This chapter is another one of those flashbacks.
It was Christmas night and me and the family were sitting around the tree while the fire place crackles. Well, me and John were. Jill sits in an arm chair while Mom and Dad sat on the couch having hot chocolate. We just had a little party with the family. But they all left as it went dark. It's just us. Every family's tradition is open the presents in the morning, but for us we open them after dinner. I know, we're an odd family.
I was two years old. So small I was in my candy cane nightgown, and very small pigtails sticking out the top of my head.
Another thing about our tradition, one by one, we open presents at each turn. Jill opened hers and it was some expensive jewelry she died to get for so long, and John got a model airplane he saw at a toy shop. We also give presents as well to each other. I gave them pictures I drew with crayons. Jill didn't think of giving us presents. She just gave us candy because she doesn't want to spend all of her money. And John gave us presents. Jill opens hers and it was a notebook that was supposedly a diary.
"That's really nice," Jill says sarcastically and gave a small smile to John.
"Jannie-bee?" Mom called me by my childhood nickname and asked, "Aren't you going to open yours?" I looked up to her in question.
"I opened it!" I giggled holding out the present still wrapped up, "Pwesent!" Hey, I was only two! I don't know much.
Mom chucked and says, "No honey. You have to open it." I was so influenced by the wrapping paper.
John came over to me. "Here." He took one piece of tape off and made me go on to do the rest. I took the wrapping paper off until I gasped. In there was the stuffed pink bunny with a pink ribbon tied around the neck with a bow. I immediately hugged it.
"What do you want to say to John?" Mom asked me, I ignored what she said and started playing with the bunny babbling. Really. I was two.
She rolled her eyes and sighs. "She says thank you John. She is really quite attached to it." John laughs a little bit.
I was supposed to open at least seven other gifts that were actually mine. But I was too busy playing with the bunny. As soon as it was my turn, Mom asked, "Jannie-bee? Aren't you going to open other presents? I bet you're going to love them."
I was singing "jingle bells" to the bunny, so I ignored her. Besides, I don't really know how to open the rest of the gifts.
"I guess that was all she really wanted." Dad said laughing and took a picture on his camera.
John had to open the gifts for me, and what I got was a coloring book, a big teddy bear, a red tricycle, and even a pink sweater I wanted. But I was so busy playing with the bunny John gave me. Afterwards I passed out on the floor playing with it too much. It was past my bedtime anyways.
The bunny really reminds me of him. But then when he was a senior and we grew apart, I gave it up and that was the last time I saw it since.
I opened my eyes instantly to a small lamp which happens to be my night light. I felt something warm on my legs and sat up to see a blanket covered on me. I'm guessing Mom found a way to unlock the door, and found me asleep from crying. And then put a blanket over me since I still have my clothes on…Again.
I hugged my bunny and tears slid from my eyes because I just had a bad dream. I had visions of him getting killed. Seeing him dead in front of me is one of the worst things I saw. It made my stomach churn, feeling like I was about to heave. The rest of the night I sat up thinking, and crying and hugging my bunny. I can't go back to sleep. I don't want to see those things in my mind. It's really heartbreaking.