A white Winterfest is something I’ve never experienced before, so I’m eager to get out there and play in the snow. I bundle Kai and myself up in our warmest clothes, and we head outside. A guy is standing at the bottom of the stairs when I arrive.
Prosperity: Hey there. Can I help you?
Harvey: Hi. Yes, I’m Harvey. I’m here to answer your ad for a roommate.
I would never have expected more than one person to show up on Winterfest to rent the apartment.
Prosperity: I’m sorry…I just accepted a roommate today.
Afu exits his apartment at that very moment.
Afu: I don’t mind having someone to help with the rent. I have no plans for that extra bedroom.
Prosperity: Okay, if you’re sure.
Afu and I talk to Harvey for a bit to learn more about him. We find out that he’s a student at Britechester, majoring in Language and Literature. After getting to know him some, I decide to allow him to rent the apartment with Afu. They both seem happy with the arrangement.
They enter the apartment together while Kai and I begin work on creating a Snow Pal. Something I’ve always wanted to do.
After we complete our masterpiece, we take a few selfies to send to the family.
Back inside, I prepare a sandwich for Kai and warm up some pizza rolls for dinner. I’m definitely missing my dad’s cooking right about now. I’m sure he’s preparing some sort of grand meal. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
However, Kai has never had one of daddy’s meals, so he’s happy with his sandwich. Since the tree has taken up our whole dining room, I’m forced to sit on the couch to eat. As I’m walking over to sit down, I hear some boots scraping outside, but I don’t think much of it now that I have two new roommates. I’m sure it’s just one of them.
It’s not one of Peri’s roommates. Craig places a package at the door, turns, and heads back down the stairs after standing at Peri’s door with his fist raised, prepared to knock for several minutes. The last thing he said to her replays over and over again in his mind. He’s not sure why he’s even here. He was content in Sulani, prepared to enjoy a low key holiday at camp as he’s always done. It was usually the best time of the year because all the interns and conservationists were usually away visiting family, leaving him time to think and reflect alone. But it was different this time. He couldn’t help but wonder about Peri and the child, which shocked him to the core. Before he knew it, he was booking a flight. Now he’s here, feeling like a fool…uninvited. If he did knock, what would he say? Would she even let him in? Would she let him see their child? He hurries away, hoping that she doesn’t suddenly look out the window and spot him. If he’s lucky, he can get a flight back to Sulani tonight to enjoy what’s left of the peace waiting for him at the empty camp. Maybe he can find a way to completely put Peri and the child out of his mind.
Kai’s biggest surprise arrives after dinner…a visit from Father Winter. Kai’s eyes light up at our visitor, and he greets him with a big hug.
Father Winter: *jolly laughter* Aren’t you the cutest? I have a gift for you that’s as big as you are sweet!
Kai gets a giant bear that will be impossible to fit in his bedroom, but I’m determined to find a place for it.
Father Winter turns to me next.
Father Winter: And you…have you been good this year?
It’s an odd question, and I stammer in my attempt to answer it.
Prosperity: Uh, w-well…
I wouldn’t describe having an affair with my boss and cheating on my boyfriend as being good. Luckily Father Winter lets me off the hook.
Father Winter: Of course you have! This is for you!
He hands me a box containing a coveted gaming mat.
Prosperity: This is amazing! But I don’t have any room for it.
Father Winter: You’ll live in a much bigger place than this one day. Mark my words!
Since when is Father Winter possibly prophetic?
He’s not done with us yet. He directs us to the Winterfest Tree, where he has left additional gifts. Some of Kai’s gifts are bigger than him.
After all the gifts are opened, including some sent from our family, it’s time for Kai to go to bed. I pull out a book, prepared to read Kai his bedtime story, but he turns to Father Winter with the cutest doe eyes. Father Winter seems to know exactly what it means.
The next thing I know, Kai is sitting on the couch with Father Winter enthusiastically reading a story.
Father Winter: *reading* It was the night of Winterfest, and Father Winter had just made his rounds…
I clean up while Kai is occupied with his special storyteller. I don’t know what Kai and I did to deserve such special treatment from Father Winter, but I am grateful. He stays until Kai is in pajamas and tucked into bed…then he steps out the door and disappears into the night…perhaps to put a smile on another little girl or boy’s face.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
