page twenty-four

[fantasies]

[The journal opens this afternoon in a rush, a flurry of pages. Henry actually has to flip around to get to the first blank one.

The holidays have been good to him this year, and it's easy to hear it in his voice. Even with all the bad things, the people he's lost, he's been fighting hard to keep his chin up -- and for the past few days, it hasn't been that hard.]

Hey, everybody! I know Christmas is over now and everything, but that just means we're getting into the best part of Christmas.

Anybody who's not from Earth probably doesn't know this, because most of the time when people explain Christmas they skip over this part, so you're lucky I'm here. After-Christmas is my favorite part. Okay, here it is:

[He pauses, for dramatic effect.]

After-Christmas is just like Christmas, except you don't have to worry about Christmas anymore. Everybody has their presents, everybody gets cookies, and all you have to do is have fun.

Basically, I made sugar cookies and I've been practicing on my sled. Anybody wanna race?

Comments

[fantasies]

[When she gets there, he's on tiptoe at the counter, putting the finishing touches on two mugs of hot chocolate.

From the looks of things, it's a sprinkling of cinnamon.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She put down her satchel, looking at the cup of hot chocolate with a thoughtful tilt of her head. ]

That looks like cinnamon. [Which she loved.]

[fantasies]

[Henry holds a finger to his lips, but he's smiling.]

Shhh! It's a secret.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She smiled brightly in turn, before pulling up close to the cup.]

I won't say a thing.

[fantasies]

[He bounces eagerly on the balls of his feet, holding his mug close to his chest to absorb the heat.]

Quick, you have to try it first.

[He really wants to know what she thinks.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She pulled the mug towards her, arching an playful eyebrow at him.]

And you swear, best thing I've ever drank?

[fantasies]

Cross my heart. [He does so.] It's science.

[the_effect_she_has]

Well ... if it's science ... then it must be true. [She grinned at him, before picking up the mug and taking a small sip. Her lips quirked.] Oh, science.