Rose Blossom - By Renee Travis Page 0,42

the little ledge that stuck out from the fireplace.

"Not real chocolate? Then what's the point?" Avalon followed my lead putting her cup down. Avalon was so interesting to spend time with. Since they drank nothing but animal blood, Avalon and Julian could consume other liquids and Avalon was a huge fan of anything she could suck through a straw. Loretta and Julian only did so when trying to appear mortal.

"It's my mom. C'mon we'll go to my room before she tries to foist smoyes on us." We stood, both leaving our mugs near the fireplace.

"Smoyes?" Avalon asked as we climbed the stairs. Thankfully I used the answer as an excuse to pause; it was getting harder for me to climb the stairs.

"Yes soy smores," I rolled my eyes and tried not to chuckle at her gagging noises. She's had her first taste of soy milk at our house and hated it.

I had already wrapped her present so without any hassle I pulled out the box of gifts from under my bed along with Christmas bags, wrapping paper, bows and tape. We sat on the floor and I began sort through what I had to color coordinate with.

"So... did you get me anything?" Avalon asked, her eyes glowing with small excitement.

"Of course," I told her.

"Oh," her eyes filled with blood tears, "that's so sweet Rho; we don't really celebrate Christmas at our house. We all come from too many different religious backgrounds, but I have always thought it was a nice thought, the giving of gifts."

"Don't most winter holidays exchange gifts?" I asked.

"Well I was pagan and at Yule we'd make wreaths and have a great feast, we didn't always have presents. Will you show me what you bought?" she asked, sounding more childlike than ever.

"Sure." She watched with glowing eyes as I opened the box and the little trinkets I had bought everyone gleamed up at us, all different shapes and sizes.

Avalon held up the pale yellow cashmere sweater I bought Mel, "Ah your friend will really like this, it's so her!"

I showed her the pipe humidor for dad, the golden covered copy of The Road to Oz for Grandma Lacey, she was collecting the books, and the flashy orange and purple throw for mom. Avalon paused at that one and gave a very queer look.

"Your mom won't put this in your sterile house."

"I know; it's a running joke. When we lived in our old house it was covered in the tacky and unusual. Everything changed when I got sick." I stood and took Avalon up with me, wincing as my heart thudded. Avalon gave me a serious stare but before she could comment I'd pulled her from my room. We quietly made our way to my parent's room; I opened the door and flicked on the light.

Avalon gasped as the light revealed my missing mom, the mom I loved and missed terribly. The room was a collection of odd trinkets, mismatched pillows, bright throws and antique furniture.

"Wow, your mother must have been a very unique person." Avalon said as I turned back off the light and we shut the door.

"She used to be," I shrugged as we went back to my room, what I hadn't shown her was the other gift I was giving my parents. It was hidden in the back of my closet a box wrapped in black lace. In it were diaries of mine that I'd filled with all my hopes and dreams, all my angst, worry and anger from the last ten years. I wanted them to have something else of me before I died and I'd had a dark feeling of late that I'd be gone soon.

"Anyway I need your opinion on some things." Sitting back on the floor of my room I wanted to show her the last few gifts I'd bought.

"On what? I should be able to give my opinion, at least," the girl teased. I could tell she was having a good time hanging out with me and it made me feel a little better. I'd been thinking I hadn't been good company of late.

"The gifts I bought for your moms," I told her.

"Why would you buy them gifts?" Avalon asked, but I could tell she was touched I'd thought of her whole family. "How did you afford all this anyway?"

"I get paid for helping dad grade papers, I save up all year.” I paused, “why wouldn't I buy them something, they are always so kind to me."

"Well, Loretta at least,"