It took me long enough to write this, but I was swamped with work and critiques. My writing is not at the top of my list. Not near enough. ^^; Anyway, here it is. It's a bit longer than the others, but not by much.

Part 3

Today we had no company. We were alone we had to leave for my other grandparents’ house on the twenty-ninth. The pair of turtle doves sat on my shelf next to the pear tree. I never touched them again.

I picked up one of my new books before going downstairs. Dad was nowhere in sight, but I heard the faint echoes of the computer game downstairs. Mom stood by the kitchen sink, filling a pot with water. I turned into the living room and sat down on the armchair. Teddy and Susan sat on the floor, their mouths hanging open as they watched their television shows.

I cracked open the book, breathing in the delicious smell of new books. Turning the page to the prologue, I started reading, shutting out all sound. Nothing was going to ruin my day of silent reading. I thought wrong.

I jumped slightly as my mom’s fingers brushed through my dark hair. I ducked from her reach and looked up into her smiling face. She held out a steaming hot mug with small, puffy white cushions floating on top. My brow shot up as I reached for it eagerly.

“I thought you might like some,” Mom said, studying the book in my lap. “Which book are you reading?”

“Misery’s Melody,” I replied, showing her the cover without losing my page. “It’s the second book in its series.”

“Is it good?”

“Well, I just started,” I said, taking a sip of my hot chocolate and drawing away quickly, wincing at how hot it was. I licked the melted marshmallows from my lips and set the mug on the side table before lifting my book to read.

“Alright, I won’t hold you up,” said Mom, walking into the kitchen again. She soon returned with two smaller cups with lids and walked to Susie and Teddy. “Here you go, you two. Be careful,” she added warningly.

The two stood up straight away to take their hot chocolates. Poor Teddy was knocked over by Susie who jumped up and down and ran the little distance separating her from her treat. I silently encouraged Teddy to get up and beat Susie, but he only crawled over and took his hot chocolate as if he was used to being pushed around.

Mom finally left and the two tots sat in front of the television again. Susie took a sip and shrieked. Teddy, hearing Susie’s reaction, decided against drinking until it cooled down a bit. I chuckled before returning to my book.

“Hey, Phil.”

I looked up in exasperation to see Sara walking towards me, holding a present with glossy blue paper. My face fell as I looked at it. Sara stopped in front of me, cocking her eyebrow. “It’s from Mabel,” she said, handing it to me, curious look on her face.

I set my book down on the side table next to my hot chocolate. However, I didn’t reach for the gift. Two days in a row, something bad happened when I opened it. Well, they weren’t real, but I still worried for myself and my family. Sara sighed and set the gift on my lap. I jumped and braced myself, squeezing the arms of the chair I sat in.

“It’s not going to bite,” Sara said with disgust.

“Where’d you get this?” I asked, ignoring Sara’s comment.

“By the Christmas Tree.”

I looked at her with wide eyes, my mouth hanging open. Sara looked completely innocent with her hands folded behind her back. “How did we miss it yesterday?” I asked finally.

“We didn’t,” Sara replied with a shrug. “It was there this morning.”

“That doesn’t make sense—”

“Would you just open it?” Sara snapped, folding her arms across her chest and shifting all weight to one leg.

I slowly opened the present, gently taking off the tape and unfolding the paper. Sara was getting annoyed, but I didn’t care. I was afraid of what vision I would see next. Would the television characters jump out of the box and beat my little siblings? Would I start melting because of the hot chocolate? Would the box jump up at Sara and try to trap her inside? Anything could happen, and I was scared.

I opened the brown box which was the same shape as the other two. I found three gold and orange chickens standing in a row as if undisturbed. I braced myself for what I would see next. Sara looked inside and gasped. “These things are so adorable! I wonder where Mabel gets them!”

Realizing nothing was happening, I relaxed, but still regarded the figurines with worry. I reached out for one of the French hens and picked it up. I dropped it immediately, sucking on my fingers. Sara looked at me strangely. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re hot!” I said with my fingers hanging out of my mouth. I wiped my hands on my jeans before picking one up again with more care. I dropped it again at the sight of flames sparking from my touch. I sat on my burning hand, doing whatever I could to get the feeling away.

Sara reached out and picked one up. She frowned as she looked from the hen to me. “It’s perfectly fine.” She put a hand to my head and I immediately retreated with a snarl.

“I’m not sick,” I said bitterly, glaring at the French hen. “You didn’t see that?”

“See what?” Sara asked exasperatedly. “Nothing happened. It’s not hot and it didn’t blow up like you think it did—”

“It was on fire!” I replied helplessly. “It tried to burn me!”

“I’m thinking you are sick,” Sara replied, her brow furrowed. “You always act funny one way or another when you open Mabel’s gifts.”

I didn’t reply. I held the box out and Sara put the hen back inside without hesitation. I set the box on the floor, not touching it until I went upstairs to bed that evening.

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Well? I wasn't real sure what to do with this. I hope it's alright. ^^;