Author's Note: Sorry I didn't get this chapter posted earlier today, but between taking a nap this afternoon, and releasing and completing another story called Honey, Angelica Shrunk the Babies, which is available in the Rugrats and Honey I Shrunk the Kids crossover section if you care to check it out, well, I'm finally getting around to writing and releasing this chapter, before the day finally concludes. I hope you enjoy, as another favorite Christmas movie of mine, inspired the events of this chapter. I'll explain in more detail at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 6, The Legend, of Turtle Doves
The following year, Celeste couldn't afford to take anytime off work to go to Wheeling for the holidays, so looks like Zack and Kimi would get to spend Christmas together. However, this year, with everybody's busy schedules, Christmas shopping didn't take top priority, as everybody hit the mall on Christmas eve before heading to the Christmas eve service at Susie Carmichael's church. This would be her first year singing in the children's choir on Christmas eve, and nobody wanted to miss it. Peter took all of the kids around to different stores to do their Christmas shopping, to buy gifts for one another, with whatever tooth fairy money and allowance they had earned up to buy presents.
They were currently in a clothing store, where Kimi and Lil were admiring a set of ties on a shelf.
"Oooh, look Lil, that tie is perfect!" Said Kimi, as she pulled down a blue clip on tie with red rocket ships on it.
Lil just gave Kimi a look.
"You don't wear ties, and you know your brother doesn't care much for them either." Said Lil.
"No Lil, this tie isn't for Chuckie, it's for Zack. He's gonna love it!" Said Kimi, as she took her purchase up to the counter, and handed the clerk the tie.
"That will be five dollars young lady." Said the clerk, as the seven-year-old girl took a five dollar bill out of her pink coin purse, and handed it to the man.
"We can gift wrap that for you if you'd like, for no additional charge." Said the man.
Realizing that they would have to head to the Christmas eve service as soon as they were done with their shopping, Kimi accepted the man's offer, and the tie was presented to her, in a rectangular shaped box wrapped in shiny green Christmas paper.
"Thank you sir." Said Kimi, as she waved to the man and left the store with her package.
She and Lil headed out into the main part of the mall, where they sat on a bench outside of Macy's, waiting for Peter and the boys to finish up with their Christmas shopping. Everybody else had picked out something, except for Zack, who was still trying to decide on the best gift for Kimi. Then, he spotted something very interesting on the Christmas tree set up to decorate Macy's. A set of two doves. He plucked them off the tree and took them up to the counter, as he didn't see a price tag on the item.
"Excuse me, is this for sale?" Zack asked the clerk behind the counter.
The clerk eyed the item, and shook his head.
"I'll be right back, let me check with my boss." Said the clerk, as he left the counter.
The six-year-old blond waited patiently for the man to return, hoping he'd hurry back, as they'd have to leave very soon for the Christmas eve service. Soon, the man returned, with a smile on his face.
"Young man, we normally wouldn't sell our Christmas ornaments, but since it's Christmas eve, and we need to sell out, as the tree goes down the day after Christmas, we'll sell you these turtle doves for five dollars." Said the man.
"Turtle doves?" Zack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You've never heard the legend, of the turtle doves?" The store clerk asked.
Zack shook his head.
"Well, here's how they work. You keep one, and you give the other one, to a very special friend. As long as you and your friend each have your turtle doves, you'll be friends forever." Explained the clerk, as an idea came to Zack.
"I know exactly who I'm going to give the turtle dove to." Zack thought to himself, as he paid for his purchase, and headed out of the store to meet up with the others.
They caught up with Lil and Kimi waiting outside on a bench, when Kimi got up and approached Zack with her gift.
"Merry Christmas Zachary. Go ahead, open it." Said Kimi, as she handed the rectangular package wrapped in shiny green Christmas paper to Zack.
"Right here? In the mall?" Zack asked.
"Yes." Kimi replied, a beaming smile across her face.
"Well, uh, ok." Said Zack, as he tore off the wrapping paper and opened a box to find the tie inside.
"Oh wow! A blue tie with red rocket ships on it! Thanks Kimi." Said Zack, as he reached in and gave his friend a hug.
"You're welcome Zack." Said Kimi, as the two blushed and smiled at one another.
At that moment, Peter escorted the group of kids out of the mall, and took everyone home to change into their Sunday best for the Christmas service. Zack hurried home, where he changed into a pair of dark blue corduroy pants, a white buttondown shirt, and his new tie from Kimi. Then, looking at the Reptar clock on his wall, he saw he and his aunt didn't need to leave for another ten minutes, so he headed into the kitchen, where he found a small white square box that was vacated on the table, along with some gold wrapping paper, and got to work, wrapping his present for Kimi. He placed her turtle dove into the box and wrapped it up, placing a silver bow on top. Then, carefully placing his turtle dove into his pants pocket, he picked up Kimi's gift, and waited by the front door for his aunt to be ready to go.
Soon, she walked out into the entry hallway, wearing a long red dress, a silver necklace with a snowflake on it, green Christmas tree earrings, and a pair of black high heals.
"Are you ready to go Zack?" Celeste asked.
"I sure am Aunty Celeste, let's go." Said Zack with a smile, showing a gap where he had one of his top teeth missing, as they piled into his aunt's driverless van, and headed for church.
Once they arrived, they walked into the church, where Zack spotted Kimi in a pew, saving a seat for him. He led his aunt over to that pew, and they sat down, just in time for the service to start. Kimi glanced over and smiled, when she saw Zack wearing the tie that she had given him. She was secretly wondering what Zack had gotten her for Christmas, but could wait until the end of the service, which is what she ended up having to do, as no sooner had she glanced over at Zack, when the service started, as everybody stood up and sang Oh Come All Ye Faithful, as the organ and the choir, where nine-year-old Susie Carmichael was present, led the congregation in singing the hymn.
The service went beautifully, as a sermon was given talking about the importance of Christmas, and Zack's favorite part, when the lights were dimmed after communion, while everybody sang Silent Night. After the service was over, everybody headed into the Gill's Room for refreshments, at which time, Zack ran up to Kimi, who was eating a sugar cookie covered in red and green sprinkles, and took her aside to give her her present.
"Here Kimi, this, is for you." Said Zack, handing Kimi the little square package wrapped in gold paper with a silver bow on top.
"Thank you Zachary!" Kimi exclaimed with a smile, as she tore off the wrapping paper, and pulled out the turtle dove.
"What is it?" Kimi asked in confusion, as she turned the plastic turtle dove around and around in her hand, examining it.
"It's a turtle dove." Replied Zack, as he pulled his turtle dove out of his pants pocket and showed it to Kimi.
"See? Now you have one, and I have one. And as long as we both have our turtle doves, we'll be friends forever." Explained Zack.
Kimi blushed and smiled, as she looked down at the turtle dove in her hand, then over at Zack, who too, was holding his turtle dove and smiling.
"Wow! This is neat! Thank you Zachary! Merry Christmas." Said Kimi, as she pocketed the turtle dove in the front pocket in the red dress she was wearing, while Zack repocketed his turtle dove into his pants, and the two kids, gave one another a hug.
"Merry Christmas Kimi." Zack whispered into Kimi's ear, before the two children let go of one another, and raced back to the refreshments table, where Zack grabbed the last sugar cookie with red and green sprinkles on it from the plate, right as Angelica was trying to reach for it at the same time.
"Hey! That cookie is for me!" Angelica cried in disappointment.
"Sorry Angelica, looks like I beat you to it. Maybe next year." Said Zack, as he took a bite of his cookie.
"That Zachary, he's the bestest, so brave, so bold, so, perfect." Kimi thought to herself, as she ate the rest of her cookie, and enjoyed that moment together with Zack, while Angelica went off to a couch on the other side of the room, and moaned in defeat.
And this, ends chapter 6.
Author's Note: The idea with the turtle doves was something that I learned about originally in the movie, Home Alone 2, Lost in New York, when Mister Dunkin of Dunkin's Toy Chest, presented Kevin with the turtle doves, and told him the story of the legend. Then later in the movie, Kevin gives one of the turtle doves to the pigeon lady, who he had made friends with earlier in the film, before stopping Harry and Mars from steeling the money from the toy store. I rewatched that movie on DVD yesterday afternoon, and when watching that part, well, it gave me the idea for this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it, and another chapter will be up tomorrow. Also, to anybody who celebrates who might be reading this story, Happy Chanukah! As today at sundown, marked the official start of Chanukah. Of course, all of us Rugrats fans knows what that means, yep, the meany, of Chanukah, though I checked my TV Guide apps on my iPhone, and while I couldn't find out much more past tomorrow, because the listings are slightly messed up, The Splat is airing a season 9 episode of Rugrats later on at midnight my time on December 7, repeating it at 05:00 a.m. and at midnight and 05:00 a.m. on December 8, a season 2 episode is listed, but I don't know when and if the season 4 Chanukah episode will be airing this upcoming week. Perhaps DemonAloisTrancy knows, and if she does, she can leave me a review or a PM if she wishes to do so. Of course, if she got it recorded on DVR last year, when 90's Are All That aired it on the first night of Chanukah, no big deal, and I already have it on the season 4 DVD, which I'm thinking of going and watching while I grab some dinner shortly here, but figured to those of you who rely on The Splat these days for your Rugrats viewing as of late, thought I'd let you know that I don't know about when the Chanukah episode will be airing this week. The holiday goes through sundown on my birthday, December 14, and actually, if you think about it, the episode itself, takes place on the last day of Chanukah, because all of the candles in the manora are lit, Tommy tells the other babies about what had been going on the past several nights, which means he's already been celebrating Chanukah with his family up to that point, as his grandpa Boris would come over each night, and partake in the daily Chanukah ceremony, and the play all about the meaning of Chanukah, sounds like something a sinnigogue would put on at the end of Chanukah, not the beginning. Therefore, is The Splat waits and airs it on the last night of Chanukah, it's fine by me, and would make a lot of sense, based on what day of Chanukah the episode takes place on.