Prompt 9 (Illuminating Conversation): This time of year there are lights hanging everywhere. They come in different colors, different styles, different patterns of illumination. You might not remember when it started, but when you looked at a display, you noticed the lights seemed to be flashing in a specific pattern. When you look away, you might be able to see out of the corner of your eye that they return to normal--but any time you look at them, they repeat the same unique sequence. It’s not just one light, either; almost everywhere you go you can find some light repeating the pattern. Is something trying to send you a message? Could it be Morse Code, or something else? A coincidence? Either way, you can’t seem to decipher the message and it’s getting to you. Especially because no one else seems to notice it.

Davie was out Chrismas Shopping with his foster mom, Laurie. The verbalized reason was that 'she needed his opinion on gifts for Kane, JJ and DJ'. The real reason - he needed exercise and sun. Ever since, he fell through that magical iced puddle and had that crazy ice bath where he had sprained his ankle, he had done nothing but rest. School was out for the holidays, so basically the couch was his domain during the day, and at night, his bed. Other than trips to the bathroom, he stayed in those two places, and the rest of the foster family took care of his needs.

However, that stage of the recovery was over, and Laurie could be stubborn when it came to the kids health - if the doctor said they needed more exercise (and they looked like they needed more exercise, in his case; gained a little weight, pale, gaunt, and more weakness in the injured ankle at this time of healing than there should be) they got exercise. And so, he hobbled along on his crutches behind Laurie, his foster mother, looking at the Christmas lights in the windows.

They flickered on and off in different patterns. As he watched, one set of lights seemed to flash 3 times. Then they were off for about 5 seconds, then on for 4 seconds, then flashed 2 times, off 3 secs, 4 times, off for 2 and then repeated. This light pattern 4 times, while he was standing waiting for Laurie to decide what she wanted and it seemed to say URGENT, as if it was some sort of message. He shook his head - what was he thinking.

They moved on, and they did, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the string of lights pattern return to normal. He stopped and turned to look at it, and as he watched the strange pattern returned. Laurie's voice cut through his thoughts. "I'm sorry, what Laurie?" "Is something wrong, Davie?" She had turned back to look at him. He shook his head and hobbled toward her. They moved on. But every time he looked at a string of lights, they made the same strange pattern that he couldn't figure out. And it was bugging him.

They got hot cooca and went to stand by the City Square Christmas Tree, to watch it being lit. He leaned on his crutches and sipped his cocoa, as he watched. It came on, as he watched in slow motion. No. The lights on the tree were doing the same strange pattern - where he thought he might've deciphered the first word - URGENT! How could no one else notice? They were all singing Christmas Carols, drinking cocoa and smiling. Then he realized in shock what was going on, and dropped his cocoa. The ceramic cup shattered as it hit the ground and cocoa went everywhere.

Everyone stopped and stared, everything went silent. Laurie put her hand on his shoulder, very worried. She should be. "What is wrong, Davie? Are you okay?" Laurie asked in a low voice. He shook his head. "Laurie, I need to get off these pain meds. I'm hallucinatinating." He murmured.