such_a_bad_man
You know... That guy.
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2004
- Posts
- 2,775
Christmas time again.
My mom went all out on decorating the house yet again. Each room looked like a Rockwell painting from a Saturday Evening Post cover. Still, it was just what I needed this time of year. An ugly break up after Thanksgiving had me changing holiday plans last minute. As always, mom and dad were happy to have me home for the holidays. It happened less and less in the last few years, but finally she got her wish. All her boys home under the same roof for Christmas like we used to do growing up.
Of course, I knew why Peter was coming home this year. He had a new girlfriend to show off. They missed mom's Thanksgiving because they were with her family, but he managed to get Christmas with our family. I had to see the woman that would put up with Pete for so long. Hopefully, it wasn't going to be too hard given what happened last month.
I sipped my whiskey as Dad sat quietly and watched his fire burning in his armchair beside me. This was his version of post-relationship therapy. A quiet drink alone in his den was actually quite helpful. I'd been running around at work and rearranging plans that it had been a while since I'd slowed down. I glanced over and patted his hand in silent thanks of doing this for me. He just nodded with a knowing smile. That's just how dad was.
We both looked to the window when we heard a car pulling up the drive. "Sounds like Pete's home," was all dad had said for about an hour. I watched him get up from his chair and start for the door. "Come on, let's see this new woman in his life..." he said over his shoulder at me. I was too comfortable and didn't want to move. I sipped down the last of my drink and pushed myself off the couch and followed him to the door. Pete was already inside, getting smothered in a hug from mom. Dad was helping with bags of both presents and luggage. When they parted, I saw her for the first time.
I couldn't move or speak. She was just too breathtaking. I swallowed hard as I realized that this woman somehow had ended up with my brother. The injustice of the world slammed into my gut like a sucker punch. Finally, Mom saw me standing there and called out. "Come on, John. Come say hi to your brother and his girlfriend." I drew a long breath and stepped closer, shaking Pete's hand in greeting. He pulled me into a hug, but even then, I couldn't help but look at the woman behind him. I couldn't think of anything to say as he introduced me to her. I only managed a simple "Hi" as my hand reached for hers.
My mom went all out on decorating the house yet again. Each room looked like a Rockwell painting from a Saturday Evening Post cover. Still, it was just what I needed this time of year. An ugly break up after Thanksgiving had me changing holiday plans last minute. As always, mom and dad were happy to have me home for the holidays. It happened less and less in the last few years, but finally she got her wish. All her boys home under the same roof for Christmas like we used to do growing up.
Of course, I knew why Peter was coming home this year. He had a new girlfriend to show off. They missed mom's Thanksgiving because they were with her family, but he managed to get Christmas with our family. I had to see the woman that would put up with Pete for so long. Hopefully, it wasn't going to be too hard given what happened last month.
I sipped my whiskey as Dad sat quietly and watched his fire burning in his armchair beside me. This was his version of post-relationship therapy. A quiet drink alone in his den was actually quite helpful. I'd been running around at work and rearranging plans that it had been a while since I'd slowed down. I glanced over and patted his hand in silent thanks of doing this for me. He just nodded with a knowing smile. That's just how dad was.
We both looked to the window when we heard a car pulling up the drive. "Sounds like Pete's home," was all dad had said for about an hour. I watched him get up from his chair and start for the door. "Come on, let's see this new woman in his life..." he said over his shoulder at me. I was too comfortable and didn't want to move. I sipped down the last of my drink and pushed myself off the couch and followed him to the door. Pete was already inside, getting smothered in a hug from mom. Dad was helping with bags of both presents and luggage. When they parted, I saw her for the first time.
I couldn't move or speak. She was just too breathtaking. I swallowed hard as I realized that this woman somehow had ended up with my brother. The injustice of the world slammed into my gut like a sucker punch. Finally, Mom saw me standing there and called out. "Come on, John. Come say hi to your brother and his girlfriend." I drew a long breath and stepped closer, shaking Pete's hand in greeting. He pulled me into a hug, but even then, I couldn't help but look at the woman behind him. I couldn't think of anything to say as he introduced me to her. I only managed a simple "Hi" as my hand reached for hers.