Chrismukkard
It was a hot California day and Ryan was
working on his motorcycle.
“Ryan?”
“Yeah?”
“I thought you could use one of these,” Seth said offering Ryan a beer.
“You read my mind. Thanks,” Ryan said smiling.
“That's what I'm here for.”
Seth was looking at Ryan in his white wife-beater with sweat glistening on his
toned arms.
“Are you sure you don't need to take off your wife-beater?”
Ryan cocked his eyebrow. ”It's not that hot.”
“Pity. Anyway, I was thinking…”
“Oh no.”
“Shut up. You know, this is our first Chrismukkah together – I mean just the two
of us - and I'd like us to send Chrismukkah cards.”
“Sure.”
“Great! I thought you could be Santa and I could…”
“What? I'm not gonna dress up.”
“But don't you think nude photos might be a bit too much?”
“You know what I mean.”
”Okay, no costumes. But can we take a photo of us anyway?”
“I guess I can manage that. If you promise to make it up to me later.”
“Naturally. Do you think Summer would help us if we asked?”
“I'm sure she would. But if she tries to style us into something we're not, the
deal is off.”
“Okay, I'll talk to her.”
******************
“Seth, you could put on that gray one and Ryan, the blue would look great on
you,” Summer said.
“Matching sweaters? Summer, no,” Ryan stated.
“But…”
“No buts. This isn't a fashion catalog shoot, this is our Chrismukkard.”
“Okay okay, something else. Let's try this. Both of you choose the outfit you
like the most and we'll see what that would look like. Okay?”
“Okay,” Seth said.
“Now, shoo! I'll get my camera ready.”
******************
“So, how do we look?” Seth asked when Ryan and he were standing in the doorway
of their living room.
Summer turned around. “Wow! You look great! Who would've thought you could do
that all by yourselves?”
“Gee, thanks, Summer,” Seth said sarcastically.
“Don't mention it.”
Ryan just rolled his eyes.
“So… How should we do this? By the fireplace? I know it's traditional and a
little boring, maybe, but I think it might work.”
“You're the professional,” Ryan said.
“Fireplace sounds good to me,” Seth said. “I'd also like to have the menorah in
the picture.”
“I was thinking about that too,” Summer said. “Okay. Seth, you could sit there
and you Ryan, there. Hmm… yeah. You know boys, I think this will be a great
picture.”
******************
“You know, we could do arts and crafts next year,” Seth said when they were
writing addresses on the envelopes.
Ryan smiled to himself. Then he looked up at Seth who wasn't smiling. “You
weren't joking?”
“No.”
“Arts and crafts with these hands? These hands are for motorcycles and stuff,
not for glue and glitter.”
“But…”
“No buts. I can sign the cards but that's it. Besides, there's no doubt who is
the Martha Stewart of this household.”
“Excuse-me, it was you who wore the jump suit, not me.”
“Ouch, that hurt.”
For a moment Seth was afraid he went too far but he was relieved when he saw
Ryan smiling.
“Well, maybe I'll figure out something else for next year. But I'd really like
us to have this Chrismukkard thing going on every year. What do you think?”
Ryan was silent.
“Ryan? Are you okay?” Seth sat down on the couch with Ryan.
“What?” Ryan was coming out from his haze.
“Are you okay? Did I say something?”
“Yeah, I'm okay. I was just thinking about our Christmas traditions in Chino
when I was younger.”
Seth had a feeling this wasn't going to be good.
“The only tradition we had at our house was when mom and her boyfriend of the
time drank too much and got into a fight. Not exactly a tradition I wanna
remember.”
“I'm sorry,” Seth said stroking Ryan's back. “I know your childhood Christmases
weren't what they should've been but we can make happier traditions together,
right?”
Ryan smiled. “Right.”
“Let's make this Chrismukkard the first of many.”
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