin or something? Well, you try "walking" around in a Michelin Man jacket! We looked like a line of rainbow marshmallows!
Anyway, after we got changed into the fancy monkey-suits that Dave was making us wear, we all went downstairs to hang out with the chipettes. Dinner wasn't ready yet, so all six of us had to do something to entertain ourselves. We tried to play a board game together but that didn't work out so well. That never worked out so well.
Needless to say, Brittany and I were now in one of our famous fights. After awhile, we had completely forgotten what the fight was about, but we just kept fighting anyway. It was kinda stupid how she could keep going on and on like that... then again, I guess I'm just as guilty. But, hey, somebody's gotta be right!
"I am not!" Brittany screamed. That was always her argument when we fought – usually because I would say that she's wrong. She folded her arms as usual, letting me know that she meant business... but, really, it just let me know that she's still the snobby Brittany we all know and love.
"Yes, you are!" I screamed back, knowing that I was right about whatever we were fighting about. "You're always wrong about... well... about everything!"
"Well!" She huffed, stamping her feet. She spun on her foot and walked into the kitchen, which everyone was doing. "I guess I won't share my dessert with you after all. Too bad; I made a really great chocolate cake. Miss Miller didn't even help me."
I scoffed, but I really found it kinda funny. I decided to follow everyone into the kitchen, taking my place at the table. Holy nuts, did everything smell delicious!
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
Once the huge dinner was over, Miss Miller took the chipettes home. Aside from Brittany trying to start fights, Simon trying to be all smart, and Dave and Miss Miller yelling at me, it went over pretty smoothly. Oh, and I accidentally may have, kinda, sorta, hit Brittany... maybe.
Luckily, in the spirit of Christmas, Dave didn't send me to my room. It was about time they started seeing the Christmas spirit.
After seeing the girls off, Dave gathered us boys around the piano in the den. This was my favorite part of the holidays; Just me, Dave, Simon, and Theodore sitting around the piano and singing carols. We sang a few boring jingles like 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas', 'Frosty the Snowman', and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'. Don't get me wrong, those songs are great; they just lack the chipmunk spunk. Finally, we got to my personal favorite song.
"Alright you chipmunks!" Dave said with a smile, dancing his fingers along the piano keys. "Ready to sing your song?"
"I'll say we are!"
"Yeah!"
"Let's sing it now!"
After a few more of our random outbursts, Dave called my name. He asked me if I was ready to sing, but I just smirked. I loved this part the most; it never failed to get Dave hot under the collar.
"Alvin?" He asked, his fingers slowing on the keys. I just sat there and stared at him, smirking. He knew what I was doing, and yet it never failed. "Alvin?... Alllvviiinn!"
"Okay!" I finally shouted with a chuckle. Now, do you see why it's my favorite part?
We started to sing the chorus of our song, but I trailed off into my own verse like I did every year.
"... Me, I want a hula hoop..."
"We can hardly stand the wait. Please Christmas, don't be late," all us chipmunks sang together.
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
"Alright, Fellas," Dave called to us after our song. He stood up from the piano bench and walked over to the tree. He sat on the floor with his legs crossed. I could feel my eyes light up at this.
"Presents! Yes! Finally! Leather jacket, here I come!" I shouted as loudly as I could. I saw Simon give me a dirty glare from how loud I was being, but what did he expect? I was getting presents! Who stays quiet when they're getting presents?
"Let's see... this one's for Theodore... and this one is for Simon... annnnnd..."
Dave laughed when he saw me reaching out for the present in his hands. The suspense was killing me!
"... here you go, Alvin."
When he handed me the present, I instantly started tearing the paper. I don't think I could have opened it faster if I was traveling at the speed of light. I tore off the lid and tossed it across the floor, doing the same with the ribbon.
"Wow! My leather jacket!"
Even though I had expected the jacket all along, it was still a surprise to get it. I was sure Dave would have gotten me something different since this jacket cost a pretty penny.
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
The day was finally over and us boys were being tucked into bed. Dave walked to each of our beds, giving us goodnight hugs and kisses. When he got to my bed, I could hear him laugh under his breath.
"Alvin, aren't you going to take that jacket off before you go to bed? It's going to be really uncomfortable."
"No way, Dave!" I defended, pulling my new jacket tighter around me. "I'm never taking this thing off!"
"Well," Dave said, placing a kiss to my forehead. "If you like it that much, I guess it wouldn't hurt to let you sleep in it... tonight."
He turned out our bedroom light and stepped outside, shutting our door behind him. We could all hear him humming Christmas music as he walked downstairs to clean up the mess from dinner. It was nice to fall asleep to a sound like that; it was the perfect way to end a perfect Christmas. I couldn't wait to do it again next year!
~ Christmas Don't Be Late ~
"That was very nice, Alvin," my teacher told me with a smile, the class applauding with her.
Happy that my report was over, I took my seat with a smile. I couldn't wait to go home and tell Dave how much everyone liked my report. Hearing that I actually did something good in school will make a great late-Christmas present for him.
~ Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I've been at the hospital for a few days having some tests done. I checked out last night with a clean bill of health. It's suspected that I was just suffering from a really bad case of the flu. I'm still feeling a bit sluggish, but I think I'll be alright. A couple of pain tablets and plenty of soup should perk me right up again. ~