Chapter 68: 4 more days

It was officially Christmas break. Friday night came and went, although Jeffrey's family took a raincheck on family night.

Usually most Friday nights are reserved for a movie, rented from blockbusters or some sort of board game. A few times Jeffrey's mom would take him and his two siblings Raine and Saoirse to the local bowling alley and knock down some pins.

Jeffrey could see the Christmas lights shining at night, however the atmosphere didn't feel real to him.

♪♫♪

"Chestnuts roasting over an open fire"

"Jack frost nipping at your toes"

...

"That feels a lot more like Christmas", Jeffrey thought to himself.

He recently picked up a few piano books and sheet music for some simpler Christmas songs and chords on the saxophone. Suffice it to say, it sounded terrible when he practiced. Rudolph the red nose reindeer was mangled beyond disbelief, and it was quite difficult to sing the lyrics to winter wonderland as he tried to play the chords in time with the correct notes.

"Jan 22nd, 2007", the family calendar had a picture of a snowy cabin.

Jeffrey was the only one awake in the house. His parents were asleep in the bedroom and he had at least another half hour until his sisters woke up as well.

Jeffrey did his morning routine, skipping the morning showers (he took his at night). He was fully dressed, washed his face, brushed his teeth and wore mismatched socks. His backpack was carefully packed for the project meeting this afternoon.

Quietly walking down the stairs he went to the kitchen to make some breakfast. He still didn't trust himself with knives and the stove so he went to the panty to get some cereal.

"Too high", Jeffrey thought.

so Jeffrey went back into the kitchen to grab a stool to stand on. climbing on the stool he reached out and his fingertips could barely grab the corner of the cereal box.

Jeffrey poured himself a bowl of cereal and some milk to go with it.

checking the family room clock, the minute hand inched closer to the 30 minute mark. 7:22.... 7:23....

Every time Jeffrey checked the clock face the time advanced 7:25... 7:28... until Jeffrey's nerves couldn't take it anymore.

Instead of waiting for the doorbell to ring, he directly went outside to wait to be picked up.

As Jeffrey headed outside, he could feel the cold wind on his face. His nervousness insulated him from the cold as he sat on the bench out on his front pouch. The sound of an engine could be heard, as a white Honda van pulled up to his house.

"Hi Jeffrey", a lady greeted him. Preston's mom was picking them up. Inside the car Jeffrey could see Preston and his sister, Emily fighting in the car.

"You have to be nice to me. I have an ice skating competition", Emily tussled with Preston's hair and pant leg.

Preston carefully avoided Emily's styled hair and makeup as she did so.

"Mom, Emily's being a little butt", Jeffrey could hear Preston say.

Jeffrey sat in a passenger seat as Preston's mom gave him a sheepish smile.

"Hey you two", Jeffrey waved at them.

"Hey Jeffrey", Preston nodded to his friend.

"Hi Jeffrey", Emily greeted her brother's friend.

"Now you guys better behave back there", Preston's mom threatened.

"Big brother Preston, what are you guys up to?", Emily questioned him.

"Don't you 'big brother' me, Emily. It's a secret", Preston teased.

Emily started to try and tickle Preston, but he was unfazed. Emily had just a little too much energy for a person about to compete in an ice skating competition.

"So you ready Preston?", Jeffrey asked his friend.

"Yep", Preston affirmed holding a blue and white polka dotted folder.

"Oh by the way congratulations on reaching level 9 and passing the certifications", Jeffrey mentioned. (piano levels)

"Thank you. Are you ready to test for level 7 or level 8", Preston responded.

"I'm still at level 6, but maybe next year I will", Jeffrey said as the car headed to their destination.

They arrived at the ice skating arena and Jeffrey joined Preston's family for the morning. Preston returned to talking with Emily.

"You're going to do fine Emily, don't worry to much about it", Preston's mom reassured her.

"Yeah, if I can get second place in a skating competition so can you", Preston encouraged her.

"That's not fair Preston, you got second place in a competition with 2 people. There's seven competitors this time", Emily complained.

"What do you mean, second place is second place. I was half a point away from first I tell you, half a point", Preston brought up.

Emily rolled her eyes. Meanwhile Jeffrey stayed silent watching Preston's family enjoy themselves. He wondered how some of the Chens and Daniels family were doing at the moment. It's been a while since they had crossed swords.

Preston's Dad, Henry came inside the building to join them.

"So Jeffrey, how's the science project been going", Preston's Dad asked of him.

"Oh, it's going well. Preston invited a new member", Jeffrey explained.

Mr. Henry listened as Jeffrey talked about their project. In the background Preston and his mom were passing the time as well. Emily headed off to the meeting point for the competition.

Soon the Poincaire family arrived, Dresden and his mom met up with Preston.

"How you guys doing?", Dresden greeted Preston and Jeffrey.

"Pretty good", Preston smiled back.

"Same here", Jeffrey said.

the three of them started to discuss their own affairs.

Preston's parents gave the three of them some space as they sat in the stands.

Jeffrey, Preston and Dresden hopped up and down the empty ice rink seats.

"You guys want to try selling some to the parents in the stands?", Jeffrey asked.

"The figure skater's parents?", Dresden asked.

"What else do you guys want to do then", Preston mentioned.

Dresden shrugged, "yeah sure, I'm in."

Preston added, "lets go!"

The three boys approached the first adult.