Allow me to set the scene...

Down on Shine street, it’s Christmas Eve. Avahon is proud to have her little toy store filled with people from all over the city, even some out-of-towners. This year, her parents would be coming over to see her and their grandson Yoani, who at the age of 3, was obsessed with toys of all kinds, but mainly action-figures.

Infact, in her back office, there he sat playing with his action figures.

“Come forth, Samurai Sampson,” he said. “You know we always have a battle every time we meet again.”

Avahon smiled. She remembered that exact line from a movie they had watched earlier. Things were going great in her life! Her son was happy, the toy store was making sales, her parents were coming home, oh, if only she had time to look into crypto like she had wanted for a while, things would be perfect! She meant to start accepting crypto currencies in her store, but she hadn’t gotten around to it. If only she were like the girl next door. What was her name? Shinoa?

Shinoa was busy listening to meditative music. She was in the zone, writing her next article to post on her page on a decentralized website, where she could make a lot of crypto for just writing reviews on books and movies.

Though she was very young-not even a teenager!- crypto was an interesting subject that Shinoa loved to learn about. What different cryptos did and how they worked and what blockchain they were built off was all so interesting!

There. She had finished writing a review on a documentary about honey bees. She had truly liked the factual film, though she felt the bees were deeply misunderstood. Surely they were not just ‘alright’ with the humans taking their honey, right?

She went downstairs and looked at the presents under the tree. Red, green, and sparkling silver boxes sat stacked on top of each other under the plastic green tree. Some boxes were as long as pool noodles while others were as short and tiny as a jewelry box. Some as wide as a cooked turkey while some as thin as an envelope. Oh, which one was hers!? She looked outside to see all the streets, yards and rooftops covered in white, while more tiny white dots, no two completely alike, rushed down to earth like it was midtown Manhattan and they had ground to cover.

“Shinoa, would you plug in the tree please?” her mother asked.

“Yeah,” answered Shinoa. As soon as she put the plug in the outlet, the tree illuminated with tiny bright lights from the golden star on top all the way to the bottom row of leaves. This brang the magical, cozy feeling Shinoa always felt during Christmas time right back from last winter. But there was still an empty space in her fairytale, a puzzle piece missing.

Shinoa didn’t want to ask it, but she thought she might as well. “Mom, Dad’s going to be home in time for Christmas, right?”

“No, sorry Noa, I don’t think he’s gonna be home in time for christmas. He’s all the way in Michigan.”

Immediately, Shinoa’s Christmas spirit turned to a saddness that infected her core and spread throughout. Once again, her fathers job kept him OTR during an important holiday.

“Will Jeffery make it, at least?”

“Nope. He decided he’s going to stay at school during the holidays, since he knows your dad won’t make it.”

Shinoa had been down this road before. Easter. Fathers Day. Thanksgiving. She knew the drill.

“I’m sorry,” Mom started. “Since they both won’t be here for christmas, we’ll just celebrate it-

“Next week. Or the week after that, if they don’t feel up to it the first time around. I know.” Shinoa finished for her mother. Might as well not let her Mom waste her breath, right?

“Listen, your dad’s work is what got you your Christmas presents, so don’t be so spoiled.” Her mother explained.

“Oh yeah? Then what’s Jeffery’s excuse!? He’d rather hang out with friends than celebrate with us!?”

Her mother huffed. “I’ve already explained your dad won’t be here anyway, so Jeffery decided not to come home. We’re not celebrating until everyone is at home. Besides, this’ll give you more time to think of presents for them.

“I’ve already got presents for them.” Shinoa said just as her mother finished.

“Well, then, focus on that game you’re programming. I really like it. A choice-led romance game. Seems interesting.”

This made Shinoa smile. It felt good that her mom liked her work. Shinoa had been learning to code for a while but was just getting the hang of it still. Coding, like crypto in Shinoa’s opinion, was interesting and could do alot of things for her, which is why she was choosing to learn it in her free time.

“Take out the trash will ya,” said Shinoa’s mom as she rushed up the stairs.

“I thought we were eating dinner soon,” said Shinoa.

“We are, I’ve, just got to get something.” rushed her mother.

It was not as quiet out there as she thought it would be. She saw tons of people talking and laughing in the toy store right next door. It looked pretty, it’s illuminated lights shining from within and it’s bright red walls that looked nice with a touch of snow piling at the sides. Everyone there seemed happy, buying toys for sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, friends and classmates.

Huh, if only her father ran a toy store like Miss. Avahon, he might be home more in time for the holidays, and spend more time with family. Miss Avahon seemed happy, with her toy store filled with people and her parents coming over for the holidays..

How sweet, thought Shinoa as she walked back to her house and was greeted with the surprise of her life. She would have never known that Miss Avahon thought the same thing when she went out to get the mail and caught the girl next door being greeted at the door with a brand new kitten, her mother smiling bright at the doorway.

TO BE CONTINUED?

if asked for in the comments, this story may continue.