"Yeah, that's right. I got a whole lot stronger. I'm bigger and better than you, Andre."
"Bigger by three inches." Ginger said.
Kenny blinked, realizing that Daniel wasn't as huge as he had seemed a minute ago. The boy was an inch taller than him. Kenny started to laugh.
Daniel growled. "What's so funny?"
"The fact he thought you were actually a threat." Private said. "You do realize that your little 'henchmen' are shorter than Ginger and me?"
"Don't underestimate me; I've been training while you've been stuffing your face." Daniel said.
"Don't underestimate me either." Private said. "I've learned a lot in a short time."
"Yeah, like what?"
Private shot his leg out and kicked two of the boys down.
"That."
The boys scrambled to their feet and fled.
"Some backup…" Ginger muttered.
Daniel and Private stared each other down.
"Why are you doing this?" Private asked. "What did I ever do to you?"
"You lied to me." Daniel growled.
"I wouldn't lie to you."
"LIAR!"
"He wouldn't even tell me what was going on." Ginger said. "He just started sulking about a week after you left and then he decided to pretend you didn't exist."
"You're angry with me for leaving?" Private asked.
"I couldn't care less." Daniel said.
"Yes you do." Kenny said.
"What did you say, pipsqueak?"
"It's the same reason that Kowalski got mad at Me, Barry, and Private for talking to a stranger. He cared about us, but he was upset at the same time."
"Who the heck is Private?"
"Me." Private said.
"Private? Ha, that's a stupid name!"
"To you, maybe, but to him it means he's starting out fresh." Ginger said. "Stop being a prat and listen for once, would you? He didn't betray the entire country by leaving to America for school. Loads of people go to schools across country or even out of country. I've been trying to tell you that for months now. My aunt went to school in France; my cousin's attending a boarding school in Germany. Many people go to colleges out of country or state."
"I have friends at Central Park who come from as far as California." Private said.
"And my brother and I came from Wisconsin." Kenny said. "Rico and Rikki are from Missouri, Roy's from Nevada, Fred's from Ohio."
"Really?" Private asked.
"Yep."
"Yeah, but they didn't promise people they would never leave." Daniel snapped.
"First off, you don't know any of their backgrounds or life stories. Second, when did I ever say that?"
"Five years ago."
Everyone's jaws dropped.
"You held him to his word for five years?" Ginger said.
"Dude…" Kenny said. "That's just wrong."
"I was seven…and I don't even remember what the conversation was about." Private said.
"I remember him wanting to leave since he was four." Ginger said. "And you definitely knew that."
"And you knew the world wouldn't fall apart if I left."
"I was willing to be your friend. Even though the two of us attend different schools, we're still relatively close to each other." Ginger said. "I tried to keep our friendship close…but you pushed away."
"I-"
"All this time you thought I pushed you away, but I didn't." Private said. "I needed to be free from my mother, to explore the world. I discovered a holiday we don't celebrate here and I actually went out for Halloween dressed as a character I barely knew. I had no idea who Ramona and Allie were dressed as, probably because they both had fake bows and arrows and Mum would never let me watch anything with weapons in it. If you and Ginger hadn't invited me to your houses, I would probably be in a bubble right now. I should actually thank you for pushing me to do what I wanted. You were the one who introduced me to Pokemon and never told my mum we ever played. She thinks I love card games and drawing because that's what we told her we did."
"Well…I..I don't-"
"You're family." Ginger said. "And it's about time you started acting like it again."
"You shouldn't push someone away." Kenny said. "Especially if that person is the only family you have left."
Private noticed Ginger's expression and quickly nudged her. The two of them exchanged a silent conversation. Ginger looked concerned, but Private shook his head. She gave him an anxious look and Private gave a deadpan stare. Ginger sighed and let it go.
Kenny and Daniel appeared to have taken no notice of the silent conversation.
"I don't have any other cousins my age." Daniel admitted. "And I think I may have lost a few friends now that I think about it."
"Or not." Kenny said. "Just like when Barry and I weren't speaking, we still were friends when we both apologized for our behavior.
"Also, Ramona and Barry had been upset after Thanksgiving, but they came around and still hung out with us." Private said. "Your friends are probably just waiting for you to apologize and be yourself again."
The four of them were silent as Daniel processed this information.
"Well, while you think about it, we have a date with the frozen lake." Ginger said, tugging on Kenny's jacket. "You're welcome to tag along if you like."
Kenny was about to object when Ginger gave him a look that reminded him a lot of Kowalski.
"I am still interested in being friends, you know." Private said as he followed his friends. "Ginger's right, we're family and we need to stick by each other."
"Yeah, family takes care of family." Ginger said. "You have parents who love you unconditionally, and a cousin who shared everything with you and still can if you let him in again if you don't hurt him. Family is supposed to love you and keep you safe, not h-"
"Let's skate!" Kenny interrupted. "Think about it and get back to us, you have phone numbers so see ya!" He pulled Ginger along.
Private walked behind as Ginger took the lead again as Kenny had no idea where he was going.
Ginger and Private shared another silent conversation in which Ginger reluctantly bit back questions. Private was hoping that Kenny would tell him more about what was going on, but one wrong move and he would cover it up like Kowalski did.
No one had asked, but they knew the brothers weren't fully redheads and were unlikely to get extremely sunburned if they put on sunscreen. Kowalski's need of a shirt concerned everyone, but he had brushed it away saying that his skin was sensitive and his body was awkward. Private was sure others had noticed, but were not about to bring up the fact that Kowalski was thinner than Kenny who, in turn, was thinner than average boys and girls in his age group.
"Kenny, are you alright?" Private said as they approached a lake. The lake was frozen solid and people were already skating on it. There was a booth set up to rent skates to anyone who didn't have any.
"Yeah." Kenny said, keeping his face blank. "Where do I get skates?"
"Come and I'll show you. My dad works here part time." Ginger said.
"Part time?" Kenny asked.
"Yeah, he has filler jobs like substitute teacher or temporary librarian. Basically, he can get a job in education when he's called, but he mainly works at the grocery store if they don't need him here." Ginger said. "So he's pretty much gone until I'm either asleep or about to go to bed and then he gets up early to help at the store. I never really see him that much."
The three of them silently decided to go to the nearest store to use the bathrooms before skating.
"What about your mom?"
"You've actually met her."
Kenny blinked. "I've only been here since yesterday afternoon…I think. Still getting used to the time change."
"Happens to the best of us." Private said. "Her mum works at our bakery. That's how Ginger and I know each other."
"I thought you went to the same school or something?"
"My dad wanted me in a private school when I was eight." Ginger said. "One of my best friends tells me everything that happens there which is how I knew about what Daniel was up to."
"I'd like to know how you guys all met."
"You like stories, don't you?"
Kenny blushed a little and nodded. "My brother tells me stories all the time. He says they're true, but I know he's making them up to make-uh- make it funny."
"Your brother has glasses, right?"
"How did-?"
"An-Private video called me and I saw his roommates. They're pretty cute."
Private snickered.
"Uh…"
"Of course, you don't have to share that opinion."
Private began laughing and Ginger swatted him on the arm.
"I'm not about to call my roommates cute." Private said. "We're not cute and cuddly, we're macho!"
Ginger burst out laughing. "S-sure…" she wheezed. "W-whatever you have to tell yourself-"
Kenny smiled a little.
"There you go, don't be afraid to crack a smile!" They entered the store and made their way to the back. "We'll tell stories over hot chocolate later."
"Hot chocolate?" Kenny asked.
"What, you've had hot chocolate before, right? Haven't you played outside on a wintery day and gone inside for hot chocolate? Maybe snuggle up by the fireplace and get some cookies from your Mu-"
"Mustard!" Private shouted.
The other two jumped as people turned.
"Sorry…" He said. "Thought I saw a spill."
"Hey, I have to go to the bathroom." Kenny said, spotting the restroom sign. He bolted before anyone could get another word in.
"I ran my big mouth again, didn't I?" Ginger asked.
"It's alright." Private said. "He doesn't have a mum and he's very sensitive when it comes to discussing his family."
"And I won't push it, got it."
"Thank you."
"No problem. Tell me though, has he had fun?"
"From the looks of it, I'd say he needs a good day to just hang out."
"I can help there."
The three of them met back outside and headed to the booth. None of them mentioned the scene in the store.
The booth was crowded, but Ginger led them through the crowd to where a man was attempting to make a pyramid out of skates and failing miserably.
"I can do cans and boxes, but these are insane…" he muttered.
"Sorry, Dad, but skates don't exactly stack up perfectly." Ginger said.
He smiled. "Nice to see you, Gingerbread."
Ginger blushed furiously. "Dad! Not in front of my friends!"
"Even the ones who know you so well?"
"Yes." She said firmly.
"Nice to see you again, Andre."
"You too, Ed."
Kenny's jaw dropped.
"What? Never met someone named Ed before?" Ginger's father joked.
"I-uh- isn't it…um…never mind."
"This is Kenny. Kenny, in polite company and in front of my mother, we call him Mr. Adams." Private said. "But if we're just hanging out at Ginger's house or anywhere my mother is not, we can call him Ed. Ginger's parents, my dad, and Daniel's parents are okay with the three of us using their first names as long as we're being good houseguests. Like when my dad invited you to call him by his first name, just call him Mr. Davis when my mum comes back."
"Okay."
"Go ahead, try it out." Ed said as he handed the kids skates. "Easy, one syllable…I think…Ed? Yup, one syllable. What's your skate size?"
"Three and a half."
"That would be two and a half here, right?"
"Yes." Ginger said.
"You sure about that?" Ed asked.
Kenny nodded slowly.
"Gee, Eggy could steal your shoes and be perfectly comfortable." Andre said.
"He gave me a pair of old shoes he didn't want…" Kenny looked down at his shoes. "I know we're three years apart, but my feet are just that small."
"Are they comfortable?" Ginger asked.
"A little tight, but I'm oka-"
"How about I give you the next size up?" Ed said with a grin. He rummaged through the skates and gave Kenny a box. "Have you skated before?"
Kenny shook his head.
"Don't worry, my daughter is a professional."
"Dad!"
"She and Andre will have you skating so well, you could join the Olympics."
Kenny blushed. He tried on the shoes. "They feel fine."
"Fine or great?"
"I'm okay."
"Are you comfortable?" Ginger asked.
Kenny grinned. "Yeah."
"Alright, let's get on the ice." Andre said.
"Don't we have to pay?" Kenny asked.
"I did before we came." Ginger said. "That's how he knew to give us our skates."
Kenny nodded. He slipped and grabbed onto them for support.
"It's alright, that happens." Ginger said. "You're also going to fall on your rear a lot."
"Okay."
The three of them inched onto the ice and Kenny immediately began slipping again. He held onto Private and Ginger's arms as they made their way around the lake.
Ginger's prediction came true about twenty minutes later. Kenny had become stable with one person helping, however, he toppled over as soon as Private let go of his arm.
"It's alright, mate." Ginger said, pulling him up. "You'll be alright."
Forty minutes later, the three of them were pink, but Kenny was able to stay stable as long as he went very slowly.
"Congratulations, Kenny!" Ginger said. "And you only fell four times."
"Only?" Kenny asked.
"I fell about six times my first try, Daniel fell seven times and Private here fell six and a half times. We managed to catch him the first time."
"Wow."
"Yeah, you managed to catch him, I fell face first."
The three of them saw Daniel skating backwards.
"Show off." Ginger said. "What took you so long?"
"Well, I had to call my friends and explain things. As they say in America, you got guts, kid." He said to Kenny. "You're pretty wise."
Kenny blushed again. "Not really…"
"Don't sell yourself too short." Daniel said. "So, have you ever played Pokemon?"
"No." Kenny said.
Daniel fell over in shock.
"Before you get up, he hasn't watched a lot of television either."
"Wow, do your parents hate you or something?" Daniel asked as Ginger helped him up.
Kenny paled. "No." He said quickly.
"I was joking, mate."
"Mate?"
"It means friend, buddy, pal-"
"I know…I didn't think we were friends…"
"Why not? A friend of my cousin is a friend of mine. You don't have tattoos, do you?"
"Huh? No, I don't…I'm twelve."
"Good, my Grandfather's in town and he'd give you a lecture regardless if he knows you well or not."
"He doesn't like tattoos?"
"No, and he chewed out my friend for wearing nose rings. He doesn't like 'unnecessary piercing' as he calls it. He snapped at me when I wanted to get a tattoo of Pikachu. I was three and had barely any clue what a tattoo was."
"Some people wear tattoos for memory." Private said. "Skipper's dad has a tattoo with all of his kids' initials on his upper arm. He said he added to it every time one of his kids was born in case anything happened and he couldn't see them for a long time. Skipper's grandfather even has a tattoo that symbolized his family in case he didn't make it back from war, he wanted to die with all of them with him in spirit. He's alive." He added at Ginger's confused look. "I saw him on Thanksgiving."
"Wow, a family of war veterans." Daniel said. "Is that why he's so military oriented, because of his background?"
"Yep."
"Andre, mate, I'm sorry." Daniel sighed. "I was a prat and I want to make everything better. I'll tell your mum I made everything up."
"Start with Rico. I want to tell my mum the truth." Private said.
"Right, number one: Rico is not crazy."
"His mum died when he was three. There was an accident in the school where she worked and she was caught in the fire. His sister's been blind since the age of two. Rico's never had a very good voice."
"Yeah, and you can tell her that my brother's bike is sort of rented."
"Sort of?"
"He couldn't afford to rent a bike so he's borrowing it as long as he tells people where he got it and advertise a little bit."
"But he could afford his computer and phone, right?"
"His computer came from a secondhand shop and mine came from Barry's house."
"Why Barry's?"
"He asked a younger foster sister if I could use it during the school year. Barry recently explained that this girl's brother left her his computer and I'm borrowing it."
"Left her? Is she an orphan?" Ginger asked.
"I don't know, but I think Barry said her brother is in the hospital. Not sure, he talks at top speed sometimes and I miss things."
"Oh. Kenny, I'm sorry for what happened earlier."
"Huh?"
"Private told me about your mum. I'm sorry for my lack of tact."
"It's fine." Kenny said. "I'm just focused on skating."
"You're just like your brother, right Private?" Ginger said.
"Yeah, loosen up a bit." Private said.
"Don't just think about skating, feel it!"
"Feel it?" Kenny took off his glove and touched the ice. "It's cold."
"She meant in your heart." Daniel said.
"You want me to put ice in my heart?"
"No, silly, feel free as a bird!" Ginger said. She set off across the lake with her arms spread out in front of her. She stopped and attempted a twirl. She was able to catch herself and grinned at the boys.
"I'm a bit rusty, but I'll try" Private said.
"Hey, Andre, can you still do the cyclone?" Daniel asked.
"The cyclone? You mean that spinning wreck that caused my mum to freak out about me being near ice to this very day?"
"Yep."
Private grinned. "Definitely."
"B-but-"
"We were four, Kenny." Daniel said. "And now we know how to fall on our butts."
"This is not recommended for beginners." Private said.
"Are you two attempting that ridiculous move again?" Ginger asked, trying to conceal her smile by rolling her eyes.
"One, it's not ridiculous. Two, yes we are." Daniel said.
"When you two break an arm and a leg again, don't come crying to me."
"My limbs are fine!"
"Yeah, for now."
"Bother!"
"Language!"
"Not a swear!"
"Alright, Kenny, you and I will build a snow pile for these two to land on when their plan goes horribly wrong."
"H-horribly?"
"I'm kidding!"
"Ready when you are!" Private said.
"And he's obviously going to act as if my words mean nothing." Ginger sighed.
"I'm listening."
Ginger and Kenny quickly piled snow along the bank as Daniel and Private got ready.
The boys linked opposite arms and began skating in a circle. They started going faster as they gained momentum. Their circle spun and spun to the point where it looked like a blur.
"How do you stop that?" Kenny asked.
"They haven't figured it out yet because Mrs. Davis insisted on coming every time we wanted to skate…and never let her son on the ice." Ginger said, shaking her head.
"So he had to watch you guys have fun?"
"Yeah."
"That's cruel."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because he basically had to sit and freeze while you were skating and couldn't do anything to help him…you guys were helpless…"
"He was able to come a few times with his dad and his mother never found out. My parents think along the same lines as Private's dad."
"He's nice, Mr. Davis." Kenny said. "I wish he was my dad."
"Can I be honest with you?" Ginger asked.
Kenny inhaled sharply and then nodded slowly.
"Private made me agree not to press the subject, but I can see as plain as day that you're bothered by something. Is it because your brother isn't here? Have you always spent Christmas with your brother?"
"Once…nothing."
"You've missed a Christmas with him?"
Kenny stared blankly over her shoulder.
"Ke-"
"Let go!"
Ginger looked towards the spinning boys. "NO! You idiots, don't-!"
Private and Daniel released each other. Daniel crashed into another skater, bringing both of them to the ground. Private shot past Ginger and ended up half in the snow pile.
"Told you so." Ginger said.
"Don't rub it in." Private grumbled, pulling himself out. He shook the snow from his body. "Where's Kenny?"
Ginger looked around. "Oh bu-"
"Sorry, mate!" Daniel called out as he approached the two of them. The other skater shook her head and left. "I know her."
"Kenny?" Private called out. There was no response.
"I broke Kenny…" Ginger said. "I know you told me not to press the subject, but we just got talking and he was opening up to me and- well he just…I couldn't help it. He looked completely lost and he said he wished your dad was his and I just…I had to be honest."
"It's cold and icy, he has no idea where he's going." Private said. "He probably doesn't even know which street to go on."
"It's alright, we'll find him." Daniel said. "He can't have gone far."
"You'd be surprised with Kenny." Private sighed.
The three of them exchanged their skates for shoes and went on to look for Kenny. They found a pair of skates not far from the booth. Ginger's father gave them Kenny's shoes.
"This just got a whole lot worse!" Private said, his voice cracking slightly.
