Chapter 27 [Turkey and Tree]

After a long search for the turkey, many sweat and energy pour into the search, we finally spot one in the refrigerated area, my eyes were on the prize but I can see another person was also aiming for that turkey.

The man is in another aisle beside me, I nudged Stephanie elbow, making her realize that we have a contender. Stephanie looks at me and I look at her and we both nod our head.

I and Stephanie took one step, the man also took one step. Oh yeah it on!, I and Stephanie begin walking toward it which cause the man to also begin walking toward the turkey.

The man speeds up his walk cause us to walk slightly faster than the man. It seems we both won't give up on the turkey, the man changes his walk to power walk.

I change my walk to a jog, as we get closer and closer, the man took off to a run and I also quickly turn into a run while Stephanie behind me. We try to outmatch each other speed but as we get close, I finally made a decision.

The moment I close to the turkey, I jump forward crashing into the fridge, ice and fish fly out from the fridge but I lift the turkey up and yell in victory. Everyone in the store turns their head toward us.

"IT'S MINE!!!" I celebrated.

Stephanie also let out a small battle cry of her own while everyone was confused about what just happen but there is one person who is clapping, one of the worker here with Garry nametag on his shirt.

"Yeah! Garry get it!" I said aloud.

"Woooo" Garry cheers.

"Papa?" A small girl voice can be heard from one of the crowd.

"Papa, did you get the turkey?" A small girl with a braid hair move away from the crowd and walk to the man.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry but..." the man tries to explain as he lowers his knee to the floor in front of the small girl.

"But papa you promise, we would have a turkey dinner just like what mom used to do" the small girl sniffled.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I really am," the man apologized.

"Yikes.." Garry said and slowly walk backward avoiding the awkward situation.

I look at the turkey in my hand then toward Stephanie, her eyes say it all.

"Do we?" I ask.

"We have too, you know that," Stephanie said.

I sighed and get out from the freezer with the turkey in my hand after that I walk toward the man and extend the turkey toward him.

"Here you go, we don't need it anyway,"I said.

The girl eyes beamed at me, inside it is pure hope and joy. I almost blinded by it.

"Are you sure?" The man asks.

"I'm sure" I confirm.

"Thank you, you have a kind heart. Lydia say thank you to the nice lady" the man said.

"Thank you, nice lady," the small girl said.

"Don't worry about it, just get home safely and enjoy Christmas with your father," I said then ruffle her hair.

The man and the small girl began to walk away so do the crowd that was watching us, everyone went back to their normal life.

"You did the right things" Stephanie consoled and pat my back.

"Hey, Garry! Do you have any turkey left?" I ask.

"Nope" Garry answer.

"How about chicken?" I ask.

"All gone sorry," Garry said and walk away.

"So gal, did you get it?" Li voice popped out from behind, scaring Stephanie.

"Woah calm down, it just me" Li said with a paper bag in her hand, inside it two bottles of whiskey.

"Well we didn't get it,"I said.

"Ah no worry, we can think of something in the meantime let grab some snack and head to the Tree sales," Li said.

"Your right," I said.

We walk toward the junk food aisle grabbing a few bags of chips and snack. After that we each grab our favorite snacks, I grab my prawn flavor chip while Li grab the sweetest candy she can find while Stephanie grabs a coffee flavor candy.

Beep, Beep, Beep.

"Can I see your ID first?" The woman cashier said.

Li takes out her wallet and take out her ID then she passes the ID to the cashier. The cashier looks at the ID and smile at us after giving the ID back.

"The total price is 49.95$," The cashier said.

We look at each other and nod, each of the three of us take out some money and gather it together, effectively splitting the bill without any hassle. After paying for the stuff, Li grab all the plastic bag that contains the stuff and insist on carrying it.

We exit the grocery store and immediately hit by the sudden cold breeze of the outside and the singing of carol singers besides the front door of the grocery store, all the carol singers wearing festive theme cloth as they sang. I look at the sky and I can see dark cloud forming, my heart fills with joy as I think that today might snow.

If Haru was here, I would buy him a scarf or knit it for him, knitting not that hard right? I should try it when I got home. I will never know if I didn't try it.

"I got an idea! you guys go pick the tree and wait for me here" Stephanie said then jog off down the street.

"Let go pick out a tree!" Li said excitedly.

As soon as we enter the place, I and Li were both disappointed by the few trees left that we can pick from. One of the trees has a few branches that have been broken, one of the tree was way too big for our apartment and mostly the tree here either it has lost it color or wilted.

"Come one at least let get something," Li said and begin checking the tree out.

I turn my body to avoid the kids that are running playing tag and running around in this place, I walk to the other side of the place where the big tree is placed, looking at the beautiful leaves of the tree make me think that sometimes even nature can create something beautiful.

"you can't catch me!" a young boy challenge at the young girl who is chasing after him.

The young girl pouts her mouth and gives her effort into her running so she can catch the boy, I look on and let out a smile at both of them. 

"No matter what you did you can't catch me!" the young boy said.

"Oh, watch me!" the young girl yell back.

The boy turns into a corner and heads straight toward me, The girl behind her also turn and close her eyes and start running as fast she could, I step back as the young boy passed me. Suddenly, the young girl trip on the wire causing her to fall forward and yelp in fear but I instinctively dash forward using my power to catch the girl before she falls.

I hold the young girl by her chest and lift her up so she can stand again.

"Watch out!" someone scream, a sound of tree creaking echo in the air. I look up and saw the big tree slowly falling on top of us. My mind is racing whether to grab the girl and dash toward safety or stop the tree from falling but if I dash with the little girl she might not able to withstand it because I don't know if her body can withstand the speed.

Crash.

I hug the young girl tight to my chest with my left arm while my other arm blocks the falling tree. For me blocking that tree from falling felt like stopping a heavy cardboard box and that is not normal. So I pretend that the tree was heavy, I let out a grunt and mimic someone that is trying to lift something up heavy then I finally push it backward straighten the tree back to its place.

"Samanda, thank go you okay" a woman yells and dashes toward the young girl to hug her.

"Thank you for saving my daughter, how can I repay you?" An older man with a beard and wearing a coverall said. The older man looks like he works here.

"I'm looking for a Christmas tree," I said.

"Look no further I have exactly what you need, it on the house," The older man said.

After that, I gave him my address so he can personally deliver the tree and set it up for me, I said to him that I can set it up myself but he insisted that he do it. So I let him, I turn my back and walk back to Li where she stand and smirk at me.

"What?" I asked

"My hero!" Li said and hug my left arm.

"Stop that.." I said and roll my eyes.

"Okay, okay but I was really surprised that you could lift that tree, I guess what people saying was the truth about not judging the book by its cover," Li said.

I turned my head and saw the young boy hugging the young girl and saying "It's my fault for running too fast. From now on, we will play something else than tag". The young girl let out a conflicted face as she heard that word, my heart felt heavy as I saw her face.

"Hey, Kid! it about playing safe not prevent her from playing tag forever" I said.

"But she almost got hurt by it," the young boy said.

"Everyone gets hurt no matter they do, it is not an excuse to stop having fun," I said.

"Okay then, I promise we will play safely" The young boy promised, the girl smile return to her face, the young boy and girl both walk to their parents.

"What all that about?" Li asked.

"Nothing really"

"Sure, anyway, do you get the tree?" Li asked.

"Yeah, the tree is on its way to our apartment, free of charge," I said.

"Yes!" Li cheers and raise her hand toward me for a high-five, I return it with my hand.