wow can you believe it? two chapters in one month! it must be some kind of christmas miracle.
also wow 200 reviews and 50 favorites! i love yall (especially flowersocks2137. i love reading your reviews)
also also i updated chapters 1-13 if anyone wants to go read those
Max POV
"Ella! Get down here! You only have 2 more sets of shots!" Iggy shouted from downstairs.
After you get bit by a racoon, you have to get 4 sets of shots on 4 different days plus a tetanus shot. The first shots are on the day you get bit, then day 3, day 7, and day 14. Ella is on day 14 also known as Christmas day.
Unlike most people who rush towards the Christmas tree to go find the presents with your name on it, I'm pretty laid back about Christmas. I'll open my presents when I wake up which usually isn't till 10:30 or so. But this year I was awaken by Iggy at 7 fucking 20.
"Elllllla! Get down here!" Iggy shouted again. "I'll hold your hand again! Let's just get this over with!"
I tried putting my head under my pillow but it didn't help. I heard my door open and in walked a half asleep Gazzy. Without a word he climbed into my bed and under my sheets.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked, now more aware of my surroundings.
"Sleeping."
"In my bed?"
"Yes. It's quieter here. I can hear Iggy more clearly from my room."
I didn't say anything else but I did smell something.
"Oh God!" I shrieked. "Gazzy get out of my fucking room!"
Gazzy started to laugh in my bed. So naturally, I slapped him.
"Oww! Damn. Okay okay."Gazzy climbed out of my once sweet smelling bed while rubbing his arm where I slapped him.
"Ella! Come on!" Iggy continued.
"Ella get the fuck out of your bed and go get your fucking shots for fucks sake!" Gazzy cursed as he walked by her room. He started to bang on the door but then it opened and out walked Ella in the ugliest Christmas sweater I have ever seen.
"What the hell are you wearing?" I asked with a pause inbetween each word.
"If I'm going to go get shots I want to look good while doing it!" she answered cheerfully and skipped downstairs to where Mom and Iggy were waiting.
Gazzy snorted. "Yeah. "Good"." and walked off to his room.
I on the other hand went to my closet and grabbed a gray sweater with black leggings and threw them on. By the time I had gotten downstairs, Ella's shots were done and Fang's family was already here. Well by Fang's family I mean Fang and Nudge. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been avoiding our house according to Gazzy. I don't know how he knows that but I honestly hope I never find out.
"Hey! Merry Christmas!" I told everyone after I greeted them.
A chorus of "Merry Christmas Max!" was returned as I made my way to the homemade plate of waffles that was on the kitchen counter. Not even bothering to get a plate, I grabbed one, tore off a piece, and shoved it into my mouth.
"Where's Mom?" I asked with my mouth full of waffle, so it sounded like "Wherffs Mumph?"
Apparently someone understood me because I got an answer back. "By the tree!"
Quickly, I made my way toward the Christmas tree which I had put up all by myself. I even decorated it.
Mom had everyone's presents sorted out by person. Gazzy's pile was full of small, probably dangerous boxes. Iggy had fairly big boxes but he also had small ones. Ella's were big rectangles and my pile was a variety of all sizes. Brick shaped boxes, pillow shaped ones, even a long at least 3 foot by 5 inch box. We were sure not to forget Fang, Nudge, and Angel. Although Angel wasn't here Mom still made her a pile. Fang and Nudge's piles were smaller than our, but still fairly big.
Mom already had her camera in her hand and everything. "Are y'all ready?"
We all exchanged nods and Mom said "Go!" and we were off.
The sound of wrapping paper being torn filled the room as presents were unwrapped and reactions filled the air. I ripped open my first one and was greeted with a shoe box. I smiled. I knew just what it was. As I opened the box to confirm my guess, I discovered I was right. Combat boots. Not just any combat boots. The best of the best. They can withstand anything that comes at them. Rain, mud, dirt, dust, even snow (But that is very unlikely. I mean for Pete's sake I live in Texas!).
Mom shoved her camera into my face so she could film my reaction. "You like them?"
I didn't know what to say. I didn't just like them. I loved them. This is what I had been for as long as I could remember. I couldn't form actual words so I just shook my head up and down, smiling from ear to ear.
Mom looked satisfied with herself as she said "Good." and walked over to Gazzy who had just opened a box full a gadgets and such.
Instead of admiring my fellow family members and friends as they opened their presents, I continued to tear into mine.
Wrapping paper was everywhere once we had all finished opened our gifts. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and joking around. I had gotten combat boots, various books to add to my collection, a speaker, and some other random stuff from Gazzy and Iggy (I'm about 75% sure that whatever they got me will explode as soon as I open it). But now that all of that was over, it was time for the real games. Two words. White. Elephant.
If you don't know what white elephant is, it's actually quite simple. Usually everyone brings a gift but in our case, Mom has provided them. You should have the same number of gifts as people playing so again in our case, 6. Mom has written the numbers 1-6 on pieces of paper and tossed them into a bowl. One at a time, we are to take one piece of paper out and see what our number is. Number one always starts first, so they are to choose any gift in the pile. Once they choose, they open it and sulk or admire it or whatever. Then number two goes. Any number after one has the possibility to steal a present they like from anyone who has already chosen. You can only steal a present three times and once you touch a present you have to take it.
"Alright everyone gather around!" Mom shouted over us so she could get our artention. "As a yearly tradition, we play white elephant. Now does anyone have no idea what that is?"
Nobody said anything.
Mom clapped her hands together. "Alright great! Now one at a time come choose a number!" She held out the bowl with Santa on it.
Ella went first and got Iggy's while she was at it, then me, Gazzy, Nudge, and last but certainly not least, Fang.
I glanced down at my paper and saw the number "3" scrawled down in the middle. I could work with this. Not last but not first either. Right smack dab in the middle.
Mom exited the room and came in with six, green, reusable HEB bags. Each one holding a gift.
"Number one!" She called out and got her video camera ready. Nudge walked over and grabbed the bag closest to Gazzy. We all watched as she opened it and pulled out a giant chocolate Santa. It had to be at least 3 feet tall.
While everyone was laughing, Iggy was very confused because he couldn't see what was going on.
"It's a chocolate Santa Claus." I whispered so he could use his super enhanced hearing to listen. As soon as he heard me, Iggy looked over in my direction and mouthed a "thank you".
"Number two!"
That was Gazzy. He walked over and grabbed the bag closest to Nudge. He peered in and automatically groaned. He pulled out the same gift he's grabbed for the past 3 years. The My Little Pony DS game. Literally for the past 3 years or so, Christmas comes around and we play white elephant. The first time Gazzy got the gift, we were in the 8th grade. Mom tossed it in there as a joke but when Gazzy got it, he refused to even look at it. 9th grade came around and we played again during Christmas time. Except Mom hadn't thrown the DS game out. We played our white elephant game and instead of stealing, Gazzy chose the last gift, which was the My Little Pony DS game. Same thing happened in 10th grade and now it's 11th grade.
Iggy immediately knew what it was and started to crack up.
I walked over to Gazzy and patted his back. "Gazzy, I'm going to speak for all of us when I say: You really suck at this game."
Gazzy gave me a face and sat down as I returned one to him.
Ella was explaining why Gazzy was all butt hurt over that game when Mom called out "Number Three."
I looked around at what I could steal. I did need the chocolate and I certainly didn't want the My Little Pony DS game so I looked at all of the bags. They were the same bags on the outside but each one held something different on the inside. Using impulse only, I snatched a random bag and grabbed what was in it. I pulled out the biggest bag of jellybeans I had ever seen. All different flavors and everything. I stared at it in awe.
Just then, ruining my moment, Fang stood up and grabbed the bag from me.
"What the hell? What are you doing?" I demanded to know.
"I'm number four." He gloated as he shoved his paper into my face.
Well this sucked. I really wanted those jelly beans and still didn't want the DS game or the Santa. And by the looks of it, Nudge didn't want to give it up anyway.
I reached back into the pile and grabbed a random bag.
I looked in to see a box as big as the one holding the three foot chocolate Santa. Pulling it out of the bag, I came to realize the box weighed nothing. I would've thought it was empty if I didn't hear something inside of it move. I opened the big box and reached in. I pulled out an envelope. Inside of the envelope was 30 dollars in 2 dollar bills.
"Woah." I heard someone say.
I was fine with my money. Fang could go keep that dumb bag of jelly beans.
Number five, Ella, went and got a bag full of various socks. Socks with fish, socks with pancakes, chinese food, whales. Even socks with socks on them. She looked very happy.
Here's where things got a little complicated. Iggy pointed at Fang for the jelly beans. The sulking Fang walked over to me for the second time during this game and took my money. Now you can only steal 3 times each round so whoever I stole from next had to choose the gift in the middle. So I was working with socks, the mystery middle gift, a three foot chocolate Santa, and a My Little Pony DS game. Naturally, I went for the socks. (sorry not sorry Ella)
"Ugh. Maaaaxxxxx. Why?" she whined.
"Good luck." I told her as I put on my new socks.
She grabbed the bag in the middle and pulled out...
My Little Pony 2 DS game.
In that moment, people laughed and people cried actual tears (Gazzy). And thankfully, it was all on camera.
3 cheers for christmas miracles!
QOTC: do you wear a watch
AOTC: yes. i need it to time my runs
remember to stay swaggy and peace out :)