Chapter 53: Chapter 53
"Has anyone ever told you that you're crazy?" or "Have you ever heard that?" This is a question posed by my mother as we organize the presents.
"Yes, many, many times over," was the response. As I hand Hannah her final present, I make this statement. "Who gets the nod to go first?" On the love seat that we had brought down from the living room upstairs, Mark and I found a spot next to each other.
Which comes first, the youngest or the oldest?" Will decides to share his thoughts.
"Alright. You get the honor of going first, Hannah." I make a gesture toward her, and she selects one of the options.
"It's a pillow in the shape of a unicorn!" She is heard yelling. "You're very welcome, Sophie!" After sitting for a while, she stands up and gives her sister a hug. After that, she opened one of the presents that she had received. "I'll give you the floor."
"A t-shirt depicting a happy face and the word "awesome" since the year 2005. Thanks Alyanna." Indeed, you are correct in saying that. That was something that I purchased for her. If I'm being completely honest, I didn't even consider any other possibility. I'm pleased she likes it. "All right, now it's your turn," the speaker said.
"Wait. There is one that I need her to unlock for me." Mark walks over to look for it and then announces, "Here, and I have another part that's coming, so here's the paper." I get the scissors out and start opening the envelope. "First, open the gift that has been given to you." I give him a friendly smile before starting to remove the lid from the small box.
As soon as I open it, I notice that it contains a charm bracelet that already has two charms attached to it. "It has a stunning appearance." I remove it from its place and examine the charms with a greater degree of focus. A paintbrush is shaped like a cancer ribbon, and the ribbon itself is a paintbrush. "I love it." I can't help but crack a grin before turning my attention to Mark.
"You may now remove the letter from its envelope." He says handing me it again.
I pop the clamshell open and unfold the document. "An apple." My internal monologue produces a chuckle.
You may be wondering, "What makes an apple so special?" My dad asks.
"To tell you the truth, I've come to the conclusion that I want to work in education. To tell you the truth, I've been wanting to do so for the past five years." I have provided explanation. There is a momentary lull in conversation among all of the people present.
You could work as a teacher at the primary school in the area. Maddy decides to make her voice heard.
"Slow down, I haven't even registered for classes yet," she said. I say this while laughing a little bit.
"What would you have your students learn?" Sophie asks.
"Art." I stand up and grab the present that has been left for Mark. "Here, let me see you crack this one open." I take a few deep breaths before handing him the present I had made and then I hand it to him.
"Ok." He gives a cheerful expression before opening it. The canvas is hung so that it is looking in the opposite direction from where he is standing. Even though the fact that everyone actually gasps is a giveaway that it's good, Mark's viewpoint is the only one I really care about in this matter. He immediately smiles after turning it over to look at it and then looking at it. "Is this what you were doing when you so gracefully pushed me out of our room to wrap presents?" He asks the question while maintaining a tone that is just a touch playful.
"Maybe." I try to hide the guilty smile on my face and give it to him. "Do you like it?" I inquire, biting my lip.
"Of course I do." After that, he comes closer to me and gives me a peck on the cheek before embracing me from the side. "Alright, Maddy, now it's your turn," the voice said.
To ensure that everyone gets a chance to open their gifts, the exchange is conducted in a round-robin format. Later on, Abby and Charlie, along with their daughter Lexi, who is also my goddaughter, will arrive here. I can't express how much adoration I have for her because of how adorable she is.
The majority of the day is spent with us lounging around in our pajamas and watching movies. Everyone gets a turn to choose, and whoever's turn it is to watch the movie also gets to provide the refreshments. Elf was playing on the television, and I had a pan of fudge that I had prepared a few days ago for a snack. Who devoured all of my fudge? who knows! I inquire as I enter the room while carrying the dish that is missing one of its corners. Mark gives off the appearance of guilt. "Mark?" I stomp out of the room with an angry expression.
"Yes?" He mimics my voice in exactly the same way.
"Did you, or did you not, eat any of my fudge?" "Are you sure?"
He is making a valiant effort to suppress his emotions. "Ok, fine, I did it, I'm sorry I'm so sorry," the speaker said. I can't help but laugh at how dramatic he is while simultaneously slapping him upside the head. "Are you always abusive when you're crabby because that's the only time it seems to happen to you?" I burst out laughing once more and accidentally knock the pan over onto the coffee table.
After the current movie is over, we immediately begin watching another. This continues on and on, complete with snacks, until two hours before the big Christmas dinner that a large number of people attend each year. I can't seem to get the count right in my head. We are keeping it in the pool house, which is still in the process of being finished.
Due to the fact that I do not wish to make it known to the general public, I have never once discussed it with anyone. When I was ten years old, I insisted to my father that he put an end to it. Do not misunderstand me; I truly enjoy going swimming. Simply put, I didn't want him to waste money on my whims when he could put that money toward meeting the requirements of another person. After the completion of the project, he matched what he had spent and gave the money to a total of three different charitable organizations. Now we are in possession of a large and lengthy structure, but we are at a loss as to what we should do with it. I had the idea of hosting elaborate dinners similar to those served on Christmas. Consequently, this is the action that we took.
As soon as the alarm for the two-hour countdown goes off, we all disperse and get ready in our own unique ways. The dress that I wore to my graduation is going to have to be altered because it no longer fits me properly. I made the decision to wear a blue dress that I had previously worn to the homecoming dance when I was a freshman. I was going to give it to Sophie, but now that I've lost weight as a result of the chemotherapy and, to a lesser extent, the radiation treatment, it actually fits me better. I found it in the back of my closet. If I am successful in curing myself, I might give it to her after I have recovered from my illness.
I just sit here fidgeting with my ring and act as though I can't make up my mind about which scarf to wear. "What could possibly go wrong?" Mark inquires while walking over to my side of the couch and sitting down with his tie knotted.
"How did you tie that?" "How did you do that?" I inquire while making a reference to the tie he is wearing. The last time he wore a tie, I was the one who had to tie it for him because he is unable to do so himself.
"I observed a video, and I didn't try to sidestep the question." He recommends grabbing one that is going to look good actually. Maya certainly will be pleased with herself.
"Even now, I find myself contemplating the possibility that I won't make it." I say as Mark takes off my hat and starts wrapping my head in a towel. He becomes unable to move. "What?" I inquire, feeling a little taken aback by the response.
"I can see some hair on your head." He continues to stare at my head while he makes his statement.
"What?" I hasten to check, so I head straight for the bathroom. "I am not bald! I have hair! Even though it's not very long or thick, I do have some hair on my head." As I blather on and on, I can feel the beginnings of a tear welling up in my eyes.
"Sure you do." Mark utters those words while he is embracing my body. "All right, take a seat, and while I finish tying your scarf around your neck, please explain to me why you're still so terrified." Mark tells me while he is seated next to me and he is attempting to figure out how to wrap it.
"I can't really comment on that. The dress was the impetus for everything that followed. Do you remember the time when we were cleaning out the back of my closet and packing up my room in preparation for the wedding and we came across this dress? It did not go together properly." I get up now that he's finished and show him the dress that I'm wearing. "Now look! If anything it's too huge." I'm at the point where I'm frantic and even a little bit panicky.
"Hey, hey, hey, and another hey. You don't need to panic because I'm right here. There are probably going to be a few drawbacks, but I'm going to be here for you no matter what. Your mother, your father, Charlie, and Abby, along with a large number of other people, are all here for you." There is a pause on his part. Before I give him a hug, I don't wait for him to finish what he's saying first.
"Thank you." While putting my face in the crook of his neck and muttering, he strokes my hair softly.
"No issue." We remain in that position for a few more minutes before the final alarm for the Christmas feast goes off, at which point we proceed to the partially finished pool house.
I haven't been back to this place since we celebrated Christmas here a year ago. There is a large Christmas tree there that Maya and Kevin have decked out in all of its festive adornments. I have no idea what possessed her to want to help decorate it, but both she and Kevin volunteered their services. They carried out the tasks very successfully.
Tablecloths in shades of red and green are draped over the lengthy tables stocked with dollars, which take up the entirety of the available floor space. There is sufficient room at the table for fifty individuals to take a seat. I have no idea how many people are expected to show up, but that could be the case. Mark and I are going to take seats near the front of the venue, where our immediate family and other close friends will be.
"It's been a very long time since we last saw each other." I say as I hug Maya.
"Right back at ya." She yanks me back to a distance where she can reach me with both arms. "You have an absolutely stunning appearance." She proceeds to hug me once more after that.