The Man Behind The Camera

“It’s okay if you… want to laugh,” She wheezed. “I would be laughing if I didn’t have the…stupid…breath knocked out of me. And it’ll be slippery after Thanksgiving.”

Max let out a little chuckle and quickly sobered up. “Do you need some help up?” He wondered out loud, as he stuck his hand out towards the girl. That’s why you need snow appropriate boots.”

“You’re only the favorite because you’re the baby. The baby is always the favorite. I thought you were already bad enough, how could you possibly be worse?” He offered the man a kind smile in thanks and accepted his hot dog and beer. “I actually haven’t, but I’ve seen it on Netflix multiple times. You think I should give it a try?”

“Ouch. Alright fine, maybe that will give me some good luck and send my soulmate my way.”

She was muttering to herself and trying to place the final bit of her Christmas lights up when she took a small misstep on the ladder and fell backwards with a loud THUMP, and landed flat on her back. With a winded groan that could only signal the breath being knocked out of her, she looked up, only to meet the eyes of a passerby. Charlotte held up the Christmas lights that she pulled down in the process for the person’s inspection, trying to hide her wheezing. “Heh, may-maybe som-s-something is trying to tell me it’s t-too early for Chris-Christmas decorations?”

Max peered down at the girl as she struggled to breathe while he tried not to laugh. “Yeah, maybe you should try it again after Thanksgiving. Might be safer then.”

“Why not both? I’m on vacation with my sisters and hoping to find my soulmate in the process.”

“N-No, w-why would y-y-you- O-Oh, c-cause of the st-stutter? No, I always s-stutter.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a dick or anything.”

“It’s hard to explain. The best I can put it is getting too into my own head.”

“Yeah, sorry man. I don’t think I follow.”

“Not what I’m worried about, but I appreciate it.”

“What are you worried about then?”

“I don’t know, man. I get a little weird on alcohol.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll stop you before you try anything funny like streaking.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s not a problem. I just want you to go have fun with everyone else. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Well I'm afraid that’s as good as it’s going to get.”

“Don’t know. Never tried it that way.”

“How about I buy you a couple of beers and then we see if that helps you get in the mood?”

“Wow, first of all if anyone would need to be returned it would be you since you’re the baby. But also thanks, I guess you could have been more annoying as a kid. So I thank you for that.” He shrugged his shoulders, not denying the fact that he was a little in love with his bed. “Sounds to me like you’ve got this whole thing figure out, maybe you should be the one to go to prison. Give Piper a run for her panty money.”

“I-I’m f-fine. A-Are y-y-you?”

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. But it sounds like you’re cold. Maybe you shouldn’t be out here so late.”

“You say it like an American, but yeah.”

“Did I not sound angry enough for you?”

“Again, not really my thing. I’m just a weird dude, I guess.”

“Even if you don’t think about it?”

“I’m your favorite brother you could never not know me. Dramatic much? Do you think mom would be happy to hear you talking like that?” He grinned and turned to order his own food. “I think you’re giving m more credit than I deserve. I’d just run it and make it so that I can sleep all the time. Not exactly something that people would be impressed with. How is that not a compliment? I’m totally taking it as a compliment.”