Splinters: Part One

Part One | 22

All the girls stood up and rushed toward the hall. I sat, waiting for the arrival of our new guests. Melissa sat next to Greg on the couch, his arm around her waist as she kept filming. Only a few seconds later, Daryl entered the living room with Robin.

"Mom, Dad!" Greg stood up and approached her, briefly hugging her. "You didn't let me know you'd be coming."

Daryl waved him off as they pulled apart. "Do I need your permission?"

"We-"

She shoved her purse into his hands and dismissed him as she came to me and Melissa.

"Brayden! Melissa, ah, merry Christmas!"

I smiled, hugging her.

"Merry Christmas," we said simultaneously.

"What's in the bag, Grandpa?" Eda asked, tugging at the bottom of his ugly sweater.

"Give the kids they're gifts, Robin," Daryl ordered.

He came to the center of the room, dropping the trash bag. Wrapped presents slipped from the opening.

"Brayden, merry Christmas," he smiled, hugging me.

"Merry Christmas," I replied quietly.

He looked down at me and nudged toward the sack. "Well go ahead and look for your presents, too. Santa most certainly didn't forget you!"

He pushed me toward the bag where I stumbled to the ground with the girls, searching for what I was to open. The adults conversed on the sofa as we all gathered our gifts and pulled them into a pile.

I didn't pay much attention to what the girls got because what I got was cool enough. Along with a large checked skateboard, I was given books, and lots of them! I felt pleased, important, and significant that Daryl and Robin had taken the time out to truly think about me. The skateboard didn't hold much thought, but the books did. Now I knew that not only were they listening when I told them about my love for reading, but they also retained the information.

I got all kinds. Of Mice and Men, Lord of the Flies, The Lightning Thief, The Outsiders, it went on and on, and I couldn't wait to begin. I looked over the fronts and backs, and finally looked at my grandparents. I got up and hugged the both of them.

"Thank you," I whispered between the two.

When I stood back they both smiled at me, and for that moment, I felt loved. I felt like how a grandson should feel. I felt important in the family. Melissa had struggled and struggled to make me feel comfortable, and she succeeded, but only with the close family, the family I lived with now. These were the grandparents, and they meant a lot to me.

But it made me wonder. I hadn't met Melissa's parents, only Greg's. I wondered if they passed on or if she just didn't speak to them. It was a mystery to me that I was sure to ask Ursanne about later.

"Have you guys eaten?" Daryl questioned as everyone finished with their gifts.

Even Melissa and Greg were given presents. I didn't know what of because I had been paying too much attention to what I had. I felt selfish, but then I realized this was my first real Christmas; it can slide.

"No, the girls wanted to open presents first," Greg explained.

Daryl stood up. "Looks like I'll be making my pancakes, then!"

"Yay!" Net shouted.

Ursanne got up and advanced towards me, sitting at my left side. "Grandma makes the best pancakes in the world!"