Hey, look! Is that a chapter? I do believe that it is. I'll write a longer AN at the end, there's just one thing I want to say right now. Though I know that Pippa isn't actually Jack's sister's name, it's the one I used before, so I'll stick to it. So in this story, both Jack's sister and Jamie's friend are called Pippa. I may or may not do something with that later.


Jack tore at the strings holding the box closed, eager to see what hid inside. Pippa stared at it with her eyes wide, holding her new rag doll close to her chest. It had not been easy for him to patiently help the toddler with her own gift while his own waited for him. He made sure to be extra nice this year, hoping to see a gift for him under the tree. Or this month, at least. He was so excited when he spotted the box bearing letters he couldn't quite read but recognized as his name all the same. He wasn't always nice enough for a present.

But Pippa seemed to bring out the best in him. He had taken care of his new little sister all year, helping her take her first steps and playing with her while their parents where busy. The least he could do was to help her some more, if he wanted to really deserve his present. He couldn't just be nice all year, then be mean for Christmas. Not unless he wanted to be back on the naughty list. Which he didn't. And seeing Pippa's huge smile as she lifted the doll out of the box was a gift more precious than anything that Santa could put in a box.

Now that Pippa was happily drooling on her doll's yellow woollen hair, though, curiosity took over. He would have torn the strings with his teeth if he thought it would actually be faster. With a triumphant cheer, he tossed them aside and lifted the box's cover, peering inside.

He smile faded somewhat when he saw what looked at first like a pair of shoes. It was something he would normally be happy to get, shoes being something of a luxury his parents couldn't really afford, but today he had been hoping for something he could have fun with. Like a wooden train or a toy sword. Not shoes.

It was only when the candlelight reflected on something shiny inside the box that he realized what his present really was. Gingerly picking them up by the laces, he lifted them up with wide eyes to inspect them. A large grin split his face.

"Skates! Look, Pip, I got skates!"

He had often watched in envy as other children skated upon the nearby lake in winter. It looked like the most fun thing he had ever seen. Now he would get to try it too. It was the best gift he ever got. He moved the skates quickly out of his sister's reach as the toddler tried to reach for them with a happy little smile.

"Careful, Pip, you could hurt yourself with those," he said, placing them back in the box to be safe. He ruffled his little sister's hair, grinning at her.

"They can be yours when you're older. They won't fit me anymore. Maybe Santa will give me new ones then, so I can take you skating on the lake!"

He wasn't sure she actually understood what he was talking about, but his enthusiasm got to her and she laughed and clapped her hands eagerly. He hugged her to his chest, smiling in her hair.

"We're going to have so much fun, Pip."


Sorry for suddenly disappearing like that. I just wanted to take a break for one or two days, I wasn't expecting it to be so hard to start writing again. But lack of motivation has always been my worst enemy. And there's the fact that, now that I have a new computer that can actually handle photoshop, I can actually draw again. I missed that. Sorry if this disappoint anyone, but I prefer drawing to writing.

That said, this story isn't dead, but my inspiration is, at the moment. It not that I don't have any ideas to write next. I had some, and plenty of suggestions that I found interesting, but I'm failing at making stories out of those. Feel free to send some more suggestions. Also, sorry if there's possibly a lot of mistakes in this chapter, I seem to have forgotten how to write in the past few weeks.

I guess I should leave you guys with some good news. I'll be on vacations next week, so I should be able to work on this more. Supposing I know what to write.