Getting Ready

“The snowfall looks light today.”

“Wonderful. Tape, please.”

A flexible plastic creaked from stretching and tugging, before letting the soft notes of a song echo again from the radio.

“Do you think you will have all the gifts done before the end of the week?”

“I would. If, I don’t know, my so-called helper, gave a helping hand.”

The one asked helping was about the move, yet the motions of their hands made the other shout out.

“Don’t you dare starting clapping. I am not in the mood for that.”

The words were given out in grumbles, as the person went back to finishing up wrapping a gift. Only to start another one.

“Well, how else can I help. Last time you left me charge; the glue gun broke, your phone went missing but hey, we found it . . .”

“After we had to do some rewrapping. You do know that this stuff isn’t cheap.”

“I’m not the one trying to live up on a image, that is only in my head, so in short: I don’t care.”

“Then why come over at all, Orion?”

“Your home holds a great fifty-two inch TV, and a splendid collection of films most diehard screeners dream of having.”

“And?”

“And I feel welcome here . . . don’t make me feel mushy here. Need more tape or a drink? I’m getting one is all.” Orion asked, getting up from the nook area of the window and walked pass his friend to the kitchen.

“Bows and tags too, they’ll be in the usual storage area. Water for me. I want to get these send over Miss. Nova before the snow thick ups.”

“Sure, sure, anything you royal pain?”

“Less sass. More walking?”

“Oh, how rich you are there, my little Covey.” Orion said with a smirk before making his way to the kitchen and getting the said items.

“Please don’t call me that. How many times I have told you not to call me that.”

“How long have we known each other?”

“I’ll have some Aspirin with that water, please.”

The faucet gave a groan before the water made it through.

“Remind me to call up the plumber, your sink is doing that painful moans of loveless.”

“Layoff the purple plurals, you’re going to run out to that lover of yours.”

Orion this time groaned before laying the items down for his friend, before going back to his seat.

“Of all things.”

“She seems nice.”

“And the last one before too, but we all know how that went, also, we’re not in the goddamn 1700’s. I think they should just back off, because this is just a new time low from them. I got enough problems as is. I don’t need more.”

“They are just worry for you. Because they think you can’t move on and grasping straws for something that won’t happen. I can’t say I blame them. I’m worry too, you know.”

“I have moved on and my future has never looked more bright after this deal. It’s just, those hits of going for the dating scene, I’m not up to bother with. For a while, like, another seven months, at best! I thought you were on my side here, Cove, you traitor.”

“I’m not picking any sides here. Dude, calm down, is your blood sugar low again. There some candy bars in the freezer if you want to relax on those.”

“Don’t lure me in with your niceness coco delight. Something is always up when you play the sweetness nice card. You know something, I can feel it, so out with it.”

“Another bow please.”

Orion snatched away the bows out of reach. Making sure the light glare was in placed for the other to see, whom in replied rolled his eyes.

“Talk.”

“Gaia is getting remarried later in the next year and wants you to be there because of the fact they, her parents, invited you. You’re parents warned me about it and said it was best to keep your mind off her and her plans until then. Make sure you don’t do anything stupid. Am I wrong?”

“I’ll let most of it slide. Anything else?”

“This is something you’ll have to speak with your parents about, as I don’t know much. But I think she’ll be withholding your custody rights, at least after the holiday season is over or likely after the wedding.” Cover paused for a moment, before ending with. “Happy?”

“From you keeping this from me? No. Knowing that woman is getting ready for a shit-storm? Yes. Anything on what grounds for why?”

“Unsuitable father or something along those lines. I know you don’t drink heavily or are too forgetful. Stupid, maybe. Childish, it’s in your blood. A pain, well that’s a given. Bows, please, I’m on a deadline here.”

“What? You’re not even going to try to make me feel better after dropping this crap on me? Plus the backhanding, sour much?”

“You want me comfort you, too?”

There was only a slight pause, before a reply was given in an airy weakness plea. To which surprised them both in a way.

“No.”

“Bows please.”

Cove match called in tone in a way of understanding that short response. A moment of silence fell away for the whimsy truths.

"Leena Gaiam Betancourt will always be a thorn in my side. Then and now. What we had is gone and her little ploys won't sour what's left in my life. She'll always be their mother, as to whom was Gaia... my-"

"Your princess?" Coved added in boredom.

"Ha! To my drunk nights, sure." Orion swayed in quickly before putting focus on wrapping.

"No doubt that will please her."

"Shut. Up."

"Your words. Not mine."

Orion threw a few at his friend in a lazy toss of angry. Gave a sigh, before taking a sip from his drink. Looking out the window again, frowning that the snow stopped and being very light. Knowing that at least one of them was going to have a good day after the wrapping was done.

“Some great holiday this turned out to be.” Orion sighed out, before leaning heavy on the wall behind him, with eyes downcast to the floor where some of the gifts were. Seeing two that stick out. “You’re planning to stop by their house?”

“Besides being friends with you, she doesn’t mind me as much and needs some kind of bird to relay her messages, plus, they love the stories I tell about you.”

“At least they don’t think I’m dead. Or a walking zombie coming to greet them at times.”

“They think you’re just busy. Or at least from what I have told them.”

“I thought you weren’t going to comfort me.”

“I’m not. I have a soft spot for children. Sue me.” Cove ended with a huff, before finishing another to the pile.

“Well thanks for the no comfort.”

“You’re welcome. Want to come along or are you going home?”

“Don’t ask me twice. I’ll get my jacket.” Orion said, before rushing off to get his coat.

“Orion?”

“What?”

“Do you want to give the presents to them or do you want me?”

“Let me think about it, we got a long drive and the roads on the news are best to take it easy.”

“I’ll keep her at bay, so you three can talk, if that’s alright.” Cove softy called out, as he gently put the packages in a bag that would keep the kids giddy when they saw it.

“I’m getting ready to go, you don’t have to keep buttering me up here, Covey.” Orion replied back in a good nature tone, signing he was right as rain once more, sparing to help Cove with the gifts off the floor and into a nicely size bag, that would pleased the kids over at Miss. Nova’s place.

“Heaven forbid you walking away from a challenge like this.” Cove said back, with a barely seen smirk.

“Cove, dude, I might be as you knightly entitled it; that I am a idiotic being that has ever lived. But these are my kids we are talking about. As some would say, the stupid are hard to fend off or to even kill, she’s asking for it at this point.”

“Orion . . .”

“I won’t mess this up. Can you at least trust me on that, dude?”

“For now? It’s all I got to trust you on, so yes.”

“Good, lets head over to Miss. Nova’s quickly. Think she made those great cookies of hers?”

“Just so she can hit you with a rolling pin, again. I would have go on likely, but go easy on her, she’s at that age you know. Miss. Nova isn’t like when we were kids.”

“Sweet for the cookies! But, umm, maybe we should stop the store for helmets or something.”

“Orion, no.”

“But my brain is on the line here.”

“What’s left of it you mean.”

“So you do understand my pain here.”

“Just get the door would you, and lock it.”

The house door open and closed with a soft double clicked, in time to see the snow slowly starting again, but at least the white glow sight, was more of a welcome than it was before.

The End.