September 2006 Issue The Horror Library, your Haunted Home for Horror Fiction, Dark Art, Horror Games, Movie Reviews, Book Reviews, Non-Fiction, Alternative Music, Horror Authors, Horror Short Fiction and featuring The Terrible Twelve - RJ Cavender, Bailey Hunter, Boyd E Harris, Megg Roper, Jason Beirens, CJ Hurtt, Eric Stark, Cordelia Snow, Chris Perridas, Curt Mahr, Stephen Sommerville, M Louis Dixon, Kerry Drummond
We\'d been opening presents since dawn, when the twins awoke the entire house to the sounds of holiday wonder. Not to mention, the sounds of ripping wrapping paper. My parents didn\'t have any say-so. It was time to open presents.
The tree sparkled in the early morning light, as snowflakes softly danced against the frosty glass of the living room window. The twins were sprawled under the tree amongst boxes and torn wrapping paper, playing with their favorite new toys. I\'d eaten too much candy from my stocking already this morning, and was ready for some breakfast.
The delightful smell of cinnamon rolls and coffee brewing crept through the kitchen\'s serving window, mingling with the warm fragrance of the crackling fireplace. Mom sang along with \'Rocking Around the Christmas Tree\' on the radio, dancing about the kitchen in a holly-jolly way. Dad brought in a few more logs for the fire, stomping the snow off his boots once inside.
\"Seems Santa left one last present out on the porch, kids.\" Dad announced, laying the split wood next to the fireplace. The twins first looked at each other, then at me, huge grins spreading across their freckled faces. They were up in a flash.
\"No way!\" They squealed in unison, racing each other to the sliding glass door.
\"Frank, I though we talked about this,\" Mom began, shooting him a disapproving look.
\"We did, honey. But, it\'s what the kids really wanted.\" He laughed, snaking his arms around her waist. \"Look how happy they are.\"
The twins struggled with the stacks of colorfully wrapped boxes, tumbling a few of them over on the way through the door. I helped carry the few heaviest ones over to the tree.
\"Well, what are you waiting for?\" Dad chided. \"Open them up!\"
The twins simultaneously attacked the largest box, peeling the bow and wrapping paper off completely before wedging their tiny fingers into the crease of the cardboard folds. They both began yanking futilely at the taped up corners, but couldn\'t get it opened.
\"Here, let me get the scissors, boys.\" Mom called out, on her way to the kitchen.
\"Now, not so fast. Let me get a picture!\" Dad said, turning the flash on to let it warm up.
\"OK, now fingers out of the way. Let me get this piece of tape here and here.\" Mom said, cutting open the box with surgical precision. An avalanche of packing peanuts and shredded newspaper spilled forth from the opened box.
Inside the first box was the torso, all smooth and marble white. Dad got pictures of the twins on either side of it, both grinning. Robbie crossed his eyes for the camera. The skin was so cold from being outside, but Mom was kind of limited on freezer space this time of year. Dad told us he\'d been hiding it out in the shed for over a month.
\"I got the hands!\" Johnny chimed, clapping them together to make a small round of applause for himself. \"I bet this box is the feet!\" He giggled, barely able to contain himself.
\"Well, let me have the feet when you find them, I\'ve got the legs right here.\" Dad said, holding up the hairless white limbs. The heat from the fireplace had served to thaw them a bit, as they bent and swung at the knee.
\"Now, you boys know that with this gift comes a lot of responsibility,\" Mom cautioned.
\"We know, we know!\" The twins chirped in singsong unison.
\"Emma, don\'t spoil this for them.\" Dad said. \"You\'ll take good care of it, won\'t you?\"
\"You bet we will!\" Johnny piped up. For a nine-year-old in footie pajamas, he looked deadly serious about the promise he\'d just made.
\"This is the best present you could have gotten us, you guys.\" I said quietly, trying my best to smooth things over. \"Can we get it all put together?\"
\"Can we get it all put together?\" Dad laughed, looking over the top of his glasses at me. \"I bet we can have it together in record time!\"
It was the first Christmas that Dad and I worked together assembling the toys. I guess it was sort of a rite of passage in my household. It was also the last year the twins would believe in Santa Claus. Not that these were things we knew then or would even talk about if we did.
All I know is that as the two men of the household, we assembled that body quick and flawless. Aside from a few missing fingers that we could send away for later, it was perfect. Dad screwed the muscled arms into the sockets, while I positioned the head in place. It took a steady hand, but Dad knew I could do it.
\"Is it finished, yet?\" The twins pleaded, wringing their tiny hands in anticipation.
On its hands and knees, the body shivered, amid the clutter of overturned boxes, bows, and ribbons. Tiny black eyes opened. It began to breathe. Muscles contracted, skin twitched, and a bead of sweat rolled down its featureless face. If it had a mouth, it would be trying to smile.
