The day before The Big Day

In the past three years Becky had changed a lot, she went from being a shy reserved freshmen to being a little shy still but overall a more experienced senior. Yes, a lot had happened to her since starting at A.L. High. She met Terry and Barry, became best friend with aforementioned people, dated Barry for a year, after dating some other guy in Sophomore year, broke up with Barry over the summer which led to her almost losing both him and Terry, but they patched it all up, and now they were starting their senior year.

That’s not to mention all the smaller stuff, her new interest in makeup and clothes, her joining the debate club which made her a ten times better speaker, and we couldn’t forget her foray into volley ball which was a trip for sure. She sucked but her team got into the finals and they almost won, but she kind of messed it up. But that’s a story for another day!

Now, the day before the start of the school year, Becky, Terry, and Barry were sitting in their favorite ice cream shop, the only ice cream shop in Broad Meadows but you could also get ice cream at the Deli but they just did not have as many options.

Becky was silently thinking about the next day and whether or not the outfit she planned back when she went back to school shopping was still good enough. She wanted to start out the year with a good impression.

Terry and Barry were bickering back and forth about who would win in a fight, Iron Man or the Hulk?

“He’s the Hulk,” Barry insisted, probably for the fifth time in this conversation.

“So?” Terry shrugged, “Iron man is practically invincible.”

Barry laughed, “the Hulk is invincible.”

Terry smiled and nodded, “You’re right. I guess he would win ultimately, huh?”

Barry grinning, licking up the last of his ice cream off his spoon, “I guess he would. Told you.”

Terry just shook his head and looked over at Becky, “What got you transfixed over there, Becky?”

Becky jumped a little, surprised to be pulled back to the conversation, “Oh, nothing. Just school. Tomorrow’s the day.”

Terry groaned, “I know! I’ve been dreading it since the start of the summer? Couldn’t summer last forever?”

Barry nodded, agreeing, “My parent’s are going crazy over making sure I’m prepared. They’ve told me a thousand times about the importance of my senior year, with colleges and all that. I don’t even want to go to college, but I’ll never tell them that.  Not until it’s too late.”

Terry laughed and high fived Barry, “good strategy!”

Becky scoffed, “You guys are gonna be poor, living on the side of the road.”

“The dream,” Barry grinned mischieviously.

Becky just shook her head and finished off her ice cream, “so what are we doing now?”

“For our last day of freedom?” Terry asked.

Becky laughed, “whatever you want to call it.”

“We could...” Barry paused to think. “How about we go down to the lake?”

Terry sighed, “we did that yesterday.”

Becky nodded.

Barry shrugged, “I’m out of ideas, we spent this whole summer spending endless days doing nothing. We’ve already done everything.”

Becky nodded again while Terry sighed dramatically.

“Well, this sucks,” Terry said.

Barry nodded, agreeing.

“Well, hey, at least school start tomorrow?” Terry said.

Barry and Becky laughed, that came from the guy who ten minutes ago was whining about how much he didn't’ wanna go. But hey, at least it was something to do.

----

Harriette lay in her bed trying to sleep the day before the start of her Senior year. She was supposed to be excited, and she was but she also felt a little prickly of nerves. I mean senior year was The Year, the year she was supposed to make all those future decisions and stuff. Stuff she did not want to think about, instead she wanted to think about homecoming and prom and her friends and... the good stuff.

But her mind kept wandering to college and jobs and her future.

She sighed heavily before getting out of her bed and walking towards the bathroom, for no reason other than just for something to do. She noticed a sliver of light under Collin’s door and smiled, he was exactly what she needed.

She opened the door slowly, finding Collin sitting crosslegged on his bed sketching something by the light of his bedside lamp. He looked up and smiled at her.

“Hey,” Harriette whispered.

Collin set his drawing pad on his side table and made room for Harriette beside him. Harriette sat down next to him and laid her head on Collin’s shoulder.

“What’s up?” Collin asked.

“I’m weirdly nervous,” Harriette sighed. “It’s just the same old school.”

“Yeah,” Collin said slowly, “but it is our senior year.”

“So?” Harriette said, “It’s not that weird. Remember Fedora’s senior year? Nothing too crazy happened.”

Collin was silent for a moment.

“Hey, you’re awake too,” Harriette said suddenly, lifting her head off his shoulder to look at him, “What’s keeping you up?”

Collin laughed, “I guess the same thing.”

“You know why I’m nervous?” Harriette said, laying her head back on his shoulder, “I’m nervous about picking out a future. I mean that’s what you’re supposed to do your senior year.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Collin said, “maybe I am too.”

“But you know what you wanna do,” Harriette said, “you wanna be an artist.”

Collin sighed, “but what kind of artist?”

Harriette was silent, thinking that over. Maybe learning that he was just as confused as her should have made her feel sad, but instead she just felt relief. She wasn’t alone, Collin, who was perfect in her eyes, had the same problem as her.

“Well, we can figure it out together,” Harriette smiled.

“Yep,” Collin yawned.

“I guess we should sleep,” Harriette trailed off, lifting her head off his shoulder.

Collin nodded, he pulled the comforters up over them and lay down, patting the space next to him.

Harriette grinned, “I feel ten years old.”

Collin just laughed tiredly as she lay next to him, cuddling in close.

“Thanks,” she said sleepily.

Collin just nodded as they both slowly slipped into sleep.

WINTER VACATION

The week after Christmas was officially vacation time, families all over Broad meadows were packing their cars and driving up to the mountains for a week or so in a lodge spending their days skiing and drinking absurd amounts of hot cocoa.

Except a few families, like Barry’s and Tracy’s, both of whom families were going on a cruise. Barry had tried and tried to get his parents to let him go with Terrence up to the ski lodge they were staying in but they said no and he was stuck in the middle of the ocean soaking up some sun.

Tracy didn’t care, she didn’t care for sun and she didn’t care for snow but she did care that she was stuck on a boat with her dad and Patty, right after all that marriage proposal stuff. But at least she had a reason to go out and spend a ton of money on bathing suits.

The Brown family were going up to their cabin for some skiing and hot chocolate drinking, and along with them were Fedora’s family and Bryan’s family. Bryan’s family had their own lodge, it was next to the Browns’, but Fedora and her family were staying with the Browns.

Heather’s family was also going to the ski lodge, the same place where the other families owned them, but her family didn't own one they just stayed at the lodge. The whole place was full of A.L. High students, it kind of felt like school but in a vacation setting. Heather just wished that Tracy could come like she usually did.

And just about everyone else was going to that lodge, Lexi and Honey’s, Layla’s family, Ella and Mariah’s Family, etc etc.....

Arrival day to the lodge was busy busy, everyone of those A.L. High families were trying to get checked in at the same time, except, of course, the one’s who owned cabins. They didn’t have to check in, they could just go in.

“I love this place,” Fedora said, spinning around in the snow. Harriette, Collin and Tamarai were staring at her with disbelief as they stood shivering in their heavy jackets and scarves and gloves while Fedora were a jean jacket and a pair of fingerless gloves with a light scarf.

“Remember when I used to love this place too?” Harriette laughed, leaning into Collin for some warmth. “I’m freezing.”

“Let’s get inside,” Collin said, putting his arm around Harriette’s shoulder and guiding her into the cabin. Tamarai stayed behind watching Fedora.

“Hey, wait up,” Fedora said, stopping her spinning abruptly and causing herself to lose balance and almost fall face first into the snow.

“Does it snow a lot in New york?” Tamarai asked, kneeling down and running her hands through the snow. Tamaria was still amazed with snow, even after almost ten years of going to the ski lodge.

Fedora laughed, “You bet it does!”

Tamarai smiled, “Maybe I’ll move there too, after I graduate.”

“Everyone should,” Fedora said, “Now come on, I don’t want to be left out.”

“Okay,” Tamarai said, following Fedora into the wonderfully warm cabin. Collin and Harriette were sitting by the fireplace, out of their jackets now and under a blanket.

“Hey, babes,” Fedora said, “you disappeared. Where’s the hot chocolate?”

“Water’s on the stove,” Harriette said, opening up her side of the blanket and gesturing for Fedora to join them.

“Great, I need some,” Fedora said, taking a seat next to Harriette, “Hey, Tamarai, over here.”

Tamarai smiled and joined them next to Fedora.

The whistle on the kettle blew and Tamarai jumped a little, shocked, making the rest of them laugh.

“I got it,” Mrs. Brown said, heading into the kitchen.

“This is ridiculously cozy,” Fedora laughed, “Can you believe we’re sitting here under a blanket in front of a fireplace, and your mom is about to get us some hot chocolate?”

“Actually, yes, because we do it every year,” Collin said.

“Oh, shut up,” Fedora said, pushing Harriette so Harriette would push Collin for her.”Hey,” Harriette said, “I don’t want to push Collin!.”

“You baby him,” Fedora playfully scoffed.

Harriette just stuck out her tongue at Fedora.

“Hot chocolate is coming!” Mrs. Brown sang as came from the kitchen carrying a tray of mugs.

“Yums,” Fedora said, grabbing her mug quickly as soon as Mrs. Brown set down the tray in front of them.

“And I put some cinnabuns in the oven,” Mrs. brown said.

Fedora grinned, “this day cannot get better. It just cannot.”

Mrs. brown smiled at all of them, then slipped back into the kitchen.

“Are you guys actually gonna help us unpack?” Bentley asked, setting down someone’s bags right beside them.

Fedora glared at him, “can’t you see we’re having a moment?”

Bentley laughed and shook his head before saying sarcastically, “I’m soo sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Shut up,” Fedora said.

“I’m sorry,” Collin said, standing up, “I’ll help.”

Bentley grinned, “And that was the right answer.”

Fedora just shook her head and looked at Harriette, who was looking at Collin.

“Do you want me to help?” harriette asked.

“No, you stay and be warm,” Collin said.

Harriette smiled and looked at Fedora as if to say “isn’t he perfect?”

“I’ll save you a cinnabun,” Harriette said.

“I’m sure it won’t take that long,” Collins aid, “but thanks.”

“I’ll help too,” Tamarai said, standing just as Bryan came through the door carrying two bags.

“That’s all,” he said, setting the bags on floor.

“Oh,” Tamarai said, “Guess we weren’t needed after all.”

“Cinnabuns are done!” Mrs. brown announced as she stepped into the living room with a tray of food.

“Ah, is everything inside?” she asked as she took in the scene.

“Yep,” Bryan said, “I gotta go help my mom unpack, see you guys later!”

“Want a cinnabun for the road?” Mrs. brown asked, holding out the platter.

“Oh, sure, thanks!” Bryan said, quickly taking one before heading out the door.

“Alright, kids,” Mrs. brown said, “take your bags into your rooms and then you can come back and have some food.”

Fedora frowned, she wanted a Cinnabun now, but you didn’t say no to Mrs. Brown so she found her bags and brought it to the room that she, Collin and Harriette were sharing. They always had the same room, year after year. It’s gotten a little harder for them to all stay in one room as the year passed, when they were little kids it felt huge but now it was kind of cramped. But there was room for three beds, so they stuck to it. It was one of the charms of staying at the lodge.

But now that the family has grown, so they all had to share rooms. Bobby, Fisher, and Bentley shared a room, Tamarai and the Twins shared a room, Fedora’s parent’s shared a room, of course, and Mrs. Brown and Grayson shared a room.

After they loosely unpacked they gathered back into the living room and ate Cinnabuns and finished their hot chocolate as Mrs. brown made dinner.  Dinner was a quick beef stir fry and buns that were made beforehands and just need to be heated up. After dinner Bryan’s family came over to the Browns’ cabin and they played charades in the now incredibly crowded living room.

After that they split up and went into their room and “went to sleep”. Fedora, Collin, and Harriette stayed up talking, Fisher and Bobby stayed up chatting on their phones, Bentley stayed up because he just couldn’t sleep, but everyone else, they went to sleep.

And the day one of the ski trip was over and done with.

GLITTER GLOWING SNOWMAN

On the front yard of of Barry Adam’s house stood a six feet tall light of snowman. Every year it went up to remind Barry just how much he wished he could make a real snowman. He had lived in Broad Meadows, CA his whole life and had only seen snow a few times. His parent’s weren’t snow people, they never wanted to go on vacations up to snow mountain to ski, like all of Barry’s friends did, no they liked cruise to exotic islands, and they even went to Hawaii for Christmas once.

Where was the fun in that?

And because his parents didn’t like snow Barry had never made a snowman and he really wanted to. He had a good feeling that he could make a pretty good snowman, much better than the glittery glowing one in his yard.

His parent’s didn’t quite understand that and every year they told him the same thing, “if you want to make a snowman so much then why don’t you put out the snowman for us?”.

And he always replied “it’s not the same” and went out and put it up anyway, it had become his job now.

One day he and Terrence were sitting on the steps, they were trying to think of something to do with their Saturday but kept coming up empty. They had just come back from the “Sweater Knitting Club” and Becky had left to help her parents with setting up their Christmas tree.

Christmas trees were another thing Barry’s parents just didn’t get, but that’s for another story.

“I wish we could make a snowman,” Barry said, it wasn’t his first time mentioning to Terrence, he said it about once every day during the winter.

“I know,” Terrence said, “It’s a shame you never have.”

“No need to convince me,” Barry said. Terrence had made a dozen, according to him, their family went on vacations to snowy places all the time and once they spent all of Christmas break up in New York with some of his dad’s relatives.

“Want some ice cream?” Terrence asked.

“Ice cream? In winter?” Barrys aid, “I bet people in New York don’t eat ice cream in December.”

“Sure they do,“ Terrence said, furrowing his brows at barry, “I had some on Christmas when we were there, why else would they sell peppermint ice cream?”

Terrence made a point, and ice cream did sound good right now.

“Sure,” Barry said.

“And hey, we can make mini snowmen in our ice cream!” Terrence said.

Barry grinned at his friend, he was genius!

“You’re a genius!” he said.

Terrence grinned with pride, “right? Come on, let’s go.”

And with that they were off to the local ice cream store and ordered two large vanilla ice cream and rolled them up with them spoon into mini snowmen and decorated them with chocolate chip eyes and gum drop hats. Terrence took pics of them and after that they ate them up fast, as they were melting fast now.

And when they showed the picture to Becky the next day she said “that’s uncanny!”

And it was. And Barry finally got to make a snowman, even if it was really an ice cream man and very small. It still counted to Barry.

MISTLETOE IN THE CLASSROOM

All around A.L. High, in the classrooms and hallways, little bundles of mistletoe have appeared dangling from the ceiling and the students have been hovering around them waiting for someone hot and popular to stand underneath them.

You would think it was weird that a school was promoting kissing in the hallways, but the people at A.L. High didn’t really care. They saw the mistletoe as something cute to spread the love, and if people wanted to wait around for someone hot and popular to stand underneath it them that was their problem.

Lexi, Honey, and Layla liked to watch around for people who accidentally stood beneath the mistletoe at the same time. The ones who were too busy trying to get to their classes to pay attention to silly mistletoe. When Lexi or Honey, not really Layla since she was mostly just going along with them, saw this happening they would stop the rushed students declare that they had to kiss.

The reactions they got were pretty priceless, some of them would grin and laugh but not think that they were serious, some of them would glow bright red and try to laugh it off, some of them would get angry and glare at the girls. But the best of them were the ones who laughed and went right ahead and kissed.

Some of them were mixed reactions, like Terrence and Barry.

Honey saw them out of the corner of her eyes as she was talking to Lexi in homeroom, she was about to leave to get to her own homeroom when she noticed Terrence and Barry standing almost directly under one of those hanging mistletoes.

She laughed, and pointed them out to Lexi. Lexi grinned and they went over to the two guys, still deep in conversation.

“Hey boys!” Honey said.

The guys looked over to them, confusion apparent on their faces.

“Hey,” Terrence said hesitantly.

Then a look of realisation seemed to cross Barry’s face and he looked up quickly.

“Oh my god,” he whispered.

And then his pale face became that now family shade of red.

“Huh?” Terrence said, then looked up himself and laughed.

“Yep, you guys are under the mistletoe!” Lexi said brightly, “you know what that means!”

“We have to kiss now, huh?” Terrence said, “you guys like the mistletoe police?”

“You could call us that,” Honey said.

“Please do actually,” Lexi laughed.

“Alright, Mistletoe Police,” Terrence said. He grinned at Barry who was still looking up at the mistletoe with a pained expression.

“We don’t really have to, do we?” Barry said.

“Why not, we’re friends,” Terrence shrugged, “don’t make it such a big deal.”

Barry frowned.

Lexi and Honey exchanged glances, shaking their head slowly.

“We don’t have all day,” Honey said, “I have to get to class.”

“If Barry’s not comfortable with it, then I’m not doing it,” Terrence said, crossing his arms and staring at the girl defiantly.

Honey scoffed, “you’re standing under the mistletoe.”

Lexi nodded.

Terrence stepped to the side, “now I’m not.”

Barry grinned and did the same.

“Oh shut up, that doesn’t work,” Honey said.

Terrence frowned for a second then, with a slow smile creeping on his face, he pulled the two girls under the mistletoe themselves.

Lexi and Honey looked at each other, shocked. Nobody had tried to do that before.

“We’re cousins!” Lexi said.

“Yeah, that would be creepy,” Honey said.

Terrence shrugged, then grabbed Barry’s hand and pulled him across the room where they took their seats just as the bell rang.

”Oh my god,” Lexi said, kind of grinning.

“That... was gold!” Honey laughed.

“Totally,” Lexi said.

“Oh, but I gotta get to class!” Honey said, “I’ll see you later!”

And with that Honey rushed out of the room just as the homeroom teacher stepped into class and told everyone to please take their seats, which Lexi did very quickly.

Just as I said, people’s reactions were priceless. But these two guys might have took the prize!

SWEATER KNITTING CLUB

“Sweater knitting club?” Barry said.

“Sweater knitting club,” Becky reaffirms, “A club where we’ll knit a sweater!”

Becky, Barry, and Terrence were standing outside of a room in the local community center, a sign was taped on to the door stating in big block letter “SWEATER KNITTING CLUB”.

“Why are we here?” Barry asked.

“We’re gonna knit sweaters,” Becky said, like it was obvious. And it was, as they were standing in front of the room where the sweater knitting club was currently presiding.

“Oh,” Barry said slowly “But why?”

“For presents,” Becky said, excitement in her voice, “we’re gonna knit sweater for someone in our life, I don’t know about you guys but I’m giving mine to my sister.”

Now Terrence was nodding, slowly but definitely nodding.

“I see it,” he said, “This is a swell idea Becky.”

Barry laughed, “swell? Are we in the nineteen forties?”

Terrence stuck his tongue out at Barry.

“Swell is a perfectly good word for any time,” he said.

Barry nodded, but he was still chuckling.

Just then the door opened and a women with completely grey hair stepped out. They stared at each other for a second until Becky regained her composure and greeted the women brightly.

“You’re here for the knitting club?” the women asked.

“Yes, we are,” Becky said, looking over at Terrence and barry. Terrence was smiling brightly at the women and Barry now looked kind of frightened.

“Right, boys?” Becky asked them.

“You bet it,” Terrence said and Barry just nodded, he wasn’t good around people.

“Well, come on in,” the women says, “I’m Patrice.”

“Nice to meet you, Patrice,” Becky said, following Patrice into the room.

There were a couple other older women in the room, along with one old man and a couple with a little kid.

“Hi!” Becky said to all of them, “I’m Becky, and these two are Terrence and Barry.”

“Nice to meet you,” the group said back.

Becky lead the boys to a group of three chairs next to each other and took a seat.

“Did you guys bring any knitting supplies?” Patrice asked.

“Uhm, actually no,” Becky said, laughing nervously, “Must of slipped my mind.”

”That’s okay,” Patrice said, “We have extra.”

“Thank you,” Becky said.

“What colors would you guys like for your sweaters?” Patrice asked as she walked over to a table with a big basket full of yarn and knitting needles.

“Pink, please,” Becky said.

“Uhm,” Terrence said slowly, thinking it over for a second before saying “Red.”

“Blue,” Barry said quietly, but Patrice heard him and acknowledged him with a nod. She brought over three bundles of yarn in their preferred colors and a pair of knitting needles for each of them.

“Alright, let’s get started,” she said.

And to say that Becky, Terrence and Barry left the room an hour later feeling mildly confused, with bundles of yarn that were one day, hopefully, gonna be sweater, would be an understatement

Other good words were baffled, bewildered, and maybe disorientated.

Ice Cream; “You’re so weird.”

Becky set her books down on the library table and sat down. She was here to study with Terrence and Barry, but they hadn’t arrived yet. She checked her watch, she wasn’t early so they were late. She sighed and opened her history book and started the chapter they were on.
“So sorry.” Terrence said, running up to the table.
Becky looked up, “you have to be quiet, this is a library.”
“Sorry.” Terrence said again. “Anyway, lets get ice cream.”
“What?” Becky asked, confused. Weren’t they supposed to be studying?
“Ice cream.” Terrence repeated.
“Where is Barry?” Becky said, noticing he wasn’t there.
“Waiting for us outside.” Terrence said.
“Aren’t we supposed to be studying?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Terrence said, shrugging. “After ice cream, come on.”
“You’re so weird.” Becky said, laughing as she gathered her stuff.
“Thanks.” Terrence said. “You too.”
They went outside and Becky waved to Barry who was sitting on a bench.
“Hey.” Barry said. “So, are you guys ready? I’m so hungry.”
“Yep.” Terrence said. “So where do you want to go?”
“Let’s just go the classic.” Barry said. “It’s just around the corner, so we’ll have more time to study.”
“Okay.” Terrence said.
They started down the street to the Ice cream store. It was a small store with no tables, just a counter with stools. A bell rung as they entered and took a seat at the counter, they recognised some kids from school there.
“What would you three like?” Asked the girl behind the counter, she looked familiar.
“Hey, I know you.” Terrence said. “You go to our school, don’t you? The girl with the pink streaks.”
“You recognise me?” She said, sounding shocked.
“Yeah, you’re pretty recognisable.” Terrence said. “Sakura, right?”
“Yep, you are?” She said, looking embarrassed for not recognising him.
“Terrence Williams.” Terrence said. “And this is Barry and Becky.”
“Hi, so what would you guys like?” She asked.
“Vanilla.” Becky said.
“Chocolate.” Terrence said.
“Mint Chip.” Barry said.
“Okay, I’ll be back.” Sakura said, heading into the back.
It was not Long till she came back handing each one of them a ice cream cone. Terrence payed then they left and headed back for the library. The ate the ice cream silently on the way there and were all done when they arrived at the library.
“I don’t want to study.” Barry said suddenly as they stood in front of the library.
“Do you want to fail?” Terrence said.
“Maybe.” Barry said, shrugging.
Becky laughed, “Is that why we went to get ice cream, procrastinating?”
“Sort of.” Barry said.
“You’re so evil.“ Becky said. “It’s sort of late anyway, let’s meet up tomorrow?”
“Sure.” Barry said, smiling at her. “See you tomorrow.”
“You too.” Becky called as she started back on the way home.