SHORT STORY - CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Yvette had sat up the entire night of 24^th December, expecting her best friend, Marion to show up and take them to the street carnival in town. She was still sitting up on 25^th December, still hopeful, waiting for him to call her and apologize for standing – or, in her case sitting – her up the whole night and part of the next day. It was 2pm but there was no sign of Marion: no call missed; no text message; and he was last seen on WhatsApp at 2:35pm on 24^th.

Yvette did not want to worry too much about it, believing that Marion was playing a prank on her. She therefore went into her bedroom and took off her dazzling dress which she had intended to sweep Marion off his feet for the first time.

Yvette and Marion had been friends for six years this year, and they had planned to celebrate their friendship anniversary in a grand style at the street carnival, where they had literally run into each other six years ago. Yvette had been fifteen years then, and had just entered Senior High School. She had gone to the carnival with her group of friends who had convinced her that her Christmas was better spent outdoors doing something daring and much more fun than sitting at home and watching Home Alone. (They had teased her that she could even narrate the movie better than the writer and director; that had got her to agree to hang out with them.) She had been running away from a masquerader when she rammed into Marion who was just getting his ice cream. They both toppled each other onto the ground. Nerves made Yvette break out laughing, which alarmed Marion as he helped her up.

“Are you okay, miss?” Marion asked her worriedly.

Miss? Was he referring to her? Miss? That made Yvette laugh again. When she was composed again, she replied, “Yes, sir. I’m okay. Blame my adrenaline. I’m sorry about your ice cream,” she added, seeing the mess on the ground.

“Don’t worry about that. I can always get another. I just want to be sure you are not hurt or anything…”

“I’m okay. But make the ice cream two.” Yvette winked at Marion and he smiled.

That was how their six-year-old friendship began. Marion bought the ice cream for Yvette. They exchanged names and after a long conversation, Yvette gave her school’s address to Marion, skeptical that he would bother to get in touch with her as he was already out of high school. He surprised her by sending her letters of encouragement twice every month while she was in school. When she came home for vacation, Marion made it a point to visit her at home and would entertain her with news and gossip from the neighbourhood while she was away. He would also help her with the topics she found confusing while in school. Their friendship was quite the envy of the youth in the community because half of the girls vied for Marion’s attention (Marion was the hood Prince Charming, but not a playboy) but he did not seem to notice them. The boys wondered what had gone into him, taking a girl for a friend: to them, it was like rearing a fowl; he would end up ruining everything by having sex with her eventually. Marion just laughed it off. He remained her friend right through school and was there when she came home after three years of Senior High education.

Yvette had never regretted having him for a friend. It was like having a brother. But as they continued to spend time together, especially after her senior high education, she had begun to feel things that a normal friend would not feel for the other. She concealed it, knowing very well that Marion would never see her as anything more than a little sister. But she was not to know that Marion was also feeling a lot more than a brother would feel for a sister. He had wanted to suggest a relationship with Yvette but he considered her age and level of maturity – in spite of her lush body, she still had the mind of a child. So Marion held on to their friendship, promising himself that he would make things solid between them three years later.

Well, three years flew by very fast and soon it was Christmas again. Marion and Yvette had scheduled to attend that year’s street carnival together. Marion’s intention was to propose a relationship to Yvette there. He had told Yvette to look her best that day, which she had, and had ended up waiting for him the entire evening, through the night, right up to the next day and he did not show up.

As Yvette changed her dress to something more casual and homey, her phone rang. She hurried over to it, hoping the call was from Marion. She did not check the name before answering, therefore there was no way of hanging up when she heard the voice that came through – it was Marion’s friend who had proposed to her last year which she had gotten mad about for a whole month. She and Dickson were still not on the best of terms.

“What do you want, Dick?” she drew out, tired.

“Hey, chill. I would not have called if it wasn’t important. It’s about Marion…”

“What happened to him??” Yvette asked hurriedly.

“Relax and I’ll tell you. Can we meet at the café at the corner?”
Yvette rolled her eyes. “Dick, if this is another one of your schemes, I’m not interested. I’m hanging up now…”

“No, wait! This is not about me. I’m over you now. This is really about Marion. Meet me in the next fifteen minutes, will you?”

Yvette rolled her eyes again and accepted. She hung up and headed for the café at the corner.

She got there earlier than Dickson, and got herself a hot cup of coffee. She was sipping when Dickson joined her. She went straight to the point. “What’s up with Marion? Where is he?”

“Relax, woman! Come with me.”

Yvette rolled her eyes. “What game are you playing, Dickson??”

Dickson took her hand and dragged her along. They walked for a short while and took a turn toward the outskirts of the town. Yvette began to feel nervous; what was happening?

At last, they got to their destination: a cozy hut with a fire already burning. She saw wrapped boxes strewn across the floor from the door to the fireplace. She picked them up one by one and placed them on the center table. As she sat, she heard a voice behind her, “Meticulous as usual.”

Yvette breathed in sharply. Marion! She jumped up and ran into his arms, making his shirt wet with her tears of relief. She murmured into his chest, “Thank God! I was so worried when…” She then stepped back and gave him a hefty slap across his face. “Can you imagine how I felt when you didn’t show up last night? A lie would have sufficed last night – at least you could apologize later! What happened to you?!” she finished furiously.

Marion went on one knee, held Yvette’s hands, and made her heart stop beating for a minute. “I am very sorry for standing you up, my dearest Yvette. Can you forgive me?”

“No!”

“Not even if I give you all these gifts?”

“Hold it. Are they all for me?”

“Yes, darling. This was all planned for you. My car developed a problem yesterday as I was going to your place. I could not call you because I had left my phone at home. By the time I got home, the phone had died. By the time it was charged enough, it was too late. I thought you might be asleep. I’m very sorry, my dear. Please forgive me.”

“How did you get Dickson then?” Yvette raised her eyebrow at him, skeptical again.

“He came by my place. I then laid it all out to him and asked him to help me.”

“But why?”

“Yvette, we have known each other for six years now. You turned twenty-one this year. You are very smart, perceptive, intelligent, and beautiful. Every guy I grew up with wants you…” Marion exhaled. “I am very grateful for your friendship, Yvie, but we are not getting any younger.” Marion sighed. This was harder than he had imagined. “Yvie, I want to marry you!” There. It was out.

Yvette was gobsmacked. She had harboured emotions for Marion but she did not guess he would reciprocate. So, as she watched him down on his knee, she was speechless.

“Say something, Yvie.”

“Get up.” Yvette finally said. She led Marion to the sofa, made him sit, and then sat by him. She sighed. “We are both young, you know that. We cannot marry right now…”

“Hahahahaaha. Not right now, darling. We will prepare ourselves for that three years from now, what do you say?”

“Will it be odd if I say ‘Yes’ immediately without thinking about it first?

Marion roared with laughter. “I knew you were smart! If you are sure, then we are good to go.”

“Marion, we’ve been friends for a long time. You know me better than anyone else. I would very much love to know you much better than I do now. And we have a whole future to look forward to.” She finished excitedly.

“Yes, my love. Yes.” They held each other in the warmest embrace, just enjoying the moment, both of them thinking that the moment was the best Christmas present each of them could ever have.