It felt so akward waking up in a mint theme bed. Looking at the window, the sky had a lighter shade of blue but, it was very hard to tell from the night sky of dark blue. Going to be in this town for a month, might as well be cheerful about it. I don't want to ruin Lola's trip here, as well as keeping her from harm ways, Speaking of her, I could hear her calling for me from downstairs. Time to start the day. Sigh.
It feels so childish to have to wear these fake elf's ears and nose (which I forgot to mention before), doing it tor Lola's stake. Heading down to the kitchen, I spy her at the breakfast table, jumping up and down in her seat.
"Sis, Sis! Hurry up with breakfast so we can go explore Christmas Town!"
"Not till we eat first! So patience!" I reach up the cabinet, only to find a box of festive theme pancake mix, a note and a small pouch. The note read; Dear Boyd sisters. I had left you a single box enough for one breakfast. To get more for your meal here, head toward the town's market place and the bakery. These coins shall be enough to buy enough for your stay here. Please enjoy your stay here! P.S. the map to the market is on the back of this letter!
I have to buy my own food?! It's really like I never left home. Free money or not, such a cheap old man!
"Sis, what's wrong?" I almost crush the note in my hand. I sigh and turn around.
"Nothing, lets have breaket!" I place our food on the table, with glasses of orange juice that I founded in the fringe, no other I found. Lola looked at her pancake funny.
"I love the Holiday trim around the side but, is that salad leaves tuck in the middle?"
"I don't want to use any sugary stuff. So, I used some pieces of left over salad I brought with me! We still need to eat healthy!"
"Maybe if I pretend that they're Christmas tree's leaves, it won't be too bad." That was a quick turn around.
Lola ate fast, as I tried to tell here to eat slow or she'll have a stomach ate. Just as we were about done, we heard a tap on the window. It was an owl! It had white feathers, brown feathers on top of it's head, yellow beak and mustache like whisters. It had a envelope in it beak.
"Look, Sis! It has something!" Reminds me of those owls from that magic book series. I opener the window, as it greet me with a hoot. It drop the envelope in my hand and flew away. I wonder if there's other intelligence owls around here.
"Sis! What's in the mail?!" I turn to her and open it, as I close the window.
"It's a list of activities like that old man promise!"
"Yay! What's the first activity?!"
"A tour of the toy factory, guided by the head elf."
"Then lets go!"
"Stop! It won't be till the afternoon."
"Aww, what are we going to do then?"
Suddenly, a knock on the door. We headed to the front door and carolers started to sing when I opened the door. They all harmoniously sang 'Deck the Halls' and cheesy as it is, it did sounded smoothly. We clapped for them when they finish, and went on their way. But soon after, we were greet by neighborhood elf children.
"Hey, you're the new kid in town! Wanna come skating with us! We have an extra pair of skates you can use!" Asked a peppy red clothes kid with blonde hair.
"I would LOVE to! Good thing those ice skating ring practice paid off! Can I go, Sis?!"
"Fine. But, don't get too reckless and no slingshot!
"Okay."
"Um, if you like a place for lunch, you girls can eat at the elf cafe. It's shouldn't be hard to find." Suggested a shyly fat kid.
"That's wonderful Sis! I hope you boys prove to be exciting! I don't deal with boring kids!"
"Then, lets have fun!" Lead a cheerful green dressed boy, who lead the way. At least she'll be out of my hair for a while. Might as well do some shopping.
Walking through the busy shopping district, with a basket in hand, I spotted many friendly elves passing by. All different ages and color skins. They're like humans, only with different ears and noses. With sharing so much peace and love here, my parents would of had love this place! I finally founded the market, as it headlined above on a big sigh. Seeing all the adult elves running stands, selling warm stews, hot chocolates and festive sweets. A vegetable stand caught my eyes. My favorite type of food. A kindly middle age elf ran the stand.
"Hello, my dear. Welcome to Dave's vegetable stand!"
"Um, how do you grow veggies in a snowy town like this?"
"First time shopping, I see. Well, young lady. In Christmas Town, we have a green house that grown fresh fruits, vegetable and wheat. Help yourself, all at a very cheat price. If you're looking for fruits, head over to my brother stand just down the road!"
"Um, thank you." I hate when I'm painfuly shy.
With a full basket of food, spices and other ingredients I was told to stop by the bakery. A happy young woman chief gave me a basket of bread and other wheat.
"My, you must be busy with all of those errands. Perhaps I can have my husband deliver your groceries to you house. What's your name?"
"Um, Layla Boyd."
"Alright, We'll have them deliver by the evening." I gave her my market place basket.
"Thank you." There I go again.
"It's a pleasure. Now, go on and enjoy your day!" She closed her door as I slowly head out. Maybe I should go see how Lola is doing. Is she behaving herself. Or maybe I should look for something to do for myself. Everyone seems so friendly here. Perhaps there was no need for a pepper spary or a pocket knife. Can I finally be at ease?
But then, I heard a door slam. Wish I should of had ketp walking instead of turning around. It was that Myz character and his menacing gingerbread man, who had his leg back, standing on his master's shoulder. He grin at me.
"Well, well. It is the brat! Judging by your fashion choice, and you call me the gloomy elf."
"Just because I like dark colors too doesn't mean I'm a depressing person! I'm nothing like you!"
"Is your parents like this?"
"No! My parents are hippie freaks! They like all colors."
"And your annoyingly jumping bean of a sister, you are the black sheep of the family!" He laughed.
"You stupid gloomy elf! I'll wipe that grin off your face!" I'm no fighter but, I can beat a wimp like him! Before I could get close, his gingerbread man jumped and bit my nose, my real nose as it knock the fake nose. I cry in pain and pulled it away in the deep snow. Myz picked up his 'friend' and I rubbed my nose with my fingers, only to find a few drop of bloods! I push pressure with my fingers and hid my tiny scar behind the fake nose.
"What ingredients did you use to give your gingerbread sharp teeth! You're attacking a guest!" He placed his gingerbread man back on his shoulder.
"You were going to attack me first! My gingerbread man defensed me! I don't see anyone protecting you!"
"I can defend myself! I don't have time for a loser like you! There's 99 nice elves and one grumpy you!" I almost went out when he chucked.
"Tell me then. How come you haven't made friends here and your sister has. These so call 'nice elves' how come any of them your friends?"
"They're nice but, not really my type. Besides, we're only here for a month. Why does it matter anyway?!" He dramatically frown.
"At least you get to experience sunlight and a normally life. For me, I'M STUCK HERE!" He shouted! "The melancholy, heartache, misery, I'M STUCK IN THIS DREADFUL TOWN! Snow, joyous voices, laugher! Oh, I can't stand! I HATE CHRISTMAS!" He had to pant after all the yelling.
"I figure so. The way you dress! Seriously, I highly recommend three Cure's albums. You can relate to their music!" He growl.
"Oh, mock me all you want! Just because I'm miserable, doesn't mean I can't escape!"
"You want to live in the real world? You'll have to hide your ears and nose and many you'll be fine as an angry business guy in an office building!" Payback feels good!
"I don't need your stupid human world! I have another world in mind!"
"Tell me, Mr. Grinch" He gave an ominous look at me.
"New Year and Easter makes me scream! The only Holiday for me Is Halloween!" He grin afterward. I can hear his gingerbread giggle.
"Halloween? How does an elf like you know such Holiday?! So, you like treak or treating or maybe you are evil!"
"There's more to Halloween than that, brat!"
"My name is Layla! Still, that just a stupid Holiday for children to dress up and get candy! Oh, I have bad memory with Lola. You're freaking me out so, I'm leaving!" He chucked again. "I think you need to learn a bit of history of this town, my dear!"
"Don't call me that, creep! And what does Halloween have to do with this town!"
"Come and I'll teach you!" I should't followed him to his house but, dang I regrets this!
His house sat away from the resident area and inside felt dark and abandon. He led me to his bookshelf, where he place some books on a desk. I stood, crossing my arms. He adjust his glasses.
"Surprise that Christmas Town exist well, prepare to be more surprise! Christmas Town may be the only town you human may know of in folklore but, it's not the only Holiday town! Every main Holidays you humans created has turned into a magical town of their own. How does it really happens?! I'm not sure but to the point! Instead of religion or culture clashes, these Holiday worlds only brings the good side of the Holiday! To feel that warm fuzzy, oh I hate! I brought these books from the library, hoping to find the Holiday for me! After searching for so long, I founded it! HALLOWEEN!"
"So, there's Holiday worlds out there and you discover Halloween? No wonder you're gloomy!"
"I was gloomy before I discover that Holiday! Oh, Halloween! Witches fly in the sky, ghosts haunting the air. vampire sucking blood off of pray! Darkness, sweet darkness!"
"I think you need to listen to the entirely of dark wave music!"
"Keep flapping your gums! No elf has ever discover the Halloween world! A rumor is said to be a hidden place in the forest where Holiday doors can be found, like this picture!" He shown me a picture of special trees in a circle. "If only I can find such world then maybe I can be happy!" He cried.
"Keep whinning! I don't believe you, even if you have these books as proof! You still haven't told me why Christmas has to do with Halloween!" He grin creepily.
"Sometime before I was born, a calamity ever so great, when two Holiday met by mistake! Believe me, girl! That old fool maybe jolly but, stupid! He was KIDNAP by three Halloween kids. They came to the town from theirs and what replaced him on Christmas eve?! Their mastermind! Creepily sickly he was, on a haunted sleigh! Delivering evil presents and brought fear to the human homes!" He laughed in a menacing way!"
"LIES! Arn't you took old for telling scary stories?! I never heard such nonsense! Why did I agree to come in your house!"
"You human like to forget it's happen! If you care to know what creature he was. Then led me your ears! He was a creepily tall and skinny SKELETON!" I gasp. "Got your attention?! Yes, an undead skeleton, a hero in my eyes! But, you stupid human had to shoot him down in flames! To allow that old kook return peace to Christmas! I heard he's still out there and I will find his land someday!"
Skeleton, flames, chaos! Voices inside my head, a bad memory returning! No, eight years are long gone! Must not let it return. I sweat and clutch my chest!
"So, I got you afraid! You stupid human!"
"STOP LYING YOU PATHETIC ELF!" I sock his face and knock him on his back! His glasses flew in the air! Brushing off the blood on his face, he stare at me coldly!
"Get out of my house!" As so, I did. What a mess I been in. Better get to Lola. To get this bad experience off my mind. What a great way to start Christmas Town!
