Jackson Square

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Shall we go?" Jareth said, offering his arm to Erin, who linked up with him and played along.

"Yes, we shall," Erin agreed, assuming a playful British persona. "And afterwards we might enjoy some scones and tea?"

Jareth gave her a very serious look, shaking his head. "No, no, no, no. We mustn't. I have been gaining some weight recently and I cannot bear to eat a single crumb until I have berid myself of it." he replied, making Erin explode into wide laughter. Jareth joined her in mirth. "Let's have some fun."

"All right," Erin agreed, words still bubbling with leftover laughter.

Erin's done here.[/u]

----

Trent Fisher

"Yeah, I get you. I should let you get back to your stuff, though." Really, he just wanted out of the conversation. It was just boring now... if the artist didn't want to talk, then what was he still doing there? Meh... this sucks.

Artist sighed deeply. "Yeah, sure." He went back to his picture, and Trent shrugged it off, sauntering down the sidewalk. There were way more entertaining people around the city, and people that would actually give him the time of day.

Trent's gone, too.[/u]

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

It was getting late into the afternoon - Yukito checked his cell phone for the eighth time since leaving the hotel room to see if Erin had called him or sent a message. He had been a little worried about her lately. After the whole Yumi-is-back paranoia attack and the stuff about ditching his mom in favor of a shared hotel room with Kagasan (and all the reasons behind that a decision), he was afraid she was taking too much worry and fuss on. She was already a little freaked out, too. And now she was loading up with all his past issues. He sighed, a smile on his face. A badly spelled message was received from 'Sunshine' with extra exclamation points. He sent her one back teasing that he wouldn't let her near the coffee in his hands for a million bucks. Since she was already hyped up anyways. He took a sip of his coffee just to mentally spite her. The caffeine was calming more than anything - he didn't know how some people got a sort of high off it. Maybe it was a mental thing. A good excuse to act a little crazier. He didn't need or want the excuse.

Yukito stopped abruptly in front of a video store, his expression blank as he stared at the newer movies. None of them looked lame enough to watch with Erin. The lame ones were better, since they were more amusing. Also, they typically didn't take watching every minute of screen time to understand the plot. Which meant more personal time, as he had taken to calling it.

It took him a moment to notice the girl nearby, but it only took a fraction of a second to recognize her. "Saitosan?" he said in disbelief.

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Presby planned!GG may correct/etc if she sees with her fabulous intellect that I/we have made any factual errors about hayrides or whatever. Pleeeaaaaaase? =3 BIC:

Preston Brailsford

It was turning into a rather cold winter for New Orleans. Preston actually had to wear a jacket against the cold. There was excited talk of snow that night, and already there seemed to be a frost covering the particularly shadowy corners, an eerie promise. It was going to be a fantastic evening, and was going to be enjoying it well. There were several other members of his family going on the hayride, mostly cousins and their respective parents. A few friends - at some point it had become almost 'uncool' for most of them to sit on itchy hay bales and rumble slowly along the quiet countryside - and a lot of people he didn't know. Someone offered him a candycane, which he took and broke in half, sharing with the little girl to his left. She smiled up at him, her nose already turning red from the chill.

"Preston," she asked him, "Is it this cold at the North Pole?"

"It's waaaay colder, Stephanie," he told her with a smile, wrapping his arm around her, pulling her close to keep her warm. "Are you ready to get on?"

She nodded, and as if she had psychic abilities, her mother came over and led her up onto the enormous trailer, with a hale bale lined along the outside for everyone to sit on. A man stood next to a set of haybales being used as steps, making sure everyone got on alright and was greeted accordingly. He smiled at Preston, who stuck the candycane in his mouth as he clambered on easily, moving immediately to the back of the trailer and sitting on a bale with his legs dangling off the back. Most people sat with their feet inward, except for a few of the youths and a few children. At least, until the parents reprimanded them, scolding them gently for throwing popcorn and squealing with delight at the prospect of a hayride. Preston broke off some of the candycane in his mouth, hearing the crunch noise pounding in his ears as he chewed. He turned around to watch everyone getting on, and caught a familiar face. The candycane drooped down as his mouth opened in surprise.

"Shelby?" He smiled. "I didn't expect to see you here!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

It was supposed to be all of them. A big family outing on one of the first true cold nights of the year--all the Wright children, and Ilaria's brother and his family, who coincidentally happened to live in New Orleans as well. Ha. Coincidences don't exist. Ed and Al proved that to me. Dad probably asked around in Verona or wherever he went about who had relatives in Louisiana. Or something. It's way too perfect... But first Jake had announced that spending time with his new girlfriend, Marcia, was more important than bonding with their new stepmother and buying into Dad's delusion that they could pretend to be a big, happy family, and then Cassie had decided that the stress of final exams in a few weeks were just too much for her and requested to stay home and study. So in the end, it ended up being just Shelby, Dad, and some people she barely knew being forced into a hay ride to 'look at the splendor of the Christmas lights' or something ridiculous like that. Oh, and Ilaria and the Demon Spawn, of course.

Shelby shot another glare at her stepmother's stomach as they walked over to the tractor for the hay ride. Sure, you couldn't see anything yet, but just the idea that Ilaria was going to have a baby made Shelby's insides constrict in disgust and hate. A baby? Were they serious? As if it wasn't bad enough that her dad had married a girl half of his age, but to cement that fact by having a baby...

"Ooh! Is very cold in New Or-lee-uns now, yes? Colder than I remember!" said the very cause of the problem, Ilaria herself. Shelby rolled her eyes, playing with her bright pink gloves in annoyance. They were the only ones that fit her anymore, cast-offs of Cassie's, and they hadn't had time to stop and get her a new pair. I hate this. All of this.

Luca Barone, Ilaria's much-older brother who'd been living in New Orleans since before Shelby was born, as it turned out, caught Shelby's eye and winked. Shelby pointedly looked away, and Luca responded to Ilaria's comment in very fast Italian. Meanwhile, Luca's two daughters squealed in delight as they climbed aboard the hay ride. Shelby took her candy cane and made as if to brush past them, but the sight of an all-too familiar face made her freeze in her tracks.

Preston. What are the odds?

They hadn't talked much since that day. Filming had been awkward enough, but luckily Shelby had managed to avoid him at school for the most part. Seeing him here now seemed like a cruel joke. Immediately she fell back behind the children, hoping to slip past before he could see her.

"Shelby? I didn't expect to see you here!"

The corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly. "Hey," she mumbled before sticking her candy cane in her mouth, using it as an excuse not to talk. The little girls laughed as Shelby turned as pink and her scarf and gloves. "Shelby, do you know that boy?" Cecily--or was it Grace?--asked her. "Let's sit next to him!"

Shelby had no choice. She plunked herself on the hay bale to Preston's right, immediately sitting the same way he was, facing away from the driver. Grace and Cecily followed suit, with their parents sitting a little ways away on the right side of the tractor-hay ride thing. Mark and Ilaria sat next to them. "Daddy, Mommy, Tia Ilaria, Tio Marcello, can we go see Santa afterward?" the younger daughter--Grace! That was it!--asked. Shelby sighed.

"Joy to the world," she mumbled.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Shelby?" His surprised tone sort of matched the look on her face. She had seen him at the same time he caught sight of her. Both of them had candy canes stuck in their mouths, too. "I didn't expect to see you here!"

The corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly. He was getting used to that being the norm, maybe it was just him. But he was constantly hoping she'd give a little laugh, at least every now and then... "Hey," she mumbled. She was being trailed by a small party of people, but it was hard to tell how many and who because of the on-rush of smiling faces. A girl Preston didn't recognize spoke to Shelby, making her flush from more than the chill in the air. Without speaking, Shelby came and sat down next to Preston, making him optimistic. She even sat with her legs dangling outside the circle like he had, making him smile. Her family followed her, and Preston thought he recognized her father.

"Daddy, Mommy, Tia Ilaria, Tio Marcello, can we go see Santa afterward?" The little girl near Shelby asked. Shelby herself, standing out brightly with pink gloves on her hands, just sighed in dismay.

"Joy to the world," she mumbled. Preston got the feeling she didn't mean it. He nudged her a little, still feeling how thin she was under the layers of clothing.

"Here with your family, huh?" He smiled over at the girl who had asked about Santa. "So...I haven't seen you much since the musical ended." He hadn't mentioned the kiss to her at all. At least, not directly. But he couldn't hide a knowing smile. Whether she had regretted kissing him or not, or whether there was more behind it she didn't think she could talk about, he found her cute for doing it. But Shelby put off every stay-away vibe he could have imagined, and he was cool with letting her wait for awhile, and had kept his distance. A very awkward distance. "Do you like hayrides?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

Someone up there really doesn't like me, Shelby decided as her eyes landed on Preston. What else could explain him magically appearing on the very hayride she'd been dragged kicking and screaming to? It just didn't make sense...Cassie would make some dumb joke about it right about now. Like 'it's a Christmas miracle!' or something. God, I'm glad she's not here... "Hey..." What are you doing here? she wanted to ask. How did you know where to find me?

The little girls immediately started chattering as they headed right towards him, leaving Shelby no choice but to sit down beside him. Shelby sighed but tried to keep her face free of emotion as she settled herself on the poky bale of hay, her feet dangling over the edge and her elbows resting on the railing. Grace, the younger of Luca's two girls, asked if they could go see Santa Claus after the hay ride, and Shelby found herself sighing again. I barely liked seeing him when I was a kid, she complained to herself. Why would I want to see Santa now?

"Joy to the world."

Her words were followed by a nudge from Preston, which caused her to immediately stiffen up, warning bells going through her head. Stop that. You're not allowed to do that...you're not. I won't let you... "Here with your family, huh?" he asked pleasantly.

Shelby gave a little shrug. "You might say that. More like step-cousins, really...they're my stepmom's nieces. So...yeah."

Little Grace--Shelby could never remember how old she was, but she was guessing around six or seven--tugged on her sleeve. "Mommy and Daddy says we shouldn't say 'step', because it means not real, and we're a real family." She grinned at Shelby and Preston, showing off the classic no-teeth in front, first grade mouth look. Shelby chuckled. "Sure, Gracie," she said quietly. "Sure."

"So...I haven't seen you much since the musical ended." Was Shelby just imagining things, or was there some sort of hidden meaning behind his words? She wasn't even sure she wanted to know, just as long as he never mentioned her stupid lapse of judgment on That Day. I've blocked that from my memory best I can, and you should to.

Yeah, right. I can't even lie to myself anymore, can I?

"Uh...yeah," she said, a little sheepishly. "Turned out pretty good. Got an A. The teacher liked it, I guess...and it all worked out, I'm a lovely sophomore now."

"Do you like hayrides?"

Shelby gave another shrug, this one accompanied by a little smile in spite of herself. "I guess so...Hay rides I'm a fan of, Christmas...not so much. Never liked it all that much..." she trailed off, shrugging again. "It sounds stupid, but it's tough sharing a birthday with Jesus, if you know what I mean. So it's never been my favorite holiday."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

He nudged her, earning - of course - a darkened look on Shelby's face. "Here with your family, huh?" he asked pleasantly.

Shelby gave a little shrug. "You might say that. More like step-cousins, really...they're my stepmom's nieces. So...yeah." Preston nodded, looking over at the group curiously.

The youngest one, who was being pretty adorable, started tugging on Shelby's sleeve. "Mommy and Daddy says we shouldn't say 'step', because it means not real, and we're a real family." She grinned at Shelby and Preston, showing off the classic no-teeth in front, first grade mouth look. Shelby chuckled. "Sure, Gracie," she said quietly. "Sure."

"Ah, Gracie, is it?" Preston reached over to offer her a handshake, "The name is Preston. Nice to meet you, Gracie." He beamed, "And step or not, I still think you're very cute." Leaning back, Preston turned back to Shelby, "So...I haven't seen you much since the musical ended."

"Uh...yeah," It was always a little frustrating at first, adjusting to the obvious way Shelby didn't seem to even like his company, much less want it in any way, shape, or form. But at least he'd chosen a fairly safe subject that she could talk about at some sort of length. "Turned out pretty good. Got an A. The teacher liked it, I guess...and it all worked out, I'm a lovely sophomore now."

"Awesome," he said sincerely. A moment of silence, then, "Do you like hayrides?"

Shelby gave another shrug, a tiny smile peering through. "I guess so... Hay rides I'm a fan of, Christmas... not so much. Never liked it all that much..." she trailed off, shrugging again.

"Really? Why not?" It seemed odd to like a holiday tradition and not care for the holiday. Besides, he'd never heard of a girl who didn't like Christmas.

"It sounds stupid, but it's tough sharing a birthday with Jesus, if you know what I mean. So it's never been my favorite holiday."

Preston's lips curved up in a surprised smile. "Are you serious? Your birthday is on Christmas Day? Wow..." That was kind of a rarity. Well, maybe not such a rare thing. There were 365 days in a year, how could the billions of kids born all avoid it? "I guess it's a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it. It's either, 'hey, everyone is celebrating my birthday!' or 'but it's not really a birthday anymore, is it?' Right?" Their conversation had to come to a pause as a man at the front of the trailer called for everyone's attention, telling them to enjoy the ride. With a slow, gentle bump the trailer starting moving. Preston watched the ground beneath his feet slipping away at a low speed as they continued down the street, then looked up at Shelby again. "So how do your parents do the Christmas-Birthday thing, anyways?"

He made a mental note to give her two gifts. At least he knew when her birthday was, now. In a weird corner of his mind, he honestly believed she'd mentioned when it was on purpose. Like she actually wanted him to know. Shelby liked to hide behind things, like a critter eager for cover to hide from larger, scarier animals. But he figured if he just stuck around long enough, he might be able to spot the old Shelby, and perhaps get the new Shelby to know him.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Mommy and Daddy says we shouldn't say 'step', because it means not real, and we're a real family," said Grace, tugging on Shelby's sleeve after she referred to the little ones as step-cousins. Beside her, the older one, Cecily, nodded seriously. Shelby let a little chuckle escape her. Okay, that's pretty cute, I admit. Doesn't mean I like you, or this whole situation. I still hate it. But you are kind of cute. "Sure, Gracie. Sure."

Preston seemed to think so too. "Ah, Gracie, is it?" he asked. Grace beamed at him. "Yep! And this is Cecily," she added, gesturing to her older sister, who gave Preston a shy smile and a wave. Preston held out a hand, and Gracie shook it with an air of a child trying to act important. "The name is Preston. Nice to meet you, Gracie."

"Hi, Preston!"

"And step or not, I still think you're very cute." This earned some giggles from Grace and a quick roll of the eyes from Shelby. You charm them all, don't you? "Fine. Not 'step'. Family...I guess. What about you? Are you here with your...people?"

"So...I haven't seen you much since the musical ended."

Shelby clammed up a bit at this, as if by hearing the question she'd forgotten how to speak.
"Uh...yeah. Turned out pretty good. Got an A. The teacher liked it, I guess...and it all worked out, I'm a lovely sophomore now."

"Awesome. Do you like hayrides?"

"I guess so... Hay rides I'm a fan of, Christmas... not so much. Never liked it all that much..."

Preston looked confused. "Really? Why not?"

Well, now she'd gone and done it. Now she would have to explain why she didn't like Christmas, and she knew from experience that there was no way to do that without sounding like a stuck-up, spoiled rich girl who wasn't used to not having things her way. But you already think that about me, don't you? "It sounds stupid, but it's tough sharing a birthday with Jesus, if you know what I mean. So it's never been my favorite holiday." There. I said it. Happy now?

"Are you serious? Your birthday is on Christmas Day?"

Shelby nodded. "Yep. A present they could never return, although I'm sure they wanted to." Okay, that sounded stupid. Seriously stupid. Note to self: shut up.

"Wow...I guess it's a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it. It's either, 'hey, everyone is celebrating my birthday!' or 'but it's not really a birthday anymore, is it?' Right?" Before Shelby could do anything more than nod, the hay ride took off with the low rumble of the tractor reverberating throughout the trailer. Beside her, Grace and Cecily clapped in delight. "So how do your parents do the Christmas-Birthday thing, anyways?"

"Combine it," Shelby answered simply. "You know, instead of getting separate presents I just get one from everybody...which makes me sound spoiled and selfish but for a seven-year-old, it really sucks. And I used to get really mad because we had to go to church on my birthday, too. And I don't get a birthday song. They sing a Christmas carol or something instead. I don't know why." She sighed, a bit nostalgically. "I used to love it, you know, because I thought the whole world was celebrating my birthday, and I was probably four or five before I actually figured it out. I guess I should just be grateful that they didn't give me a Christmassy name...my mom literally wanted to name me 'Mary Noelle'. Another name choice was something like 'Holly Hope' or 'Holly Ivy' or...something like that, but my dad rebelled...yeah."

She was silent for a bit. "I do like Christmas music though, a lot. So I guess that's something."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Ah, Gracie, is it?" he asked.

The little girl's smile flashed out of seemingly nowhere, offering a brilliant light of her own. "Yep! And this is Cecily," she added, gesturing to her older sister, who gave Preston a shy smile and a wave. Preston held out a hand, and Gracie shook it with an air of a child trying to act important. Cute.

"The name is Preston. Nice to meet you, Gracie." he turned to the older sister, "And you, Cecily."

"Hi, Preston!"

"And step or not, I still think you're very cute." The declaration made them giggle quite a bit, and Shelby rolled her eyes. He could see it out of the corner of his vision as he smiled at the girls. "Fine," Shelby stated, "Not 'step'. Family...I guess. What about you? Are you here with your...people?"

Preston offered a little shrug, "They're not into the hayrides anymore. My mother and sister are allergic to dust, and my dad's busy tonight." It was once more of a family tradition, before the allergies and life developed. Last year had been the last he'd gone with his sister. They'd kind of kept to their separate parties, but it had still been fun to know there was someone else there with him. He changed the subject on Shelby. "So...I haven't seen you much since the musical ended."

"Uh...yeah. Turned out pretty good. Got an A. The teacher liked it, I guess...and it all worked out, I'm a lovely sophomore now."

"Awesome. Do you like hayrides?"

"I guess so... Hay rides I'm a fan of, Christmas... not so much. Never liked it all that much..." This one surprised him. The confusion showed in his voice. He couldn't stop himself from asking why. Shelby sighed. "It sounds stupid, but it's tough sharing a birthday with Jesus, if you know what I mean. So it's never been my favorite holiday." There. I said it. Happy now?

"Are you serious? Your birthday is on Christmas Day?"

Shelby nodded. "Yep. A present they could never return, although I'm sure they wanted to."

Preston laughed at that, shaking his head, not quite believing that little joke. "Wow...I guess it's a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it. It's either, 'hey, everyone is celebrating my birthday!' or 'but it's not really a birthday anymore, is it?' Right?" The hayride began, starting them off on their journey. "So how do your parents do the Christmas-Birthday thing, anyways?"

"Combine it," Shelby answered simply, not sounding thrilled about it in the least. "You know, instead of getting separate presents I just get one from everybody...which makes me sound spoiled and selfish but for a seven-year-old, it really sucks. And I used to get really mad because we had to go to church on my birthday, too. And I don't get a birthday song. They sing a Christmas carol or something instead. I don't know why." She sighed, a bit nostalgically. "I used to love it, you know, because I thought the whole world was celebrating my birthday, and I was probably four or five before I actually figured it out. I guess I should just be grateful that they didn't give me a Christmassy name...my mom literally wanted to name me 'Mary Noelle'. Another name choice was something like 'Holly Hope' or 'Holly Ivy' or...something like that, but my dad rebelled...yeah."

Preston chuckled at that, but a certain air of sadness had descended on their conversation. He offered a reassuring smile, "Well, I think you should get a happy birthday song, whether you have to share with Jesus or not. I hear he's pretty good at the whole sharing thing." He shrugged. "It doesn't seem quite fair, you know? Everyone eats pies and you're sitting there, just wishing for a bad sugary birthday cake with Hello Kitty on it."

She was silent for a bit. "I do like Christmas music though, a lot. So I guess that's something." Preston smiled at her. Then he leaned forward to smile at Grace and Cecily.

"Do you guys know Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, by any chance?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

It was almost endearing to watch the little girls warm up so quickly to Preston, but at the same time Shelby was a little suspicious. You're not supposed to like them before I even like them. That's not how it goes. Because then they'll be on your side in this, and they'll want me to do more stupid things like kissing you and... "What about you? Are you here with your...people?"

Now it was Preston's turn to shrug. Shelby was sure that the two of them resembled a pair of jack-in-the-boxes right now. "They're not into the hayrides anymore. My mother and sister are allergic to dust, and my dad's busy tonight." Shelby nodded. "Kind of like that with me. My sister and brother were supposed to come too, but they both have dates--my brother with his girlfriend, Cassie with her textbooks. Or something." Shut up. Why am I telling him so much, anyway?

He asked her about the project, and she told him of her good grade and how much the teacher had liked it. It had definitely been one of the best, although the girl who had teamed up with another person in the class to do Rent had turned out a pretty awesome video too. But we were still awesome. Even if Yukito acted like a baby about the whole thing.

Then Preston asked her if she liked hayrides, which led into the same song-and-dance that Shelby had been subjected to for years...the inevitable 'Why don't you like Christmas if that's your birthday?!' speech. I'm getting so sick of this. Also, sick of talking... She wondered if Preston noticed how much she was talking, or how much better her voice sounded. Since school had started, Shelby had begun going to speech therapy to get rid of the permanent coarseness her voice had taken on through her months of silence. It hadn't been her choice to go--her parents had pretty much ganged up on her and insisted on it--but even Shelby couldn't deny that whatever it was they did, it was working. Her voice was only a little raspy and whispery now, and she had hopes that even that would go away soon. At least I sound normal now, even though I still don't talk much. That's good, right?

"So how do your parents do the Christmas-Birthday thing, anyways?"

"Combine it. You know, instead of getting separate presents I just get one from everybody...which makes me sound spoiled and selfish but for a seven-year-old, it really sucks. And I used to get really mad because we had to go to church on my birthday, too. And I don't get a birthday song. They sing a Christmas carol or something instead. I don't know why." She sighed, a bit nostalgically. "I used to love it, you know, because I thought the whole world was celebrating my birthday, and I was probably four or five before I actually figured it out. I guess I should just be grateful that they didn't give me a Christmassy name...my mom literally wanted to name me 'Mary Noelle'. Another name choice was something like 'Holly Hope' or 'Holly Ivy' or...something like that, but my dad rebelled...yeah."

Preston chuckled a bit at this. "Well, I think you should get a happy birthday song, whether you have to share with Jesus or not. I hear he's pretty good at the whole sharing thing. It doesn't seem quite fair, you know? Everyone eats pies and you're sitting there, just wishing for a bad sugary birthday cake with Hello Kitty on it."

Shelby laughed too. "Exactly. I've never gotten a birthday cake. I get pie or Christmas pudding with candles in it, because my parents think it's too unoriginal to have a plain old cake when I have such a 'special birthday. It's ridiculous. I do like Christmas music though, a lot," she admitted. "So I guess that's something."

Preston got a mischievous look on his face then, and a slight feeling of dread began to spread through Shelby. "Do you guys know Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, by any chance?" he asked Cecily and Grace.

Both the girls gasped in delight, identical grins coming across their faces. "Yeah, yeah!" cried Grace. "He's got a red nose, and he drives Santa's sleigh, and he's my favorite reindeer. Prancer is Cecily's. And he's got his own song!" She took a deep breath and began to sing.

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...

"Reindeer!" echoed Cecily. It's weird...the older one is shy and doesn't say anything, and the younger one doesn't stop talking. It's like the opposite of me and Cassie.

"Had a very shiny nose!"

"Like a light bulb!"

"And if you ever saw it..." Shelby sang before she could stop herself. Woah. Where'd that come from?

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Well, I think you should get a happy birthday song, whether you have to share with Jesus or not. I hear he's pretty good at the whole sharing thing. It doesn't seem quite fair, you know? Everyone eats pies and you're sitting there, just wishing for a bad sugary birthday cake with Hello Kitty on it."

Shelby laughed. He wasn't positive, but he thought that this was the first time he'd managed to make her laugh outright. The idea made him smile. "Exactly. I've never gotten a birthday cake. I get pie or Christmas pudding with candles in it, because my parents think it's too unoriginal to have a plain old cake when I have such a 'special birthday. It's ridiculous. I do like Christmas music though, a lot," she admitted. "So I guess that's something."

Well, if you like them and it makes you happy... I really don't see how it would be out of place, either..it's a hayride, after all. He smiled mischievously at that, leaning forward to talk to the 'not-step' siblings with Shelby. "Do you guys know Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, by any chance?"

Both the girls gasped in delight, identical grins coming across their faces. "Yeah, yeah!" cried Grace. "He's got a red nose, and he drives Santa's sleigh, and he's my favorite reindeer. Prancer is Cecily's. And he's got his own song!" She took a deep breath and began to sing with one of those straight-forward, high-pitched little kid voices. Preston took out his candy cane and joined in to help keep her on-key.

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer..."

"Reindeer!"

"Had a very shiny nose!"

"Like a light bulb!" Preston mimicked screwing a light bulb on the end of his nose for the enjoyment of the girls, making them grin.

"And if you ever saw it..." Preston looked up to hear Shelby singing along. He sent her a grin, nudging her shoulder gently as he started to sway from side to side with the music.

"Saw it!" the girls chorused.

"You would even say it glows!" He started to hear people behind them joining in, quietly at first, then with more enthusiasm. The song went by faster than he expected, and before he knew it, everyone was joining in. There, you go, Shelby. A song for you.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Do you guys know Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, by any chance?" Preston asked Grace and Cecily, a merry twinkle coming into his eye. Uh oh. You're up to something...I can tell. Please dont' make me sing. Seriously. Please don't make me sing...

The girl's faces lit up at the same time. "Yeah, yeah! He's got a red nose, and he drives Santa's sleigh, and he's my favorite reindeer. Prancer is Cecily's. And he's got his own song!" As if on cue, Gracie opened her mouth and began to sing, her high-pitched, childlike voice ringing through the chilly air. Preston joined her, with Cecily chiming in on the "background vocals."

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer..."

"Reindeer!"

"Had a very shiny nose!"

"Like a light bulb!" At this, Preston pantomimed a light bulb on his nose, to the delight of the little ones. Even Shelby had to grin at that. "And if you ever saw it..." she sang, quietly at first, but then slightly louder. It's for the kids, anyway. Even if I don't like Christmas, I don't want them to think I'm the Grinch or something for not singing along. I don't want to ruin their Christmas, after all...

Preston nudged her again, gently, and Shelby grinned at him before she could stop herself. Maybe it's not so bad. Being happy for a bit. Maybe.

"Saw it!"

"You would even say it glows!" Preston and Shelby echoed. More people started joining in, mostly kids Grace and Cecily's age, and soon their parents and siblings as well. In no time, the entire ride was chiming in as they rattled along the road. They finished with grins and laughter, Shelby among the loudest of all. "That was fun."

"I'm cold," Grace commented before moving to sit in Shelby's lap. Shelby shot Preston a surprised look as Grace continued, "Let's sing another one! Oooh! I know! The Christmas Song!"

"That's one of my favorites," Shelby told her.

"Good," Grace said before she began. "Jack Frost roasting on an open fire...chipmunks nipping at your nose..." The little girl trailed off, a confused frown coming over her face. "Is that right? No, wait. Switch it!"

Shelby glanced at Preston, amused. "So you want it to be 'chipmunks roasting on an open fire?' Still don't think that's quite right, Gracie."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

The song escalated from a simple melody between the four of them, into a large chorus of surrounding hayriders. Preston even made Shelby join in. Okay, so maybe he was taking more credit for that than was due to him, but he relished the idea just the same. Not surprisingly, most everyone knew the words to the classic, upbeat song that fit the ride perfectly. When they finished, there was laughter and grins. Preston turned to hear Shelby say, "That was fun." It made him beam.

"Your voice is doing much better now," he pointed out.

"I'm cold," Grace commented point-blank before crawling unceremoniously into Shelby's lap. Shelby shot him a surprised look, and Preston just smiled at her. Kids know who to trust. Maybe she knew you needed this, too. "Let's sing another one! Oooh! I know! The Christmas Song!"

"That's one of my favorites," Shelby told her.

"Good," Grace said before she began. "Jack Frost roasting on an open fire...chipmunks nipping at your nose..." Preston burst out laughing merrily at that. The little girl trailed off, a confused frown coming over her face. "Is that right? No, wait. Switch it!"

Shelby glanced at Preston, amused. "So you want it to be 'chipmunks roasting on an open fire?' Still don't think that's quite right, Gracie."

"Hey, why not? I hear chipmunks taste very good when they're roasted correctly." He puffed out his chest with pride. With a loud voice he sang, "Chipmunks roasting on an open fire...." he overdid the vibratto a little, there, in all honestly. "Jack Sprat pinching at your toes..." He half-singing, half-laughing by this point, "Tater tots with their spies all aglow! Will find it hard to sweep tonight!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"That was fun," Shelby admitted, surprising even herself. It was as if her mind hadn't even registered the fact that she was having fun until she heard herself speak the words aloud. Weird. I'm having fun. I can't remember the last time I've actually said that.

Preston grinned at her. "Your voice is doing much better now," he told her. Shelby gave him a sheepish smile. "Thanks. I've been working on it." At this, Grace said she was cold, and before Shelby knew it, there was a five-year-old sitting on her lap, burrowing into the folds of Shelby's jacket to keep warm. Cecily scooted closer too, and Shelby involuntarily moved a little closer to Preston. We're such wimps when it comes to cold, really.

"Let's sing another one! Oooh! I know! The Christmas Song!" said Grace excitedly. "That's one of my favorites," said Shelby. And it was, although if she had to name an all-time favorite, it might be It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. She wasn't sure she liked the religious Christmas songs better--it almost seemed ironic, giving her hatred of 'sharing her birthday with Jesus', but she'd always felt connected with those songs more. And they were so pretty, especially when the choir sang them at the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. O Little Town of Bethlehem, Little Drummer Boy...those were the songs Shelby associated with Christmas most of all.

"Good," said little Grace before launching into a very messed-up version of the Christmas classic. Preston burst out laughing, and Shelby chuckled too. Ah, kids. The masters of mishearing song lyrics. I mean, come on, for years I thought they were singing "Fleece Navi Dot," not "Feliz Navidad." You can't really blame them.

"Is that right? No, wait. Switch it!" said Gracie, sounding confused. Now Shelby laughed out loud. "So you want it to be 'chipmunks roasting on an open fire?' Still don't think that's quite right, Gracie."

"Hey, why not? I hear chipmunks taste very good when they're roasted correctly," Preston chimed in. "Ewwww!" chorused Grace and Cecily as Preston began to sing. "Chipmunks roasting on an open fire...." His voice was loud and overexaggerated, but Shelby and the girls loved every minute of it. "Jack Sprat pinching at your toes...Tater tots with their spies all aglow! Will find it hard to sweep tonight!"

Grace clutched at her sides in laughter, the purple pom-pom atop her hat hitting Shelby in the face from time to time. "No, that's wrong, silly Preston!" she exclaimed. "Something else! You pick one, Shelby, he won't do it right!"

Shelby stopped laughing, unhappy that she'd been put on the spot like that. "Um...I dunno...Silent Night?" It was getting colder now, their breath hanging suspended in front of them as they talked and laughed, chatted and sang.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

Preston grinned at her. "Your voice is doing much better now," he told her. He had noticed during the song the lack of hoarse, crackling sounds pervading her voice. She sounded like she was healing at last.

Shelby gave him a sheepish smile. "Thanks. I've been working on it." He arched an eyebrow in interest, but they were interrupted by Grace, who insisted on crawling into Shelby's lap for warmth. She looked shocked to see the munchkin cuddling up to her. Preston wondered if that was a youngest-child thing or what. A small chain reaction happened then, with Cecily scooting in to close the small gap Grace had left, and Shelby scooting closer to Preston to create a bundle of warmth. "It's pretty cold..." he said, seeing the growing fog in front of their mouths recreated on each breath.

"Let's sing another one! Oooh! I know! The Christmas Song!" said Grace excitedly. The misheard lyrics the little girl piped up with made Preston laughed aloud. "Is that right? No, wait. Switch it!" said Gracie, sounding confused.

Now Shelby laughed out loud. "So you want it to be 'chipmunks roasting on an open fire?' Still don't think that's quite right, Gracie."

"Hey, why not? I hear chipmunks taste very good when they're roasted correctly," Preston chimed in, earning a fulfilling reaction of disgust from the girls. Ignoring them with a mere chuckle, he started in on his own version of the song, "Chipmunks roasting on an open fire....Jack Sprat pinching at your toes...Tater tots with their spies all aglow! Will find it hard to sweep tonight!"

The girls were hysterical at that. "No, that's wrong, silly Preston!" Grace informed him. He feigned a look of pure shock. "Something else! You pick one, Shelby, he won't do it right!"

"Aww...you're so mean, Grace..." he moaned. Then they all turned to Shelby for her choice. She seemed a little thrown by the abrupt demand.

"Um...I dunno...Silent Night?"

Preston beamed, "I can do that one, too, Grace!" He furrowed his brows and playfully pointed an 'accusing' finger at her, "You watch! I'll show you!" He leaned back and started, "Silent night... Shelby Wright...Take the pond...hold it tight..." He paused, barely holding back a chuckle. "Wait. That's not right either! Darn!" He pouted, tapping his candy cane on his lips for a moment, then sitting up as though he'd just figured out the kink in the global warming theory. "I know! Joy To The World! And we'll have Grace lead, since she is a lyrical expert."