(Christmas Blues)
*December 24th, 1941*
*11:55 am*
*Charlotte's Room*
It was a beautiful snowy Christmas Eve as everyone was relaxing in Charlotte's room, discussing plans for Mary's birthday.
"I just want to say thank you for cheering me up. I'm still pretty sad, but knowing that my friends are here with me truly makes me feel better." Anya spoke to her friends with a warm smile while Charlotte and the others smiled back.
"Of course, I'm glad you've also got our letter. I know that the universe is protecting Calvin as we speak." Charlotte responded while everyone nodded in agreement.
"You're right, and let's just hope for the best regarding Calvin, how does that sound?" Anya responded with a smile while everyone gave her a thumbs up.
"So, what should we do for Mary's birthday? I know we can't do anything too crazy since Mrs Harrison is throwing a party for Mary, but maybe we could all send her Christmas gifts that are within our budget." Nancy spoke to her friends and this seemed like a good idea to everyone.
"I don't mind, and I might get her a pair of socks or somethin like that. I don't know her quite well, but I'm sure she'll accept the gift." Cynthia chimed into the conversation while Judith nodded in agreement.
"Count me in as well. I want to ensure that Mary's birthday and gifts go well." Judith chimed into the conversation as well which made Charlotte smile.
After this, Charlotte would get up and grab her notebook from her desk, and she began to write down what she heard.
"Wonderful. I'll consider everything, and we don't have much time as well, so it's best to begin our small Christmas shopping for Mary!" Charlotte advised her friends in a joyful voice as she and the others let out a few cheers; however, this moment of happiness was interrupted by a phone call that prompted Charlotte to answer it.
"I'll get it, I wonder who it could be.." Charlotte spoke to her friends before crawling on her bed to reach the telephone that was on her desk so she could answer it.
"Good Morning, Smith residence, how could I help you?" Charlotte greeted the caller with a formal and polite voice as she waited for a response, and to her surprise, it was Mary.
"H-Hey Charlotte.." Mary responded from the other line in a disappointed tone of voice which made Charlotte grow worried at her friend which was noticed by Anya and the others.
"Friend, you don't seem well, what's wrong? I'm here if you need to vent or anything.." Charlotte asked her friend with concern in her voice while waiting for a response from Mary.
"I-I'm not, you see, My thirteenth birthday party just got canceled due to financial issues within the orphanage, and I thought I would like you to know.." Mary responded from the other line in a sad tone of voice as this shocked Charlotte, who had her hand over her mouth.
"How terrible! Is there anything I can do to help? I'm always here for you, my friend. I don't like seeing my loved ones sad.." Charlotte asked Mary in a sad tone of voice while waiting for a response from her friend.
"I-It's okay, please don't pity me or anything. I know you are already dealing with that Calvin guy leaving, and cheering up Anya, so I don't want to be a burden, and put more weight on your back.." Mary responded from the other line with the same sad voice as Charlotte shook her head in denial.
"No! Don't say that! You are not a burden at all, and I'm glad you told me about the situation because I will do everything I can to help you, okay? You are my friend, and I will help you." Charlotte responded firmly while she waited for a response.
"T-Thanks, I-I appreciate it.." Mary responded from the other line with a small smile before quickly hanging up due to her almost crying.
The others saw what had transpired with shocked looks on their faces before one of them began to speak.
"How terrible, I always heard that the Harrison Orphanage always has financial troubles, especially during this time of the year.." Anya spoke to Charlotte with a sad look on her face while her friend nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, Mary's home life in terms of finances isn't the best, so my mother and I usually help from time to time to ensure that Mary and the other orphans are living comfortably." Charlotte responded before sighing to herself as she stared out the window, looking at the snowy city.
"I wish I could do more for my friend. I wish things weren't so hard for Mary.." Charlotte continued to vent while staring out of the window, and during this, Emma walked over to hug her from behind.
"Don't worry, you are doing just enough, and I'm sure Mary would tell you the same thing, alright? Always remember that." Emma spoke to her girlfriend while Anya and the others nodded in agreement.
After hearing this, Charlotte smiled before kissing Emma softly on the lips as she began to speak.
"Thank you, Pumpkin. It just seems I'm not doing enough when it comes to helping those I care about at times, and Mary's party being canceled just hit a mark since I and my mother pitched in with finances as well." Charlotte responded in a slightly less sad voice while everyone nodded understandably.
"And that's what I love about you. You are honest with yourself, and how you handle things. You are always helping people, no matter who they are, and that's what matters most." Emma responded once more while hugging Charlotte which was returned by her girlfriend.
"She's right. You always go out of your way to help others, no matter what, so we're going to figure out ways to ensure that Mary has a good birthday tomorrow." Nancy chimed into the conversation and this made Charlotte smile.
"Thank you, my friends and you guys are right. I should always remember that even helping someone else just once is enough to make them smile, Someone like me should know this." Charlotte responded with a chuckle while everyone else smiled back, during this, the young girl got up with a huge smile.
"Alright, let's cheer up Mary!" Charlotte spoke to her friends once more in a joyful voice while Anya and the others smiled back before cheering their friend on.
*Central Park*
Mary sat on a bench while looking up at the sky with a sad look on her face, and this was due to the cancellation of her birthday party.
"I shouldn't have told Charlotte about the news. I bet she and the others are scrambling to cheer me up. I wish she didn't pity me as much.." Mary thought to herself before sighing to herself as she continued to sit on the bench in silence; however, this was interrupted by the footsteps of someone approaching, and it was Catman.
"Little girl, what brings you all alone on Christmas Eve? You should be with your family.." Catman asked Mary with concern before sitting down next to her.
"Uhh, why are you dressed like that? And I don't have any family, so I hope I answered your question.." Mary responded with confusion in her voice and this caused Catman to smile at her as he began to respond.
"Oh, well I'm Catman, Protector of the Innocent, and what do you mean by having no family? Surely you have someone to count on.." Catman responded with a more concerned voice while Mary smirked before chuckling at this.
"Well, my parents died in a car crash when I was young, so I'm an orphan. That's why I have no family, and I sure don't consider the other orphans as a so-called family!" Mary responded with annoyance in her voice while looking over at her side.
During this, Catman looked at the girl with concern as he began to press on the issue in regards to Mary.
"I see, I'm sorry to hear.." Catman attempted to respond to the girl; however, Mary quickly snapped at the man.
"Don't be sorry for me! It's not my fault I'm an orphan! It's not my fault that my parents are dead, so stop pitying me like everyone else, okay?! And leave me alone, you creep!" Mary snapped at Catman rather angrily before storming off by leaving the park which left Catman feeling perplexed by the outburst.
After the outburst, Mary walked across Central Park with an annoyed and angered look on her face before slumping over by a tree.
"It's hard being an orphan. People just feel pity for you because you have no parents or family…" Mary quietly spoke to herself before softly sobbing to herself by the tree as she continued to sulk herself in sadness.
*Gerald's Department Store*
*12:55pm*
The gang was at the department store and shopped in two groups, one group being Anya shopping with Cynthia and Nancy while the other being Charlotte, Emma, and Judith in one group, and the girls were shopping for new clothes to buy as a present for Mary.
"Do you think Mary would like something like this? I don't know her well, so I hope It's something in her taste." Judith asked Charlotte curiously while showing her friend a blue sweater which made Charlotte smile.
"Oh, she'll love it! You should get it for her. I know she'll love it." Charlotte responded joyfully before resuming her shopping and this made Judith feel more confident in buying the sweater for Judith.
"Thank you, I will." Judith responded with a smile before placing it in the cart while looking over to see Emma placing her portion of the gifts in the cart.
During this, Judith walked over to Emma and began speaking to her with the intent of giving her something.
"Hey Emma, I-I have something to give you, if you don't mind.." Judith spoke to Emma in a soft voice while this caught her attention.
"Of course, what is it?" Emma responded curiously while turning over to see what Judith planned on giving her.
During this, Judith reached within her purse to grab a small crumpled piece of paper that was inside, and she proceeded to give it to Emma which prompted her to open it, revealing that it was her confession to Charlotte that she wrote in her old diary.
"I-It's the page from my old diary where I talked about my feelings for Charlotte…"Emma uttered in surprise while looking up to see Judith looking over to her side.
"Of course, I know I can't bring back the old diary that you had for years, but the least I can do is return the page I ripped out with the intent of outing you, consider this a token of apology.." Judith responded with a small smile as this was met with Emma hugging her warmly.
"Thank you, this means so much to me, and I know you already apologized, but just know I forgive you" Emma responded warmly while Judith hugged her new friend back.
"I know I can't take away the pain and trauma I've caused you, but I will try my hardest to make up for what I've done, no matter what it takes.." Judith responded with a warm voice while Charlotte watched with a smile on her face, knowing that things were slowly being repaired for Judith and Emma.