Hallucinations

The fireplace was lit and the flickering flames bounced off almost all of the holiday decorations which were going to adorn the loft for Christmas. The guys were sitting in front of their fake fireplace with maybe visions of sugarplums in their heads – or maybe some other visions …

“You know, Baby,” Brian mused. “Our big, big Christmas party for Gus is only a couple of days away and you haven’t told me anything much about it. Isn’t that a little unusual? I know you have a few surprises for Gus but I’m beginning to wonder if there are going to be a few surprises for me too. All I know is that I’m supposed to be Santa Claus – as usual. What don’t I know – that maybe you don’t want me to know ..?

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin displayed puzzlement. “I don’t know why you have to be so suspicious – even at Christmas time. You knew that Gus wanted Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer at the party, and Johnny’s gonna be Rudolph – and Peter is gonna be Algernon, the blue-nosed reindeer, and ….”

“Algernon?” Brian quickly interrupted. “Algernon, the blue-nosed reindeer? Algernon is gonna be at the party. I know about Rudolph from you and Mikey always talking about him. He’s on TV so I know he’s real – but I don’t remember anything about any Algernon ….”

“Algernon is a friend of Gus’, Brian,” Justin explained. “He met him a couple of Christmases ago. You must have heard Gus mention Algernon.”

“Nope,” Brian did not remember, “And maybe I’d like to know where Gus met this Algernon – or maybe on second thought – maybe I wouldn’t ….”

“I’m not actually sure where Gus met him, Bri,” Justin admitted. “And Gus is the only one who can see him so …”

“Hold on right there, Baby,” Brian stopped him. “My kid is having hallucinations and you’re helping him out with them?”

“No more than I always help you out when you have hallucinations, Sweetheart,” Justin grinned at him.

“OK, Taylor,” Brian replied. “Cut that out. We are not going there. Like I said before, I want you around for a long time – but I really need you around till Christmas at least – like for the office party and ….”

“And if you think you’re ever gonna get rid of me, Honey,” Justin cuddled himself up to Brian. “That has to be a hallucination …”

”Well I guess there are bad hallucinations and good hallucinations,” Brian squeezed the kid just slightly. “But what are you planning to do if Gus doesn’t think your version of Algernon, the blue-nosed reindeer, looks like his Algernon. You could be in real trouble if …”

“Well I got a pretty good description from Gus,” Justin told him, “And reindeer do have a characteristic look – and I’m an artist so I made a sketch – and Betsy over at the costume shop at the Institute kind of sewed us up a really neat Algernon costume in Peter’s size ….”

”And so when Algernon gets to be as popular as Rudolph you’re gonna be sorry you didn’t patent him – or copyright him – or whatever you have to do …” Brian teased him. “Gus could lose millions on Algernon. Maybe Mel should …”

“If you have to know, Brian Kinney,” Justin informed him imperiously. “We brought that subject up with Melanie and she thought it was funny – just like you do – but Brandon is going to …”

“Brandon is taking this crap seriously?” Brian laughed, “I gave Brandon more credit than that …”

“Actually Jason took the project to him, Bri,” Justin smirked. “And Brandon decided to go along with us – just to be safe. If Jason wants something….”

“Geez,” Brian was in awe. “The curse of the blond twinks.”

“Beautiful blond twinks,” Justin corrected him.

And there was a pause in the discussion at this point. Actually, there was not much more to say on the subject - so the guys just sat and thought for a while – or maybe they just thought they sat and thought.

“And you don’t have any surprise gifts for Gus, do you, Brian?” Justin resumed the conversation a little later. “I don’t mean surprises for Gus. I really mean gifts for Gus that are surprises for me – and Mel – and Linz…”

“You got me, Baby,” Brian answered. “You have something specific in mind but I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.”

“Well just maybe somebody overheard Gus telling some friends from school that he was gonna go skiing with his dad after Christmas,” Justin said. “And that he was gonna have his very own skis and ….”

“Well I’m not admitting anything, Baby,” Brian grinned at him. “But if Gus had skis and we went to Laurel Mountain – and you all had to pay attention to Gus on the children’s slope, maybe daddy could escape and try some of the adult slopes that certain folks don’t want him to enjoy…”

“Well just maybe daddy is having more hallucinations, Brian,” Justin grinned back. “Maybe Malcolm and Hunter will be delegated to teach Gus the fundamentals. You know Malcolm has been skiing – like all his life - and he was on the ski team in high school – and he’s taught Hunter a lot too so they’re both ..”

“But just maybe Gus will want his daddy to teach him,” Brian mused. “And then when I get him started and you’re all admiring Gus’ prowess, I can sneak away …”

“Hey, Kinney,” Justin was laughing. “Remember that little place about five miles before you get to Laurel Mountain – called ‘Die Kinderschlopen.’ All they have there is a few fairly gentle slopes – and only kid skiers – under ten I think. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gus gets a season pass for ‘Die Kinderschlopen..’ From Alvin, the blue-nosed reindeer. Gus will love it and he’ll be the only skier in our party so he’ll feel real special.”

“Alvin, the blue nosed reindeer, is a damn fink,” Brian grouched.

“If you really are that set on skiing, Kinney,” Justin promised him, “we’ll take you skiing to the big guys’ slopes whenever you want to go ….”

“Yeah,” Brian enthused. “I can just see me tearing down those slippery steep slopes at 100 miles per hour …”

“Hallucinations again, Kinney,” Justin laughed. “There seems to be a lot of hallucinations going around tonight.”

“Yeah, there are, Baby,” Brian reached over and ran his fingers through Justin’s hair. “And maybe everybody’s having some too. I guess I better tell you though and I hope you’re not too badly disappointed. I never mentioned skiing to Gus at all. Not that it wouldn’t have been a great idea – and skis wouldn’t be a great present. I just didn’t think of it – and that’s the truth. I hope you’re not mad because I didn’t do something you wanted to blame me for.”

“But Gus was telling his friends,” Justin was taken aback. “His teacher heard him. Where would he get the idea …?”

“Probably from Algernon, the blue-nosed reindeer,” Brian posited. “Bet Gus is the only one who can hear him too.”

“Well Algernon has a lot to answer for,” Justin pronounced judgment. “When I get a hold of that Algernon …”

“Hold up, Kiddo,” Brian tried to be soothing, “I guess Algernon thought you might be mad – and nobody, including Algernon, wants you to be mad - so he gave me some ideas about how I might cheer you up. Could we try them out before you decide to murder Algernon?”

“No hallucinations?” Justin demanded assurances.

“Well maybe a few, Baby,” Brian squeezed him fairly hard. “But only good ones.”

So Justin decided Algernon’s plan was worth trying.
 

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