Random Stuff (Nerd Edition)

YouTube Christmas Carol

    I made this a book before, but I changed it to be a short story. (I also entered this in mouse_in_a_maze's contest. Wish me luck!)

      This whole story begins with Felix dying. Yeah, I know, just kill me later, okay? Felix was Mark's old co-worker since they were about twenty. Felix wasn't that old, it's just that he died in a car accident. (this is in the present you know). Mark was devastated, as you could probably guess, but he kept his chin up and continued with business. (He owned a video game store you see). Since Mark didn't seem upset by the death of his friend, everyone around him thought he was heartless, and therefore called him a Scrooge, especially since he acted so grumpy on Christmas. Now the only reason he seemed mad all the time on Christmas is because he blames himself for the accident every year, but he dares not tell a soul. One year on the night before Christmas though, everything changed.

~Mark

      "Ugh, another year of paying bills, and another year of me beating myself up about Felix." I sighed as I entered my shop. Outside hung a blue neon sign that read "Gaming Gurus". The s at the end of guru was broken, so it looked more like "Gaming Guru". I shivered slightly as the cold winter winds swirled around me, sending small snowflakes flying into my face. Inside waiting for me was my cashier Aaron Ash. He rubbed his bare hands together and blew on his fingers to make them warmer. "Mark, I mean sir, why don't you turn up the temperature? it's freezing!" He complained. I ignored him and went into the back room to count out the profits of yesterday. It's not that I actually cared for money, it was just that the shop was running out of customers and there was bills to pay. Suddenly, someone burst through the front door, causing it to swing and bang into the wall. I jumped and muttered curses under my breath as I stormed out of the back room to see who barged in. "Hey Mark, merry Christmas!" Wade exclaimed cheerfully. "Shut up Wade." I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Merry Christmas Aaron." Wade grinned and handed Aaron a candy cane. "Thanks!" Aaron smiled in return. "Wade, we aren't open yet, get out." I pointed towards the still open door. Snow was falling thick like a blanket, covering the ground completely. Kids were outside singing carols and having snowball fights. A stray snowball flew into the shop and hit Wade in the back of the head. "Oof!" He rubbed the back of his head and cringed. "I just wanted to say we're having a party." I gave no reply. "Okay, um, see ya later Mark." Wade exited the building and started making a snowman outside the shop. "Humbug." I mumbled and slammed the door shut. "Uh, M-I'm mean sir, tomorrow's Christmas eve." Aaron stuttered. "Yes, it is." I started walking back to the rear of the store. "Can I have the day off tomorrow?" Aaron blurted. I froze in my tracks and whirled around to face him. I considered his plea, and huffed in annoyance. "Fine, but you better be here at least on time." "Thank you so much!" Aaron cheered.

Time Skip

~Mark

"Sir, it's closing time." Aaron reminded me. I was checking inventory and seeing if we sold anything. No luck, all of the games were still there, un-bought. "Go already." I snapped and waved him off. He nodded and left with the candy cane Wade gave him clutched in his hand. I strode down the empty street back to my apartment and opened the door. Inside was Felix lying on my couch with a grin. He waved a little hello to me. I shouted in surprise and closed the door again. "What the hell?" I whispered to myself. That wasn't very nice." Felix re-opened the door with a frown. I ran through him and dashed into my recording room, locking the door behind me. "And here I thought you'd be glad to see me." Felix simply stepped through the door. "W-what do you want?" I trembled. "Oh, nothing much, just came to tell you that if you continue being a jerk, you're going to have like a billion chains when you die." He shrugged. "I'll change my ways, I promise!" I backed away slowly from my old business partner. "Really?" He furrowed his eyebrows. I nodded hurriedly in response. "Well that was easy, I was going to send three spirits to haunt you, but..." He trailed off. "How 'bout this. We skip the first ghost and just show you the other two. Deal?" He extended his hand for me to shake. "Oh, wait. I sometimes forget I'm dead." He chuckled. " I miss you, you know that right?" I smiled sadly with tears gathering in my eyes. "Hey," Felix wrapped his arms around me. Cold air billowed around me, but I didn't care. "I'll see you later partner, hopefully much later. Brofist." With that, Felix gave me a fist bump and disappeared into thin air. I blinked several times to clear my vision, then I unlocked the door.