>"And this Christmas~! Will be~! A very special Christmaaaaas-"
>Tapping your foot to the song playing on the radio, your fingers type away expertly.
>Licking your lips, your eyes scan the screen, from end to end, the only things amplifying your focus being the music, and your desire to complete your job.
>Your name is Monochrome Anonymous. Anon to your friends, and anybody who knows you.
>Stopping for a moment, you lean back in your chair, and stretch. During your mini break, you look around your office, admiring how neat, and tidy everything is. Everything is in order.
>Outside, snowflakes fall silently, save for the occasional wind rattling the glass with a muffled rattle.
>NOK NOK.
>"Knock knock! Working hard, or hardly working?"
>Your gaze shifts from the window to your visitor.
>A young woman with sunglasses resting on her head is leaning against your office door frame.
"Oh. Blueberry. What can I do for you?"
>Blueberry sighs, rolling her eyes.
>"My god, Anon! You're so uptight! Can't I come see you, just to shoot it?"
>You cock an eyebrow.
"Shoot it? What're you shooting?"
>Blueberry groans, sitting in the chair positioned in front of your desk.
>"Really? I knew you were somewhat, reserved, but I didn't think you were THIS out-of-touch!"
>You go back to typing, not looking at her.
"If the others hear my secretary talking to me like this, they'll start to disrespect me."
>She waves you off.
>"Who cares what those schmucks think? The only one you need to be concerned with is me! Your favorite employee!"
>She rests her chin on the top of her hands cutely.
>It's your turn to sigh.
"What're you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be working?"
>"Anon, it's quittin time! Don't you look at the clock ever?"
>You look at the time. 8:00 PM. She's right.
"Oh. Looks like I lost track of time."
>Blue stares at you with a disappointed look.
>"Uh-huh...annnnnd....?"
"And what?"
>She facepalms.
>"The Christmas party! We hold it every year, before we close for the season! Remember?"
>Still not looking at her, you stay quiet, saving your work, and shutting down the computer.
>"You're coming this year, right?"
"..."
>You stare at the screen half-listening, your mind on something else entirely.
>"Yoo-hoo~ Earth to Anon. You still there?"
>A hand waving in your face, snaps you out of your spacing out.
"H-huh? What?"
>Blueberry sighs, shaking her head, as you stand up.
>"You said you'd go to the party this time! Remember?"
"Did I? It must've slipped my mind..."
>You retrieve your coat, and scarf off the back of your chair.
>"You did! In fact, you've promised to do this every year since I started this job!"
>You put on your hat, obviously planning to go straight home.
"Hm. Well. I'm afraid I have to skip it again this year."
>Blueberry pokes out her bottom lip, and lowers her eyelids.
>"Oh really? Got a hot date planned? A little Mistletoe action? Hah? Haaaah?"
"I could write you up for this."
>"You could, but you love me too much!"
"Hnnngh..."
>She can be such a pain, but she's the only person who actually speaks to you these days. She was the only one who spoke to you in High School as well.
>Your personality doesn't exactly scream "Approachable", and "Friendly". Wonder what spurred her to talk to you?
>You shoo her out of your office, locking up behind yourself.
>"So? What is it?"
"What is what?"
>"Is it a hot date? Is there finally a special lady in your life?"
"Nope. I'm too busy for that sort of thing."
>She follows you to the elevator, tilting her head in thought.
>"Say...How DO you spend your holidays?"
"What do you mean?"
>"It's not that complex of a question. I mean, every year around this time you just pack up and leave without so much a hint as to what you're doing! Are you gonna see your family? Go out of town? What?"
"..."
>You don't want to answer. It's none of her business.
>DING.
>The Elevator doors open up to an empty inside.
>"Anon! Don't ignore me!"
>You step inside, Blueberry closely behind like your shadow.
"Grrr..."
>"Don't growl at me either! Just answer the question!"
>She leans in close, staring you in the eyes.
>You try to look away. She's always had the Jungle Book ability like Mowgli. Not the Disney version.
>"Anon...."
"...Okay! God."
>She backs away victorious, and folding her arms.
"I just go straight home, and watch TV specials! There! You happy?"
>Her look of confidence turns to pity quickly.
>"Oh Anon...you poor thing. Do you not have family to spend Christmas with? Wait. Are you like Batman?!"
>You pinch the bridge of your nose.
"My family is alive, and well, I assure you."
>She puts a finger to her chin.
>"Are they....you know...?"
"What are you talking about now?"
>DING. Parking Garage. The automated voice screeches out.
>"Are they like, Redneck Hillbillies?"
"NO."
>You start heading to your car, still being shadowed by the inquisitive Blueberry.
>So then why don't you go see them? You have a couple weeks!"
"Because of personal reasons."
>"Such as?"
"It's called "Personal" for a reason."
>"Anon. It's me. Geez."
>You take a deep breath, ignoring her once again, finally finding your car.
>Unlocking the door, you get in with a grunt. Blueberry gets in on the other side.
"What are you doing?"
>"Waiting for my answer!"
"What? Get out. Don't you have a party to attend?"
>"Aw shucks, Nonny. I always have time for you~!"
>You drag a hand down your face in irritation.
" I swear to god, you're insatiable."
>"I'm your best friend. It's what we do."
>You look at Blue, who is staring at you attentively.
"I...don't really get along with them."
>"Why not? Were they abusive?"
"No. Nothing like that. I just wasn't their favorite child."
>Her eyes widen.
>"WHAAAAT? But-but-you're like super smart, and have an awesome job that pays well!"
>You chuckle.
"Yeah, but I can't play football to save my life, or run fast."
>Blueberry thinks for a second, and opens her mouth.
"No, My family isn't comprised of blue hedgehogs."
>"Uh...I wasn't gonna ask that..."
>She looks away with crimson cheeks. Looks like you nailed it.
"It's like this. My little sister is a super-athlete, and well..my parents just chose to support her more than me. You can't exactly make noise, and wave flags around as your kid takes his SAT."
>"....That's so sad..."
>You shrug.
"It is, what it is."
>"But it explains a lot about you."
"Does it now?"
>She nods.
>"You obviously want the approval and love of your parents! You're emotionless, because you don't want to be hurt or let-down like you feel your family did to you. Right?"
"Are you my secretary, or my Psychiatrist?"
>"I dabble!"
>You roll your eyes.
" I assure you that's not the case."
>"Isn't it, though?"
"No. It's not."
>She curls her lip, unconvinced.
>"Look. You don't have to listen to me-"
"What were you saying?"
>She punches you in the arm.
>"Look at you mister jokester."
"I dabble."
>She grins, but gets back on the subject.
>"Even if that's not the case, I think it would be good for you to contact them. Maybe even go spend this break with them."
"Why is that? I don't have a reason to-"
>"Closure!"
"Closure? I don't need closure for-"
>"Then just to see them."
>She makes a serious expression at you.
>"I think it's absolutely criminal that you stay at home alone during the holidays, when you should be yucking it up with your loved ones! Don't you think you deserve some joy in your life?"
>You lock eyes, sitting in silence.
"What makes you think I'll have a good time seeing them?"
>She shrugs.
>"I don't, but wouldn't you like to try? Just take a chance! I mean, you have nothing to lose, right? If they're shit, just leave with with double birds held up!"
>You narrow your eyes, confused by her slang.
>She sighs, holding up two middle fingers
"Ah. I gotcha."
>You look at the steering wheel, thinking.
"Nothing to lose, huh?"
>"Nothing at all."
>You grip the steering wheel, and let out a deep sigh.
"I'll think about it."
>"Do more than that!"
"That's the best I'm willing to do."
>BB pouts, with puffed out cheeks.
"Now get out. The others are gonna start wondering where you are."
>"Okaaaaay~"
>She opens the passenger door, but pecks you on the cheek real fast before getting out.
>"I'm gonna call you in a couple days to see if you went! Don't let me down!"
"Hnngh..."
>She closes the door,walking off back to the elevators, as you start the car up.
>You pull out, honking the horn a couple times at Blueberry, who furiously waves you goodbye.
>That girl...She's such a..she's kinda right.
>You turn on the radio, as you drive home, lost in thought, almost as if on autopilot.
>When was the last time you even spoke to your parents? Or your little sister?
>What's it been, like 7 years? Time really flies.
>It's not like they don't call. You usually let it go to the machine, but they do call. Just it's always "Our little girl accomplished this" or "your sister did that". It's infuriating.
>What about you? How about how well you did when you too your college exams? Or when you won the National Spelling Bee? One would think parents would be more eager to support the one with academic prominence, over the knuckle-dragging dyke meat head!
>You break out of your internal monologue, feeling your face twisted into a scowl, and your hands attempting to strangle your steering wheel.
>You're home. Looks like you've been home for some time actually. a thin layer of snow has covered your windshield.
>That was...weird. You're usually more in control of your emotions. Especially when you're voicing them to yourself.
>Getting out, you make your way inside of your moderately spacious house. The fruits of hard work to be sure.
>Once inside, your lights automatically come on, and your radio powers up, playing more Holiday music. You toss off your coat, hat and scarf, leaving your soaking wet shoes at the door.
>You're still pondering Blueberry's request, as you plop down into your armchair, flipping on the television.
>Home Alone 2 is playing. It's at the part where Kevin is ordering Room service, and is about to go to the toy store.
"Heh. I remember when I wanted to have a Christmas like that..."
>You're so well off, you could do that, but jesus. All those sweets, and Pizza would for sure give you Diabetes.
>Kevin's parents are on the screen now, with his siblings. They all have crestfallen expressions on their face at that thought of not being with their child for Christmas.
>You wonder if your own Mother, and Father made such faces.
".....Hm."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyhfkOUEqc [Embed]
>You flash a look at the tv, as this song starts to play.
>"Reunion at Rockafeller center". Is the TV trying to tell you something, or is it just the addled pontification of a madman who's looking for an excuse to talk to people he's cast away for the better part of less than a decade?
>You lean on your elbow, thinking.
>How would you even approach this situation? Hey Mom, and Dad! I know I've ignored you guys, but your baby boy wants to come home for the holidays! How's that sound?
>Yeah right.
"....Sorry BeeBee. I just can't do it."
>And like that you give up. Maybe it's better this way. It's not like you can just pretend nothing happened and extend an olive branch. You're not in the wrong here. They were more concerned with Rain-
>You stop thinking. You're feeling yourself get emotional again. Even saying your sister's name makes repressed feelings bubble up to the surface-
>-and you don't want to expose them to baggage like that! You've done a stellar job of sealing away useless feelings like that for years. No point in drudging them up now! This is what happens when you don't have work to occupy your mental faculties. Stupid Blueberry Cake, making you think of this useless stuff...
>You sink into your chair, letting out a loud mouthy breath.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-g0hkNsZcc [Embed]
>You nearly jump out of your seat in surprise.
"Oh...It's just the phone..."
>It continues to ring from its place on your end table, until it finally stops.
>Your answer machine clicks on in response.
>"You've reached the Anon household. If you're a business prospect please contact my office number, and my secretary will inform me of your call. If this is a personal call, please leave your name, number and a brief message, and I'll try to return the call. Good day." BEEEEP-
>So professional. Who would have thought in your wildest dreams that you'd be so successful, you could afford to leaves greetings like that?
>You stand up waiting to hear who's calling.
>"-hh! I got his answer machine, hon! You gotta be quiet!"
>"I want to leave a message too!"
>Two familiar voices bicker on your answer machine.
"Is this just cruel irony, or a happy coincidence?"
>The message continues.
>"Hey anon-"
>"HEEEEEY! ANON! It's MOM! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!-"
>You roll your eyes. As energetic as always.
>"I think he can hear you. I-in any case, we were just calling because we wanted to wish you a happy Christmas, and-"
>"It's MERRY Christmas, dear."
>"What? You can say happy too!"
>"That sounds weird. Dashie thinks so too!"
>You grumble in annoyance. There it is. That Dashie worship. Dashie is always right. Dashie is the best-
>"Forget that. We're calling to wish you a happy holidays, and were hoping that maybe you would call us back...It's been so long since we've heard your voice-"
>"Dashie misses you too! You won't believe the things she's been doing as of late!"
>"Ooh yes! She's training for the Town Winter Triathlon! You won't believe the regiment she's-"
>You find yourself picking up the phone. Not because you wanted to speak to them, but because you don't want to hear more about Rainbow's Accolades. That DAMN Rainbow Dash.
>"Hello? Hello?! Did someone just answer the phone?!"
>"Is it Anon? Anon! It's Mom!"