Not a CS 5000

I stumble in the knee-deep snow, my hands numb, my feet cold. My eyes fall to my leather bag for the thousandth time. I have to get it to HQ053 we'll all die if I don't. Suddenly something hits. My lips twitch up in an almost smile as I remember it. exactly 7 years ago, on this day, the Organization was found for the first time, before someone was told about it. That was when the Organization was small, harmless really. It was just for fun, though most people took it very seriously.

It was also the day I thought I gotta CS 5000. But of course, I didn't. Instead, I got a Canary. I giggle at the thought. I'm catching it though. I'm going crazy. Just like Sadie did.

I shiver and pull my coat closer, whispering the story to myself to pass the time.

"Ounce upon a time. . ."

***

"C'mon, wake up!" Sadie shakes me awake. "C'mon!"

I hop out of bed. "Saide!! I almost forgot!!!"

Sadie thinks about this for a moment.

"But I woke you up, so you're still young enough."

I let out a huge exhale.

"Now c'mon. Or they're going to see it without us."

We tiptoe out of the room, and down the hallway. Our PJ footies muffle our footsteps as we pad down the stairs.

Lauren and Colby are leading, and they suddenly rustle the coats from their place in the closet. Me and Sarah dash through the secret passageway that leads to the secret room under the stairs. I can barely squeeze through.

Then they come.

First is Aunt Maya, thumping down the stairs.

Then Aunt Sophie comes down, her footsteps light, and barely heard.

Then Uncle Alex comes down.

And more.

And more. 

And more.

They come downstairs, and as I peer through the crack, they place different sized packages under the tree. Some round, some have many points. Some are shapeless, some are rectangular. But only one catches my eye. The one held by Aunt Nova. Many of us peer at it. We all know what it is. It's what we all put #1 on our "What I want for X-Mas" list. 

A CS 5000.

The CS was created by Carter Jhonson, a mechanical engineer in Wisconsin. The CS basically reads your mind and changes shape to what you need/want most at the moment.

But they are really expensive. And when say really, I mean REALLY. The cheapest edition, the CS 1.0 is 11,593.76. The newest edition, the CS 5000 is 50 grand. That's a lot of money.

We all know that Aunt Nova is rich, but not rich enough to buy more than one CS 5000.

Which means only one of us gets it.

The one Aunt Nova likes the most.

Sadie shoves me whisper yelling in my ear. "Who do you think will get it?"

But Sadie shoved me a little bit too hard, and my shoulder bangs against the wall. A dusting of plaster coats us as we freeze.

The grownups do too.

"Who did that."

None of the grownups say anything.

Finally, Uncle Austin blushes. "I might have done it?" he says weakly, raising his trembling hand.

They shoot him death glares, as he stumbles over his words trying to explain.

"I-I-I was like-like ummm umm, kinda sorta-you know, bringing-umm my present, to umm put under the tree, and might've-but accident- but I mean like, I dunno The kinda-sorta hit the wall?"

If stares could kill, Uncle Austin would be dead 10 times over.

But they keep on going, tiptoeing around the room until they put all the presents under the tree. Then, one by one, they go upstairs to go back to sleep.

Uncle Austin is the last one to leave.

"I know you're there." He whispers. "But I promise not to tell anyone."

Then he leaves.

***

Lauren and Colby visit us a few minutes later, in Me and Saide's room.

I peer down at them from my portion on the upper bunk.

"Layla Walker, Aria has chosen you to give the pledge to Austin Scott, along with this letter."

Colby throws an envelope up onto my bunk.

"Sarah King, Aria has chosen you to follow Austin Scott without his knowledge, and confirm that he says the pledge in the next 24 hours, If he breaks the pledge, you will report to Nora and Elias, the vice presidents."

Finally, Lauren gives us the final piece of information.

"Austin Scoot mysteriously found out about us, and we suspect someone has told him about us. If we find any evidence against you, you will go to court. If you knew who did it and withheld that information, or it was you who told Austin Scott, you will be terminated and/or put down."

Then they leave.

I stare at Saide. This job is crucial. If we mess up, we might get kicked out.

Then I pick up the envelope, climb down the ladder, and slip out the door. I pad to Uncle Austin's room, my My Little Pony PJ footies muffling my steps. The door creaks as I open it, and I freeze. Austin shifts and mumbles in his sleep, but other than that, nothing else happens.

I relax, and Sadie pops up behind me.

"Never go anywhere-concerning Organization-without me." She whisper-shouts in my ear. I sigh, than glance back to Uncle Austin.

"I know how to do this." Sadie drops to the ground, and creeps forward, staying close to the side of the bed. She presses herself up to the bed, as she slowly rises, and beckons me to do the same. I drop to the ground, and wiggle forward,almost under the bed. I carefully scoot my body up the side of the bed, and I'm next to Sadie.

"Do it!" she whisper shouts, and I carefully slide the cream colered, fancy envelope under Uncle Austin's pillow.

Then we scurry away quickly, like Uncle Austin is a tarantula, or a creepy clown, or a slug, or a. . .

You get the idea.

We rush into our beds, and we both giggle. I carefully hang upside down, so my face is in Sadie's bunk.

"That. Was. Awesome!" She breathes. Then she whisper screeches.

"That was scary, not awesome." I correct her.

"Nope, awesome."

"Scary."

"Awesome."

This goes on for a while. Finally Sadie breaks up the argument.

"Are you going to spy on Uncle Austin with me?"

"Of course. Why not? You helped me."

We both giggle again, just because we can, and soon we fall asleep.

***

The next morning, all the kids race downstairs, including me. They grab their presents and tear of the wrapping paper.

I have 4 presents so far. A stuffed animal, Monopoly, one of those breathing balls, and a dreamcatcher.

I go over to the CS5000. It says:

From Aunt Nova To Layla W.

My mouth drops open. The CS5000 is mine!

I open the cardboard box, eyeing the holes. I carefully lift the lid, and. . .

It isn't a CS5000?

It's a Canary. A type of bird. I stare. I don't know how to take care of a bird.

Suddenly Sadie screeches. "Oh my God, oh my God!!!!!"

I rush to her side, and she holds up a CS300.

This is unfair. But if I get mad, I'll get bad presents next year. Like every year. I know you have to be excited, but my presents are always dumb.

I stare at the birds. When I was 7, I was obsessed with birds. I always wanted a pet one.

Not so much, anymore though. And I forgot how to take care of pet birds!

I guess I better get out the How To Train Your Bird book. I sigh and go upstairs.

In Me and Sadie's room, there's a bookshelf at the end of it. I take out the How To Train Your Bird book and get to work.

***

I see the bunker. It's a small bump in the landscape, a concrete windowless dome. I stumble to the thick concrete door. A pair of eyes peer through a tiny slit.

"Mama, the mailman is here." I rasp.

"Is the wolf here for grandma?" A squeaky voice responds.

"I have donuts."

The huge door scrapes open just enough for me to slip inside.

Home sweet home.