Chapter Text
Orel had just witnessed his father confess to everything, for a few moments the world stopped, Orel knew that Stopframe liked his father but not that his father liked his coach. Orel never thought he would be in such a situation.
He thought his mother, who was right behind them, would explode, his brother Shapey and Block, for the first time in a long time did not scream or kick their feet, Orel could feel the the weight in the air as they left Stopframe's apartment, they walked down the building and came out onto the street.
It was still Christmas eve, snow covered Moralton like powdered sugar covers a cake, it was supposed to be a holy night, but there wasn't anything of holy anymore.
As they got into the car Orel thought about saying something, but seeing his father's face in the rearview mirror he decided it was best not to, the silence in the car was awful but Orel preferred that to a loud argument, he kind of wished the ride would not end so they would never get home but it seemed to go by too fast. When he arrived home, he saw his mother hurriedly going to the kitchen as well as his dad going into his study, this was normal for him but this night was everything but that. Block and Shapey were still quiet, Orel didn't know for sure if they had caught on to what had just happened but he didn't stay around for too long either as he went into his room. It was still Christmas eve after all, so before he went to sleep Orel decided to pray.
-God, well I don't know if you can hear me right now, I imagine you're pretty busy since it's Christmas time. But I'm in kind of a pickle, I don't think my mom likes my dad anymore, heck I don't think my dad ever liked my mom... I don't even know if you can fix it but please bring my family together again, I would really appreciate it. Amen.
Orel stopped kneeling and turned off his bedroom light and limply crawled into his bed, right before going to sleep he let his mind go wild for a bit with all types of thoughts of what would happen next, he began to feel tired trying to fight the urge to close his eyes until they did it themselves.
Orel woke up and for a few seconds forgot what had happened the night before until it all came back to him. He looked out his window, it was Christmas day alright. It was still snowing outside, Orel went straight to the kitchen for his breakfast. His mom wasn't there this time but everything looked as though it had just been cleaned down to every last dirty spot possible, Orel started preparing a bowl of cereal for himself, it was the last bit of them but as he was gonna pour the milk his brother burst in.
-DRIIIIINK!
-Oh, hey Shapey, I imagine you're pretty hungry too.
Orel put his bowl on the table set it in front of Shapey and poured the milk.
-Hey Shapey. Where's Block?
Just as fast as he asked, Block entered the kitchen.
-HUNGRY!
-Oh, well, Shapey, be good, and share your breakfast with Block.
Orel promptly left the kitchen and headed to his room, as he was walking in the hallway he peeked into his parent's room, his mom was in bed, he didn't know if she was still sleeping or not as she was facing the opposite direction, he got curious and decided to check his dad in the study too, his dad was in his chair like always still sleeping, he was holding an empty cup in his left hand, in his right hand he had a bottle of whisky slipping away through his fingers waiting to fall, on the floor, there were tons of different bottles, Orel recognized all them from his dad's cupboard, some were empty, some broken, some even spilled, Orel could feel the stickiness of the floor due to the liquor even from far away. As he made his way back into his room he heard a knock on the door, he turned back hurriedly, too hurriedly as he almost fell due to his leg still suffering from what had happened not too long before, Shapey and Block were already at the door giggling, it was coach Stopframe.
-Uhh... Merry Christmas Orel.
-Coach Stopframe what are you doing here?
-Is your dad home?
-Well he's sleeping in his study, do you want to see him?
-No, I just came by to see you Orel, here.
Coach Stopframe handed Orel a gift, a small box with red wrapping paper, small deers were illustrated on it, he then kneeled to give one to Shapey, it was bigger, a box with green wrapping paper, this one didn't have any decorative drawings though.
-I didn't uh... know you had another brother, Clay didn't tell me anything.
-Oh, he's not my brother, his family just kinda left him with us.
-Uhuh... Well then tell your brother to share his.
As coach said that he looked to Shapey who was already playing with his new gift along with block, it was a hammer, he knew he wouldn't get hurt and his parents wouldn't care, plus he had always shown interest in weird stuff.
-Okay! Well why, can't I share mine?
-Open it up, you'll see.
Orel looked at his coach and then back at his gift smiling, he took off slowly the tape keeping the wrapping paper together in order not to ruin it and proceeded to unfold it neatly.
He then opened the box, it was a picture of Orel and coach after they had skated on the ice the day before, Orel was smiling in the picture as coach has his hand on his shoulder.
-Thanks, coach.
Orel went and hugged Stopframe for a while and wouldn't let go.
-C'mon Orel I have to go now, I can't let your dad know I'm here.
He then said his goodbyes and left, Orel then made his way back into his room and was gonna hide the picture he had gotten in his drawer, he noticed something written in the corner of the picture inside the frame, he took it out.
It was a phone number, Orel left his house for a bit, it's not as if his parents would notice, he slipped the picture into his pocket with enough care as to not ruin it and went straight towards the nearest phone cabin wich was not too far from his house and dialed the number coach had given him.
-Hello?
-Orel, that was fast I just got back home.
-Well I needed to see if it worked.
-Sorry I couldn't stay there, you know why. You can call me whenever you want.
-Thanks da- coach.
-You're welcome Orel.
-Coach, do you think everything is gonna be ok, with my family I mean?
-Well, for now I don't know, your dad is long gone, and your mom is as well but it doesn't matter, it's their problem you should not let them bring you down with them, you're a strong boy Orel I know that, specially after our big game last month, their problems are not your problems I know you can get throught whatever it is and I'm here to help you with whatever you need son. It's your life and you have to deal with your problems not theirs.
-Thanks coach.
-I think you should go now Orel, I need to leave to go somewhere, it is Christmas after all. Merry Christmas Orel.
-Merry Christmas Coach.
Orel left and went back to his house and went to check on his parents, he made his way inside, Shapey and Block were still playing with their gift, Clay had locked himself inside his study, his mom, however, was cleaning the kitchen. She was organizing the food on the cabinet when she noticed Orel peeking into the kitchen.
-Orel, where have you been?
-Oh, Uhh... I was playing outside in the snow! Giving God's gift of Nature use!
-Uhum... Well, it's still Christmas so I'm gonna make us some nice dinner.
-Oh! Ok!
-You can go to your room, I'll tell you when it's ready.
Orel went into his room and laid in bed for a bit, he took his lucky bible out and began reading through one of his favorite passages Mark 9:21-24:
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
"If you can?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
After just a few minutes Bloberta called for Orel, in the kitchen table was a nice christmas dinner, turkey filled with stuffing alongside some mashed potatoes and ham. It all looked delicious, at the table Bloberta Shapey and Block sat, Clay still hadn't left his study. Orel sat down and began to pray before his meal but as he was doing it his mom had already put a big turkey leg in his plate with mashed potatoes and everything. Orel finished his prayer before eating. And when he did Bloberta had already finished her food as well as Block and Shapey who left immediately, Bloberta started cleaning the dishes as soon as she could, leaving Orel to have his Christmas dinner by himself.
Orel wondered why he didn't feel any different while eating alone than when eating with his family but he decided not to put too much thought into it. He finished his dinner and headed to his room again, as he was doing so he saw his dad leave the study, their eyes crossed for a moment a word wasn't said but it wasn't needed to, Orel knew who is dad was now, he probably even knew before the hunting trip, he just didn't want to admit it.
Laying in bed Orel knew things were not gonna get better for his parents but he didn't care, all he needed was himself.