Up On the Housetop
Claus Home
The North Pole
The day before Christmas Eve
"My Dear, what are you
studying so intently?"
"It's your itinerary for tomorrow night. It's changed. Come look."
"Changed. Balderdash! This is December 23. It's too
late to change anything."
Mrs. Claus just looked at her husband as he left his comfortable recliner and
joined her at the table. "Look. See, I told you, here in
"Well, skittle my whiskers. Now that's a surprise. I guess you were right,
Dear."
Mrs. Claus was smiling one of her biggest smiles. She knew it would happen
sooner or later. She had been keeping a special eye on that particular person
for several years now and it looked like things had turned out right.
*****
"Brian, isn't our tree the best you've ever seen?"
"It's not bad." In reality, Brian thought it was the best tree he'd ever seen.
He caught the expression on Justin's face as he
looked at the bright star that sat atop the tree, memorizing the moment.
Justin sighed and started picking up the boxes, now empty of decorations. Brian
also gathered a few in his arms, and they headed for the storage closet. Once
everything was straightened up again, Brian suggested going to the diner.
"I have a better idea," Justin said, as he started unbuttoning Brian's shirt.
"Yes, I do like your idea better, Sunshine," Brian replied, as he let himself be
undressed by his own Christmas angel.
*****
The next morning at the diner, Brian and Justin sat with their friends, eating
breakfast and talking about their plans for Christmas Eve.
Everyone still had last minute shopping to do and presents to wrap. Brian sat
back and listened to the conversation. It was the same one they had every year,
but unlike those other years, Brian's thoughts turned to his and Justin's plans.
Brian had made dinner reservations at a new restaurant as a surprise for Justin.
Then a quiet evening at home, just the two of them.
Maybe some eggnog in front of the tree with a background of
soft Christmas music. Brian smiled to himself and shook his head. "Who'd
of thunk it?"
"So, Brian. What are your plans?" Emmett asked,
seriously. He knew Brian didn't `do' holidays, especially Christmas.
"Sit at home and wait for Santa to fall through the roof." Justin elbowed Brian
in the ribs. "What? What else is there to do on
Christmas eve?
Justin sighed. He thought Brian was really getting into the Christmas spirit
this year.
After a harried afternoon of last minute shopping, Brian and Justin returned to
the loft. "We have to get these things wrapped or they
won't be ready to take to Gus in the morning. I still can't believe you bought
him more stuff."
"We don't have to wrap right now, Sunshine. We need to shower or we'll miss
supper."
"What do you mean, miss supper? I thought we getting take out Chinese tonight."
"Nope."
"Them what ARE we doing for supper?" Justin asked,
watching the smirk on Brian's face. "Brian. Tell me."
"I'm taking you out for supper. Now, shower."
"Where? Please, please, please tell me."
"You'll see when we get there. Now scoot. I want your bare butt in the shower
with me in 5 minutes."
Justin wasn't one for passing up that offer and he was in the shower with time
to spare.
*****
Later that
night...
The boys were wrapped in each others arms as they slept after making love. They
didn't hear the soft `THUNK' on the roof of their building in the early morning
hours. Nor did they hear the soft footsteps of the jolly man in red as he
unloaded some packages from his bag. He looked over at the table to see the
still unwrapped gifts for Gus. He worked his magic and in no time,
had the new toys under the tree. Before he left, he looked around for
the large familiar snickerdoodle on a bright red
Santa plateand a glass of chocolate milk. He drank
the cool milk and ate half of the cookie, saving the rest for Rudolf and the
other reindeer waiting patiently on the roof. In
seconds he was gone with a merry "Ho, ho, ho," and a jingle of the sleigh bells.
*****
Christmas morning...
"Brian, wake up. Brian, come on."
Brian opened one sleepy eye only to see the shiny smile of his lover. "Justin.
It's too early."
"Brian it's Christmas." Brian was being stubborn, but
Justin knew just what to do. An hour later the two men walked into the living
room.
"When did you get up and wrap Gus' gifts? I said I would help," Justin asked,
looking at the brightly wrapped packages under the tree.
"I didn't. I was going to ask you the same thing, Sunshine."
"I didn't do it, Brian. I slept all night. In fact, I had a wonderful dream."
Justin picked the empty plate up from the coffee table. He remembered Brian
kidding him about leaving milk and cookies for Santa. "Every year, I helped my
mom bake snickerdoodles for Santa," Justin
explained. "Well, the snickerdoodle and milk are
gone. I know you didn't eat that. Santa must have been here. He always ate the
snickerdoodle when I was a kid."
Brian looked around the loft one more time then put his arms around Justin.
"Merry Christmas, Sunshine."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Bri."
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