Page 124 of The Holiday Fakers
Lucky leaps onto the couch next to Billy, and they both sit up straighter.
“Okay,” Piper says. “I’m filming.”
I gaze down the lens, raising my hand as if holding a microphone.
“I’m here today to interview two best friends about their epic adventure yesterday in the mountains of Hideaway Harbor: Billy and Lucky.”
I swing my invisible microphone toward Billy. “So, what can you tell us about how this all started?”
Lucky barks and Billy puts both of his hands over his mouth as he giggles.
“What was that, Lucky?” I continue. “Did you see the tracks of an unidentified animal?”
“It was a yeti,” Billy says, and Lucky barks in agreement.
“So, what was your plan? What happened next?”
Billy continues his tale, prompted by me. His sentences are surprisingly short and succinct. He’s either a naturally gifted orator, or he’s been practicing telling this tale ever since it happened.
“Wow,” I say as he finishes the part of the story about us running from a pack of wolves to safety. “Is there anything else you want to add?”
He nods, his voice turning serious. “Lucky and I want to thank you and Piper for saving our lives.”
The tale he’s just spun is more fiction than fact, but he knows that the last line is true.
I don’t know how to respond, so I clear my throat, buying myself a moment.
“Well, thank you, Billy and Lucky, for sharing your tale,” I begin, making sure my voice doesn’t wobble. “This is Brody King for Hideaway News Today.”
Piper hands me the phone, blinking rapidly, as if she’s also struggling to hold back her emotions.
“Lemme see!” Billy says, having moved on from the moment quicker than the rest of us.
I play it back and he watches in rapt silence.
“You know, I don’t think that’s going to need any editing,” I say when it finishes, then turn to Judy. “Are you happy for me to post it, or would you like me to make any changes?”
She wipes her eyes. “You can post it.”
“Thank you, Mommy!” Billy cries, leaping off the couch to hug her.
“I just need to make a call first,” I say, suddenly mortified that I don’t even have access to my own social accounts. I pull an apologetic face. “My agent thinks it’s best if he controls my access to the internet.”
“You and me both,” Billy says, shaking his head.
“Am I your agent now, too?” Judy asks.
Billy nods, a cheeky look in his eye. “And my servant …”
As they laugh, I slip into the hall and call Cara. She’s waiting to board a plane but gives me the new password so I can post the video of Billy and me. Then I rejoin everyone in the family room, and we eat spiced Christmas cookies as it uploads.
When it’s online, Billy insists on watching it again on my phone. Afterwards, we say our goodbyes.
Billy hugs Piper, then gives me a baby bear hug. “Don’t forget our expedition. Promise?”
“If I’m in Hideaway next summer, your grandpa and parents agree,andwe find a safer route to the cave, then yes, I’ll come on an adventure with you.”
“Yesss!”
