Page 93 of Rebel Moon

Just then, Jasper Moon came out of the dark in a Santa suit and a canvas feed sack over his shoulder stuffed with parcels. He announced himself with a ho ho ho.

“I’ve heard there are good boys and girls here tonight,” Jasper said. “And Santa’s brought presents.”

Everyone let out a somewhat drunken cheer.

Jasper reached into his bag. “Let me see. Ah yes, we have little Rhett’s present first. I checked the list twice but you still made the cut.” He tossed the parcel to Rhett.

Rhett caught it, grinning. “I told you guys I was good.”

“Better look at what’s in there before claiming that,” Holly said.

Rhett peeled the paper back. “It’s not coal! I’m officially on the good list.” Then he went quiet, peering at the photograph. “It’s a photo of Jack and me when we were kids. Where did this come from?”

“I found it while looking for something else,” Jack said. “We’re like thirteen here. I don’t remember it being taken. Do you?”

Rhett looked at it a long moment more. “I remember that jacket. Mrs. Lewis gave it to me. Hand me down from one of her kids. Where are we, though?”

“That’s the park,” Jack said. “Do you see the swings behind us?”

“Oh yeah, right,” Rhett said. “We all used to hang out there like we were cool.”

“May I see?” Holly asked.

Rhett didn’t say anything for a moment, almost as if he were deciding whether or not to give it to her. In the end, however, he handed it to her. “See anyone you know?” Rhett asked.

“Oh my gosh, that’s me to the side,” Holly said. “Looking at you two like you hung the moon.”

“You were looking at Rhett,” Jack said. “You only looked at Rhett in those days.”

“Yeah, I guess I always have thought he hung the moon,” Holly said softly, as she handed it back to Rhett.

“Thanks, brother,” Rhett said to Jack. “I’ll cherish it.”

Jasper reached back into the bag. “Here’s one for Beck.”

Beck’s present was flat too, and rigid. Probably a frame. His mouth dropped open when he saw what it was. “Wow, okay. Where in the world did this come from?” Beck looked up, but didn’t really focus on anyone in particular. “My first chart. With my arrangement for our first hit.”

“Yep, I saved it,” Jack said.

From what I could see it was a page of manuscript paper, old, penciled over in a cramped hand, a brown ring where a coffee cup had sat.

“That’s a piece of our history,” Knox said. “You should hang it up—remind us how far we’ve come and how much you’ve always brought to the table. We don’t say it enough.”

“I don’t need to hear it,” Beck said. “I know.”

“We all know,” Grant said. “Who you are. What you give to us with your hard work and talent.”

“Jeez, guys, I got through the whole day without crying,” Beck said. “Thank you, Jack. Thanks to all of you. I’ve never felt like one of the cool kids, you know. Just the nerd with only one talent. But with you guys, I feel like I’m cool-adjacent. And I love you. Every one of you.”

“We love you,” Jack said.

Blake, who was sitting next to Beck, leaned closer to get a better look. “This is going in the film.”

“If you think it should, then yes,” Beck said.

“Here’s something for Grant,” Jasper said.

Grant caught his and unwrapped it, then held it up for us to see. “Um, okay, this may indicate I’m on the naughty list.” It was a length of rope. Just rope.