Amiyah Wallace stepped out of the convenience store and headed back to her now-fueled-up car, a small bag holding some gum, a few energy bars, and a thermos in hand. The snow level on the ground was no more than a few centimeters, but the young woman could tell from the incoming clouds that trouble was afoot. After tossing the bag onto the passenger seat, she put the gas nozzle back just before she caught a small glimpse of a Downy woodpecker going about its business across the street. She watched it hop along a log and flutter to a branch near a telephone pole.
Might as well get a shot while I’m at it, even if it’s nothing too special. She looked at her watch. I’m kind of early anyway. Let the others catch up. Should I move-? Nah. Who’s gonna be out here except our cavalry?
Amiyah grabbed her camera from the backseat and quickly snapped a few far-distance photos before looking both ways and crossing to the other side. The woodpecker tweeted at her as it started to perform its namesake. Amiyah took a shot from the base of the tree, left and right sides. Disturbed, the bird flew across the road to the gas station and started looking for something to nibble on around the small lot. After looking both ways again, Amiyah playfully chased after it, childishly excited for a little playtime. Downy hopped a pump opposite of Amiyah’s, and not taking care what the cashier inside would say if he looked out the window, Amiyah lay on the nearly-frozen ground on her stomach and took some angled shots of Downy at the pump so it looked as if he had arrived to fill up his wings. As Downy pranced across the lot to a fenceline, Amiyah took one last far-distance shot before stopping the picture-taking sesh.
Thanks for providing some blood movement after that drive, buddy.
Amiyah placed her camera back in its backseat bag and admired the scenery around her one last time, going over in her mind what her metaphorically-adopted dad had sent out nearly a month prior.
Still can’t get over Aunt Suzi’s face when I told her what William’s letter said. She had never seen anything like it, but really, who has? And who would pass up the chance to celebrate New Year’s at Lake Forlorn, the most enchanting place imaginable? I hope the other - how many? - five, duh, are coming. It wouldn’t feel right if someone said no, although the only one who probably would is Max, but I don’t think even he would let his unwillingness pass up a free resort stay - as well as stern talkings from Vince and/or Rachel. Judy, I guess, could also have said no - she is known for being weary of treacherous weather. Eh, she is an Aries though - not much can stop her. Okay, time for some heat.
Amiyah climbed into her car and started the engine. Looking in the rear-view mirror, she saw a truck pull up to the pump diagonally behind her. She squinted trying to see if it was one of the guests, but it was just a stranger.
If anything, Eric better be there. Hmm, am I really going to do the most cliché imaginable the day the ball drops? Of course I am. It’s cute! Jake and Bonnie both think so, though that was like, eight months ago.
Amiyah gleefully smiled before taking off her toque and starting the final fifteen-minute stretch to Lake Forlorn Resort.
**
Rachel Kim awoke with a jolt in the backseat of her car. Her nightmare was nothing more than that, but it felt like the fringes of reality were breaking as she gained her consciousness back. After rubbing her eyes profusely, Rachel glanced out the window to see the sun shining cheerfully, having overridden the overcast from an hour prior. The woman’s power-nap had also mostly overridden her tiredness from staying up just too long the previous night, attempting to fill in details of her newest painting before going on a getaway to William’s resort. Rachel wriggled her limbs to get back to reality some more before climbing to the front seat and turning on her car. She read the clock’s time - 14:24 - as the hot air withered away the cold that had seeped in.
“Guess I’ll get there around 15:30 instead of - what was it?-. Ogh-” she popped some joints.
The woman reached into her backpack resting on the passenger seat to re-read the invitation letter.
Hello Friends,
William here. I’m going to get straight to the point. To celebrate the end of the year, decade, century, and millennium, I am inviting you all, Max, Vince, Amiyah, Judy, Rachel, Eric, to come stay at Lake Forlorn Resort free of charge December 28th through January 2nd. Not only is this to celebrate New Year’s, but a way to show my appreciation to you all. It has been a grand time getting to know each one of you as you made your trips to my quaint resort over this past decade. Some of us have stronger connections than others, and I feel as though this could also be a time to fill in the connections that are loose. I hope everyone makes an appearance so we can all welcome year 2000 together! Jake and Bonnie are excited to party and see who shows. If you’re worried about inclement weather, I have readily stocked the pantry in the event snow prevents people from leaving, and all power and plumbing supplies are safe from harm. Also remember I recently invested in a snowplough. The forecast as of now, a month out, doesn’t look to be dangerously bad. I am expecting willing folks to start showing around 14:00 on the 28th. Let’s all have some fun and lustrous cozy time!
Your friend, William Astrid
“Hrm, ninety minutes past expectation time. Surely it won’t matter too much, right? Max is probably going to have him and Vince running a little late too…”
Rachel put the letter back in her backpack and turned her wipers on to get the incoming ice off the glass. While she quickly rolled down and up the door windows, she looked around at her little inlet off the side of the road. Fresh tire tracks intertwined with hers suggested someone else had stopped a little bit ago. For the most part, the road itself was clear, but Rachel had a feeling that wouldn’t last for long. Finishing her window clearing, the woman chugged down a good chunk of her thermos’ contents before exchanging the Daft Punk tape with a The Prodigy one. As the electronic punk music’s volume was cranked up, Rachel switched the shift to drive and pulled back onto the road.
Man, I can’t wait to see the resort during Winter. A painting treat! New sandbox to play in.
Whizzing steadily down the highway, Rachel took in the farmlands, muskegs, and patches of trees as they sped by. The valley seemed so pleasant and peaceful. After going around a large turn and entering a small wooded area, Rachel’s focus came fully back in and she began to dance along to the music. The absence of any other living things around was a sight for sore eyes. Tranquility had been restored.
**
After coming to a stop at a four-way intersection, Eric Anderson fixed his gloves as he waited for the car ahead to make its left turn. Yellow matching his blonde hair, Eric always shook off the people who hated on the bright color. “It rarely ever goes with anything.” “It’s much too odd next to all other colors!” “Ugly.” Continuing on down the road and getting closer to the boons and away from society, Eric quickly glanced at his notebook on his passenger dash, eager to get back to sketching ideas out for his next project - the next in a series of buildings that speak out against haters of yellow. A school being built a couple of years ago let the young architect show off just how much yellow can make something pop. A café extension being added onto a museum came next, and now Eric’s mind brainstormed as to what a renovated library should be adorned with. The man cranked up the volume of the radio as he dipped into the valley, attempting to block out all unnecessary thoughts. It didn’t quite work.
Well, surely getting some fresh new scenery into my veins will let a lightbulb appear. Everyone knows of writer’s block, but builder’s block? Better hope this little vacation will give me the building blocks to wipe out the builder’s block. Good one. Bet Rachel and Amiyah are ecstatic for the getaway too. Maybe we could work together on brain-hashing.
As large homes passed in between bunches of trees, Eric dreamed of what must’ve been like to come up with some of those zany ideas. One looked like a wrap-around castle, and another looked like if a simple stone and wood cabin were both on steroids and had a goliath, mutant baby.
The dignity of some people is so different than mine. Where do they even get those ideas? What do the people living in them even do? Probably boring shiz like squash, shuffleboard, and hunting. Do rich people even play video games? Wonder if Jake and Bonnie have played the RE game that just came out. It’s nothing new, but I’m still so glad William lets them consume the media they want. Restrictions are so silly. Living out there for over a quarter of their lives though - they’ve gotta seen or imagined some scary things. I know I would.
Eric took the last sips of his coffee as he traveled by a horse ranch. Two horses could be seen walking along a creek in their field. All the others stayed in their warm, dry stable, perhaps willing to let themselves be a bunch of haters while their friends had fun. Eric smiled as he thought about seeing everyone again, knowing that if gathering brain juice was a bust, cozying up with and partying with the Astrids and invitees would be worth more than any idea he could come up with to sketch.
**
Recently retired Judy Fairhaven sat very upright as was her custom as she sped along the treelined-highway. She was sixty-five and she did not approve of lounging. Instilled deeply into her as a child, she never mistakenly had bad posture, and rarely ever did it on purpose. The elderly woman didn’t care much that others didn’t take kindly to this practice, learning to be very easy-going in her high school years. Growing up over the decades, she was excited to see what each generation would bring to the table, whether it was manners, slang, drugs, styles, or body comfort. Having been a doctor in more than one field, Judy was able to catch all sorts of people’s strifes and up-beats. Living in the city of Calgary let the doctor meet all sorts of different people and learn all sorts of their different customs. Sad as she was to leave her career, Judy instilled into herself that perhaps it was time to think about her more often than others. Money was saved up to travel, and she couldn’t wait to get started. Presently, the elderly woman came to a three-way intersection. With nobody around, she california-stopped with no shame.
Over four-and-a-half decades of driving and still haven’t been caught. Funny how others don’t know any better. It’s only illegal if you get caught. Timing is key.
Whipping out of the treeline section and into the blanketed countryside, Judy felt a hair clip slipping from holding up her bangs. She had been rocking a pixie cut for a few years at this point, but her hair strands still could never learn how to hold things properly. Judy snagged the clip and placed it in a cup holder, letting her bangs sweep back into their natural position.
“Hella fun as always. Lordy.”
In the distance, Judy could see the farm that acted as a ‘you are now forty-five minutes away from Lake Forlorn Resort’ marker. No field animals could be seen, but a man and his dog could be noticed playing frisbee. It could hardly be told that the dog was supposed to be a doberman - its fur had been almost completely overridden with snow. Judy thought back to her old retriever.
Oh, Molly. You were just like that one…Wonder if William has ever been interested in a pet - then again the twins are like pets on their own. If things sway in the other direction, maybe I can get that to be a New Year’s resolution of his…Max could help me persuade him.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Judy took a look back at her knitting kit.
“Perhaps I’ll make a couple of preview ones for him once I get to my cabin…also a fun time passer!”
**
Britney Spears’ album …baby one more time softly echoed through Vince Lewis and Max Diaz’s truck as they made their way through the sticks. When Max had fallen asleep some time prior, his fiancé took the chance to start playing the cassette. Vince lightly sang along with the rising pop star, knowing that Max secretly liked the other man’s happy singing to his music as a lullaby. The couple had come to the most barren part of the trip, where not a single residence could be seen for kilometers and kilometers. Empty plains/tundras and small gatherings of trees and foliage were the only things to see. The small crests of the Earth they lay on provided some definition to keep a tired mind awake. With everything covered in white, Vince felt like he was in a dream. The kind of dream where you feel like you’re in a familiar place, but it’s ever so lightly distorted from reality. Hanging high in the clouds for whatever reason, making for a heavenly trip on acid and it’s hard to tell if God is really speaking to you or not. Taking his gaze off the road every now and then, Vince turned to his partner nestled all snuggly and cuddly in the downed passenger seat.
How does he get himself curled up like that? I know he’s flexible, but damn - how does one even maneuver into a position like that in the first place? And how does he still stay so damn adorable? Jeezeums.
It had been four years and Vince still became overjoyed with happiness getting to see Max rest. The antithesis to the majority of his waking persona, Max slept not only like he was on cloud 9, but in the ninth sphere of Dante’s heaven - The Premium Mobile, where God himself and the angels would graciously watch over him for eternity. Vince once tried explaining this to Max, but Max mostly brushed it off as his other half seeing things. It wasn’t until Max and Vince babysat a friend’s infant one weekend where his resting period was caught on baby cameras and he saw what he really was - also a baby. Max took the discovery as someone who had climbed Mount Everest - a test of time that reveals who you really are.
Coming around some twisty bends, the heavy movement lightly stirred Max awake.
Wait, not yet!
Vince tried to hide his disappointment and get back to lip-syncing, but Max could see the truth through his blurry vision.
“V, will you ever stop being like that?” Max’s groggy words could barely be distinguished.
“Like what?”
“Obsessed with your favorite person.”
“Why would I ever do such a thing?”
Stretching out and yawning, Max recognized certain patterns in different tree and hill formations that let him know they weren’t far from the lake. Another twenty minutes would do it.
“Want me to turn her off?”
Max put the seat back up. “No, no…we’re almost there. I like watching you sing off-key, too.”
“I do not!”
“Course you do. It’s endearing though.”
“Thanks…? Seriously babe, why is it that you always fall asleep in a vehicle no matter the length of the trip..”
“The soft rumbles remind me of my father swaying me to sleep some thirty-odd-plus years ago. Didn’t I tell you this already?”
Vince took a swig from his water bottle. “No. That’s really sweet. I wish I could’ve met him.”
Max thumbed through his fingers. “The pair you’d make. Probably could’ve written some wicked poems together.”
“Oh, st-”
“No, no. You would, plain and simple.”
“Alright. Hey, did I thank you already for fixing up the truck within two seconds so we could make it out here?”
“Yeah. Told ya I run the shop like there’s no tomorrow. But do it again. I live for the applause.”
“Tha-”
“En español.”
Vince snifled. “Gracias, mi hombre favorito en el planeta.”
Max kissed his lover’s cheek. “Unakaribishwa.”
**
Around 15:30, a platoon of eight stood around a fire barrel waiting for the last invitee. Greetings and welcomes passed graciously in the early twos, and some felt sad that Rachel missed it. Others felt it wasn’t fair that she got to have The Lonely Cabin away from everything after running so late, but William reminded everyone that with Rachel’s unhinged blasting of ear blood music, it was for the best. At long last, the final car pulled up the gravel road and into the lot. No more than milliseconds passed after the car turned off did Rachel hop out with her bags and fast walk towards everyone.
“Hey! I do apologize. Stayed up quite a pinch too long these past couple of nights. So great to see you all!”
Everyone greeted her as William walked forward and took her bags. “Life happens, Rache. Wonderful to see you too. I’m so glad everyone made it! Who wants a drink?”
“Me!” Bonnie shouted.
Snickers arose from the bunch.
“Maybe a sip for you two. Why don’t you and Jake do the honors and fix some up while I walk Rachel’s bags across the lake?”
“Oh, you don’t have t-”
“I must. I must walk off these calories I’ve consumed in the past week. Go catch up.”
Rachel gleefully nodded. “Okay. Hurry back!”
*
In record time, the tweenage Astrid twins put their newfound bartending skills to the test and whipped up beverages so fast the guests were completely starstruck. Now gathered at the Resort Office’s front desk, Jake and Bonnie handed each adult a drink as they signed the guestbook.
“I know Willam mentioned he once worked at some bars,” Judy started, “but I didn’t know not only did he pick up so much, he retained some skills to this day and passed it on. You kids like doing this?”
Jake nodded. “It’s like a neat little science. Even though we obviously can’t have any, it’s like a taboo fun of, say, scientists in a dangerous lab working and mixing chemicals, I don’t know. Just how I like to personally see it.”
“Maybe this can be an easy early twenties job’ll come easy in roughly ten years,” Bonnie added. “And if not that, we can impress people at parties.”
“I hope at legal age parties,” William said as he entered the building.
“Where else?” Bonnie responded innocently.
William smirked before stepping onto the loft stairs and attracting everyone’s attention with a low hand whistle.
“Once again, I thank you lot for coming. I know how unprecedented something like this is and all, but aside from giving me your money-dollars, I really do enjoy yall’s company as we’ve gotten to know each other off and on over the years. Even my little ones take likings to you, and that says something.” He paused for a moment. “Amiyah, it has been wonderful getting to see you grow into the young woman you’ve become. I , as others are too, am very proud of you for overcoming your turbulent adolescence.”
“Thank you for putting up with me enough to basically raise me. I know you’re basically a saint, but sometimes I can’t believe I didn’t break you.”
“Trust me, I almost did. But that was many moons ago. This is now.”
Amiyah almost choked on her rising emotions. “Y’know, sometimes in my head, I honest to God call you ‘Dad’. You practically are my real one anyway, as my therapist likes to say, so, um - oh look, my face is melting - erm, I’m grateful for you putting up with me.”
“And I’m grateful you come back every so often. I keep saying that you don’t have to pay. I’m not owed anything.”
“Well, I think you are.”
Amiyah approached her basically-adoptive father and the two embraced. The others clapped and raised their glasses for them.
“Judy,” William started as he and Amiyah let go, “you were the first to really stick. Other guests came and went before, and of course continued to do so, but the universe let a sticking friendship occur. A kick-ass older woman who doesn’t shun the youth? Signed me up. And of course, you helped out Amiyah, another major bonus. What’s kind of scary, if some of you didn’t know, is that Judy helped me out in my own cracked-out youth. The world is a small place. Much obliged for that, along with for helping me out with the kids running off sometimes. It’s a wonder you’re not a mother yourself. To Judy.”
“To Judy!”
The ex-doctor formed a jubilant smile and held a hand to her heart. William eeny-meeny-miney-moed in his head briskly before settling on -
“Eric. Jacob and Bonnibel’s favorite-”
“I am?”
“What kid doesn’t love an adult that actually likes to play video games with them and sometimes encourages their mischievous adventures?”
Eric bit his lip and shamefully smiled at the twins, who smirked back.
“Besides sometimes making for a good second spouse (don’t take that too literally), you’re just, I don’t know, so intelligent and resourceful it makes me giddy. If I didn’t like to listen to your tangents and speeches, psh, what a sad world that would be. Eric!”
“Eric!”
After cheering drinks, the architect shimmied to the twins and gave them high-fives. Amiyah tagged along, giving the twins a quick wink before standing closer to the man than before. William pretended he didn’t notice and continued -
“Our one and only resort wall decorator, Rachel Kim. How ever would I have such magnificent pieces of work hanging on my eight cabin walls without you?”
“Don’t be a suckup, Will. They’re not all that great. And you could have found anyone’s work.”
“Fine, then - I admit some of your pieces are either too bold and brash and belong in the trash, or are just, I don’t even know what to say.” He snorted. “In any case, you assisted in prettying up the place after some years of dullness. And then, as you came and went to brag to guests about your work, I took a liking to your bubbly-bashfulness, and you took a liking to my much too friendly-assertive attitude. Together, we equal each other out. Rache!”
“Rache!”
The painter’s face ran bright red. She bowed and took some steps back. William motioned the last two forward. Max and Vince slowly took a couple of steps to the stairs after exchanging a puzzled glance.
“I hate to play favorites, but, well, how couldn’t the fiancés be? No offense to you four.”
“Favorite?” Vince asked. “Don’t know if I should be proud or not.”
“Not as proud as me,” Max joked. “I’m the ultimate fave!”
Slowblinking, William pursed his lips. A striking one-clap followed.
“As a simple person, Vince, that’s my favorite quality about you. A simple man with simple desires. Chill, laidback, a lot like me for the most part. And your media intake matching that of mine very closely, except music - let us bond a lot. I couldn’t ask for a better person to watch low-ball B films with me. And Max, however much my mind likens you to that of an adult male version of my daughter, your comicalness is very addicting. As is your handiness. Forget being a mechanic, your hands can do anything! Let me stop you before making the obvious joke. If you weren’t so arrogant, I’d think you could take on the world.”
William practically tackled the couple into a bear hug after hopping off the stairs.
“Max! And Vince!”
“To Max and to Vince!”
William soon stepped back and picked up his specially made peppermint mimosas with added candy canes and raised it high. The others soon followed suit with their drinks, with Bonnie and Jake holding cranberry sparkling cider. “To you, , to me, to us, to them, let’s all have a Happy New Year!”
Everyone cheered “Woos!” and “Yeahs!” and clinked their glasses. William traveled across the room to the stereo and began blasting electric-jazz tunes. Some guests lightly danced as others sat against surfaces, not yet ready to all-out just yet. Bonnie and her father joined the more lively folk while Jake stood with Max, Rachel, and Eric.
“Does your dad do this a lot with you two?” Max wondered.
“Do what?” Jake quickly huffed. “Oh, right. In one way or another, from time to time, he likes to express his admiration to us whenever we get in trouble to deter us on the ‘correct path.’ Kind of cumbersome.”
“Think that some things are better left unsaid?” Eric asked.
“I don’t know,” Max replied. “I personally think it’s weird to exclaim this much fondness, but whatever floats the man’s and other’s boats, I guess. Would rather jump off a cliff than talk like that all day long.”
Jake clicked his tongue. “Even about factoids like Eric’s workstuff?”
“Yes. If I’m going to yip and yap, it’s going to be once in a blue moon to make it special. And in a direct, non-open air space.”
Max quickly downed the remainder of his drink. Eric did the same.
“Hey, do you and Vince ever go by your full names? I’ve always wondered that.”
“Me too,” Jake added.
Max hummed for a second. “It’s the same with both of us - never, ever. Unless someone is unfathomably mad at us. Or in seductory situations. You and your sister are just whatevs, right? Whatever sounds better in the moment’s sentence?”
“Yep. Just like dad.”
Eric started to crunch on the ice from his glass. “Has Vince been lucky yet with a new job?”
“No place so far is worthy enough for him. In fac-”
“Babe, come on. Dance with me. Or I’ll-”
Max sighed. “Fine!” He turned back to Eric. “Tell you the rest later.”
Jake and Eric were amused as they watched Max run and jump onto Vince’s back. Loud laughs echoed through the cabin as they fell to the floor.
“We should probably join,” Eric said.
“Only for a minute,” Jake slightly sighed.