9 Chapter. 8. Christmas

It was Friday afternoon. But not just any Friday. That night was special. At least outside of that school it must have been special.

- I thought they would give us the day.- Marlía snorted.- Or they would let us return home for this weekend.- Marlia expressed her wishes without stopping to eat some cookies that they had reserved.- Do you think that today we can sleep without problems? - Asked Marlía seeing her two friends.- Although normally the least thing you do on a night like that is to sleep. I wish i was home

Although the education in that school was horrible, academics were as important as surviving each night. The three friends with Jack were in the silent library. They wanted to do next week's homework so they wouldn't think about it anymore.

"I don't care." Abi answered without stopping to write. "I'm not really interested in being at home and even less on a day like today."

"Doesn't your family celebrate Christmas Eve?" Marlía asked innocently and with surprise. "Who doesn't like Christmas?" The gifts, the sweets, the chocolate, the lights ...- The girl still listed food in her mouth. She was so involved in her Christmas speech that she did not see the murderous look that Abi gave her.- You are a bitter one.

"Swallow before you speak." Veronica demanded, extending a book with signs. "And go copying so you can do your homework."

Abi snorted. She didn't want to respond offensively to her friend. I knew his comment was innocent. Marlía did not speak any more, and just began to answer her homework. Jack, who had heard the whole conversation, knocked on the table and thus gave his opinion.

"I'm not bitter." Abi answered, looking at the boy next to her. Jack "spoke" to her again .- I'm not upset either.- Veronica and Marlía looked at her as if they doubted her words.- I'm not.- She insisted again.- And I would have followed her justification if it weren't for a well-known sound that was approaching.

"A truck?" Asked a student.

-Yes. The truck came!

The hubbub was immediate. Many ran outside the establishment to receive the only way of communication with the outside world.

-I thought it was Friday.- Marlía said with doubts walking next to Abi.

-It's Friday.- I affirm the one who was next to her.- Maybe it's because of the date.

Veronica had come forward amid the tumult of people. Jack walked behind Marlía, taking her by his sleeve to guide him. When they arrived at the long-awaited transport, they waited for their names to be said to receive a letter or package.

Normally "the courier truck" went every Wednesday. He carried correspondence, newspapers, or whatever the families sent to their scholarship children. On occasion, too, she carried items such as notebooks, pencils, or sweets to give to the lucky ones who got there first. Veronica was the fastest and most sporty of her friends. That is why he always tried to arrive first and see what he achieved.

Marlía, Abi and Jack stood apart watching the tide of students squeezing into the truck. A while later a tired Veronica stepped away from the crowd and made a sign. Together his hands simulating a triangle or a tent. That meant they would meet at the shelter. The three nodded and set off. The best thing would be to hide early and use the hubbub as a screen. So no one would notice his absence, at least they hoped.

In less than 15 minutes, the four of them were gathered in the Face Bath. Verónica sat down and began to distribute everything she had achieved.

First, he handed Marlía a package that his family apparently sent him. Then it was Abi's turn with a card. Jack got a letter too. As for Veronica. She took the newspaper she had gotten and began to read.

-Vero ...- Marlía called who had already opened her package.- Didn't they give you any gift? - Verónica just shook her head without taking her eyes off the paper she was reading as if it seemed much more interesting to her. Abi?

Abi had already opened her letter, or should she say a Christmas card. She handed it to her friend who was highly motivated by the colors and lights of it.

"How beautiful!" Marlía kept looking, putting aside her package with sweets.

"Can I help you?" Abi asked Jack who had a note in his hands, but due to his blindness it was impossible for him to know what it was saying.

- Hey Abi.- Marlía called, noticing one thing.- And the dedication?

Abi denied. She didn't feel like explaining to her friend that that card was just a facade. Her family didn't really care if she had a good Christmas or not.

Marlia looked sadly at her two friends. Then I look at Jack.

"Did they give Jack a gift too?" She said animated and curious. "What is it?" What is it?

-It seems that Jack does have someone who esteems him out there.- Abi answered and then read the note.- If you are reading this, I hope it is because my little one asked you. In that case this book will be very useful to you. My Christmas gift to you is knowledge. That book will teach you a whole code-based language. I hope you know how to appreciate it. I give Jack the ability to communicate and make friends. Capacity that biologically I could not bequeath him. I wish you and my little Jack a Merry Christmas. "Abi folded the note and took the book to look at it." It's a book of Morse code and sign language. Great!

- It's your mom. Right? - Marlía asked to receive an assent from the minor.- He seems like a good person.

"Not so much." Veronica said if she took off her look at the newspaper. "If I were a good person, I wouldn't have sent him here."

There was an awkward silence. Nobody knew what to answer. Veronica was right. But the note did not seem to be written with bad intentions, quite the opposite.

- It is not correct that you judge Jack's mother like that.- Abi answered. -That's only up to him.- Abi looked at the letter from his family.- As myself, only I can judge my family, you yours, and Marlía hers.

Veronica snorted and continued reading the newspaper. Marlía looked at her package of sweets. Without much thought, he put them in the middle of the four.

-Girls it's Christmas, or it will be in a few hours. We don't have to fight.- She said looking at her two friends.- Jack. Do you want a chocolate? - The boy nodded excitedly and Marlía handed him the candy. -Also we should learn a bit of that Mouse code.

The three friends laughed at poor Marlía's mistake. But she kept talking without caring. Abi and Verónica forgot their little fight and shared sweets, told jokes and sang songs like a good night with the family. Midnight came faster than they expected. They wished each other a Merry Christmas and got ready to sleep.

When everyone was in their bags, even Jack and Veronica were already asleep, Marlía's little voice was heard.

- Vero ... Abi ...

-What? - Abi answered half asleep.

-Do you think it's a good idea to receive Christmas without bathing? - The comment made Abi laugh heartily, because they had indeed received Christmas without bathing.

-A little late. Don't you think? - Abi covered her face with the sheet trying to wrap herself.- Today was fun and we forgot. We'll take a shower tomorrow.

-I thought you didn't like Christmas.- Marlía murmured.

"I never said that," Abi answered before falling asleep completely.

-Seriously ... Won't I get sick for not taking a bath? Wouldn't that be bad luck? - Marlia kept talking until half an hour later. Luckily she fell asleep before 3 in the morning. He dreamed all night about those Christmases at home, which for some reason did not compare with the simple Christmas Eve he had spent with his friends.