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 Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 12:45 pm
"Raccoons too," Toby said. "Hey, save some cookies for Christmas! We'll wrap them up and they'll keep." The others might keep better, but these were the fun ones. "We can put up the inside one tonight, and the outside one tomorrow?"
Michael didn't seem to be paying much attention to Toby, but he was enjoying decorating his cookie tree.
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 1:32 pm
The tree was found without much difficulty, and Toby elected Kevin to help him bring the ornaments into the living area. Then it was time to just sit down and start unpacking.
Michael was present, smiling terminally, gently touching ornaments though he couldn't feel it well and gently looping hooks into them. Toby noted that he was very dexterous for a dead man. He had a doctor's fine touch. What a shame he'd died so young.
The garland and lights were a bit tangled, so Dari sat undoing it with strange ease.
"They were only glass, when I was young," Michael said suddenly. His voice was soft and warm. "Glass or paper, and we put candles in the trees."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:33 pm
Kevin didn't protest one bit as he followed Toby to the ornament boxes in. He carried it out into the living room and sat on the couch, carefully digging into the box. "Hey, some of these look as old as you," he observed, looking to Toby.
"Candles?" Maia asked, looking to Michael. She was stringing popcorn on the couch, a large bowl full sat next to her. "That sounds beautiful." And dangerous. Fire in trees... Especially drying dead trees... Nope. She wouldn't think about it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:35 pm
"Well, I don't think there any any left from my childhood. They were more fragile. They've broken over the years." It didn't really bother Toby, though. The passage of time was something that you had to get used to with immortality. Nothing could remove his memories.
"Yes," Michael said, "I imagine it was a fire hazard even then..." He shrugged. "Everything really is different now."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:52 pm
"We should get one for this year," Kevin suggested. Maybe one that wouldn't break. "Are we going to put candy on it?" He asked. He'd heard about Christmas sweets, but what were they supposed to do with them before they were eaten?
"Hm?" Cody looked up, the end of a candy cane in his mouth. He offered Kevin the box. "You put these on last."
"Will you want to watch the animals with us tomorrow?" Maia asked. "We'll probably see some birds this time."!
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:06 pm
Toby eyed Cody. Candy on a tree? What in the world?! Then he saw what Kevin was referring to, and he smiled.
"Candy canes?" Toby said gently for Kevin, "Yeah, they're last. We should definitely get a special ornament for this year. Hopefully we won't get snowed-in."
"Of course," Michael said then to Maia, "I enjoy experiencing life from time to time."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:33 pm
Is that what they were called? The kelpie supposed that made sense. They looked like canes. Or upside down J's. He put the box aside. "We can't get snowed in, I haven't finished buying everyone presents!" Kevin complained. He liked the snow as much as anyone; at least when he could make a snowball and toss it at someone. Being snowed in was too much!
Maia was glad. Michael really seemed to be enjoying himself. Maybe they could invite him out more often?
"I brought a book for the kid on Christmas Eve," Cody revealed, whispering to Dari. "I bet he's never read it before."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 3:42 pm
"Well we don't really get a choice," Toby said, and he took the lights from Dari to begin winding them around the tree. "The forecast doesn't call for too much, though. We should be fine."
Dari's eyes widened with acknowledgement and he turned to Cody.
"Hm? What is it?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:10 pm
"Good." They'd better be fine. Kevin still had to find the perfect gift for Toby. He'd never had to buy anything for anyone--what would he even like? What did he need? He seemed pretty happy with what he had. Maybe he'd ask Michael.
"Twas the night before Christmas," Cody grinned. He leaned closer to Dari and kissed his cheek. "I have it on good authority that the book goes good with milk and cookies."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:13 pm
Dari nodded and smiled. He knew the story by heart, of course, but that went for a good number of seasonal things. It would be nice.
"I can tell you for sure he's never heard the whole thing." Still he was speaking with his voice low.
"Hey, Dare, can you help me with this?"
"Hm? Yup!" Dari took a candy cane, bit it in half, peeled down the wrapper with his teeth, and stuck it in his mouth with the curved end dangling by a shred of Saran wrap.
"Kevin, how's it look?" Toby asked as they moved, definitely in-sync as good partners should be, but they couldn't judge how even or close they were stringing the lights.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:33 pm
"Maybe we can get Toby to read it," Cody suggested, in another whisper. He looked up when Toby asked for help.
"I think it looks good!" Kevin said, looking at the tree. "Can we decorate now?" He asked. "Please?"
Maia offered Toby a smile. "It looks good," she said.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 4:42 pm
Toby nodded. "Sure. Go for it," Toby said with a gesture toward the tree. Just be careful with the glass ones, he thought, but Kevin was old enough to know that. Again, objects were just objects. It was the memories that were important.
Michael suddenly lifted a glass bauble, holding it in fingers that appeared to be the only tangible part of him.
"Nineteen seventy-two," he proclaimed proudly.
Toby looked at the ornament and smiled slowly. "How did you know that?"
Michael shook his head. "I'm never sure. I simply do."
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:11 pm
Kevin stood from his spot on the couch, selecting an ornament and headed over to the tree. "How do I do this?" He asked. "Michael, come help me," he gestured for the ghost to join him. "Hey, Dad! Come help."
Maia set her popcorn string aside and selected an ornament. "It'll be beautiful this year," she said, placing it on a branch.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:14 pm
Toby demonstrated for Kevin, rather than taking the ornament out of his hand, and hung a Christmas teddy bear by the little metal hook. Most had been outfitted with hanging prongs, thanks to the ghost in their midst.
"It's always beautiful," Toby said.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:30 pm
Kevin watched Toby and put the the ornament on the tree before carefully placing his there. He selected another. "I've never decorated a tree before," he said.
Maia had to lean up to kiss Toby's cheek. "I've only had the one last year to compare," she said.
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