Breakfast and Presents~ A Christmas Short Story

     Adam let out huge yawn, blinking sleep from his eyes he looked around, his vision was slightly blurred from falling asleep with his glasses on. A quick glance at the electric blue alarm clock on his nightstand told him it was only 6:33 in the morning. Normally he would go back to sleep, maybe even in bed this time, but today was the exception. It is the one day a year everyone actually wants to get up early.. Christmas. Adam grinned, he still loved Christmas morning and looked forward to it every year, but this Christmas would be even better. This year he got to spend Christmas with Poptart.

He glanced over at the bed, expecting to see her tiny form under his blanket when a tiny snoring from his pocket told him that Poptart had opted to sleep in there for the night. He smiled at the thought of her wanting to stay with him, despite the fact that had fallen asleep at his desk after staying up too late reading. Again. Pulling the pocket open slightly he looked down at the tiny TweeTwee, her long hair was messed up and covered most of her face in a soft pink veil. The purple and gray striped hat with the pompom on top that she usually wore was falling over her eyes, but failed to cover up her rosy cheeks. I bet it's warm in there, he thought. After all she was pressed up against his chest, that plus her over-sized gray sweater and matching leg warmers would make anyone turn rosy faced, but she seemed perfectly happy. Darn you're too cute Poptart, he thought as he she shifted in his pocket, curling up on her other side and causing her hat to fall completely over her eyes. Reaching down he carefully pinched the top of it with his fingers and adjusted the hat so it was in its proper place, in response to his action one sleepy blue eye cracked open, followed by a dreary pink one. He had always loved the fact that her eyes were different colors.

"Sorry, I tried not to wake you up." He whispered, rubbing a thumb gently over the tiny wings on her head, causing them to flutter happily in response. Poptart yawned, stretching her arms up as far as they could reach, she could almost reach the rim of the pocket with her fingertips. Almost.

"I like waking up." She mumbled, leaning back into his chest and craning her neck back to look up into his eyes. "I get to see you!" A tiny hand pressed against his fingertip, which was still holding open the rim of the pocket. "What are we doing today?" She inquired, cocking her head to the side she gazed at him, the sleepiness already absent from her eyes. Adam couldn't help it, he chuckled at her, just up and already prepared for adventure, never change Poptart.

"Well, it is Christmas. Shall we start with breakfast and presents?" He grinned at the look of curiosity on her face, reaching down to fix her hat again.

"Breakfast and presents?" She sat up straighter, her eyes growing huge at the prospect of food and gifts in the same morning.

"Yes, breakfast and presents!"

"What are we waiting for?" Jumping up she swayed, trying to keep her balance in his pocket. Sticking his finger in he allowed her to latch onto it, then carefully lifted her out, lifting his other hand up he lowered her into his palm. She immediately sat up and leaned forward, cocking her head to one side and staring at him with a confused expression, her little feather tail sticking up like it did every time she got interested in something.

"What's Christmas?" It was Adams turn to look surprised.

"You don't know what Christmas is?" He raised his hand closer to his face to see if she was messing with him. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Nope." A miniscule finger poked his nose, her shining eyes gazing into his expectantly. Raising the hand not holding her he rubbed the back of his head and decided to use the simple explanation for Christmas. Poptart had a tendency to get bored if you made things too complicated.

"Well Christmas is a day where everyone gets together with the ones they care about, like me and you." He poked her belly playfully with a finger, accentuating the 'you' as he did. "And they sit around a Christmas tree and give each other presents." She smiled and bounced in his hand at the thought.

"I love Christmas!" She cried, cause him to burst out laughing and shake his head. She paused for a moment, realization dawning on her face.

"So that's why you got the big shiny tree, I thought it was just cause it was pretty and fun to climb."

"Nope, it's a Christmas tree. Speaking of which, how would you like to open your present?" Poptart nearly fell out of his hand in excitement, her hat falling off in the process to reveal the little yellow bow she always wore.

"I get a present?" He smiled, nudging her gently with his nose.

"Of course you get a present, you are after all a person I care about." He laughed as she tried to hide her blush by putting her hat back on. Cupping his hand to his chest he stood, stretching and running his hand through his hair, which consisted of a short mess of light brown, dark brown, and tan-ish white sections in some places. Lifting up his hand he let Poptart jump off and settle on top of his head, she liked riding in his hair for some reason, probably because she could see everything and hide in it. Flexing his shoulders, which were stiff from sleeping at his desk, he walked into the living-room, scooped a big box off of the floor, and took a seat in his favorite chair. He placed the box on the coffee table in front of him, gently placing Poptart next to it he leaned forward and smiled. "I'll grab some breakfast, you start opening that." She nodded at him and began to savagely tear at the wrapping as he made his way into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a poptart and glass of milk, or in her case a bottle cap, for each of them. By the time he said down again she had already somehow managed to tear of all the wrapping paper.

"Here, I'll help you with the box." Poptart smiled in appreciation, the wings on her head fluttering eagerly. Lifting the box he carefully opened it and set it down, offering her a hand so she could climb into it. She squealed with excitement when she realized it was filled with those Styrofoam popcorn packaging nuggets, which he had put in there to both hide her presents, and make it cushier inside the box so she didn't hurt herself trying to get to her presents. Poptart tended to be clumsy when she was excited. Diving off his hand she plunged into the mini sea of Styrofoam determined to find her gift. She surfaced holding a clear orb with a silver spiral looping  throughout it's interior.

"What is it?" Her eyes were huge, fixated on the shiny object in her hands.

"It's a marble, I got you a whole bag of them. Marbles aren't the only thing in there by the way." He had scarcely finished his sentence when she dove yet again into the box accompanied by a small whooshing sound. She came up a few seconds later holding a scarf in one hand and a miniature teddy in the other. The scarf was long, gray and pink, and matched her sweater. The teddy was brown, with a little heart sewn onto its chest and a happy smile on its face. Reaching forward he held up a hand and helped her down from the box, chuckling quietly as she turned and hugged his thumb with one arm, the teddy wrapped safely in the other.

"You're the best Adam." He blushed at the statement, and pulled her hat down over her eyes playfully.

"Hey, only for the best." Now it was Poptarts turn to blush, reaching up she pulled the rim of her hat back up so she could see him and stuck out her tongue with a wink.

"Touche." Adam laughed and sat back, taking a bite of his poptart and watching Poptart do the same. They were her favorite food, hence her name being 'Poptart'. He admired how cute she looked munching her pastry and clinger to the teddy when she stopped and looked at him in horror. He swallowed what was in his mouth and leaned forward, a worried look coming on his face.

"What's wrong?" She hung her head sadly.

"I didn't get you a present." He looked surprised, oh no, how did I not think of this? Of course she would want to give me something... common Adam think...

"Oh that's okay Poptart, you're my Christmas present!" She blinked back the tears in her eyes and looked at him curiously.

"Really?" She asked. He gave her his most sincere smile.

"Yes silly, what I wanted this year was a friend. And you're the best friend I could ever have hoped for, therefore you-" He poked her in the belly playfully, "are my Christmas present." She seemed to ponder this for a second, then she smiled and nodded.
"I still want to give you something though..." He remained silent as she stared hard at the table in thought. "Oh!" Her head whipped up and she jumped to her feet, eyes shining and tail sticking up again. "I know what to give you!" She burst out laughing at the look of confusion on her face. Smiling mischievously she beckoned for him to come closer. What are you up to? He wondered, rising from his chair he knelt until his face was level with her.

"Yes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her quizzically. Poptart just grinned and stepped toward his face. Standing on her tiptoes she gave the tip of his nose a quick kiss. Adam smiled, watching her turn bright scarlet and step back shyly. He couldn't help himself any longer, reaching forward he carefully scooped her up and sat down in the chair again. Raising the hand holding her he gently cupped her against his chest in a hug. She giggled and clung to the fabric of his sweatshirt.

"Merry Christmas Adam."

"Merry Christmas Poptart."

And a merry Christmas it was.


The End.