Holiday Getaway by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters and transformative content. You have been warned.
A young man sat at his desk, staring at the computer screen. His email queue was immeasurably large. Each of them was a different task, begging for his attention. None of them he wanted to do. It was the end of the week. The weekend was looming and his mind was elsewhere. He stared at one of his many social media applications, each of them having more than enough things to read or look at to waste his time. He only had two hours left at work to kill and none of the tasks seemed urgent enough to garner his focus.
Nait was 22, a young man who was just out of college. This was his first full-time gig, his first job where he held responsibilities beyond the very basic. He was a software developer for a relatively big firm that had established itself as one of the prime competitors in the field. While they only had a few offices to speak of, the volume and quality of work they put out was well known across their field.
But for Nait, this first professional responsibility. The amount of work put on his table was often well above what he could accomplish. None of the tasks were small and many of them were given "urgent" priority when in fact the deadline was far from it. He had just had his first annual review, after which they gave him more negative feedback than positive. It was something that made him even more stressed than he was.
Every day he went home and complained to his parents about it. Talking to them about his issues at work and just how frustrating things were getting. Of course, they had suggested he look for other work. He was committed to an apartment as well as other financial obligations he had to sustain. His parents were willing to help him with his bills but by no means were they able or willing to wholly finance his life as he was an adult now.
The holidays were just on the horizon now. His family's planning for their usual Christmas get-together was well underway. Nait's parents had been talking about it for some time. They had already gone out of their way to buy him plane tickets back home. It was now just weeks away and Nait hadn't even bought gifts yet. His work had him so busy that he was spending much of his so-called "free time" playing catch up. The stress was real and it was getting to him.
One afternoon, after a busy day at work his boss had given him grief about the latest project. It was a quality assurance project that was supposed to test the reliability of some software. He was expected to go through the software's various capabilities as well as note and debug any issues he found. But to say the software was underdeveloped, would be a complete lie. The software was riddled with errors and the only thing it did without issue was open.
Nait had been working on the software for about 2 weeks now. He knew what the issues were, for the most part. Troubleshooting them and fixing the coding wasn't a problem. The problem was that every time he fixed something, another error would pop up. The "red message of doom" as he called it showed all sorts of numbers or error messages. Every time it showed up, he got even more deflated about what he perceived as a lack of process.
The young man had been speaking to his mother about it much more frequently as late. She was much more willing to let him vent than his father. The older man usually told him to suck it up and deal with it while his wife was much more sympathetic to her son's plight. The venting usually helped but one night it all came to a head. All the constant badgering had gotten to him and the man was about ready to have a breakdown.
"I can't deal with this anymore, mom. All my boss does is yell at me and tell me I'm incompetent. It's not even like I have anyone helping me or overseeing my work." Nait spoke into the phone as he sat back on his bed and tried to relax.
His mother listened to his complaint. "I know it's hard honey but you can't just quit without another job. We've gone over this before. Your father and I can't fully financially support you anymore. You're not a child anymore and you have bills to pay."
"I know that but I just wish things would be simpler. It's not like I've been doing this for a long time. I'm just over it." The young man bundled up under his blanket and clutched one of the many plushes he'd kept since he was a kid.
The woman waited before responding. "You've said that before. I've suggested looking for a new job but you don't seem open to it. Have you tried talking to your boss about it?"
"He doesn't seem like the type to be open to hearing an employee's complaint. I'm pretty sure he'd fire me if I told him how I felt." Nait was very much afraid of confronting his boss.
His mother thought about it a moment. "Then perhaps you should speak to HR. This is getting to you. Anyway, your father and I are going out for dinner. I'll talk to you later, hon. Love you lots."
"Love you too, mom. See you in a few weeks." The young man said before hanging up.
Nait stared at his phone for a moment and began scrolling through his company's website. The demand for recruitment was high and the posts were always present. He always wondered if the company would try and replace him. He did well enough but the company never seemed to be fully satisfied with his work. He logged onto his employee portal and typed up an email to the human resource manager.
The young man was never great about confronting people, even if it wasn't something he was unhappy with. He sat there staring at the screen before putting most simply and ambiguously possible, with what he was dealing with. He kept it neutral in an attempt to not stir to pot further. Not even naming his boss directly, but the email was obvious in its intent and he sent it off after a few moments of hesitation.
The days and weeks passed and nothing came of it. He never heard a word from Human Resources or its teams. His mind soon passed on from it and things at work continued much the same as if nothing had happened. His boss's behavior continued and the onslaught of pressure that came from his ongoing project continued. Nait's frustration continued to build. However, his upcoming vacation was on the horizon and he was very much looking forward to it.
His last day of work before his vacation arrived. Nait believed that it would be slow. He had made a lot of progress on the project and was going to try to finish it today for testing. Human Resources finally contacted him, a conversation which was short and went nowhere. The young man ignored it since he was looking forward to leaving for the holidays. He turned in his project just as the day ended and went home, feeling good about himself for the first time in a while.
Nait's flight was to be the next morning so his usual time of rest and relaxation was exchanged for the need to get packed and ready for his trip. He had procrastinated on it until this point. He was only bringing a single bag as his so-called vacation was a mere 3 days, with him returning to work a day after coming back. Still, he was looking forward to getting away even if it was just to visit family.
Packing his things, he stashed the usual changes of clothing as well as his toiletries. Bringing an older portable gaming console with him to keep him occupied during the flight. The flight was only 4 hours but he wanted something to do. When everything was put away, he looked at his favorite plush. An old lion based on the cub from the Lion King series. He always brought it with him but he decided he would keep it out until it was time for his flight.
That night was a slower one than usual. His usual stream of work emails was lacking. It was a nice change for him. Nait assumed the result of his project must have been well received as he hadn't heard about it. He knew the company had a policy of not contacting their employees on holidays unless it was an emergency. It was the first time he'd been completely relaxed and felt at ease.
He turned the TV on to see an old cartoon, he hadn't seen for several years. The animated show was based on his favorite movie, the very same one of his favorite plush. A story revolving around Kion and his friends and their efforts to protect the Pride Lands and defend the circle of life. It was a series meant for children but it was one he rather enjoyed. The young man clutched his lion plush and began watching it.
The episode that night was a holiday-themed one. It had been rebranded for Western audiences but encapsulated the very heart of Kwanzaa. It was never named in the show but for anyone familiar with African cultural traditions, they would know. Of course, It was simplified so a child could understand it. However, one of the themes focused on the idea of making a wish on the last night of Kwanzaa.
Wishes were something that had never been adopted by people who celebrated the holiday. But for the show, it embodied the ideal of faith and remembrance during the feast of Karamu. The cartoon never elaborated on it, instead leaving an ambiguous mark on the young man who watched it. His heart was warm from the wholesome and family-oriented nature of the show. It was truly meant to be a more symbolic episode than the other ones.
When the show was over, it was already later in the night. Nait made himself some food and took a quick shower. Retiring for the night, the young man clutched his plush as he peered out the window. It was a clear night. One where he could see the stars in the sky, sparkling above with a bright glow that sparkled
amongst the pitch-back skylight. As he looked into the horizon, he saw a shooting star race across the skyline.
The sight of the star made Nait think for a moment. It reminded him of the show, the idea of making a wish seemed much more alluring to him now. Still holding the stuffed animal, he closed his eyes. Wishing that things could be simpler like they used
to be when he was a child. Finding himself to want it all back, the whimsy and innocence of childhood. The desire to not have to worry about things anymore.
His mind was fatigued as he closed his eyes. The long day at work and the fact he'd had very little time to himself left him tired. It was a matter of moments before he fell asleep. Nait's thoughts soon were filled with dreams. Visions of his past, of his life with his parents when he lived there with his many siblings. No work, no responsibility, no bills, none of it mattered. Always having fun, looking for new things to do, and ever eager to learn something different.
The next morning, Nait awoke to the sound of his alarm going off. He was groggy and it was still dark out. The constant buzzing sound of the clock annoyed him and he quickly slapped the thing to silence it. He yawned and stretched, still a little tired from his less-than-usual slumber. He went about collecting his change of clothes for the day, grabbing a few things from his closet and putting them onto the bed to change into before he left.
The young man changed into them, finding the clothing to be looser than he remembered. His clothing had always fit fine in the past. He wasn't someone who worked out either or who dieted, so the idea of having lost weight didn't occur to him. He brushed it off as nothing since he had much more urgent things in mind than thinking about his clothing. Nait finished getting changed and went through the bag to double-check his belongings.
Everything seemed to be in order. He wasn't going for a very long time and so he had only brought the bare essentials. The plush he had slept with was still on the bed. It was something of a creature of comfort for him and he never left it behind, ever. He rarely took it out in public but the idea of putting it in the bag didn't sit well with him. So he took hold of the thing under one of his arms and headed into the front room.
Nait began making his breakfast, he still had quite a while before his flight but he did have to get a ride to the airport. He never drove to the airport as he hated the idea of aimlessly looking around in the parking lot for a spot. Instead, he usually took public transportation, which was one of the reasons he had gotten up as early as he did. He made himself some cereal, a sugary favorite of his which was littered with pieces of chocolate and marshmallows.
The indulgence of that meal made him feel warm inside. A sense of comfort that always brought ease to his mind. He was still clutching the lion plush as he stared at a blank wall, going through the motions of eating the food. He was so absent-minded that he'd forgotten about his usual helpings of fruit or even a drink to get it. It was like he was revising his childhood hobby of eating the very same cereal in front of the television.
A sensation washed over him, a slight tickling sensation as the clothing on his form became even looser. Had he been focused, he might have cared about it more but at the moment his mind was on other things. Some cartoons soon showed up on the television, an older one that Nait had watched when he was a child. He wasn't about to turn it off either and his mind turned to it as he watched the colorful characters play out a scene on the screen.
He snacked on the fruit-flavored loops. They were sugary and sweet and had no nutritional value to them. As an adult, he'd always limited himself to such things but it was a vacation now so figured he could indulge a bit. Besides his mind was elsewhere and he didn't much care at the moment. Continuing to dig in, the strange tickling sensation continued to course through his body as his skin itched a bit.
When he brought his finger to his skin he found some peach fuzz there in addition to his somewhat thinning body hair. It wasn't quite noticeable but there definitely seemed to me more fuzz than he remembered. Still, the flavor of the cereal was becoming overpowering to him and the more of it he ate, the more complacent he got. That incessant itching sensation was becoming worse and even still he did not scratch himself.
The cartoon was carrying on a gray rabbit who was chewing on a carrot. The classic character was known by all, fending off against a ditsy hunter who always tried to shoot him. "Rabbit season" as the hunter called it, never went out of style. Yet no matter how many times the hunter tried to catch the rabbit, the Lapine hero always outdid him. This time doing so by tying the gun into a knot ending up with it blowing up in the hunter's face.
Nait giggled at the cartoon. Seeing the hunter fail was one of his favorite pastimes. The tingling feeling seemed to get even stronger in him as he became a little bit light-headed. He stopped eating the cereal for a moment. Looking at his arm for a bit, he noticed the peach fuzz was now much thicker. He could barely even see the skin underneath it. It covered the entirety of his arm. He couldn't help but be curious about it.
He felt thirsty now, finally realizing that he'd forgotten he never made a drink. Standing up, he found his pants to be sliding down a bit. Even his shirt was now slightly tenting over his lower half. Nait thought it strange but the desire to get something to drink was too strong for him to focus on it. Going into the kitchen, he found the fridge to be a bit larger than he remembered. He opened the bottom door, looking at the top one for a moment as if something was off.
Nait could still reach the freezer but it was no longer at eye level like he thought it would be. He grabbed himself some apple juice, it was in a carton that was small as if it were made for a child's school lunch box. He didn't think much about it as he popped the straw through the foil seal on the top of it. Sipping on it, it was sweet and made his tongue curl from an almost bittering taste, yet it was still all too tantalizing.
It made him feel a bit nostalgic. The sensation of itching coursed through his body as he scratched himself on both his legs and arms. The formerly short peach fuzz now resembled a much longer but more full hair that seemed like it was sand colored. His nails were black, and sharp, and resembled more animal-like claws. They rubbed against his limbs and scratched him rather easily as they seemed much too sharp to anything human.
A moment passed as he stared at his hand. One of his fingers had gone missing and he had four instead. They seemed stubbier and more round. The digits on it, each seeming short and the underside having some pink paw pads. He touched one of them, they were soft bad had a rough texture to them. Enamored by it he traced one of his claws along the outline of it as he was completely in awe of it.
Nait looked back at the still-open fridge. The cold air that pushed out from it didn't bother him and didn't even make him shiver. The size of it seemed a bit off as well...it seemed even larger than it had only moments ago. He finished his drink and heard the buzzing of his phone. It was a reminder to let him know it was time for him to head to the airport. Yet, the idea of taking the bus alone seemed strangely foreign to him.
An idea occurred to him, what if he took his plush with him? Having the company of an old friend seemed to appeal to him. He wasn't going to bring it before but now he felt like he needed it. Nait walked back towards his room, grabbing the plush from his bed and clutching it. The thing gave him a strong sense of nostalgia as his body was warm again. Turning around, he could see himself in the full body mirror and was shocked to find what looked back at him.
In front of him, a young lion boy looked back, looking almost similar to the same plush he was carrying. A cub with a soft face and pudgy baby fat. His features were fairly stubby and undefined. His fur was long but fine enough that it bristled along his hands when he stroked it. Behind him, a lengthy tail with a puff of fur hangs beneath him. The clothing he was wearing hung on his body looking rather baggy and sagged quite a bit.
Nait thought about it for a moment. His reflection seemed strange to him. Yet, he was not afraid of it. The constant comfort of the plush in his arms brought him ease. His phone buzzed again, reminding him that time was ticking and he needed to get to his flight. Quickly he stopped worrying about it and changed into something his mother had sent him. A simple Christmas-themed graphic t-shirt and jean shorts. The lion grabbed his things before padding out the door, he made his way to the bus stop.
The buses that day were fairly empty. The driver paid him no attention as the older woman was in no mood for some random boy's funny business. To her, he was just another one of the many kids flying home to see their parents. Nait was still clutching that plush. The thought of seeing his parents again was appealing to him. An innate desire to be home again was building within him as he sat there on the bus.
Things at the airport were a little different for the younger boy. Anthros were a rarity in society. It was an anomaly to see one around. He was received by the airport staff who quickly whisked him away to an area where he was met by a guide. They didn't even bother to check his ticket, instead assumed that he was a child who needed to be seen at the gate. Nait was all too glad to have the help as hated being alone at the airport.
He was taken past airport security, where they finally checked his ticket. There was no
notice on it that he was a child passenger. Yet his small size and the plush in his arms were the only proof they needed. The airline crew reassigned his seat to one next to a crew member, the same as it would have been had it been labeled properly. After all, to them, it was just an oversight they needed to fix.
Nait was soon seen on the plane, and soon after the people
who were disabled or had children smaller than himself. An older woman who was wearing the uniform of the airline sat next to him. His bag had already been taken for him but he still had his phone as well as his plush to play with. The nice woman next to him afforded him a small portable gaming console if he wanted it. He was all too glad to take it from her.
The plane lifted off after it finished boarding. It was a lengthy process but one that Nait didn't pay any attention to. The small portable gaming console had a bunch of stuff on it he'd never played before. Some of it was for kids younger than himself, yet he played each of the games for a bit before settling on one. The game in question was a puzzle game where his knowledge of math was tested, a subject he was all too interested in mastering but had only started to understand the finer aspects of it.
The flight wasn't long. A few hours that whisked by in no time. It was fairly stable with very little turbulence. The boy was quiet and didn't get up to go to the bathroom. Once it had docked back into the arrival airport, he was let out of the plane early.
"Who is picking you up?" The woman asked him once they were outside.
The lion boy quickly chirped back. "My mom!"
"Okay and where is she picking you up?" The older lady knew the airport was large and needed a better idea of where to go.
Nait reached into his pocket and showed the woman a text he'd gotten from his mother the other day. It said he was to be picked up at arrival gate G. She took him there, where she waited with him until his mother's car arrived. The boy's face lit up the moment he saw his mother's old station wagon, a vehicle she had used for almost the entirety of his life when he lived under her roof.
When Nait's mother saw him, she didn't recognize the boy at first. Yet, the little plush he was holding was all too familiar. A part of her maternal instinct told her that this was her son, so she pulled over to greet him. The two of them shared a hug despite her slight trepidation that she might be wrong. The airline worker finally went her way, letting the two loving family members be on their way.
That hug was all that Nait's mother needed to know that her instincts were right. This was her son, even if she didn't quite recognize him. Hearing the boy's voice reminded her of the past when Nait lived with her. Of a time when he was still but a child. The very same small framed boy now clasping her and the very same plush in her arms. As if recreating a memory she thought she would never get to relive.
In the car, the two of them caught up. There was no discussion of work. Nait had all but forgotten about his "professional" life. His mind was more caught up in having fun. The idea of seeing his brothers again was very much on his mind. Playing some video games with them, roughhousing, and just having fun. She didn't bring up school, though it was something in the back of her mind and she wasn't quite ready to confront it quite yet.
At home, Nait's mother would have to explain what she thought happened. Of course, she had no idea what happened but it didn't matter. His brothers gladly welcomed him with open arms and hugged him and a warm embrace. After all, the family was the only thing that mattered to them and it showed. The young lion boy was now home with the ones he loved and they were all too keen for the holidays to get underway.
Christmas would come before long. Gifts would be exchanged, and many of them had to be done at so last minute. Nait would get the one thing he wanted most, the warmth of a loving family where he was accepted. His former life and worries of stress long in the past. He remembered none of that, soon taking stead in the very same room that he grew up in. Ever eager to do the same again...to make new friends...and to create a new life. It was something of a Christmas miracle and one that Nait and his family would never forget.
