Billy Cobb
March 27, 2022 6:02 PM
Old fashion Cobb Family Christmas by Billy Cobb
Billy glared out of the window at the falling snowflakes. They'd started piling up as soon as Pa had gotten him and Iris back to the top of the mountain. If this kept up, there was no way he was going to be able to make his way back over to that house that he and Iris had found over the summer. Winters up on the mountain were pretty random, sometimes they were barely cool an other times there was enough snow to bury an Erumpent. From the looks of things this was going to be one of the latter years. He'd figured this would have been a perfect time, since that stupid bear should be hibernating."What'cha thinkin' 'bout?" Pa asked as he handed Billy an old cracked mug with some steaming chocolate in it. It had used to be a Christmas treat, that had been the only time they'd gotten hot chocolate. Now he could get it at school fairly often if he wanted some. Still it was a reminder of the season and times from before school started.
Billy turned away from the window and took a sip of the nearly scalding liquid. Ma's was better than the school's was anyway. "I was just hoping to do some runnin' about outside for a change." That wasn't entirely a lie, his legs were aching to get out and just run through the woods again. He just couldn't say nothin' about any sort of destination to anyone. Something in his brain told him not to tell anyone 'round here, especially after last year. Thankfully they got to come home this time around. He could talk to Iris about it, but she'd probably freak out and try to stop him if he told her he was going over there again.
"They keepin' you to busy cooped up inside at that school?" Pa inquired innocently enough. It was just them, Ma and Iris in the house, and from the looks of things, probably would be for some time. School talk was safe enough for the moment. Pa was always curious about what went on at the school, but didn't really get much time to ask about it.
Billy shrugged in response at first, but knew that wasn't going to make Pa happy. "More'n I'd like." That got a bit of a smirk from Pa. "At least as of now, I'm half-way done with it." he added and then grumbled, "Still got three more years 'fore I can actually use most of it though." Stupid rules, it'd be so much easier if he could show Pa what he was doing in school.
"Got any idea what you're gunna do 'round here when you're done?" There was the question that Pa always liked to ask. Pa knew well enough that he couldn't do any of the magic stuff back here on the mountain with all the non-magical folk around. Billy had to assume that this question meant that Pa thought it was a lot of time away for not much use, other than not accidentally blowing stuff up.
"No." Billy flat out lied. He had long ago come to the conclusion that he was going to see the world and live as an adventuring wizard. Now in addition to that, the thought of Ray coming along seemed really nice as well. He wasn't sure how to go about making that happen though. He just knew he couldn't come back to live here, like this, anymore.
"Seems like something you should be figuring out..." Pa began.
"Let it go, Pa." Billy cut him off. "I got time yet, and more stuff ta learn. They got a guy there on the staff that helps folks figure out what to do with their lives after school." He hadn't given talking to the guidance Councillor any kind of thought until this moment, but it couldn't hurt. "I'm going to see him next term, see what ideas he has for this situation." Part of that might come true.
"Dinner's ready!" Ma called from the kitchen. The smells had been filling the house for the past while and Billy's stomach rumbled lightly. He sipped from his mug again and headed towards the food.
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Billy Cobb
Old fashion Cobb Family Christmas
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