Author's Note: A little late, but here's a Christmas piece, for a friend.
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The airport was playing the latest pop-star bastardisation of some Christmas carol when I got in from my flight, exhausted and dragging my body more than controlling it.
The flight had been cramped and uncomfortable. I don't know the last time that the company had reduced the legroom, but this time it had been way too far. I hadn't even been able to sit down properly. If I put my knees into the empty seat in front, then my butt hadn't been able to reach the seat. To actually sit, I had to pull my legs up, which got me told off by the flight stewardesses.
It's not that I was tall. I'm no giant, though my sister would tell you otherwise. Her big brother was a goliath according to the petite little dancer. However, just because I could rest my elbow on her head was no reflection on me. She was just short.
Ivy had turned twenty this year, and she was still the shortest girl among her friends. A tiny 5'3'', if you wanted to go by the old system. She'd reached that height around mid-highschool and stayed there ever since.
If that hadn't been awful enough for her self-esteem, she had the figure of a dancer. That is to say, I generally had to sit there awkwardly as she spent some time complaining that her tits were too small.
I could usually pull her out of her funk by demonstrating how light she was by picking her up one-handed. A lot of girls would kill for a waist like hers - a waist maintained by a strict diet and insane exercise schedule.
But her height was probably the reason I couldn't see her as I stood beside my luggage and stretched, trying to work off some of the uncomfortable flight.
It was only four hours, Darwin to Melbourne, but that had been more than long enough to be feel like torture when I couldn't fit into the seats. Yet, that was the price I paid to study some of the oldest inhabited caves on the planet.
"Gotcha!" Tiny arms slipped around my waist from behind, and pulled me into a tight cuddle.
I smiled and glanced backwards, "Hey, shortcake."
"Hey, Philistine." She shot back with a grin, and squeezed tighter, "Ya missed me?"
I disentangled myself from her, grabbing my case, "Only a lot. Where are mum 'n dad?"
"Ooh, boy. There's a story." Ivy laughed, tossing her black braid over her shoulder, and starting to walk, "So, you know how they've been talking forever about getting a camper and taking it to the Otways?"
I shrugged, "Only since I was in primary school. They finally managed to?"
"Kinda." Ivy screwed up her face, "Though, if that tinderbox deserves to be called a camper, then a micropenis is a hefty schlong."
"Gross."
She grinned cheekily, green eyes sparkling, "Oh, it gets gross. Don't worry. Uhm... They took it towards the Otways, but apparently that was too far for them to wait. Dad pulled over in front of some farm for he and mum to... Work out some frustration."
I winced, "Ew. Do you really have to remind me that our parents still get up to stuff?"
"Yes. Because it's important to the story." Ivy protested, "Ya see, the farmer came out, all irate. And when Dad was too busy banging Mum to hear anyone banging on the door, the farmer slashed their tires. Pissy bugger."
I shook my head, "Oh. One of those."
"Yeah." Ivy shrugged, "So those two won't be making it home for Christmas. They got to the campsite on a tow truck, but they have to pre-order the tires and there's no bus back because Christmas. So they're stuck there for like a week."
"That sucks."
She shrugged and hugged my arm, "What? I thought you said you missed me a lot. Or were you just being polite because you know I'd dump your ass here if you didn't say something nice?"
I hugged her back, "Well, if I'd known, I wouldn't have brought half the presents with me. That's most of what's in the suitcase. But, s'pose we can just make a Christmas of our own. Any plans?"
"Not really. Just you." Ivy shook her head, and interlaced her fingers with mine. She walked beside me like that, but she never had before. It felt slightly awkward because it was out of the blue.
I looked around as we stepped outside, and into the sun. I laughed as the heatwave rolled over us, "Wow. May as well not have left the desert. It's hotter here than back home."
"The Kimberly's are home, now?" Ivy said, with a tiny hint of hurt in her voice.
I shrugged, "Been there two years. Have to hope I'd get used to it. You missing me?"
"Not a chance." Ivy laughed, but sounded hollow. She saw me look at her, and her chin dropped, "Yeah. A whole bunch... Having to listen to mum and dad act like rabbits... And no one came to my last performance. Stuff is hard without you around."
I squeezed her hand, and stopped us walking, "Hey. I'm here for you. Even for whatever you're hiding, that hurt you worse."
"Jerk." She whispered without meaning it and dropped her head forward into my chest, hands slipping around to hug me. "I... I broke up with my boyfriend."
I hugged her back, "Oh, Ivy. That sucks. Been long?"
Her boyfriend had been a jerk I happily would have made lose a few teeth. He and I had almost come to blows on a few occasions, and not from lack of trying on his part. He always seemed to have a drink or fag in his hand, and referred to Ivy as either his woman, or his bitch.
However, she had loved him, somehow.
She was an adult, and even if she weren't, you can't just make someone's choices for them. I'd let her know I hated him, and then done everything I could to support her - which wasn't much, when I saw her about twice a year since moving out.
"Few days." She mumbled, obviously crying, "He... He finally hit me."
"Asshole!"
"Shut up." Ivy gave a small growl and then pulled into the hug tighter. "Yeah. He was an asshole. I dumped him on the spot. He's been calling me ever since. I... I want to pick up. But I'm not gonna."
I hugged her back, resting my chin on her head, "Good. So... I guess things are just you and me. Unless you're going to get dragged out to a party by one of your friends."
"Rachel's been asking about you." Ivy said meaningfully, wiping at her cheeks and taking my hand again. "You could... Maybe... Have a date."
"And abandon my little sister in the cold, dark and alone?" I said with faux modesty, "Never."
She rolled her eyes, and started guiding us towards the car again, "Oh, my gallant knight. Such a joyous day, when you thrust your presence upon me."
I laughed, "Tis the way of things, m'lady."
"Plenty of thrusting too, if Rachel had her way." Ivy stuck out her tongue and giggled.
I shook my head, "Okay. Yes, your friend is hot. I'm still not abandoning you. We can sit around playing board games and taking the piss out of each other."
"Oh, for fuck's sake." Ivy said through gritted teeth, "I've already invited Rachel over. This was me trying to be subtle. I kinda owed her, and I didn't think you'd mind that much. Thought you'd take it as a Christmas present."
"You... Set me up on a date? At Christmas?"
She shrugged, "I don't expect to hear the bed springs, even if that's what she wants. But I thought the three of us could play board games, and take the piss out of you."
"Ganging up on me, are we?"
"'Course. Girls gotta stick together." Ivy grinned.
I shrugged, "Fine. I'll go with the flow. But I'm mostly concerned my little sister got hurt, and now I can't focus on spoiling her rotten."
"You're going to try your best, anyways." Ivy said knowingly.
