The Federation Tribune

Keiri Jones: Christmas Time
by James Jackson

(Earth- Jones Family Home- 2394.12.24 - 1200)

Keiri Jones was out in his front yard admiring the winter wonderland that surrounded him. There was at least a foot of snow on the ground. The light wind was blowing the snow around making it look like there was a small blizzard. Whop!!! Something cold and wet hit him in the back of the head.

"Gotcha!!!" Keiri spun around and saw Gara Clement standing in her front yard with a snowball in one gloved hand. She reared back to throw and lofted the snowball through the air.

"Hey!!" Keiri shouted as he dodge the projectile. He leaned down and scooped up some snow and fashioned his own ball. "Now it's my turn." Keiri said with a smile. He charged across the yard toward where Gara was.

"No!!" She turned and ran away as he approached. He threw the packed snow toward his friend and caught her in the back as ran around her family home.

"Where ya goin?" He taunted. Once Gara disappeared behind her house Keiri stopped and wiped the snow off his jacket. As he walked back toward his house something slammed into him and knocked him face down in the snow.

"Now who's got who Keiri." Gara said as she sat on his back and pushed his face in the snow. Keiri slapped the ground three times signaling his surrender. Gara grabbed his ponytail and pulled his face out of the snow. "Told ya I was gonna get ya." She said as she get off his back. Keiri rolled over to lay on his back in the soft snow. Gara was laying beside him.

"God I just love this time of year," said Gara. "The snow is so beautiful, and the cold air is so bracing."

"I know," Keiri began. "Winter is my favorite time of year. I love the cold, it makes me feel alive." He looked at Gara. "My mom wanted me to ask, are you guys coming over tomorrow for our Christmas party?"

"Yeah," Gara answered. "We have to go see my relatives first, but we are planning to be back in time to come over."

"Cool, we're gonna be home all day since all my relatives are dead or living on other planets. So you guys just come over when ever you want. We're opening presents around three and my mom wants you guys there cause we got stuff for you guys to and well since you guys are like family so my mom wants you guys there."

"Sure thing Keiri, we'll try to be there but you know how in-laws can be."

"Ok cool, I'll tell my mom." He responded.

"Alright, well I'm gonna head inside. See ya tomorrow." She got up and headed inside. Keiri laid in the snow a few minutes longer then picked himself up and went in the house.

(Earth- Jones Family Home- 2394.12.25 - 1455)

Keiri was sitting in the living room on the floor with Gara next to him while there parents occupied the chairs and couch. Keiri was so happy, being with the people he cared about the most. After Keiri helped his mom hand out the presents he sat down next to Gara and they all opened their presents. The sound of tearing paper and the laughs everyone shared as the presents were opened always made Keiri smile, especially when Gara opened his present.

"Wow Keiri where did you find this?" She asked.

"God I had to go to ten different book stores before I found it, and, it was the only copy they had.." Gara leaned over and hugged him.

"Oh thanks Keiri, I love it." She said as she hugged the book to her chest.

"You're welcome..." He paused. "Oh I will be right back." Keiri went into his bedroom and found the Holocube that he had made. It included old pictures of the two of them that he had found in an old holoimager of his mothers, plus some more recent photos that he had taken since they had been back on Earth. He put the Holocube in the little wooden box he'd had made and walked back in the living room. When he walked back in the living room Gara was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Gara?" He asked.

"She went outside for a minute." His mom told him.

"Alright." He went out the front door and found Gara sitting in the snow. He sat down beside her.

"Why'd you run off?" He asked.

"Sorry," she began. "I had to get out for a minute."

"I understand." said Keiri. "I have to get away every once in a while myself." He picked up the box that he had laid in the snow. "But you ran off before I could give you your other gift."

"Other gift?" She asked as he handed her the wooden box. She took the box and opened it. She pulled out the Holocube and activated it. Her face lit up as the old pictures of the two of them together flashed by one by one. "Wow Keiri where did you find these?"

You remember a few weeks ago when I was helping my dad clean out the garage?" Gara nodded. "Well I found an old Holoimager and these pictures were on it, and I thought that they would make an excellent Christmas gift for my best friend." He said with a smile. Her smile was wider though. She hugged him again.

"Oh thanks Keiri. This is amazing. I love it.." She hesitated. "It's hard to believe that we have been friends for that long."

"Yeah it is." Keiri said. "You know before I met you I had never had a friend."

"You were three when your family moved in." Gara said.

"I know, but even most three year olds have friends. You were my very first friend." He turned to look her in the eyes. "And I don't want to ever lose that." She smiled at him.

"I don't either Keiri." She laid her head on his shoulder and smiled. They stayed like that for awhile longer then went back inside to enjoy the rest of the holiday with their families.

(Earth- Jones Family Home- 2394.12.25 - 2300)

Keiri sat in his room looking at the picture that Gara had given him. It was of their graduation day, they were standing side by side both wearing their caps and gowns. She said she had been looking at a picture her mom took at the graduation party after the ceremony. She was a fantastic artist, if she had not joined Starfleet she could have gone to any of the best art schools in the Federation. Keiri hung the picture up on the wall. He loved the holidays getting to spend them with the people you love not having to worry about the bad things in life. It's a time of sharing and thinking of others. ~The holidays really are the best time of year.~ Keiri thought as he drifted of to sleep.