Elfland

The guys were positioning themselves on the loft floor facing their blazing fireplace – a somewhat rare relaxation in the busy holiday season – but something they looked forward to all the more because of its rarity.

“You know what, Taylor?” Brian started out, “I haven’t asked you what our Christmas decoration theme is this year because I thought I’d eventually figure it out – but now I’m officially giving up and asking: What the hell are those decorations all about?”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin acted surprised. “Isn’t it obvious? Gus decided that we should decorate this year with the Elfland theme….”

“OK, Baby,” Brian quickly stopped him right there, “One minute please – what the hell – or who the hell - is Elfland?”

“Elfland is where the elves live, Kinney,” Justin informed him. “Everybody should know that. The elves stay at the North Pole all year you know – making toys and stuff – and they have to have someplace to live – so they live in Elfland….”

“Elfland?” Brian echoed. “How come I never - in my whole life - ever heard one word about Elfland – till now?”

“Well you only recently got interested in Christmas, Bri,” Justin reasoned, “So I guess there’s a lot you maybe - still don’t know….”

“Well if there is, Sweetheart,” Brian laughed, “I think I’m in the very best place to learn. Yeah – I’m sure I am. But can I ask: How did you get to know about Elfland?”

“Well actually, Honey,” Justin told him, “Gus told me about it ….”

“And he learned about it from maybe – Algernon, the Blue-Nosed Reindeer,” Brian posited, “Who I didn’t know about either – until just last year….”

”But you did get to meet Algernon at Gus’ party last year, Bri,” Justin argued, “So now you should know him pretty well …..”

“Actually, Baby,” Brian was still laughing, “Algernon reminded me a lot of nephew, Peter - just like Rudolph – he of the red nose – reminded me a lot of Johnny – the other nephew. Strange, eh?

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin insisted, “Nobody in the world has any doubts – except maybe you - that Rudolf is real. Now I’ll admit - not so many people know about Algernon – but remember in Miracle on 34th Street how they proved Santa Claus was real – because the US Postal Service delivered mail to him – well just remember - Brandon got Algernon registered last year at the US Patent Office in Gus’ name. Same government and all. So ….”

“Which proves nothing except that Brandon is crazy too. So I suppose Algernon will be at the party again this year?” Brian seemed to give up – or at least enter into the spirit of the discussion, “So I can get to know him better….”

“Well we’re not really sure, Mr. Kinney,” Justin told him. “Algernon told Gus that he has some work to do in Asia this year and might not be able to come to the party – so we’ll have to see….”

“Can’t wait to see,” Brian anticipated. “It won’t be the same party without Algernon….”

“Well we’ll do the best we can – even without Algernon if we have to . There will be some extra elves here this year, Bri,” Justin volunteered. “After all – this is gonna be Elfland – where they live …..”

“Yeah it is,” Brian decided, “And that I have no trouble believing. There is this one really crazy elf who lives here year-round and ….”

The conversation suddenly broke off at this point – as Brian seemed to lose his train of thought – and what ensued was one of those pauses, which occasionally punctuated many of their fireside discussions. But the discourse eventually did resume.

“I take it then that everything is ready for Gus’ big annual party?” Brian broke the silence. “Sounds like it will be as good as the last few ….

“Well you can see the decorating is not quite completed yet, Brian,” Justin reminded him, “But that should be finished tomorrow. Malcolm, Hunter, Jason and Roger are coming over. We’ll be done by three – so it will be safe for you to come home any time after that – not that you aren’t invited to come home earlier and help….”

“Geez, Baby,” Brian remembered, “There’s nothing I would rather do than help with the decorating – but I have some important business to attend to tomorrow - in Asia I think – and I expect to get back like – exactly at three – probably no earlier ….”

“Well if you see Algernon over there in Asia, BK,” Justin grinned at him, “Remind him he’s invited ….”

“Will do,” Brian promised – and at this point there was yet another hiatus in the planning for the Christmas festivities – about which the guys seemed to show no great signs of urgency.

“Hey, Brian,” Justin finally disturbed the reverie, “Even if this is Elfland, Santa Claus will still be the center of the festivities and it will be a great party – believe me - and Gus will be thrilled ….”

“And so will I, Baby. And you’ll tell Gus it was all my doing, JT,” Brian pointed out, “Like you always do - even if I didn’t really have a thing to do with it….”

”Yeah, you did too, BK,” Justin reminded him. “That Charlie Brown tree over there – we wouldn’t have had it if you hadn’t figured out how to get one in a scarce ugly tree market. Pure Brian Kinney problem-solving genius ….”

“Yeah,” Brian patted himself on the back figuratively, “I guess it was at that – but then I didn’t even know about Elfland till ….”

“Well you do now,” Justin told him, “And we’re gonna make Elfland a little more adult too for your open house for the Kinnetics gang on the 27th. It’ll take an hour or so that morning to make a few changes – but Elfland will work for your group of adults too ….”

“You think the Kinnetics crowd is a group of adults, Baby?” Brian reminded him. “And I thought you knew them pretty well. You know what? I’m gonna invite Algernon to my open house too – if I happen to run into him in Asia tomorrow. So do I need to do anything at all about the open house?”

“Nope,” Justin assured him. “Me and Cynthia have that well in hand too. It’ll be perfect. The announcements are already sent. Sorry you didn’t get one. We were gonna invite you but we were short on invitations - and we didn’t feel like printing more – that’s why you didn’t get one - so you’re just gonna have to believe we do want you to come ….”

“I can do that, Baby,” Brian assured him. “I can’t do much else about Christmas but I can do that.’

“You can do a lot more about Christmas than you give yourself credit for, Brian Kinney – you’ll never know how much ….,” Justin told him as he cuddled himself more closely into Brian’s arm.

“You know what, Twink,” Brian ran his free hand through the kid’s hair. “Eventually the holidays will be over and these Elfland decorations will come down – but this loft will always be Elfland - as long as that year-round elf is in residence – and that’s gonna be forever.”

And the tear that formed in Justin’s eye just then – well it was one of complete happiness.

Return to Fireside Chats