Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 18:37:16 -0800 (PST) From: Fup Duck Subject: Under Pressure - High School 33 STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Let's see: 1. If it's illegal - don't read this. 2. If you can't accept it - don't read this. 3. If you're underage - don't read this. 4. It's mine - don't distribute without permission. 5. Characters and events bear an uncanny resemblance to people I grew up with and stuff I went through - ooops. ;-) That about covers it. Tah-dah...I'm back! And even earlier than expected! lol Well, hope y'all had a goooood weekend! I did...felt nice to relax, especially since it was a typical Indian Summer weekend! For those of you who are wondering...Kel and I never bought each other Christmas presents. Guess we didn't feel as if it were really necessary. What we DID do, well it was cool at the time, but sort of trite now. You'll see...lol Here's Chapter 33...... Fup ****************************************************************************** FROM CHAPTER 32 "Takes a lot out of you sometimes," David's mother agreed, turning off the lights as they made their way back toward David's room. "Well, night mom. And thanks for worrying I guess," David smiled. "That's a mother's job," she smiled back. "Good night." UNDER PRESSURE/HIGH SCHOOL 33 - Holiday Festivities "So what do you think?" asked David. "I dunno, what about you?" Kelly answered, then directed the question to Sean. "Why do I have to make all the hard decisions?" Sean laughed. "Just because you're like the third party," David answered. "Well, I do know that you oughta get something for Cindy too." David sighed, "Yeah, I know. That'll be sorta easy though. Just get her what I'm getting Lynn." The three of them were playing 'mall rats,' looking for suitable gifts for their families and friends. The mall was crowded with only four shopping days until Christmas, and they had taken a break, sitting on one of the benches in the center court. They had completed most of their shopping, then David had decided to buy something for Chad. "So why ya wanna buy something for the kid?" Sean asked. David shrugged, "Just be a nice thought, I guess. Babysitting him and all." "Well, did ya ask him what he wanted?" Kelly asked. "No, sorta want it to be a surprise." "You really shouldn't wait til the last minute to decide these things, ya know?" Sean stated. "Well, I didn't know it was going to be such a big deal. And this is the last time I'm coming here for a while." "Well, you could always give him a card with money," Kelly suggested. "Yeah, I guess. Let's go to K&B and get that doll for Cindy. Maybe I'll see something there that would be cool." "We've been there twice already, Dave. What makes ya think you'll find something this time?" Sean asked, somewhat exasperated. "Well, you two just stay here," David laughed. "I'll go get the doll and be back in a minute." "Sounds good, I hate the mall," Kelly said. "Watch my stuff," David requested as he stood up and went back to the toy store. He walked to the doll section and grabbed a Barbie doll for Cindy, then wandered the aisles a bit hoping something would come to him for Chad. He decided on a couple of Matchbox cars, and a carrying case and took his purchases to the register. Making his way back to his friends through the crowd, he grinned when he saw both of them with their heads tilted back on the bench and their eyes closed. Nudging Kelly's knee with his foot, he laughed, "Shop til ya drop?" "You know Dave, you sure can be a pain this time of year," Sean groused. "Well, at least it's only this time of year, instead of all year like you are." Sean grinned at David's observation and started to retort, but David shook his finger. "Now, now, it'd be a long cold walk home." Sean looked at Kelly, "Does he always threaten stranding you when you want to disagree with him?" "All the time, man," Kelly grinned. Sean looked at David, "You suck." "No, I drive." Kelly laughed, "C'mon, let's go before someone ends up in the hospital." The three teens laughed and joked on the way out of the mall, and climbed into David's car. David backed out of the parking space, then suggested they get something to eat. After some good-natured argument about where to go, they pulled into the closest Pizza Hut. "Aww, man, pizza again?" Sean complained, grinning. "YOU'RE the one who suggested it," David laughed. "Oh yeah, you're right, let's eat." After they inhaled two pizzas, David paid the bill and they walked out to the car. "You all can buy the gas since I bought the pizza." "Dictator." "Driver," answered David. "Okay, jeez, gas it is," Sean said with a smile. "And it's 'chauffeur.'" David dropped Sean off first and him and Kelly started for Kelly's house. "So what did ya get Chad?" "Some Matchbox cars and a case. I guess it'll be okay." "Yeah, can't go wrong with that stuff. What'd ya get me?" David laughed, "The same thing you got me, just gonna have to wait til after Christmas." Kelly was rummaging through David's bags. "You even bought paper?" "Yeah, and some of those stick-on things." "Well, I guess you're prepared like a good scout," Kelly laughed as they pulled into his driveway. He grabbed his purchases and started getting out of the car. "Hey man, if I don't see you, have a good Christmas." "You too, Kel. But we'll talk before then, I'm pretty sure," David smiled. "Hope so, see ya." "Yep, Merry Christmas, man." When David got home, he took his purchases to his room, closed the door and started wrapping. He never did like wrapping presents, but it was all part of the holiday, so he suffered through it. Finished, he took the wrapped gifts and put them under the tree, Lynn immediately looking through them to find hers. "Who are they for?" she asked, nodding toward the two gifts still in his hands. "Chad and Cindy," he answered. "How come you're getting them something?" "Because I felt like it, jeez." "Lynn," his mother warned. "David's making his own money, he can buy presents for anyone he wants to." He gave a grateful smile to his mom, and said, "I think I'm going to run these over to the Murray's. I'll be home in a bit." His mom looked at the clock, "Okay, just be home before supper. It'll be ready when your dad gets home in about an hour." "No sweat, see ya later." David slipped his coat on again, tossed his gifts into the passenger's seat and drove over to the Murray's. He pulled up to the house, grinning at the haphazard snowman in the front yard. He got out of the car, and as he was bent over retrieving the wrapped presents, he heard something hit the side of the car, and was showered with snow. Figuring it was Chad, he hurriedly climbed back into the car, closing the door behind him. He looked out the window just as another snowball hit it and saw Chad laughing as he packed another one about 15 feet away. Just as Chad was ready to throw, David shook his finger and held up the wrapped gifts with a grin. Chad dropped the snowball and came running over to the car. "Whatcha got?" came his muffled question through the glass. David cracked the window a little and grinned, "Well, they were presents for you and Cindy, but since I'm being attacked, I guess I'll give them to some other kids." "I didn't know you had presents," Chad argued. "Know any other kids that want a present?" David asked through the window. "C'mon, Dave, please don't give 'em to anyone else." "Truce?" "Yeah!" Chad exclaimed, pulling open the driver's door. "C'mon inside." Then he tore off toward the front door, leaving a chuckling David in his tracks. David once again got the presents and made his way to the front door, which was still open. He knocked lightly and heard Mrs. Murray inviting him in over Chad's excited babbling. He shook his head, and walked toward the kitchen. "Hi Mrs. Murray, I didn't think you wanted to heat the outside so I closed the door behind me." Mrs. Murray glanced at her excited son, "Did you leave the door open?" "I forget," Chad answered. "But David brought us presents!" David placed the gifts on the kitchen table and unzipped his coat. "Just bought a little something for you and Cindy," he explained to Chad. "But we didn't get you anything," Chad replied, a slight frown crossing his face. "S'ok, man. No big deal. It's sort of a surprise for you two, that's all." "Cool. Wow, thanks." Then he looked at his mother. "Can we open them now?" "No," David and Mrs. Murray answered in unison and grinned. His mother continued, "They're Christmas presents, Chad. You don't open them until Christmas, now go put them under the tree." Disappointedly, Chad picked up the gifts and walked toward the living room. "You didn't have to get them anything David," Mrs. Murray smiled. "I know, but I had some extra money from watching them, so I thought I'd buy 'em something." "Well, it was very nice of you, thanks." "No sweat," David answered, a little embarrassed. They were interrupted by a flying ten-year-old as Chad leapt on David, wrapping his arms around his neck and hugging him. "Thanks, Dave, really." David chuckled and wrapped one arm under Chad's butt to support him and returned the hug with the other. "No problem, Chad. I just hope you like what I got you." "I will, I promise," answered Chad, still wrapped around David. Then he pulled his head back to look the older boy in the face. "Ya wanna have a snowball battle? Cindy won't because she says girls don't have snowball fights." "Chad, the last time you and Cindy had a snowball fight, she came in crying. So it's no wonder she doesn't want to," Mrs. Murray informed her son. "Well, I didn't mean to hit her so hard. So?" he asked David again. "Wish I could man, but I'm sort of still dressed in good clothes, and mom's fixing supper." "Oh, okay," Chad replied, then slid to the floor, standing facing David. "Hey, wanna come up to my room, I have something to tell you." Getting a nod from Mrs. Murray, David followed Chad upstairs. They entered the youngster's room, And Chad promptly shut the door. "Guess what?" "What?" David asked, sitting down on Chad's desk chair. "I haven't peed the bed since the last time you were here," Chad told him proudly. "Well, you didn't when I was here either, man. But that's great." David smiled. "Yeah, mom and dad were waking me up and all, but then they forgot one night and I didn't do anything, so they aren't doing it any more." "Chad, that's cool." Chad blushed a little, then grinned. "So when I spend the night at your house, we can sleep together like you and Kelly do." David laughed, "Now just hold on a sec. When is this supposed to be?" "Whenever I'm big enough for you to invite me over," Chad replied seriously. "Well, we'll see," replied David, not quite knowing how to respond. "Cool," enthused Chad, giving David another brief hug. David cleared his throat and looked at his watch. "Hey man, I gotta get going. It's almost supper time." "Okay, Dave. You could always eat here. Mom and dad wouldn't mind." David laughed again, "Well, thanks, but mom's expecting me home. Maybe next time." "Cool, I'll ask." "Okay, but tonight I've gotta eat at home." David smiled, then started toward the door. "Thanks Chad, you're pretty cool." Chad followed David downstairs where he said his goodbyes to Mrs. Murray and Chad, getting another bear hug from the boy. He returned Mrs. Murray's grin, hugged back, and extricated himself from Chad's arms to head home. "Y'all have a good Christmas," he said to the two of them as he opened the front door. "You and your family have a Merry Christmas, too, David," replied Mrs. Murray. "Thanks, I hope so," David responded, then shot a grin at Chad. "Hope you and Cindy like what I got ya." "We will, thanks, Dave." "You're welcome, see ya." David returned home just as his father pulled into the driveway. He pulled up behind his father, who got out of the truck scowling. "What's wrong, dad?" "Well, I have to work on Christmas." "Oh man," David complained. "Well, I know you guys aren't going to be happy, but money's money." "I guess," David replied sullenly. They walked into the house, and his dad informed the rest of the family over the supper table. Lynn almost cried, and his mom got really quiet and stayed that way through the rest of the meal. David was glad when he was finished, so he could retreat from the atmosphere around the table. He walked back to his room and turned on his stereo and opened a book and stayed there for the rest of the night. After Lynn went to bed, he turned off the stereo and climbed into bed himself. He was still awake when he heard quiet arguing coming from his parents' room. He buried his head under the pillow and tried to go to sleep. He was just drifting off when he heard the voices rise in pitch then get silent. He pulled his head from under the pillow and heard angry footsteps walk past his room. He heard the rattle of keys, the carport door shut angrily, then the sound of his dad's truck backing out of the driveway. He sighed quietly, hearing his mother go to comfort Lynn, who was sobbing, and rolled back on his side. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep hearing the murmur of his mom's voice from the room next door. ***************************************************************************** Holidays seemed to be a time of stress for my family...everything seemed to get blown out of proportion. Glad those days are over.... Please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback. email: fupduckmd@yahoo.com AIM and Yahoo: fupduckmd Fup