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Sonic, Sonia, and Aleena, stood in the line to see Santa at their local mall.
“Santa’s not real, you know.” Sonic said. “Why are we here?”
Aleena tapped Sonic’s shoulder. “Keep that opinion to yourself, Sonic.”
“I need to ask this guy something.” Sonia replied. “Maybe he can help.”
Sonic shrugged.
Sonia finally took her turn.
“What would you like for Christmas, little girl?” The Santa asked.
“For my little brother to come home.” Sonia said. “He was kidnapped two years ago.”
Sonic blinked back tears.
Aleena sighed.
Sonia started crying.
Aleena picked up Sonia. “I am so sorry about that.” She said, “It’s been a rough time for us.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, ma’am.” The Santa replied.
Aleena nodded. She fought back her own tears as carried Sonia and she walked Sonic, who was crying, to the door.

*
Ten year old Sonic slid on his black t-shirt with his little brother’s picture on it and walked out of his room.
Aleena, uncle Chuck, and Sonia (all in black shirts with Manic’s picture on them) were waiting for him.
Tails, the triplets’ adopted brother, was sitting in his high chair while playing with what was left of his mashed potatoes.
“Alright, let’s go.” Aleena said, getting Tails out of his high chair.
Uncle Chuck picked up the box of candles for the vigil.
They gathered in the front yard.
Now, they were the only ones at the vigil aside from Sonic and Sonia’s friends.
Shadow, Sally, and Knuckles (all in matching shirts) crossed the street and joined the hedgehog family.
Their friend, Bunnie, would’ve been there, but she had to go to her grandma’s funeral in another town that was two hours away.
“Has everyone else forgotten about Manic?” Sonia sobbed.
Knuckles hugged Sonia. “We haven’t.”
Shadow and Sally nodded.
*
Thirteen year old Sonic finished writing his birthday letter to Manic and sighed. “Sonia?”
Sonia set her pen down. “What?”
“It’s been ten years.” Sonic said. “I’m not sure he’s still alive.”
Sonia hung her head. “I’m starting to think so too, but I don’t want to break Mother’s heart.”
“Me either.” Sonic said. “I don’t want to think he’s gone either.”
Sonia sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I just want him home somehow at this point.” She replied. “I really want him found alive, but if I can’t have that, I just want him found and given a proper burial.”
Sonia buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
Sonic put his arm around her shoulder. “So do I, sis.”
*
Sixteen year old Sonic dug Manic’s old cd player and cds out of his little brother’s bed frame drawer. He didn’t like Manic’s favorite bands, but he occasionally listened to Manic’s favorite songs once in a while when he was thinking about him.
He noticed a Fight the Fury cd that had slid out from under the stack of Skillet and Ledger cds and chuckled. “I guess he figured out where Mom hid it.” He said. He sighed. “He was so upset when Mom took it from him because that one song was weird.”
Sonic pulled out a random Skillet cd and put it into the cd player. He laid down on the bed and played a random song.
Monster started playing.
Sonic burst out laughing after a few minutes.
Sonia stepped into the doorway. “What’s so funny?”
Sonic sat up, turned off the cd player, and took off the headphones. “That song is called Monster.” He replied. “Manic always thought it was lobster.”
Sonia burst out laughing. She came in and sat down on Manic’s bed. “Remember when he would walk around the house, with those headphones on, singing ‘I feel like a lobster’ at the top of his lungs?”
Sonic nodded. “That’s what I was thinking of.” He said, smiling weakly. “Do you think he still listens to this if he’s out there somewhere?”
Sonia started crying.
Sonic got up and sat down beside Sonia. He hugged her. “I miss him too.” He said, voice breaking. He started crying.
*
Nineteen year old Sonic kicked off his blankets and got out of bed. “I can’t believe I woke up an hour before I actually have to get up because I’m thirsty.” He mumbled under his breath.
He eased the door open, and shuffled out into the hallway. He froze when he heard his mom crying.
Sonic peeked into the living room.
Aleena was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone. Her back was facing Sonic.
Sonic eased back, but stood in the hallway to listen.
“It’s been sixteen years and there hasn’t been any word on the case since he was kidnapped.” Aleena said, voice breaking. “I’m trying to stay strong for the kids, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep it up. I’m starting to believe my baby’s gone.”
Sonic sighed and headed back to his room.
Sonia stepped out of her room. “Sonic?”
“Mom’s losing hope.” Sonic whispered. “She doesn’t want us to know.”
Sonia nodded. “I won’t say anything.”
“Oh, you two are up early.” Aleena said.
Sonic and Sonia flinched.
Sonic turned to face Aleena and cleared his throat. “Uh… yeah. We… we thought you needed help with breakfast.”
“You’re too nervous to say you’re only up to help me. What’s wrong?” Aleena asked.
Sonic dipped his chin to his chest and exhaled slowly. “I got up for water and overheard your conversation.”
Aleena slumped a bit.
“It’s okay, Mother.” Sonia said. “We’re having a hard time believing he’s still alive too.”
Sonia and Sonic hugged Aleena for a few minutes.
“So what do we do?” Sonic asked.
Aleena sighed. “Start moving on. Write… goodbye letters maybe.”
Sonia bit her lip. “It seems so final now.”
“Let’s give it two more years before we give up.” Sonic said.