'Twas the Night After Christmas

‘Twas the night after Christmas and the denizens of the loft were cuddled together in their usual positions on the floor with the fake fireplace blazing away in front of them – a happy and devoted pair if ever there was one.

“I love you, Brian,” the younger one professed as a way of starting a conversation.

“I know you do,” Brian responded. “I’ve known that for sure from the time last night when you pelted me with all those snowballs – in a sneak attack - from behind – while I was constructing that beautiful snowman for you. Yep, I know true love when I see it.”

“You don’t think I’d waste all those snowballs on you if I didn’t love you a really lot, do you?” Justin pointed out.

“Not for a second,” Brian told him. “I know you pretty well. Some people might think that but not those of us who know how really crazy you are. So yeah, I guess I know you love me all right.”

”You were great as Santa Claus at Children’s Hospital, Brian,” Justin changed the subject while he was ahead. “The kids all loved you. But I could have cried when that little girl said she remembered you from last year. Two Christmases in a row in the hospital….”

”You did cry, Baby,” Brian remembered, “And maybe I love you more for that than I do for your cowardly snowball attacks… and the kids loved Rudolph – and Algernon too – after you told them who he is, of course. I guess they’ll have to stay part of the show.”

”Yeah, they will, Bri,” Justin agreed. “But if you think we have too many people, maybe we could think about phasing out the elves. Malcolm and Hunter are getting pretty old and….”

“I don’t think so, Sweetheart,” Brian replied. “The more people we have with us, the more attention the kids get – and I don’t like the idea of anybody or anything being phased out because of age. Malcolm and Hunter aren’t complaining, are they?”

“Nope,” Justin told him, “And they’ll stay elves as long as they’re wanted. They love it. We all do. It’s really a great way to spend Christmas afternoon.”

“And maybe work up an appetite for Christmas dinner,” Brian grinned.

“Aw cut it out, Brian,” Justin protested just a little. “I know I overate some - but with all those people cooking up their specialties, how could I disappoint them?”

”You couldn’t, Baby,” Brian laughed. “With your combination of big heart and empty stomach, you just couldn’t disappoint them – and you didn’t either. You never do. Not with your heart and not with your stomach.”

“Well Christmas comes but once a year, Mr. Kinney,” Justin quoted from the old Christmas classic. “As Bob Cratchit had to remind Ebenezer Scrooge.”

“True enough, Tiny Tim,” Brian replied. “But your big heart and your empty stomach we have with us all year long – and that’s OK with me too. You know what – I just might be in love with you too.”

And there was an extended pause in the reliving of the holiday at this point – at least in the talking about it. There was only so much happiness that human beings could stand – and these guys were pushing that limit.

“And you were pleased with the way Gus’ party went?” Justin eventually revived the discussion. “Now’s the time to figure out what we want to do different next year, so if you have any ideas…”

“Nothing needs to be changed, Baby,” Brian told him. “It was just about perfect and Gus was overwhelmed. I can’t think of anything that could be improved – but I bet you will think of something and next year’s party will be even better.”

“You thought our Santa Claus was OK?” Justin teased him.

“Yeah,” Brian responded in kind. “Of course, you’re the architect of the festivities – and that should be your call to make - so maybe if you’d want to try out Emmett for Santa Claus next year … he could wear that silver Santa Claus suit he uses at the Center. Maybe you’d like that better… Emmett in his silver suit.”

“I don’t think so, Brian,” Justin decided. “I really like the Santa Claus we have. In fact, I think I’d like to have him around all year …”

“I think that can be arranged, Baby,” Brian assured him. “He has a good staff at the North Pole. They can handle things up there … And I think he’d way rather be here than at the North Pole.”

“You know what, Sweetheart,” Justin suggested. “While you’re feeling like that, do you think it would be OK to tell you maybe about the New Year’s Eve plans?”

“On second thought, Baby,” Brian reconsidered. “It might not be such a good idea for Santa Claus to be away from the North Pole all that much - so maybe … You know what, JT, don’t tell me anything at all about the plans for New Year’s Eve. I’ll do anything you’ve planned – just like I always do anyhow – but this year I promise not to complain – not even once – and I’ll pretend to have a good time too. How about that for a deal? Deal or No Deal – like on TV?”

“Well I’m gonna think about that for a while, Brian,” Justin hesitated. “It sounds good all right – but then you always really do have a good time on New Year’s Eve with all your complaining – and what if the complaining is why you enjoy yourself – and maybe you not complaining will bring us bad luck for next year too – and …”

“Justin Taylor,” Brian interrupted in a slightly elevated tone. “You are the love of my life and you know you are the love of my life and you’ll always be the love of my life – but right now I am ordering you to shut up for at least fifteen minutes. I want to just hold you for a while without having to listen to a whole lot of …”

“Well I’d say ‘Yes Sir” if I was allowed to talk,” Justin plopped his head onto the smiling Brian’s shoulder. “But I can’t because I’m not allowed to talk – so I’m not talking.”

And Justin was as good as his word – or actually better – in that it was a much longer time than fifteen minutes before anybody spoke again in the loft – and when something was finally said, it was Brian who said it.

“OK, Kiddo,’ Brian decided. “We’ll handle New Year’s Eve whatever way you want to. I don’t want to take a chance on jinxing us for next year. This was a really good year.”

“Did you think so, Brian?” Justin replied. “I did – and I want next year to be just as good.”

“Or better, Taylor,” Brian improved on Justin’s wish. “Next year on the night after Christmas, we’ll probably be sitting right here again - discussing how good Christmas has been and what a good year we’ve had – and how much we still love each other – and just maybe next year you won’t need to show your love by attacking me with snowballs …”

“Gee whiz, Kinney,” Justin pulled himself up onto Brian’s lap. “A whole year is a very long time to have to plan ahead …”

But Brian didn’t think so. In fact he thought he had his whole life planned.
 

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