Haszie's Christmas Gift (Part Two)

haszie's christmas gift

Part Two

By Delfin

"Hey, so how are we?!" Cereen sprinted up close to Haszie and flung her right hand around Haszie's bony shoulders.  "I am having an appointment with The Father tomorrow.  I wonder what I will get," she beamed dreamily at both Haszie and Plasee.  "Wait, wait a minute!" Plasee interrupted excitedly.  "Didn't you go today, Hasz?  We met Johia after the bell went and she said you had gone to meet The Father as soon as school ended.  Come on! Tell us, tell us, quick!  What did you get?"

"Er...um...I...I didn't, couldn't go.  Felt sick, um, maybe, maybe tomorrow....  Sorry, have to go.  I'm late, my mother will be looking for me, sorry," Haszie muttered hastily and turned her back on them.  As she hurriedly splashed her way through the puddles in the orange undergrowth, her mind was in a twirl; a thousand angry thoughts ran berserk, causing her to huff and puff as she plodded along.

Really?!  Gosh, did they really think she was going to tell the world she had received the best present, ever, before the Christmas Ball?!  Did they honestly expect her to be the one to spoil her own surprise?  What did they take her for, a dunce?!  Really!

She took a deep breath when she reached her spiked-roofed home, with several antennae reaching to the heavens.  She let out a sigh; no, she wasn't going to let a couple of giggly girls get to her.  She was going to be the star at the Ball and she could picture the grand entrance she will make, to the envy of everyone.  All eyes will be on her as she sweeps into the elaborately decorated hall.  She would be dressed in the gown stitched from the soft muslin that Pa had brought back from Earth.  The comet-jewel would be glittering on her plain black necklace.  Aye, that would be a dream come true, indeed!  She smiled, her lips curving upwards with a hint of a simmering glee that she tried her best to suppress.

She was a little early for dinner so she slipped past the dining room and went below into the crater to her room.  She jumped onto her wicker bed, and reached into her pocket.  She fingered the box for a few seconds before she drew it out.  She stared at the box, cradled in the palm of her hand.  Just then, she heard a hard rap.  Startled, she looked at the door.  Hurriedly, she pushed the boxed gift under her pillow and slid off the bed.  She turned the pearl handle on the leather door and peeped out.  There, holding a pot of mud, stood her youngest brother, Charmant.

"Oh, what do you want now?!" Haszie could hardly hide her impatience as she continued, "I am busy. Go!"

"Please, it will only take a minute, just a minute, not a second more, I promise.  In school, my teacher gave all of us beige mud for us to make presents for anyone that we choose.  And I thought Mama would love to have flowers like the ones you sculpted for school, you know, those shiny wild flowers, with minute petals that look like diamonds?  But I forgot how you make permanent glitter after you freeze the spring water.  Please, Hasz, puhlease?  Mama would surely love to have those for Christmas.  Will you show me how? Will you, will you, please?" Charmant pleaded.

"Charmy, you are so stupid!  I've got better things to do. Now, go away!" and Haszie slammed the door.  Charmant lowered his head to hide the tears that threatened to overflow and dragged his feet back to his room.

Haszie returned to her bed.  Sculptured flowers, indeed!  She had important matters to take care of.  What would a little boy know about the value of a comet-jewel.  She took the black necklace from the side-table drawer and the fast glue which was on the table.  She, then, retrieved the jewel from under her pillow.  She placed it on the necklace, shifting it from one position to another till she found a suitable resting place for it in the middle of the necklace.  It was then that she noticed something amiss.  She thought the jewel had lost some of its shine.  She lifted it and peered at it closely.  What were those brown, mouldy dots on the surface?  Did she drop it in the orchard?  She couldn't remember, but she must have.  There was no other reason.  She took the end of her sleeve and began to wipe it gently.  Just then, she heard her older brother, Zibar call out, "Dinner!"

Part Three will be posted on 13/12/2014

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