“I guess Mary or Jeanne asked you first?”

She asked with a bit of a down trodden tone as she left the ferris wheel in a hurry.

“What? No. Here,”

I followed up and took her arm to slow her pace down.

“Heh. Since when did you learn to became that forceful?”

She commented as I let go of her hand and said sorry but she took it back immediately.

“From you of course, and I am not saying that's a good thing, but that aside.”

The reason I didn't want to come to her house,

“Well, Um... It's because I've been saving up you know, for a dress that mom keeps telling me about when she's a bit intoxicated on occasions and by Christmas I think I might buy it for her as a gift and I want to give it to her at the apartment she raised me for years now.”

“Ehehe. Your mother must be really lucky and happy to have you as a son.”

I could see that small sad smile as her eyes turn cold as she looked down.

“I wouldn't go that far but,”

I held her hand and asked.

“That's why, I want to invite you to celebrate Christmas with us.”

Surely enough, her eyes brighten and her lips slowly lifted to a smile, I could feel her hands tighten.

“W-well, if you insist. M-maybe I should bring food then! Maybe if your mother taste how good I cook then I can get her approval.”

Despite trying to give a mischievous smile her red face and swinging hand couldn't hide her ecstatic mood.

“Great, with you coming along, Jeanne and Mary coming. Neil, Allan and Roland would have company. It would even the boy and girl ratio.”

And once again, as I said that, her whole demeanour changed in a click.

“You're kidding right?”

Her gaze speared at me as she glared with anger that I immediately told that it was a joke... Which is a lie since I really did invited them all knowing they'll be brining free food. I'll let my future self handle it.

“Hmph! That's very bland joke if you ask me!”

Her arms crossed and cheeks began to puff in anger.

“You know, it's unfair that you get seriously angry whenever I try to make fun of you.”

We were, at this point, reached the entrance of the pier and was waiting for the traffic lights to turn red in order to reach the bus stop.

“I wouldn't mind if the joke was funny or good but if you're making fun of feelings then I expect an apology and another ride at the ferris wheel. Like right now.”

“You do realize we're already far away from the ferris wheel, right?”

Before she could give a retort, my phone rang vibrated and trouble brew inside my mind when that ringtone sang.

“Uh... I should be going now, mom will get suspicious if I get late again.”

Not much did I do to make a final goodbye or any sort of farewell. I ran for it. I was hot on my heels as sweat of fear slid down my cheeks. All I could remember is I blended with crowd, leaving her there, and rushing my way to the backdoor of the family restaurant.

*****

It was a clatter, patter, cling, bling, and ping, ping, ping! Order up!

The chorus of a Friday night filled tables of the restaurant. Smiles, and breads were exchanged. The smell of family, fried food, and laughter filled the air. Drunk shrimps and Highballs to the office workers on 12th table. Orange juice to kids, high chair, child spilled a drink on table 8! Extra rice please, your bill sir.

Indeed, the symphonic feasting happened at the tables. A Bish, clang, Frrrsshh, chop, chop, chop, Fwisshh! And other instruments of cooking, chopping, and communication was our own opera house.

Dish after dish, bowl after bowl, and scrapping after scrapping. Grease and soap was our game, and mom hustled like a pro. If I finished 10 large bowls in two minuets, she did 20. A tray filled with used spoon 2 minutes under the tub of hot water filled with dishwashing soap.

So on and so fort, it was stressful from time to time and I would often hear some sharp words coming out her mouth. Although I have been at this for countless of months now, I am nowhere near what she and her coworkers speed. But, regardless of my doubts, the stern orders, and aching of our tendons and joints we finished what we were assigned in time.

“All in a day's work.”

She would smile at me. Yet, once she removed her yellow gloves those prune finger tips and roughened skin. I could see how she suffered for me. I could still never accept that those prune soaked fingers are the result of my help to her.

I waited outside eating a burger and waiting my mother dress up. The stars seemed to shy away when I look up. The lamps, neon lights, and other bright materials bleaches their beauty away. The crowd seems to double this time around, Friday can really bring out the most fortunate kids, and time to time some unfortunate ones.

Regardless of where people go, country they live in or die in. Begging seemed to be a cancer to humanity. I lost count of how many times I gave food, coins, or the such to them. But as years ate my empathy, I have almost became apathetic to them. Even when, right now, some of them are rummaging trash bins for dinner of treasures, I manage to become blind.

I guess, I am the one who became accustomed to their unfortunate fate. Just like how I staved off a young kid just now. He was hitting two rocks together like cymbals whilst singing a carol to me. Unfortunately, I didn't have much in coins... That's just probably me being stingy... so I just gave a spare burger. A fresh one, saving it for tomorrow. But he insisted on cash, as the violent shake of his head suddenly throwing his instrumental rock at me when I said “This is all I have” to him. Manage to dodge it, but the bugger scurried away before I turned.

“Let's go.”

I heard mom's voice behind me. Wearing a small backpack that I was using back in 10th grading, she wore a blue bleached sweater, a fluffy glove, hair that flowed down till her shoulder, and a face filled with youthful regret.

“Yeah, It's getting cold, I can't wait for a warm bath back home.”

I said with a smile as I ignored the kid.

“Don't take too long, I want one too.”

She said when I neared her. Her tone was now quite softer and warm. One could never believe she was the demon in the dishwashing and soup area.

“Well, you should go first then.”

“Alright then,”

She giggled.

“Since you're being so nice today, can I have small back massage later too?”

She pinched my cheek that I immediately backed off. I could see people stare at us.

"Well, that's just asking for too much."

I was more than happy to give it to her but, all these happy conversation spoiled when I saw Erika on the lonely bus stop. Rubbing and blowing her bare naked hands, white smoke drew out each time she exhaled. I know no one will scold her if she was out this late at night, but to be here, hours when I left her, and at the time of our check out, smells fishy to me.

I was sure she was planning for something. But, as I thought that would be it, a group of kids that looked like trouble approached her. Each one were almost begging her for something. They were like vultures creeping near to a dying fauna.

“Oh, I am sorry, I don't have any change today.”

I could hear voice. It was filled confusion and terror. Then she looked at me. All afraid and pure of fear.

“Mom, I'm going to go ahead.”

I said to her as I began to jog my way to her.

“Hey! That's my bag!”

As I feared, one of them managed to take something out of her. The pack of kids began to run away with the thief. It was a common wolf pack tactic that has been in the news lately. Surround the victim, while one tries to snatch the valuable and then run in group.

“Hey stop!”

I shouted as I dashed my way and followed them up to the near highway. Some kids threw rocks at me, other others played monkey, tossing the bag away to another kid when I was almost close. Yet, I will not back down.

I ran, through their projectile of rocks and cans, jumped on railings, and played tag with them. I swear that we were running around in circles, they were tiring me out. But, I soon managed to lock down one kid. Left and right, I would catch him, trapping behind him is a railing that guarded him from a death trap - a high way of speeding cars, whirring motorcycles and mammoth size trucks.

I was careful in my steps. His gritting teeth, sweating bullets, and burning eyes of determination... Somewhat mirrored in me. I felt that he was doing this for something, anything to get his goal. A sick mother? Food for family? Or for you? I asked these questions to him. I would spare him something else if he just calmly give it to me.

“No! No more lies!”

I could have just let him be at this point, but I could never let my body froze in idleness as I watch him go over the railings and rolled the dice for his fate. For me time slowed down, I could hear the blare of the gigantic beast of a 18-wheeler truck whose tires screeched as it tried to stop its speed. I could faintly see his eyes widen as the light probably blinded his sights... Or maybe gave him a glimpse of paradise.

But, I didn't move... I wanted to stop him but I found myself falling on the solid pavement. I felt an unbearable sting on my right head. I fell to earth, my sights turning dark, I felt hot liquid coming out. The last confounded memory I have is the kid. The truck wiggled with screeching pain and stopped an inch from him as he used Erika's bag as shield. The horn of the truck made the kid run. Another car almost hit him, and another, and another, until he reached the end.

Faintly, that smile of his when meeting with the other kids, felt like he cheated death and I felt relieved that he lived. Then I saw another dirty kid with a sling straddling on his neck. He was reaching inside my pocket, found my burger, threw it and ran away when he found my pockets empty. That was the last thing I saw, right before my mind went blank.

I opened my eyes to see a woman crying, calling out my name as she wailed. The shattered sight of Erika and my mother's contorted face of anguish kept me conscious for a moment. The rain that was my mother's grief and tears, then the widen eyes of Erika. They were sad I am sure of that, and mom said smile if you want help them remove the sadness so I tried to smile, but as soon as I managed to fix it on my face. Erika's legs failed her, mother hugged me tighter and wailed louder.

Memory is a fickle thing after that. I couldn't recall what happened. All I know is that I blinked and felt cold for a second... Or a minute... Hours? Days? Years? How long... Did I blink again? I swear if I could my eyes will open if I could her mom's voice again.

I felt a sudden chill and then warmth returned to me in an instant after. I felt a light brushed across my closed eyes, and I could still hear my mother's cry. I cannot just lie here. I need to stand up. Stop making her cry, stop being useless. Is what I always repeat as to get myself up.

'Elfien, Elfien, My dear Elfien mom cried out constantly. She hugged me tightly as my eyes opened up. Her tears and smile, while her soft bosoms hugged me tightly, indicated I was alive. The warmth of her hug as she rocked back and fort - her tears drenched on my head - and the hundreds of eyes that stared at me with baffling expressions, and gaping mouths, further proved that I was still alive... Mom is with me but... Where are we? Where's Erika? Why are there so many people dressed in dressy robe like clothes, where's the road - the cars, the concrete, the railings - where are the lamps that glowed pridefully, why are the stars so beautiful and dominant? Not only that, I felt my clothes differently. The thin, and wool like fabric and the rag like design dresses were just like the people around wear. We're in a forest where the torches and lamps of the people around me staved off the darkness.

"Where...?"

Is all I could muster as my heart drummed fast... It thumped and thumped like a hammer that soon I could feel my self heating up and sweating as my vision began to swirl widely that I couldn't handle it.