Part 13

the rest of the Alaska trip is uneventful. after my family arrive we tour the place a little and Dad and Josh fish. Ann and i try birdwatching but it got too cold and Emmett kept whispering to me, "did you know bluejays are delicious with mayonnaise?" and as an animal rights activist i have to punch him for that. our fights eventually scared off all the birds withing 5km radius. oh well, that'll kepp them safe from evil Emmett's insatiable hunger.

we have returned to singapore for about a week already. i am well over the jet lag!

today is about 5 days before Christmas. i am invited to help the Cullens decorate. i know they're only doing it to be polite. with their super-speed they can decorate in 10 minutes flat. still, maybe Esme made cookies. then i can have the whole plate because...muahahaha....VAMPIRES DON'T EAT!

anyway. at the Cullen's place, Emmett calls to me from the roof as i am entering the front door. "hey squirt! wanna decorate the roof with me?" i feel nervous. Emmett is dangling precariously on the rain pipe, trying to put up a string of fairy lights.

he lurches suddenly and topples over. i scream in horror. oh my gosh! Emmett! he lands with a loud (make that resounding) thump on his side. i rush over. "oh my gosh Emmett! are you dead? please be alive!" i attempt to turn his massive body over when i feel his shoulders shaking. what the hell. he's laughing!

he sit up and starts guffawing. "oh great galloping gumdrops! you should have heard your scream! i think every human withing a mile has had their ear drums shattered." dammit. i forgot vampires are practically indestructable. the fall from the roof must be like falling off his bed.

hearing my screams and Emmett's laugh, the Cullens have gathered around us. Esme shoots a withering glare at Emmett. "stop being mean to Joy, Emmett, or i shall confiscate your car keys." "aw Ma. don' be like that wan...."

"urgh your phony Ah Beng accent is revolting!" Alice interjects. she grabs my hand. "come on Joy. you can help make the cookies." my face lights up instantly. cookies, the magic word! seeing my abrupt mood swing, Esme hastens to add, "mind you, they won't be all for you to eat. we have other human guests that quite like cookies, you know." i don't mind. you know what they say: half a dozen cookies is better than none.

so Alice, Esme and i get busy in the kitchen. "okay Joy, beat these eggs," Alice instructs bossily. throughout the whole bake, Alice and Esme have not let me near anything sharp, like the cookie cutters or even the harmless butter knife. but i know why: they're scared i may cut myself and bleed.

anyway. the cookies are soon baked and lain on a tray to cool. Esme stays to wash up and Alice and i go to watch the rest of the preparations.

in the garden, Carlisle and Emmett are still setting up fairy lights ("EMMETT! do NOT plug the lights into your Jeep's batteries! they will explode!"). Edward and Jasper were pruning the bushes in to festive figures ("oh my gosh Edward! you've killed the plant! its totally bare!" "did NOT! im just pruning off a few extra leaves....") and Rosalie was building a snowman from styrofoam peanuts. Bella was standing helplessly on the porch (the Cullens deemed her too fragile for such strenuous activities).

THE END. i'll tell you what happens next tomorrow ;)