A Complete Christmas: Part Two

     April burst into the Neohome, waving the latest edition of the Times in her wings.

     "I wonder if my story got in!" The Pteri was more than exhilarated. Flipping the paper faster than she could read anything, April searched frantically for her story.

     "NO!" Andrea was shocked. How did April manage to get it first?

     "No?" April stared at her sister, wide-eyed.

     "Um, I meant, can I read it first?" Andrea stammered.

     "Sure, but make it quick, though!"

     Andrea quickly retreated to her room. Her heart pounding in her chest, she opened up the Neopian Times and hurriedly scanned through the different authors…but none of the names belonged to her. Could it be, that April's short story failed to meet the mark? Andrea's mind began to race as she neared the end of the paper. It might just be a good thing that her sister's story didn't get in - that way, she wouldn't have to hide the paper from her.

     Just as the Kau was about to flip the last page of the paper, something distinct caught her eye. It was a picture of a Kau, painted in gaudy, striking colours. Her eyes instinctively glanced over to the author's name…and there, sitting in between the title and the story itself, were the words "Andrea the Kau".

     Andrea was stunned for a moment. She could not comprehend what was happening before her. But soon she came back to reality, and slowly, a wide grin broke out. It turned into a simper as the Kau realised what had happened.

     Yet the glory was short-lived. Andrea soon realised that she had to hide the paper and her trophy from her sister before she found out what her trusted sister had done.

     "Andrea! Are you done with the Neopian Times?"

     The shrill voice of the Pteri broke Andrea's train of thoughts. Fumbling, Andrea acted before she had time to think about what she was doing. She tore out the page which contained April's story and conveniently slotted it under her bed. Then, with her hands still trembling with nervousness, she exited her room and placed the Neopian Times in front of her sister, who was seated on the sofa.

     The Kau looked on anxiously as her sister searched the paper for her story. Would she discover the tear? What would happen to me if she realised I stole her story? What about the trophy? Wild thoughts ran through the Kau's head.

     "It's not in," April said, obviously disappointed. After all, she had put in all she had into the story - it was such a let down that it didn't get in. "Oh, well. I guess it just wasn't good enough." Although she sounded as if she had submitted to her fate, April still found it hard to believe that her story had not made it into the newspaper.

     The guilty Kau heaved an inaudible sigh of relief, tried to look sad that her sister's story had not been chosen to appear in the Times, and picked the newspaper up. It was a good think April hadn't realised that one page of the paper was missing, she thought, though she could not deny a strange sense of guilt stabbing at her heart.

     ***

     "Well, so much for my effort."

     April was with Andrea in the latter's room, fluttering around, tossing her lucky coin from wing to wing, and looking deep in thought. The Kau could only shrug callously, and remain quiet.

     "Hey, do you remember how this coin came about?" April changed the subject all of a sudden, holding the golden coin in front of her sister's face. "I think it was this time last year, when the both of us bugged Harriet for a 'good' Christmas present, because all we've ever got were cheap Advent Calendar giveaways. Come to think of it, it was really generous of Harriet to splurge on two custom made gold coins for the both of us."

     Just then, April lost her grip on the coin and it fell to the ground, rolling under Andrea's bed. Andrea did not have time to react (she had been daydreaming yet again), and before she knew it, her Pteri sister was sticking her wing under the bed, trying to reach for the coin - but found a crumpled piece of paper instead.

     "No, not this!" Andrea tried to snatch the piece of torn paper from her sister's wings, but April was faster. She had found out what had happened.

     "Andrea…" April breathed. Hot, angry tears came spilling out of her eyes, as the disappointing realisation slowly sunk in. "How could you do this to me?"

     The guilty Kau was lost for words. Now that she had found out… But she felt more than just the anger of being discovered of her actions. Somehow, she could sense the disappointment, amidst the anger, in her sister's voice. In sheer regret, she broke down in front of the Pteri.

     "I just thought - I mean, I've always wanted to be like all the other famous writers…I just wanted to be well-known by all -"

     "And you want it so much that you are willing to betray even me?" April screamed. "To think I trusted you with all my heart!" With that, she flew out of the room, the Neohome, and out of Andrea, her shamefaced sister's sight.

     ***

     Though she wanted to give chase, Andrea felt something tugging at her heart. Perhaps it was her immense guilt. She felt she simply could not face up to April. Perhaps she didn't want to take more lashings from her sister. Perhaps she thought the problem would be easier to sort out when April cooled down. Whatever the case, she did not pursue her sister.

     Slowly, the Kau picked up the bits and pieces of the torn newspaper page.

     "My Beloved Sister", read the title. It brought stinging tears to Andrea's eyes as she read on. It was a story about how a fictional character - a Pteri - loved her younger sister, though the both of them were from different backgrounds before coming to an adopted family. At the end of the story was an author's note - "This story is dedicated to my most beloved sister, Andrea. I just want you to know that I'll love you always!!!"

     The smiley face at the end of the note only brought about more tears to invade the Kau's puffy red eyes. The Pteri in the story must be April, and the sister must be…herself.

     It was more than she could take. So she collapsed and cried, once again.

     ***

     It did not take long for Harriet, their owner, to realise what had happened. She had noticed no sign of April, while Andrea was weeping in her room. Upon some questioning, her pet Kau spilled everything to her.

     There was an intense silence as owner and pet huddled together for a long time. Gradually, Andrea's tears subsided, and confessed about how guilty and remorseful she felt.

     "Oh, Andrea. If you knew it was wrong to do this then why did you -"

     "I don't know either! I must have been devoured by my hunger for fame at that time. Consumed by my own greed. I'm so sorry, Harriet, I'm so very sorry!"

     "But what is the use of saying that to me?" The owner stroked the soft hairs on the Kau's head and continued. "How many times have I taught you about humility, honesty, and that fame and fortune could drive one to self-destruction, and so never pursue them? Fame and fortune…what are those? Without your sister, you're not complete, Andrea. You love your sister, don't you?"

     Andrea nodded vigorously.

     "Then you must be strong and be brave, to apologise and ask for forgiveness from her. It is no use just sitting here and weeping, and leaving the matter to rot on it's own. One must always make the effort to restore broken relationships, because you did do wrong, and because you still love April."

     Andrea was quiet, as she slowly chewed and digested that thought. Harriet was right, she finally decided, and the Kau went forth to search for her beloved sister.

     ***

     "Ouch!" A shriek rang out as April accidentally knocked into another Neopian at a street corner.

     "Oh, sorry!"

     At that moment, April noticed the all-too-familiar white gloves, silk and satin clothing…and the inimitable pure white gown.

     "Snowflake!"

     It was The Editor of the Neopian Times! April was on cloud nine. Imagine - to meet The Editor herself twice!

     "Oh! It's you!" Snowflake recognised the Pteri! April started to do a strange Pteri dance that she always did when she was in high spirits, and The Editor chuckled at her innocence. "Well what are you doing here? It's all cold and snowy already, you know. Besides, it's Christmas in a few days' time. Don't you have to go home to your family?"

     "My family." April's smile instantly disappeared as she was reminded of her sister. "Sure I have a family - it's just that…I don't want to go home."

     Snowflake started to look concerned. Here was a young Pteri who did not have any winter clothing on to defend her feathers from the freezing cold, and even worse, who ran away from home.

     "Well, tell me then, where is you Neohome?" Snowflake smile, tickling the Pteri under her chin. "We'll walk you home as we talk. Maybe we can figure something out by the time we get back to your house."

     April was reluctant at first, but her adoration and trust for the Editor got the better of her, and she agreed.

     "So…what's your problem? Would you like to share?"

     The Pteri was quiet for a while, but soon she started narrating the entire incident. Agitated tears rolled down her red cheeks while she spoke, but even in her anger there was an obvious hint of sheer disappointment in her sister more than anything else.

     "Oh, so you were the one who wrote that story about a pair of sisters. I was just wondering about something that was very strange, which I noticed - the author was Andrea, and she mentioned that she had a sister named Andrea! That was not too common a thing to happen, so it caught my eye. By the way, that was a very memorable story indeed."

     "Thanks," April replied, shyly.

     "Since Christmas is just around the corner, I have a little question. What is Christmastime to you?" Snowflake said, abruptly changing the topic.

     April was slightly taken aback by the question, though she answered nonetheless.

     "Um, Christmas is about giving and receiving, as well as being a symbol of love and life…and the Advent Calendar?"

     Snowflake grinned.

     "To me, Christmas means a time of giving, a time of sharing, a time of loving one another, and…a time of forgiveness," Snowflake said. "What good would it do for you to bear a grudge against your sister? You know what I mean. And I have read your story - it was one of the most truthful, honest, unpretentious piece I had ever read. That can only mean one thing - that you love your sister beyond any doubt, and your affection for her is unconditional. Is that going to change? Just because of this one mistake that she made - and she may not even know what she was doing at that very moment - you are going to bear this grudge and destroy your love for her for the rest of your life? To hate her forever? And throw out of the window everything else she has done for you? And ignore the fact that she is your most beloved sister?"

     Snowflake stopped walking. April was silent. Taking a long, deep breath, she pondered upon what the Editor had just said. It was very true - she should indeed forgive Andrea, not because it was Christmas, nor because she felt a compelling voice within her telling her that things must always end in a happily-ever-after fashion, nor was it because her most admired person told her to do so.

     It was because of her simple, pure love for Andrea.

     The Pteri stopped flapping her wings and rested on the shoulder of Snowflake. She noticed that they were already at the front door of her Neohome.

     "Thanks, Snowflake. I know what to do now."

     The Pteri exchanged smiles one last time with the Editor, and flew into the house…just as Andrea was about to step out.

     "April! I was just about to go look for you!" Andrea exclaimed. "Oh, April, I'm so sorry I did that to you. I'm so sorry, really. It was a moment of foolishness, and I promise you it will never happen again."

     "It's okay, Andrea…it's all okay. No one is perfect, right? Tell you what - if you ever need help with your writing, I'll always be there for you. Just remember never to do this sort of thing ever again."

     At this, Andrea felt a sudden warmth in her heart. A gap inside her filled up when the both of them reconciled. She looked up at her owner who was standing behind her, and grinned.

     "Fame and fortune, what are those? Without my most beloved sister…I will never be complete."

The End