xxv. reading books and playing games

"McKenna?" Noah said. He had managed to climb into the treehouse. It was cold up here, but I knew that within a few weeks, it would be a lot warmer. I always thought Noah couldn't get up here, but I guess he could.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Can you read this to me?" he asked.

I shrugged. I wasn't a great reader. Not like Justin anyways. I looked at the book. It was just a little kids book. I could read this. "I guess so. Can't Mommy read it to you though?"

"Yeah, but she said she wasn't reading to me tonight."

"What about Daddy?"

"He's at work."

I wished Daddy didn't have to go to work. He was always doing that. I just wanted him to stay home with Noah and I. "Okay," I told Noah. "I'll read to you."

Noah crawled further into the treehouse and gave me the book. I opened it and started reading. "Noah?" I asked.

"What?" he said.

"Why did you pick 'Twas The Night Before Christmas?'"

"Because I like it," Noah said.

"But it's not Christmas!" I shouted.

"So? Just read it," Noah said.

I sighed and started reading:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

Noah smiled. He looked at me and I kept reading. Before long, I had reached the end of the poem.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

"Read it again," Noah said.

"No," I said. "I couldn't even pronounce half of the words."

"Please?"

"No," I said.

"Pretty please?" Noah said.

"No."

"Can you read to me tomorrow?" Noah asked.

I nodded. "Sure." I started climbing down from the treehouse. It was starting to get dark. I would have to go to bed soon, and so would Noah. I was kind of happy though, only because I had made Noah happy. It was a nice feeling.

A/N: Thank you SO MUCH for reading! Merry Christmas (or whatever winter holiday you celebrate)!!!! I figured I'd give you another cutesy chapter. I PROMISE it will get A LOT more interesting, even though this story moves kind of slow. To quote Panic! At The Disco, northern downpour sends its love :)