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Sounds of the Season (9) : Seasonal songs play constantly this time of the year, and between old classics and new hits, there’s always something for everyone on the quest for Holiday cheer. One song, more than all the rest, is hitting hard. It’s catchy and festive and even though you’ve heard it a hundred times, it’s still exciting whenever it comes on again. Something about this song fills you with such joy and merriment that it’s almost impossible to resist the urge to spontaneously dance or sing along with it. There’s something magical about it; it’s an instant mood lifter and can make even the chilliest winter days feel a little warmer.
For some reason, Nis had never before thought to wonder about the music system used in the little row of shops that her own sat on. Sure, she was used to hearing music piped through outside, but it had never really occurred to her that it was an intentional choice. Someone (probably several someones… she was really going to have to look through her lease more closely) was paying to have a single, fluid source of music up and down the street. And that music did not shut off at night.
As such, she was simply patrolling her little bit of the shopping district, after hours, and getting to enjoy holiday music while she did it. Even the wisp seemed to enjoy it. At least, as much as a tiny, maybe-sentient, maybe-not bit of energy could enjoy anything. It, at least, seemed to bounce and bop along with her to the music.
And Nis had certainly been dancing along whenever a bop came on. But then, BUT THEN!! her absolute favorite Christmas song began to play and Nis felt like she was just a little girl again, watching her parents bootlegged copy of Claymation Christmas. Sure, the animation had been silly, though incredibly well done. And Motown was always fun. But the version they’d used of Joy to the World had infected her soul even then. It had become almost as much of a tradition to play it for her and let her dancing entertain the family as the tree and hanging up stockings. The years since had not dimmed her love for the song. And to hear it now… it brought back all those warm and cosy feelings.
And made her feet feel twitchy.
Well, what the hell. There was no one around but the wisp to see her. And no reason on the face of this planet why she shouldn’t dance and give herself up to the best Christmas tune in the history of ever. The wisp seemed happy enough to spin around her as she moved. And sure, some people might think that twerking along to a bluesy-jazz cover of Joy to the World might be Inappropriate, but ******** ‘em! The music was in her soul and warming her heart.
“Oh, we’re talkin’ ‘bout Joy, talkin’ ‘bout Joy, talkin’ ‘bout Joy,” she sang along, eyes closed. And when the high notes hit, she felt a rush of warmth, just like she had that Christmas morning when she’d first seen the special. The world was a rush of color and happiness and pure, unadulterated Christmas-y-ness.
Oh, she was going to find this on YouTube once she got home and blast it on loop! She could hear the song winding down as she spun and kicked in the snow. Somehow, being alone in the starry, cold night with only the wisp and song for company felt right. She was just happy. And if any Nega-types tried to interrupt this, she was going to punch them in the throat!
By the time the song finished, Nis was panting, her breath puffing out in little white clouds. But she was smiling and her eyes sparkling as she resumed her patrol.
Talkin’ ‘bout joy, indeed!
Word Count = 539
