C8: The Christmas List.
Upstairs in Aiden's room, the 8-year old was lying on his bed on his stomach, with a notebook, a green pencil, and a piece of paper in front of him on the bed, with Gary and Devin sitting on the bed with him and Max, Gary on the right and Devin on the left with Max, as Aiden told them the story of Evan and of the ordeal he, Evan and Max had gone through at Evan's place with his stepfather, Jerry O'Bryan, back home in Mississippi.
"Wow. What a psycho." Gary said, referring to Evan's stepfather.
"Yeah, it sounds like he was a nightmare to live with." Devin added.
"Oh, believe me, he was." Aiden said.
"What's a psycho?" Devin asked.
"Like a crazy person." Gary answered.
"Oh." Devin said.
"Well, enough about our sleepover horror story for one day. Let's talk about our Christmas lists. You were working on your's when we came up here, right, Aiden?" Gary said.
"I was, but...no such luck in writing down what i want this year." Aiden said.
"Yeah, right." Gary said.
"No, it's no joke." Aiden said.
"Wait...seriously?" Gary said.
"Seriously." Aiden said.
"Wow. I can't think of one kid who can't figure out what they want for Christmas." Gary said.
"I haven't even written out my list yet and i already know what i want." Devin said.
"That's 'cause you're only 6 years old and your mind is on toys." Aiden said to Devin. "Meanwhile, here i am, 8 years old and i can't think of a single thing i want."
"Oh, come on, Aiden. What do you want for Christmas?" Gary said.
"If i knew that, i wouldn't be lying on this bed, staring at a blank piece of paper, now would i?" Aiden said.
"Did the 2010s totally pass you by or what?" Gary asked. "A, ever since i was 4, i've been writing these great big Christmas lists to my parents and loving every minute of it."
"And did you get what you asked for?" Aiden asked.
"No, you're missing the point. It's not about getting. Look, if you imagine anything in the world could be your's...you'll feel impowered." Gary explained. Like Aiden's parents, Gary's parents hadn't taught him about Santa Clause either. They would ask him to write out his list of presents, give it to them, and they would get the gifts. Same went for Devin and his parents also.
"Gary's right. Write yourself a list...check it twice...and be good to yourself, you deserve it." Devin said.
"Okay. I will. Just as soon as i figure out what i want." Aiden said.
"We'll leave you to it." Gary said before getting off the bed. "Come on, Dev. Let's leave Aiden alone so he can think." He said before heading for the door.
Devin got off the bed and followed Gary out of the room, with Gary stopping in the open doorway, allowing Devin to go on ahead before closing the wooden door behind him.
Now alone with Max again, Aiden picked up his pencil and went back to trying to figure out what to write on his Christmas list.
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