We were all out shopping, I, my little sister and dad, for a christmas tree, fireworks and some other christmas item.
My pregnant mom remained in the car.
I for one find this very amusing, but my little sister who is always really quiet wasn't amused by any of these things. It's perfectly normal to us now, she's always been like that, she's always been the fun killer, show popper and anything that has to do with killing the fun.
Every year, she lies to us about a ghost who lives next door, who's always calling to her to be friends, at first I thought she was for real, not until I realized that it was all an attempt to scare me and kill the spirit of christmas.
But this year, it's going to be different, I have everything planned out. I only hope for one miracle though, that I finally get to meet a handsome boy I too can call prince charming.
"Katie, which of these trees do you think would be best in the living room this year?", Mr. Monrow, or as I call him, Dad, asked with a smile.
His ever white teeth reflected the lights in the mall like they were lit just because of him; I see where I get the good looks from. I still wonder why it's so hard to get a boyfriend.
Maybe it's because of these glasses, or is it because of my slender body, I really just can't figure out why.
"Katie!", dad called again bringing me back from the endless void that is my thought.
"That one right there!", I said pointing at a tree by the corner.
"Oh dear, that's a big one!", he said as he looked up to it, "but you know what! I am going to get it!", he said as I smiled and turned to my sister.
"I miss you too", I heard her say faintly as she smiled.
"Kareen who are you talking to?", I asked seeing her mouth moving.
"No one!", she said and turned to me.
"You've started with these things again, I don't want to hear anything about any ghost or something relating to that this year, okay?", I said trying to sound as serious as possible.
"Okay sister!", she replied nodding.
I am 5 years older than Kareen, she's just 13, but she sometimes acts older than me. If only she were as tall as me, people'll probably think she was older.
"Alright Katie, why don't you go get the salesperson so we could get this to go!", he said.
"Okay dad!", I said and walked towards the counter where goods are checked out.
"Excuse me! Please I am looking for a salesperson to help my dad take the tree we want to purchase to our car!", I said to old woman by the counter.
"Hello little girl", the woman completely ignored me and was talking to my sister.
I turned to my sister, who had seemingly started another quiet conversation with the wind. "Hi", my sister waved back casually with a trace of interruption in her voice.
I paused for a while, feeling bad about being ignored, and then I waved and said, "Hello!!"
She quickly turned to me as though she just noticed I was standing there, "Hi... I am so sorry, I just couldn't help but stare at such a special young girl!", she replied.
Special!
Uff!
"Please can I have a salesperson to help my dad get the tree to his car", I repeated.
"Of course!", she said and turned around.
"Jimmy!", she called out loud.
"Jimmy!!", She called again louder.
"Ouh!", we heard someone yell from behind followed by the sound of shattering, seeming falling something, "I am coming Mrs. Margret!"
Shortly after, a boy arrived.
I couldn't see his face because he was being covered by the woman in front of the counter, which was obviously elevated. He was tall so I could only see his hair; it was long and not too cared for.
'Dead end!'
I thought in my heart as I stared at the gumball on the counter.
"There she is!", the woman said pointing at me as she gave way for the boy to see my face.
When I finally raised my head to his face, I was in awe.
I never expected him to be this handsome, chiseled chin, peircy eyes and a slim body in an orange T-shirt.
"Hey!", he said as he walked casually to where I was.
My heart began to race and I completely forgot why I was there.
"She does? Hahaha", I heard my sister say laughing.
I couldn't even turn my head to look at her.
"Where's your dad?", he asked as he squinted, looking around.
"He's... He's.....", I stammered.
"He's over here!", Kareen said as she pulled his hand.
He followed and after a while, I too folllowed a bit distant from them.
"Dad, here's the salesperson Katie brought!", she said to him.
"Jimmy?", dad said with a smile.
Dad knows Jimmy?
"Mr. Monrow!", Jimmy replied.
And he knows dad!
"You work here?", dad asked.
"Yes sir!", he replied.
"Awesome, I am really sorry about your dad, he was simply the best. I have a feeling you are going to be better!", he said with another white smile.
"Why don't you help me get this to my car!", dad added.
"Sure thing sir!", Jimmy replied and helped dad carry the tree.
He and dad picked up the tree and took it to the counter.
The tree swayed to a direction as Kareen followed closely, while I stayed behind admiring Jimmy's arms as he carried the tree.
Kareen turned to me and laughed once again as though she knew what I was thinking.
I immediately got p_ssed and blurted out: "Why are you laughing?!"
On hearing this dad tried to turn to see what happened, and the proccess the tree slipped and was about to fall on Kareen.
"Kareen!!", I yelled seeing the tree fall to her direction.
And like a miracle, a rushing wind blew the tree away from hitting her, it was so powerful, it took the tree far away from dad's and Jimmy's hands even.
The tree flew and landed in front of the counter, destroying some stars and bells on it.
"Kareen!", I yelled again as I ran towards her.
"Are you okay?", I said about to cry as I knelt in front of her checking for scratches and bruises.
"That was some wind!", Jimmy said as dad walked close to where we were.
"Are you okay sweetie?", he asked.
"I am fine!", she replied.
"Let's take the tree to mom, she must be worried", she said trying to shake away the event.
"You are right kiddo!", dad said as he and Jimmy walked towards the counter.
After purchasing the item at a discount due to the wind's destruction, they carried it to the car which dad unfortunately parked some distance away from the mall because there were no parking space available in the mall.
We finally arrived at the car as dad and Jimmy breathed heavily.
"Thanks Jimmy, tell you what! Why don't you and your mom come over for dinner tonight?", dad said.
On hearing this words, I was so excited.
"I am sorry sir, but....", My heart shattered as jimmy continued talking.
He turned to me and saw my expression go ugly and then turned back to my dad to complete his sentence, ".... I don't know your house", he replied.
"Oh! You in luck, I recently wrote my address on paper for my employees, luckily for you, I wrote more than enough!", he said as he put his hand into his pocket.
"Where's my wallet? Shoot! I must have dropped it at the counter.
"Katie can you go and get it for me!", he said to me.
"Jimmy's tip is in there too!", he added with a smile.
On hearing this, Jimmy couldn't help but blush shyly as he avoided eye contact.
After talking, he opened the boot and tried to stuff the tree in and then walked to my mom at the other side of the car.
"Darling, you asleep?", he asked my pregnant mom as they began a conversation.
"So... umm", Jimmy said shyly as he played with the sand on the floor with his foot.
"Oh, right! Your tip... I mean the wallet!", I said and immediately began to beat myself up internally.
"Don't worry Katie, I'll go get it, why don't you cuties catch up!", Kareen said and ran off.
"Kareen!!", I called out helplessly.
"You little!!", I said as my neck veins stood out.
There was a moment of awkward silence as we both stared at the floor and said nothing.
"Hey!", we chorused, "sorry!", we continued chorusing words.
"You go first", I said politely as I took back the strands of hair that fell in front of my face.
"I am Jimmy, Jimmy Loft, and you are?", he replied politely as well.
"I am... Katie, Katie Monrow", I replied and the awkward silence surfaced once again.
Kareen please hurry!
"You went to school?", I said not even knowing what that meant.
"....Yeah I did!", he replied in a sad tone.
"I didn't mean it like that, I mean... f_ck!", I said beating myself up even more.
"I am terrible at conversations", I said hitting my forehead.
"It's okay, I am equally terrible at it, I guess we would do better at dinner!", he replied.
"Yes! We will!", I replied with a smile as I looked back at the mall and said: "Something's wrong!"
"Kareen!", I yelled looking at Kareen behind surrounded by a bunch of men.
Jimmy looked as well and said: "You are right!", and ran towards them.
"Mom, Dad, Kareen's is in trouble!", I yelled, "Where is she?", he asked as he left mom.
"Honey what's wrong with Kareen?", mom asked.
"Don't worry honey, I'll handle it!", Dad replied as he ran behind Jimmy.
I too followed close behind, but wasn't as fast as dad and Jimmy.
I finally got there, and saw dad and Jimmy standing along with a crowd of people standing and covering their mouth.
Blood was all over the place, on the ground and everywhere.
No my sister can't die!
"Kareen!", I yelled as I found my way through the crowd.
When I got there, I found Kareen crying in the middle of this bloody masacre.
Some men were on the floor, disfigured beyond recognition, so much so I couldn't even tell how many they were.
Kareen was safely crying in their middle, with her clothes soaked in blood.
What must have happened?
To be continued........
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