Not-Not-Not leaving?

I sure had it coming, this year. I wasn't sure why it was this year of all years, but my best friend who never travels was traveling this year. I always go to his house for the holidays to avoid my family's stupid Haunika traditions. But this year, Anthony was gone and I was going to suffer at my own house. Knowing I was all lucked out, I hatched an escape plan for Christmas Eve night.

"G'night, Farrier! Happy Haunika!" My Dad called to me from my sister's bedroom.

"Uh, yeah. Happy Haunika," I replied. I felt stupid for doing what I was planning to do, but they hadn't celebrated with me all of the past years, so wouldn't it be fine if I did this? Once I knew my Mom and Dad were asleep, I opened my window and looked down. My stomach swirled. My mouth dried and my throat tickled. It was a long drop, but I was sure I could make the jump to the trampoline. I took a deep, raspy breath in, and then I jumped. My heartbeat quickened as I flew through mid-air. My hat nearly descended from my head as I flunked onto the trampoline. I got up, shivering. My boots crunched in the blistering snow. My teeth chattered and my heartbeat returned to a normal speed. I had climbed the fence and gotten down the street when I realized, "Where am I gonna go?"

A car rumbled through a mud puddle, and I was swashed with the dirty substance. I moaned, unhappily. Maybe this was just a scenario where I needed to accept fate and go back home. So, being the superstitious person that I am, I went back home and changed.

The next morning, I only got one present, because, Haunika, you know? Or at least that's what I suspected. When I made myself breakfast and gobbled it up, just as I was finishing, my parents came to sit with me.

"Son," said Dad, "we understand you do not like Haunika tradition at all. So..." he gestured towards the living room. A Christmas tree with like a bazillion presents under it stood there tall and proud. I smiled happily. The doorbell rang just as I was going to heave open a gift. When I saw who it was, my body overflowed with resentment. It was Anthony.

"Sup bro," he said like he was the naive one in the situation. "So, man, you like the little thing we planned for ya?"

I steamed with vexation. "UH, DUH. BUT WHY WOULD YOU LIE TO ME LIKE THAT?" I stomped upstairs and slammed my bedroom door.

Woosh!

Anthony lurched up the stairs after me. But I made sure to lock the door.

Then I realized I'd forgotten my presents downstairs. I grabbed my backpack and shook the items out of it. I ran downstairs nearly knocking Anthony out and collected my presents into my bag.

Anthony stopped me when I was trudging back up the stairs.

"Dude, I know you're upset. But just look." He pulled an envelope from his coat's pocket. It read "To My Best Friend, Farrier". I opened it and inside were two passes to see a psychic. "Wow! This--this is awesome man! Thank you lots!"

That night, Anthony and I put on our Christmas PJs and watched the Grinch.

I sure had it coming, this year. I wasn't sure why it was this year of all years, but my best friend who never travels was traveling this year. I always go to his house for the holidays to avoid my family's stupid Haunika traditions. But this year, Anthony was gone and I was going to suffer at my own house. Knowing I was all lucked out, I hatched an escape plan for Christmas Eve night.

"G'night, Farrier! Happy Haunika!" My Dad called to me from my sister's bedroom.

"Uh, yeah. Happy Haunika," I replied. I felt stupid for doing what I was planning to do, but they hadn't celebrated with me all of the past years, so wouldn't it be fine if I did this? Once I knew my Mom and Dad were asleep, I opened my window and looked down. My stomach swirled. My mouth dried and my throat tickled. It was a long drop, but I was sure I could make the jump to the trampoline. I took a deep, raspy breath in, and then I jumped. My heartbeat quickened as I flew through mid-air. My hat nearly descended from my head as I flunked onto the trampoline. I got up, shivering. My boots crunched in the blistering snow. My teeth chattered and my heartbeat returned to a normal speed. I had climbed the fence and gotten down the street when I realized, "Where am I gonna go?"

A car rumbled through a mud puddle, and I was swashed with the dirty substance. I moaned, unhappily. Maybe this was just a scenario where I needed to accept fate and go back home. So, being the superstitious person that I am, I went back home and changed.

The next morning, I only got one present, because, Haunika, you know? Or at least that's what I suspected. When I made myself breakfast and gobbled it up, just as I was finishing, my parents came to sit with me.

"Son," said Dad, "we understand you do not like Haunika tradition at all. So..." he gestured towards the living room. A Christmas tree with like a bazillion presents under it stood there tall and proud. I smiled happily. The doorbell rang just as I was going to heave open a gift. When I saw who it was, my body overflowed with resentment. It was Anthony.

"Sup bro," he said like he was the naive one in the situation. "So, man, you like the little thing we planned for ya?"

I steamed with vexation. "UH, DUH. BUT WHY WOULD YOU LIE TO ME LIKE THAT?" I stomped upstairs and slammed my bedroom door.

Woosh!

Anthony lurched up the stairs after me. But I made sure to lock the door.

Then I realized I'd forgotten my presents downstairs. I grabbed my backpack and shook the items out of it. I ran downstairs nearly knocking Anthony out and collected my presents into my bag.

Anthony stopped me when I was trudging back up the stairs.

"Dude, I know you're upset. But just look." He pulled an envelope from his coat's pocket. It read "To My Best Friend, Farrier". I opened it and inside were two passes to see a psychic. "Wow! This--this is awesome man! Thank you lots!"

That night, Anthony and I put on our Christmas PJs and watched the Grinch.