For the past few weeks, nearly every weekday, after school, Lea would come and visit to see Katherine and talk to her. Even help her out around the store, occasionally. Truth be told, Lea never connected much with the other teens because they grew up and don't believe in mythological stuff like her. But Katherine, she was the only friend that Lea connected with. And it looked like Katherine knew more myths and good stories than Lea. To her, the Golden Goose was like a place full of so many different treasures.
It had many tales and myths that Lea had never even heard of: four-armed cat beings that live in another realm where they cheer people on earth up with tickles, a romance between a human girl and an alien vampire, a young woman and her sister in charge of a spooky mansion that is secretly the home of different creatures from other planets, and many more.
"Seriously, Kate, how have I not heard of any of these incredible stories from anywhere else?" Lea questioned with a chuckle, sitting down at the corner of the store and having some hot cocoa plus cinnamon toast with Katherine.
"Well, all of the following tales I mentioned were written by the same author, M.G. Joyce, and he prefers to have his work displayed here," Katherine answered, sipping on her cocoa.
"Why? Wouldn't it make better sense for this Joyce guy to publish his written work to a higher company or studio to get more money? Or be noticed?"
Katherine just shook her head. "Joyce doesn't trust anyone getting their hands on what he makes. From what I heard, there are shady people who would try to steal his work and rewrite as their own. He thought that the Golden Goose bookstore was the only place he could sell his work, since not many people come here and no thief would bother to steal from a bookstore that's not on the map of this city."
"Still, Kate, don't you think it's unfair that you barely get a lot of customers in this bookstore of yours? What if you end up closing the place when you don't have enough money to stay open for business?" Lea's voice grew concerned about that thought. She can't imagine losing the only person that gets what the blonde-teen is into.
"Of course not. Besides, if this place does end up getting packed, we wouldn't be having these special meets to chat in peace," Katherine assured, now grabbing some toast to take a bite of it. "Also, don't worry about the bookstore being shut down. It has been around my family for a very long time and is marked as a historical landmark."
"How come?" Lea questioned, raising an eyebrow on that.
The auburn-haired girl just smiled. "That's a story for another time. For now, let's talk about the real reason for this special chat of ours. You mentioned earlier that you already finished the book about a certain Winter Spirit, correct?"
"Actually, I finished reading it weeks ago on the night I first got it," Lea admitted, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. She was a fast reader when it comes to enjoying a good book. "I just couldn't stop reading it over and over on how amazing it was! I practically read the book like twenty-four times, and still want to read it again. I knew Jack Frost was literally cool from the past, but I didn't think that there was another side and story about him! He sounds like a brave, funny, generous, and caring kind of guy."
Katherine chuckled with an amused smile on her face when seeing a grin start to grow on Lea's face; along with a tint of red forming on her cheeks. Just the thought of what Lea learned made her heart soar. "Yeah, I think Jack is all those things, too. My favorite part is how he became a spirit in the first place,"
"Right?! He sacrificed his own life just to save his little sister from falling into that cold lake! And did it by playing a game of hop-scotch! That proves Jack is the Guardian of Fun!" Lea exclaimed with excitement.
"Definitely. What about you, Lea? What was your favorite part in the story?"
"Hmmm…It's kind of hard to choose," Lea responded thoughtfully, rubbing her chin on that subject. "Everything in that book was amazing. From how Jack emerged out of that frozen lake on such a full moon, Wintery night to creating well-detailed frost all over. And don't get me started on all the mischief he causes. They can be so creative in a devious way. All these things, both good and bad, describe who Jack Frost is and why he's important to our world."
Katherine nodded her head in agreement. "Very well said, Lea. You seem to have a true passion on this cold season Jack makes,"
"It's more than that. Winter has been a very important part of my life. Without it, without knowing Jack Frost, I don't think I'd be the person I am today," Lea let out a gently sigh, laying her back on the chair she was in. "Sometimes, I wonder how great it would be to actually go through an epic experience with the Guardian of Fun himself."
Suddenly, the blonde teen had an idea that made her gasp and stood up.
"What?" Katherine asked, wondering what was on Lea's mind.
"I just thought of something crazy yet great! Since Jack Frost has done so much for everyone and his anniversary of turning into a spirit is coming up, I'm gonna make a special gift for him that says 'thank you' for all of his hard work!"
"Lea, that's a wonderful idea!" Katherine clapped her hands together with glee. "What are you going to give him?"
"I…don't know," Lea answered, seriously stumped for the moment. "What would a three-hundred-year-old spirit even need or like that would last and be useful? He's already got magical powers and a staff!"
"Just make something that comes from your heart," Katherine suggested gently, standing up to walk towards Lea and place a supporting hand on her left shoulder. "Listen, you kept telling me that you love to create handmade stuff to your family and yourself that's been very helpful all the way. Whatever gift you make, Jack Frost will love it, no matter what."
Lea smiled warmly, glad to have someone like Katherine support her in what she wants to do. Even if it sounds absurd and impossible.
Hours later, back at a certain blonde's home, Lea sat down at her working desk in her room, trying to brainstorm the perfect present for Jack Frost. She had tried looking over her journal of previous designs for some ideas. But none of them seem to be what Lea was looking for.
Soon, the blonde teen groaned in distress, laying back on her swiveled chair while rubbing the temples of her forehead.
"Nothing! I absolutely got nothing!" she exclaimed, dismayed about not figuring out what Jack's gift should be.
Lea thought over everything she learned about the Guardian of Fun. He doesn't need handmade ice skates, a stuffed toy, or anything practical for a magic Winter Spirit. This was her toughest, thoughtful task she had ever came up against.
It wasn't long until Lea turned her head towards a small wooden boy figure she placed on the corner of her work table. He was no bigger than eleven inches tall, had white hair with a few ends sticking out that gives him a care-free, wild look plus personality, skin so very light whitish-bluish, a one-piece suit of dark blue armor with white pearled diamonds all over–on the shoulder plates, the upper chest, matching designs on the back, and front side of boots–and a bronze, golden colored staff on his back that also had a detachable diamond dagger on the other end. His face was thinly painted with a sweet tiny smile, tiny nose, and eyes.
"Oh, Nightlight, I have never done anything so hard and overwhelming in my life," Lea said in a sad tone, reaching to grab him with her left hand and then caressing his white hair with an index finger from her right. "Do you think this whole thing is pointless? That I'm making a gift to someone that probably doesn't exist?"
Most people would find it strange-crazy, even-for a young adult to keep a childish toy around and talk to it. But, for Lea, Nightlight held a lot of meaning to her. He was a special, handmade gift from her grandparents, James and Laura…before they passed away, five years ago. Lea was only ten years old when the tragic day happened. She always believed that Nightlight was the only friend who understood what she was going through. Lea called him Nightlight because he was coated in special glow-in-the-dark paint that made him glow at night to make her feel calm.
Although her wooden companion doesn't speak, Lea occasionally imagined that Nightlight spoke to her in his own special way. And, right now, he was telling Lea, in her mind, that what she's doing isn't pointless and shouldn't give up when she's come this far in knowing the real Jack Frost.
Sighing, Lea gave a small smile before gently hugging her wooden companion. "As always, Nightlight, you're right. Jack Frost deserves to have something to show how much people, like Katherine and me, love what he does in spreading joy and fun on Winter time. I can't give up now. I'll figure something out before the anniversary day that's this Friday night. I still have three more days. I can do this,"
Just then, Lea turned Nightlight to notice the swivel staff holster on her toy's back where his golden colored staff was. Curious, she settled her companion down on the table, for the moment, and opened her book to look over the light-detailed sketch images of Jack Frost to see if her hunch was correct.
"…He is always carrying his staff around but doesn't have anything to hold it so he could use access for both hands," Lea's eyes were wide with excitement, suddenly getting something. She grinned in delight on her discovery. "That's it! I know what to make for Jack Frost!"
Not wasting anytime, she started moving around her room to grab a winter-themed guitar strap that can be adjustable, her hockey stick, and a small pink box that read 'Lea's Creative Toolbox' in lavender colored letters.
The guitar strap was black with dark blue, purple, ice blue, and white colors that appeared as diamond patterns all over.
She opened her box to reveal many stickers, colored paints plus skinny brushes, markers, sewing stuff, and more. The first thing she grabbed was a needle and black thread to tie and secure. Once doing so, Lea took out a small black carbon fibered fabric that was thick yet strong enough to last long. She placed her hockey stick on top of the back side of the guitar strap to get the exact measurements in sewing the fabric to create a holed pocket and keep the stick in place.
Since Lea doesn't have the actual staff Jack uses, she had to use something that could be close enough for what she was trying to create.
After securing the final knot in both sides, Lea picked the guitar strap up to examine it better.
"Hmmm, something's missing," she said to herself out loud.
Looking over through her creative tool box, she found a silver squared belt buckle with a big snowflake on it. She attached it in the upper front of the strap and was happy of what she accomplished.
"Much better," Lea replied, very pleased with the results. "Now, to see if it's durable."
She tested the gripped pocket around her hockey stick by putting the guitar strap on and going outside for a quick run around the city. So far, the fibers kept a good grip and the double knotted stitching held the stick in place with no tearing.
An hour later, finishing a long run and went home to take a quick shower before going back to her room in pjs, Lea looked over the strap one more time to find any loose ends before packaging it in giftwrapping paper and then placing it in a white box with a light blue bow. She then put a sticker on it that said ''To: Jack Frost, From: Lea Carolina Thompson' in black cursive handwriting.
"I can't wait to show this to Kate!" Lea exclaimed, looking at Nightlight with a caring smile. "Thanks, buddy."
It was now the day of Jack Frost's anniversary. Lea had already showed up to the Golden Goose to reveal to Katherine what she made. The auburn-haired girl was already studying the strap up close and picked it up, feeling the texture on it. To say the least, Katherine was impressed.
"I got to say, Lea, this is the most creative, thoughtful gift I have ever seen,"
Lea grinned in appreciation. "Thanks. I worked very hard on it."
"I can see that. I'm still amazed that you fully tested the durability of the strap by running an hour lap in New York," Katherine said, placing the strap back in its box and helped secure the package by wrapping it again with the light blue ribbon.
"Well, I did read about Jack Frost moving as fast as the wind. I had to make sure it was strong enough when traveling around the world by matching his speed,"
Katherine chuckled while handing the box back to Lea. "Jack is going to love what you made, for sure,"
"That's what I'm counting on. I can't wait to see the look on his face when I–". Lea started, only to stop and realize something.
"What? What's wrong?" Katherine asked, growing worried about her friend's sudden reaction.
"I…I don't know where he is," Lea answered, starting to feel sad. "How am I suppose to give a present to Jack Frost and thank him personally if I don't know where he is?"
Katherine gave a look of concern, trying to think of a way to cheer her friend up. "Maybe he will drop in New York sometime today,"
"How? Jack could be anywhere in the world. At this rate, by the time he does come to New York, it will be too late," Lea looked down in disappointment, putting the gift back in her backpack before checking her phone. "I got to go. Hockey practice starts in twenty minutes and I don't want to be tardy. I'll see ya tomorrow, Kate."
Once the blonde teen left the store in sadness, Katherine couldn't help but stare at the door. She wondered how Lea could meet with the Guardian of Fun in time to give him what she worked on.
It will require a miracle for those two to get together.
Soon, Lea arrived back home from a few hours of hockey practice. Since her parents are out on a business trip and won't be back until Monday, Lea had the whole place to herself.
The blonde teen made herself some soup for dinner, took a nice shower, and went to her room to go to bed early. She was still sad about not giving Jack Frost the gift she worked very hard on in time.
"Maybe it's for the best. I'm probably too old in believing in fairytales," Lea muttered, laying on her bed in defeat. "I need a sign on what to do,"
Just then, Lea felt her room more cold than usual. Sitting up, she noticed the window slightly opened and went there to close it.
"Okay…that wasn't opened a second ago," Lea said, seriously getting a little freaked out.
Suddenly, she heard plus saw Nightlight fall off her nightstand and into her hockey duffle bag. Hurrying, Lea got to her bag to get Nightlight out, only to spot another thing that was not there before. It looked like a tiny folded piece of paper.
Curious, Lea set her wooden friend back on the nightstand and then grabbed plus unfolded the paper to find a message inside:
Meet me at the park where I first flew past you. -JF
Lea was completely stunned. Was this the sign she was looking for?
Could this really be…Jack Frost's handwriting?! She thought to herself.
Not wasting any time, Lea immediately stood up and prepared her black backpack with the things she will need: her hockey stick, a few hockey pucks, an emergency flashlight, her sketchbook journal, her pencil tool pouch, and the present for Jack Frost. Then, she put on her gray-ankle Winter boots plus zipperless light cyan blue core fleece hoodie over her night shirt-since she thought that there was no time to put on regular clothes and couldn't miss such an opportunity-and headed out the door.
Suddenly, Lea came to a complete stop; for she nearly forgot something. Not leaving him behind, she grabbed her wooden Nightlight figure that from her nightstand and looked at him caringly.
"Best to have a little support along the way, just in case," Lea replied, being gently with Nightlight while putting him inside her front bag pocket. "Okay…Now I'm ready to meet Jack Frost."
newbienovelistRD: Redbat132 would like to thank you for all your kind reviews! If you want to see how Lea, Katherine, Nightlight and Jack's gift better, feel free to see them in Redbat132's DeviantArt's gallery of the same name.
And Redbat132 would also like to thank sunnyflight530 for keeping Katherine a special surprise for those who haven't read the books! :)