I'll Be Home For Christmas

INT. HOME - DAY

AARON BACKSON(15) drenches his bed in sweat, his sheets cling to his pale body. The fabric rubs against his skin, leaving red streaks as the young boy wrestles with his nightmares. The dark room enhances his dreams. He can’t escape. He will not escape. He twists and turns as the sheets morph into leather straps of a straitjacket. The bed creaks and whines, protesting under his weight. Aaron grips his damp sheets, his wrists straining as he pulls at the fibres. The ripping sound snaps him awake.

His eyes lock on the shadowed white ceiling. A dead man’s stare. For a fleeting moment, he doesn’t know where he is. It takes him a moment to adjust before his body relaxes. He’s safe. Safe in his messy room, surrounded by piles of questionable clothes, teetering on the realm of clean and dirty. In the corner sits an electric guitar gathering dust, a relic of a young boy’s fantasy of music and stardom.

Aaron groans, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His feet softly plod against the cool floor. He sits in the dark, staring around his room. A chill envelops him as his body gives way to a single shiver. There is a type of solace in this tenebrific room, a comfort that deepens the veil of melancholy. He lets out a single...

“... fuck.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he notices a shadow approaching his bedroom door. He doesn’t bother to react. He knows who it is.

The door swings open, indifferent to the occupant. LAUREL BACKSON(36) stomps to the window, yanking back the curtains with a burst of energy. A heavyset woman, and she carries the weight like a weapon. Don’t get in her way.

She turns to her son and finds him awake, staring at her, the sunlight burning his eyes. For a mere moment, she almost doesn’t recognize him.

“Momma,” Aaron says casually.

“I usually catch you groaning for another five minutes.” His mother says, she makes her way to the door. She turns around with a playful flourish. “Do you mind grabbing a few things for me from the grocery store?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “It’s Christmas.”

“I know, but I need some eggs and milk for the cake.”

“Everything’s closed.”

“Yeah, but I need it, dear. Get dressed and go.” She orders with a hand on her hip. She winks and heads out the door.

Aaron sits there for another minute, staring at where his mother once stood. It was a weird request, meaning she probably had something planned later. With a smirk, the young boy stands up. He’s gotta listen to his momma. Pretty sure there’s a rule about going to hell if he doesn’t.

“Don’t forget to bring your father his lunch!” Laurel yells from down the hall!

There it is, the so-called surprise. “He ain’t home?!” Aaron answers back with a holler.

“He had some work to do!”

“On Christmas?!”

“Don’t question me!”

EXT. DUNSMUIR STREETS - MORNING

The streets of Dunsmuir are empty. Only Aaron braves these cold streets. Everyone else is sleeping in and enjoying the well-needed vacation. For Aaron, it should have been the start of an extensive, long gaming marathon. He thinks he’s going to enjoy it when he gets home. He thinks he might just enjoy this walk instead.

It’s not that far from his house to the store, and once he gets there, Aaron doesn’t even bother approaching the door. He knows it’s closed. The lights are off, and there isn’t a single car in sight except for the wheel-less Honda that is always in the parking lot. To the identity of the owner, no one will ever know. 

Aaron glances at the Honda, its wheels intact. He raises an eyebrow and then shakes his curiosity off.

Aside from the seeping cold, the sun is out and blaring down on him. So it isn’t too bad. There are a couple of dark clouds in the distance, just hovering over the sprawling forest. He takes note of it. Doesn’t really want to be out here when it snows.

“Aaron?” ELIZABETH MOON(15) calls out to him. A firecracker just like her red hair and perky attitude. Aaron smirks at her baggy hoodie and grey sweats. She’s still a bombshell even if she’s concealing everything.

“Sup, Liz.”

“What the hell are you doing out here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, babe.”

“Well, if you must know, I was out for a run,” she says, flipping her hair to one side.

“Dressed like that?”

“Uh, yeah. These are my workout clothes. Keeps all me hidden.”

Aaron smirks, pulling her close. She’s a little surprised by his initiative. He’s usually not like this. She’s not opposed. “Sure.” He says, his eyes scanning her body. “Really leaving everything up to the imagination. Might have to take a peek.”

Elizabeth pushes back. “Excuse you, Mr. Big Bad Wolf. I’m not that kind of girl.”

Aaron rolls his eyes. “I know. Just edging you a bit.”

“Ayo! It’s called teasing,” she corrects him, sporting a grin.

He shrugs and starts his way to his father’s place of work.

“Where are you going?”

“Dad’s at work, just delivering him his lunch.”

Elizabeth joins up beside him, keeping up with Aaron’s lazy stride. “What a workaholic.”

“I know. He couldn’t even for one second take a fucking break. I mean, it’s Christmas.”

“You okay?”

Aaron glances at his tagalong. “Are you actually concerned about me?”

“No, but I thought it was the right thing to do.” She says.

He smirks and shrugs. “I had a bad dream, that’s all.”

“Aren’t you a little old to have dreams?”

“Aren’t you a little self-centred to have them?” Aaron shoots back.

“No. How else am I supposed to have dreams about myself?” Elizabeth grins, pretty proud of her witty comeback. Aaron doesn’t care. He’s more focused on trying to recall the dream that made him wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

The two walk in silence when Elizabeth stops. Aaron turns to her. “What’s up?” He asks.

“Do you love me?” Elizabeth asks.

“Of course I do.”

“Good, I love me too.” A sense of relief.

Aaron chuckles. “Hey, you free tonight?”

“On Christmas, yeah, dinner with my family, but I can skip. What are you thinking?”

“Dinner with my family.”

“Bet, around seven?” Aaron gives a snap nod. Elizabeth smirks and turns down another street. “See you then, hot stuff.”

“Yeah, see you then, Elizabeth.”

“Stop being weird.”

Aaron turns back down his road and continues. There’s something bugging him, and he can’t put his finger on it. At first he thought it was these empty streets or even the nightmare, but there was just something about today that was just off. There’s sand somewhere here, falling through the cracks of normalcy.

He stops and turns to the road. It doesn’t even take him a second thought to walk right into the middle of it. He looks back the way he came, the long street and soulless shops that crowd on each side. The pine trees and freezing benches. There’s a nostalgia here, but he was just here yesterday, so there shouldn’t be that itching for a past. Even his actions toward Elizabeth were something new to him. It felt like he was longing for her. More than what a fifteen-year-old boy should be craving for.

He looks forward and is surprised by ELIO BAKER(15), who’s staring at him with a puzzled look on his face.

“What the hell are you doing in the middle of the street, son?”

“What the hell are you doing so fucking close to me?” Aaron snaps back.

“Wondering what you doing?”

“Bringing my lunch to my father, what you sayin’?”

“Little girl stuck in a tree.”

“Unconventional. You need help.”

“Yeah.”

They head down the road, back on the sidewalk.

“Merry Christmas, how’s the fam?” Aaron asks.

“Foster folk, don’t give a damn. They got me some clothes and socks, no tech, but hey, they’re ‘trying.’ You?”

“I... don’t remember. I’ll text you what I got when I get home.”

“Didn’t you already? I’m pretty sure you got, like, a playbox or something.”

“You mean a PlayStation?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

Aaron shakes his head no. His parent wouldn’t get him a PlayStation, too distracting, his father would say. Ironic coming from him. “Ain’t you cold?” He gestures to his friend’s attire. Shorts and a tee.

“Nah, it’s warm,” he says, and shivers.

“I guess.”

The two stroll up to one of the trees in the park. Lo and behold, on the second branch, just about six feet off the ground, a little girl is holding on for dear life. How did she get up there? That's only for God to know.

"Let me stand on your shoulders," Elio orders, getting just beneath the little girl.

"Why don't you stand on my shoulders?” Aaron asks back. He doesn't want to get his clothes dirty.

"Because you're taller than me."

"By a few centimetres.”

"Just do it already."

"No." Aaron stares on to his friend. Not budging. Elio crosses his arms, waiting. It's typical Elio behaviour. If he didn't get his way, he'd wait, and oh boy could he wait.

The two stand there for about a minute or so. "I can wait forever, Mister Backson," Elio says. The lingering Mister Backson stings something in his mind. He's been called this before by teachers and whenever his mother was upset, but for some reason, hearing those two words from his friend irritated him.

The little girl sobbing spurns Aaron forward, giving up and letting this little butt munch win. He bends down for Elio to get a good footing on his shoulder, and once they are, he stands up. "Weird of you to call me Mister Backson," Aaron says.

"My bad, dude."

“Yeah, don't let it happen again."

"Noted, blud, alright missy, all you got to do is climb down my back," Elio tells the little girl. She shakes her head no. "You want to stay up there forever." She shakes her head no. "You want to spend Christmas with the squirrels eating nuts."

"Pause," Aaron comments.

"Shut up, dude. You want the candy bar in my pocket?" He says, flashing a candy wrapper.

"What you got?" The little girl asks.

"What does it matter what I got?"

"What if I don't like it?"

"Gurl, I'm trying to get you out of the fucking tree."

"You said a bad word."

"Bi --"

"Elio, she's a kid," Aaron shoots up.

Elio takes in a deep, long breath. "It's a Snickers. You climb down, and it’s yours."

"Deal," she says, and begins her descent. Elio grumbles as the little girl latches herself onto his back. Aaron bends down, and two are now in safety. The little girl jumps to the ground, and without even a beat, she sticks out her hand.

"What do you want?" Elio asks.

"Pay the damn girl for her time," Aaron says, picking up his father's lunch and heading off."

"Fine." Elio hands her the Snickers in his pocket. The little girl snatches it and runs off. "You're supposed to say thank you! Hey Aaron!"

"What?!"

"Now I'm gonna starve!" Elio yells.

"You'll live, son." Aaron shoots back, not even bothering to look.

"Christmas at seven, your place?"

"Yeah."

"Tell your dad I said hello."

"Will do."

The rest of the walk is pretty quiet. The town didn't get a single decibel louder since the morning. Once he's at the old, run-down graphics building, the dullness of the building kills the mystical feel of an empty town.

INT. OFFICE FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Aaron walks into the empty lobby, hanging around the entrance door. He watches as the cool light bleeds through the sea of dust.

It's pretty bland for a graphic design company. No fancy pictures on the walls, none to even speak about. Just the bland, dirty white walls. The brown, broken leather couches look like they’ve survived Y2K and are one foot away from being hauled off by folks in hazmat suits. The carpet is the same, a dull piss yellow and brown.

JARED BACKSON(41) is a man of few words as he opens the stairwell door. He’s wearing an ugly Christmas sweater unironically, something Aaron can tell. He probably picked it up from the floor and didn’t think twice. His slacks are beige, and he’s wearing white Nike running shoes.

“Thanks,” he says to his son. There’s not a single care of emotion in his words. He reaches out for the lunch, and Aaron pulls back.

“Could this wait?” Aaron asks.

“No. They want the product by the 1st.”

“There are six days before the 1st. You could have chosen any of them.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s Christmas.”

“I have to put food on our table.”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“I never said you were.”

“Just take a break for God’s sake!” Aaron yells, surprised by his outburst of energy. “You work all day and all night and expect us just to sit at home waiting, waiting, for the day we get a call from the hospital that you’ve overworked yourself to death. I know money is important, but I could have used you a bit more in my life instead of looking at empty chairs. You can say all the excuses you want, but it doesn’t matter if the reality doesn’t change. Which is, you are less than a father… and more like a stranger…” With an uneasy sensation, he places the lunch onto the floor and heads toward the entrance.

“Let me…” Jared lets out, catching his son. “… save my work.”

Aaron looks back. “Make it quick.” He watches his father disappear into the stairwell. “What the hell, Aaron,” he tells himself. “Where did that come from?”

EXT. DUNSMUIR STREETS - DAY

The walk back is quiet. Jared is not much of a talker, but that’s okay with Aaron. They don’t need to talk. They just need to get home. He can tell his father is still thinking about work, but at least he’s here and not there. One small step in the right direction, he thinks.

About halfway, the silence is unbearable. “We’re having Christmas dinner at seven.”

“Mhm.” His father says like a shy schoolboy.

“Elizabeth and Elio are gonna be there. I think some family members too.”

“Who are Elizabeth and Elio?”

“Girlfriend and best friend.”

“Right.”

“It’s all good.” Aaron says. “I know today is special, and I doubt that you’re gonna change in the next couple of months, and it’s okay. Today is special, Dad. It might just be the last one we have together.”

“Are you… running away?”

“No, not really, just a feeling, I guess. So let’s just try to be a family for Momma today.”

“Okay.”

“I helped a little girl out of a tree.” Aaron brings up.

“I didn’t know you were so caring.”

“I guess I get it from Momma.”

“That sounds right.” Jared chuckles, and that might be the first time Aaron has heard his father laugh. Progress.

INT. HOME - NIGHT

The rest of the night goes well. The smell of cooked turkey and sweet cake fills the house as music and laughter run in harmony. The table is all set with silver candles and Christmas decorations. A wonderful centrepiece that pulls it all together.

A fresh coat of winter snow is falling outside. There is a solace in this home, and Aaron can feel all his anxiety melting away. He finds a seat across from Elio and smiles at his friend.

"Something on my face?" He asks. Aaron stares at him with longing eyes and then down at the misshapen spoons. He picks one up. There’s no reflection.

"You almost had it right," Aaron says, presenting the spoon. "It was almost too good. Got lost in it for a minute.”

"What are you talking about?"

"Is this how you spend your Christmas, Megan?”

Elio closes his eyes and lets out a sigh. "Yes," he says as his voice morphs. The Christmas freezes and melts away into digital code. Aaron's body glitching out before it cuts off.

INT. SHERRINGTON BLACK ROCK SPACE PRISON

AARON BACKSON(33) opens his eyes. His mouth is gagged, and his arms and legs are encased in metal cylinders. It pulls in four directions as it suspends Aaron in the air. A gravity manipulation field that pulls and pushes against him. Fluctuating at the proto-neutron star strapped to his chest. The expanse of space just behind him.

He looks down at MEGAN CHENEY(36) in a warden blue uniform, badges on her left breast pocket, and a scowl on her face. A visor in her hands. “When are you going to tell me what I want to know?” She asks.

“I already told you I don’t remember where it is.” Aaron says, his voice coming through the intercom.

“I know. That’s why we’ve been simulating your memories for decades.”

“It’s unpleasant.”

“You think we care how you feel. You seem to forget why you’re in here. You blew up several asteroid mining facilities and killed hundreds of our trained officers. You are wanted all over the galaxy for robbery, murder, planetary-wide extinction, and sun-ending.”

“You’ve forgot to add dashingly handsome.”

Megan pushes a blue button on her display panel, and a shock goes through Aaron before morphing into a whine as his bones creak and break. She releases him from his torture. “I had time to kill, Mister Backson. I was hoping you would be in the Christmas mood or whatever you earthlings call it. But you’re not. Enjoy your time alone. Hmph, ridiculous… and people called you the Pirate King.”

She turns and walks down the silver walkway. The titanium doors opening for her before sealing behind. Aaron tries to relax, but the pain of a broken body lingers. “At least the mood was nice… fuck.”