• Dear Reader,

    I have taken the liberty of writing this colorful story as a sort of remembrance of the experience I had performing the Nutcracker ballet with the Fremont Symphony.
    The only reason why I chose Fritz as the main character was because, not only did I dance as Fritz but Fritz and I seem to be quite compatible. No one seems to notice Fritz. It is almost like people cast him away into a dark corner, only to pull him out for the first twenty minutes of the whole Nutcracker for all to see. While everyone is focusing on his sister (sort of like the way everyone is so focused on my sister), no one seems to know or notice what Fritz does during that time. I do, and I should. After all, I did dance as Fritz.
    Literally, what Fritz (me) did during all the time Clara was in the spotlight was mill around backstage, read some old books again, and play some Nintendo DS, until the time when he was called upon to be a Candy Cane…I’ll leave it up ‘til there.
    So, anyway, Fritz is the little brother of a semi-depressed sister who likes to listen to foreign music (i.e. Korean pop music), does homework, and every once in a blue moon, she would be generous and let her skin feel the sun (not really but you get the point). Also, since she is 15 turning 16, it doubles the fun when you annoy her because of her squealing screams. What is NOT fun is getting a short lecture from an adult.
    It is now time to bring Fritz into the light…enjoy!


    Part One


    THE PARTY

    Chapter 1
    Jonathan’s Dress Up

    ☼“Aunt, I can’t possibly wear this!” Jonathan cried from the parlor of his Aunt Marie’s house. He stood in the center of a room, filled with portraits and expensive couches on the sides of the room, disgusted by the vest he was wearing. His family was getting ready for the annual Christmas party at the Stalbaum mansion. The party was the event of the year, and the entire family in relation to the Stalbaums would be there to celebrate. And, in addition, to laugh at Jonny’s vest.
    “I seriously can’t wear this! I look like a girl! This is so embarrassing!” Jonathan shouted as Aunt Marie walked into the room.
    “Oh, well really, Jonathan, plenty of the other boys will be wearing something like that,” she soothed. “Besides, you should be grateful. Your parents spent a lot of money on that vest. Look at little Charlie! He is not complaining!”
    Jonathan looked over to the hall where his younger brother was waiting. His jaw dropped when he saw his five year old brother leaning on the window sill, watching the light Christmas snowflakes fall into place in the fluff on the ground, wearing a nice, non-sparkle, un-neon, red vest. Jonathan was infuriated, and he wasn't the kind of person who likes to keep things to himself. That vest that Charlie was wearing was the vest that Jonathan saw in the fogged shop window last week. He had begged his mother for it, but she wouldn't give in. Jonathan wanted it because it was the only one that wasn't sparkly, it didn't have ruffles, and it looked just like the ones his toy soldiers wear. He had asked his parents for it for last Christmas, but they had only turned him down because they had already bought him a new chess set.
    "How could you?" he raged.
    "I have given it to him for Christmas and thought he could wear it today," said Aunt Marie."I had no idea you wanted, dear, or I would have given one to-!"
    She was cut off for Jonathan, who was a very violent person, had lunged toward his aunt and began to chase her around the room. Now, Aunt Marie was a very fit person, so usually running was not a challenge for her; after all, she was usually wearing high heels.
    A few moments later, Aunt Marie was clinging to the chandelier, her long black hair in a mess all around her head looking at Jonathan beneath her. Jonathan stood with his hands on his hips, staring at his aunt with a successful smile. Then little Charlie skipped in, humming, and opened his eyes. He almost fainted, and stared in horror at what he was pointing at.
    "J-Jonny, look!" he said, terrified."Look, Jonny, there's an abnormally large spider on the ceiling! Jonny, please kill it, kill it, Jonny!
    Jonathan gave a sinister smile and rubbed his hands together saying, “My pleasure..." Jonathan walked away from the room and came back with his air rifle. He pointed it at Aunt Marie and nearly pulled the trigger when the “abnormally large spider” jumped down and said fiercely, “Jonathan, really!? I am at the very verge of not allowing you to go to the party. Put down that gun!” He replied with a little too much innocence, “But Aunt, Charlie said to kill the abnormally large spider…” Jonathan pulled the trigger on his gun, and ran away screaming with laughter. Then, when Charlie finally thought that the spider was dead (after all, I did hear a sound of an air rifle shot, thought Charlie.), Charlie peeked his little head into the door way. He then saw Aunt Marie lying on the ground in full shock. Charlie ran to Jonathan and screeched with terror, “Jonny, Aunt Marie’s dead! She’s dead! Did you kill her?””
    “No, I didn’t. My gun wasn’t even loaded,” Jonathan replied with scorn.
    “But Aunt is twitching! I’ll go ask Daddy to call the doctor,” Charlie said.
    Then, the brothers’ father called, “Boys, it’s time to go.”
    “But Aunt is twitching on the floor of the parlor!” Charlie yelled back.
    “What do you want me to do? Call the doctor?” the father said.
    “Hmmm…what a good idea,” said Jonathan with pure sarcasm. The whole district knew that the doctor had the loudest mouth. When something happened, in five days the whole district will know exactly what happened and how it happened.
    “Fine, then we’ll bring aunt along and give her some water so that she’ll get out of her shock. And Jonathan, I’ll deal with you later,” said the father.

    So Jonathan’s family left for the party. With Charlie still white, Jonathan, angry, Aunt Marie unconscious, and the father, thinking about what he must do to wake Aunt Marie up.




    Chapter Two
    Clara and the Wait

    ☺Sprawled over the Victorian couch, Clara waited forever for someone to come. Clara rested her eyes on the grand black Steinway and Sons piano that stood by the wall window waiting for someone to play something else other than the “Happy Birthday” song.
    Finally, the Flanstons arrived. The Flanstons gingerly set their coats onto the coat rack that stood waiting by the giant double oak door. The moment Clara heard the sound of a carriage, she ran down the great hall way and threw open the front door. Clara looked over the family of four and noticed that Grandmother Susan wasn’t in the crowd. When she asked Mr. Flanston where she was Mr. Flanston replied, “My mother couldn’t make it today; she did of yellow fever earlier this season.”
    Clara started tearing, but stopped immediately when she heard Fritz say, “Ha hah! I’ve finally caught Clara crying. You now owe me 20 Euros Clara. I’m rich! I’m rich! Hee hee hee! Now I can expand my toy army!” Fritz and Clara had made a bet that they wouldn’t cry throughout the whole of December. If they ever caught each other crying, the one who was crying had to pay 20 Euros. Clara said defiantly, “I’m not crying.” She was trying to cut corners here because when she had made the bet, she thought that it would be easy just to earn a pound to get what she wanted. Fritz then skipped away to go join his soldiers in the battle of the giant teddy bear.
    Soon, Simon, Fritz’s best friend came. Clara soon got prepared to tune out the noises and take a nap until all of the guests came. As Clara was retrieving her items, she heard Fritz and Simon bullying Maria who was trying to take a nap so that she might be able to stay up late. Clara ran to Maria and found Fritz, Simon, and crying Maria.
    “Give us what we want, Maria. You know that we want, some of that fire cracker powder that you have. Give to us and we’ll leave your doll untouched,” said Fritz threateningly.
    “STOP, YOU FOOL! GET OUT OF MARIA’S ROOM THIS INSTANT! Mother is going to hear about this. Why do you need gun powder anyway?” Clara shouted with so much velocity that even Simon cowered. Fritz and Simon then sulked away silently. Maria then stopped crying as Clara gave her doll back to her.
    “Thanks, Clara. I was thinking I would not get it back this time. I don’t have anymore powder left, and the boys knew that,” said Maria, “Well; I’ll go downstairs with Lucy (the doll) to mom so Lucy won’t be scared from the boys.”
    Clara watched as Maria walked away. Clara then heard a ding-dong and went downstairs.

    Now, some of Maria’s friends had come. They were playing with the dolls Maria had downstairs. Clara had always wondered why her parents didn’t allow her friends to come over. Maybe it was because of the last party. One of Clara’s friends had turned up the volume and tuned the radio to heavy metal songs. Also, maybe Clara’s parents didn’t allow Clara’s friends because Clara’s mom had caught two of Clara’s friends kissing in Maria’s room. It was a good thing that Maria wasn’t born that time, but Clara’s mother was pregnant.
    Chapter Three
    The Dancing

    ☼Before the party had started, Clara saw an extra family come in. This family wasn’t one of the regular guests. Clara watched from a distance as the family greeted her parents. Clara’s mother called out, “Clara, come and see our new guests.” When Clara came down, Clara’s mother had said softly into her ear, “This is the family that had moved in. Remember when they first moved in?” Clara nodded.
    She could still remember it as if it were yesterday. The Stevensons had moved in with trucks and cars. Clara had watched the busy workers walk in and out of the house for hours. So much so that Clara’s mother had to drag Clara in for dinner.
    “Clara, this is Tom, the oldest son in the family. He’s about the same age as you,” Clara’s mother said. Then to Tom, “I hope you have a good time.”
    “Thank ya, miss,” Tom said with an accent. Was it an Australian accent? Clara thought. She couldn’t place the accent anywhere.
    “Clara, stop dreaming! This is Mr. Stevenson and Mrs. Stevenson,” Clara’s mother said gesturing to the two adults.
    “How do you do Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson?” asked Clara.
    “Good. Thank you Clara,” replied Mr. Stevenson. The adults moved on. “Why, Clara, could you not greet them without shyness? You usually don’t do that,” asked Clara’s mother. Clara and her mother then went to the main room to talk with the other women.

    Meanwhile, Fritz and Simon busied themselves with Simon’s new ball pin box when Tom came in and asked if he may be able to join them. Fritz, being Fritz said no, just for the fun of it, but Simon said that Tom could.
    Tom played and beat every one of Fritz’s high score and all the people online on the game.
    “With you, I could possibly dominate the whole game. You should come more often,” said Fritz.
    “Well, if you were in Australia, this would be considered pretty bad,” replied Tom.


    “But right now, we have to go down stairs because it is time for our annual dance,” said Simon. The parents were already helping to set all the tables and snacks up around the dance floor. The dance floor had many shining lights beneath the semitransparent floor so that there would be colorful lights dancing and moving as everyone danced. Once, during the party, Jonathan’s dad had this wild idea of having the kids dance like adults. Therefore all of the boys had to dance with the girls. So, the boys had to “shuffle their feet and hold hands with the girls and lead” says Peter, a very resourceful boy. The girls had “endure harsh pain of being accidentally stepped on” says Amanda, Peters sister. “The boys,” Amanda, continued “sometimes stepped on all of our feet just for the fun of it.” This argument of the girls against boys, and boys against adults has been going on since Maria was two.
    Fritz and Simon trudged down the stairs mumbling about how Tom was lucky he didn’t have to dance. Tom then suggested the fact that he might dance too.
    Fritz, Simon, and Tom then went down.

    As the boys and girls were dancing, Clara, being the oldest didn’t have to dance. She did a small jump of surprise when Tom appeared out of nowhere.
    “Would you like to dance with me?” asked Tom.
    Clara, now being completely terrified, didn’t answer. Clara finally then said, “Yes, I would like to dance with you.”

    Fritz, who never paid attention to the dancing looked over to Clara and Tom and suspected that the two were going to be in deep trouble when Mother found out. Fortunately, Fritz decided to be nice and let Clara enjoy herself. Fritz stepped on his partner’s feet so many times that the girl started to cry. The music stopped and all kids of all ages looked at Fritz. Then, Clara, once she had quit dreaming shouted, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE NOW? GET AWAY FROM HER BEFORE YOU MAKE HER CRY EVEN HARDER!” Fritz and the boys sprinted out and grabbed at this fleeting chance to get away from the dancing and trouble, especially the dancing. Simon whispered, “Good thing your parents weren’t around.” The adults had planned to leave the mansion and go to the theater to watch Swan Lake.
    Some hours later, as Fritz and the boys were combating with wooden corks flying all over the place, a stray, excited cork struck the same wimpy girl that had sobbed earlier on. The girl burst into a tremendous waterfall of tears again. Amanda, who could not take the weeping of pain because of Fritz, threw her perfume sponge at one of the boys. The boy, Jonathan, flinched and then fell to the floor moaning and coughing. Fritz eyeballed Amanda as the other boys had helped the nearly strangled Jonathan to his feet.
    “A war between the boys and the girls has finally broken out,” Fritz said solemnly, “All boys. You have two hours to get your armor and guns ready. We attack tonight.”



    Chapter Four
    Gender War

    Peter looked out over the back yard through a window in the house behind the Stalbaum mansion. The boys had asked the neighbor, Tom’s family, if they could use the house as a fort for a game before the adults had left. The boys were hidden around the Stalbaum mansion waiting for Peter to give them a sign of any girl troops to ambush. Peter sighed as he looked at his cork gun. He hated to be the marks man and look out for any girl troops heading toward the boys. Well, Peter was the most reliable spy. He was the smallest and the most accurate at hitting things with a flying object. Peter looked out the window once more and flashed his flashlight two times.
    Fritz was waiting in an apple tree. He looked around and saw the two flashes of light. Fritz then positioned himself facing the back door. Fritz saw four girls walking solemnly with perfume siphons and water guns with “tainted” water filled with liquid perfume. There were other girls, too. They were walking to almost all of the ambush places. There must be a spy among the boys or else how would the girls know about the ambushes. At least we still have at least six boys that haven’t been found out; Simon, Peter, Jonathan, Chris, Tom, and me. Fritz thought to himself. Fritz heard four shots and watched the four girls fall to the ground nursing their bruises. What wimps. Fritz thought to himself. Fritz then silently got out of the tree and headed for the shed.
    Simon looked at the fallen boys. The kids had been fighting for about twenty minutes and more than half the boys were taken out. Looks like someone going to have to take care of the boys. Simon then crept out of his hiding place and shot the two girls that were in the same room as him and his comrades. The girls ran out of the room to tell Clara. When those girls come back, we’ll be gone, thought Simon. Simon lifted a boy up and brought him to the sink. The boy was sleeping. Simon then turned the faucet on and put the boy’s face into the running water. The boy woke up sputtering and asked if the boys were winning the battle. Simon told the boy that the have only battled for twenty minutes. The boy said that his name was Patrick. Patrick got up and wiped his face dry and headed out to where his gun was. He had told Simon that the girls were looking for all of the boys and is going to make a major stink bomb. Simon then went for all of the other boys and woke them from sleeping. The girls must have used the perfume that the boys would fall asleep to. Once the boys smelt a large dose of that perfume, they fell asleep almost instantly. Apparently, only Fritz, Tom, and Simon were immune to the smell for they smelt it every day. Soon, all the boys were awakened and ready for combat. Simon ran outside to tell Fritz the good news.
    Fritz had become very excited at the news and went to the Stevenson’s house and moved Peter to the roof of the Stalbaum mansion. The boys were planning to do a full out charge at the girls and throw away the idea of using the element of surprise because obviously, most of the boys had no idea how to hide. Fritz gathered up all the boys and lined them all up. The boys ran to the girls’ hide out. The girls furiously responded by throwing perfume sponges, dolls and squirting their water guns. Corks, dolls, perfume, and water kept flying back and forth between the two genders. Then Fritz suddenly fell in surprise. He cried out and shouted, “Medic! Medic! Someone! Save me! I stink of perfume! <COUGH> <COUGH> <WHEEZ>!” Simon, who had already been a medic, splashed some water over Fritz’s body. Peter soon came down from the roof and into the second floor at the sound of the commotion.
    The girls had been watching for a few minutes then plunged into raging fits of stifled giggling. Fritz stood up and started to throw perfume at all the girls. Fritz then stalked away, or at least tried to. Fritz tripped over Peter who was close to passing out. Peter jerked up into a sitting position and slapped Fritz. Fritz then slapped back. The boys exchanged slaps for a while. Then Fritz slapped Peter twice. “Hey, it’s my turn to slap you. Now I can slap you two times,” said Peter as he smartly slapped Fritz two times. “Okay, I give up. I am feeling moody. I am going downstairs to the adults. I think they have arrived,” said Fritz.
    “Listen up people; it is time to clean up. Girls take care of your stuff and boys, gather the bullets and guns and sort them out. Clean up on the double, or we’ll be fried chicken on the double,” said Simon. All kids of all ages, even Maria and Clara, cleaned up.
    After, everyone took turns taking a shower. In the shower rooms, there were theses two walls that form a hallway. Every six feet, a shower head would appear. Then all of the boys bathed at one time and all the girls bathed at the other.
    After a while, all of the kids finally had their showers and felt great, clean and ready for the arrival of Uncle Ray, the uncle who gave out the Christmas presents.






    Chapter Five
    Fritz Gets Drunk

    Fritz trudged down the stairs and into the “ball room” which was really more like a 70’s disco dance floor with neon lighted squares and lights. “I Wanna Rock with You” by Michael Jackson was playing softly in the background. Most of the grown ups were dancing and did not seem to notice the waiters walking around with wine. Fritz saw the wine and thought it was grape juice for the Stalbaum family had never had wine in the household. Fritz grew thirsty as the waiters walked around. Fritz decided to take one cup.
    Fritz spied a nearby waiter and waited for her to come closer. Fritz then went up behind her and tapped her back. The waiter, as Fritz had hoped, turned around, but Fritz was already where the tray of “grape juice” was and took a glass. By the time the waiter turned back around, Fritz was back in his hiding place.
    Fritz relaxed under the disco lights and sipped his drink. I wonder why this grape juice tastes so weird. Oh well, it is really addicting and, well, refreshing. I’ll go get some more, thought Fritz. Fritz went to another waiter who was resting and had put down the tray of drinks on a table. Fritz sneaked up behind the waiter and took another glass of “grape juice” and soon, that glass was drained. Fritz kept on getting glasses of “grape juice”. Soon enough, believe it or not, Fritz gets mentally insane temporarily, in other words, drunk.
    Fritz grew giddy and started to dance a very vivid form of break dancing. Fritz kept dancing until his mom saw him and kicked Fritz out.

    Fritz then ran and got Simon and climbed to the roof. Fritz also took his sword with him. He gave Simon one and said, “Let’s try sword fighting like the three musketeers.”
    Simon replied with nervousness, “On the roof?”
    “Yeah, sure, why not, c’mon, it’ll be fun.”
    So the two boys climbed up to the roof, which was not a flat roof. Balancing on the beam that connected the two roof parts like a mountain peak, Fritz wildly lashed out with his sword and Simon parried it. For five minutes, the two swords dashed over and under each other, whizzing through the tranquil night air. After a while, Simon’s arm slackened and his grip on the sword and the sword dropped. Fritz, blinded by drunkenness, did not see that and thrust his sword at Simon’s torso. Simon fell and rolled off the roof, and thankfully onto the patch of cushiony moss that Fritz’s mother grew.
    Fritz, thinking that Simon did that on purpose said, “What a great idea of fun, Simon. I want to try.” Down went Fritz, rolling off the roof, giggling hysterically.

    Meanwhile, Fritz’s parents were talking in the room right in front of the place where the two boys landed. The parents heard a loud thud! Fritz’s mom asked Maria, “Do you know where Fritz is dear?”
    Maria replied with enthusiasm, “Mother, I do think Fritz is hitting the bottle!”
    “Excuse me?!” said her mother almost falling off her chair.
    “Yeah, Fritz is hitting the bottle.”

    Clara’s vision grew fuzzy as she watched all the kids walked to where one of her uncles stood. Where the heck are Fritz and Simon? The kids are already getting gifts, Clara thought. All of a sudden, giggling hysterically, her brother walked in followed by Simon who was clutching his wounds.
    “Fritz, what did you do?” asked Clara.
    “Nothing,” said Fritz still walking around drunkenly.
    “Here, drink some water,” said Clara. Fritz drunk the water but then sprayed it all over Clara’s face. Clara jerked away from Fritz and looked at herself then looked at Simon who sat watching with glee but immediately went to get a towel to dry Clara after she glared at him.
    “Fritz, you are going to be in so much trouble!” exclaimed Clara. Fritz looked at Clara drunkenly. Then it finally struck Clara that something was wrong with Fritz. Normally, Fritz would talk back. Clara asked with panic in her voice, “What happened to you Fritz? What did you do?” Fritz pointed to the empty glasses on the trays. Clara gasped and carried Fritz to his bed with the help of Simon.

    In a few hours, Fritz woke up no longer feeling giddy. Maybe that’s because two naughty kids dumped cold water onto Fritz’s head. Fritz jumped up and wacked to two kids smartly on the side of their heads and walked downstairs.






    Chapter Six
    The Toys

    All of the kids were lining up behind one of the uncles when Fritz came down from his room. The uncle was giving out presents. Fritz got into line behind a very rude girl.
    “Mind giving me some space?” said the girl as she shoved Fritz. Fritz shoved her back, harder. Humph, that’ll teach her not to mess with me. Staggering across the room, the girl cried out, but as she recovered, she made her way back through the sea of adults to give Fritz a proper pounding. Fritz had already received his present before the girl reached the line of children. Walking around the room, Fritz boasted about his paintball gun.

    Uncle Ray called Clara, who was sitting in a small corner by a window, and said, “Clara! Time for you to get your present.” The uncle put some batteries into a wooden doll and gave it a command to get a glass of water for Clara. The toy doll walked merrily out of the room and soon came back with a glass of water. “He’s incredible!” said Clara.
    “Found him just for you. He was in a small pile of unwanted toys. I don’t have the slightest idea why someone would not want him,” explained Clara’s uncle. “You may go now.”

    As Fritz was running through the candle lit hallway to show Simon his new gun, Fritz ran into the dramatically rude girl from the line of kids. The girl shoved Fritz so hard that he fell. The gun flew up into the air launching a plastic shell full of paint that pierced the air, bombarding the surprised girl with blobs of paint.
    “Awww, come on. That was a waste of ammo for it to be fired at that girl,” said Fritz after he got over his shock. The girl got up angrily with a neon red painted face and shook herself. She shook her fist at Fritz and Fritz replied by sticking his tongue at her.

    With her face glowing with joy, Clara went to where all of the other children were to show them what her new soldier doll could do. Fritz watched form afar full of envy. Fritz lifted up his gun and changed the paintball color to red, the color of the doll. Fritz took aim and fired. The doll dropped onto the rug beneath Clara and there was a shocking thud. Everyone whipped around and looked at Fritz. Fritz casually leaned on the counter top looking innocent with no gun at his side. Everyone was surprised. Most were gaping at Fritz because, apparently, Fritz wasn’t the cause for this trouble making. Taking a good look at Fritz, some kids were rubbing there eyes for they thought they were dreaming. Fritz had not been the root of the paint. Fritz’s mother marched right up to her son and grabbed his wrist after seeing what he did. Several kids stood by and watched piteously as Mrs. Stalbaum spanked Fritz with a thin bamboo rod.

    After a while, Mrs. Stalbaum let Fritz go and went to comfort Clara, who was crying. Clara’s uncle came by and tried to fix the parts that were not working due to the friction of the paint covered gears.

    Fritz and the other boys were busy climbing trees when all of their parents called for them. Feeling very happy and joyful, the boys felt like pulling a prank on someone with the last minutes of the Christmas spirit. Fritz and the boys crept over to the garden and watched as Clara and Tom sat under the moon light.
    “Clara,” said Tom, “don’t you think that the night is so refreshing?”
    Clara replied, “Oh yes Tom, I do.” The boys struggled to stifle a giggling fit. Fritz held up a sound recorder and the boys giggled again.
    “Yeah, the moon so bright, shining on every thing in this garden, with a slight breeze blowing in our way,” breathed Tom in a very dream like state. The boys giggled even more. “Well, what are we doing here anyway?” replied Clara.
    “I dunno, anything,” Tom said. The boys couldn’t help but to laugh out loud and jump out of the bushes yelling with sarcasm, “LOVE BIRDS! OH DO YOU FEEL THE MAGIC IN THE AIR? WHAT SWEET ROMAMCE!” The boys ran off out of the garden yelling and screaming with laughter while Tom and Clara sat down turning red as a beet.
    “Well, I guess this ends our meeting,” said Tom.
    Meanwhile, Fritz was busy playing a recording of Clara and Tom talking in the garden. All of the kids were on the floor laughing so hard that Mrs. Stalbaum had to come over to see what was so funny. When she asked what happened, Fritz played the recording again just to see his mother get red with anger. “Clara, you know better than to start a relationship with someone before you turn 20,” shouted Mrs. Stalbaum. Everyone stood still, petrified, even Fritz.