It Doesn't Always Snow

“It doesn’t always snow on Christmas, Taylor,” Brian was telling the kid as the guys settled down in front of their fake fireplace one evening just a few days after Christmas.

“Well it would be better if I were in charge, Kinney,” Justin replied confidently. “Then every Christmas would be a white Christmas….”

“A philosopher once said,” Brian tried to console him, “and I quote: ‘It’s not the snow outside that makes a white Christmas. It’s the warmth inside….’”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin seemed surprised. “You don’t often spout philosophy – but that is really profound. Sounds like Kierkegaard to me…..”

“Nope,” Brian answered. “Actually it was Martha…..”

“Martha?” Justin laughed. “That certainly does not sound like Martha. I bet she had Kierkegaard at one of her parties and he told her that….”

“Don’t think so, Baby,” Brian doubted that suggestion. “I think Kierkegaard was long gone way before Irv Berlin invented the white Christmas. Anyhow, I think you’re just mad because you didn’t get the chance to perpetrate your annual cowardly snow ball attack…..”

“Darn it, BK,” Justin objected, “you know the only reason I stock-pile those snow balls is for defensive purposes – in case of an attack – and it didn’t even snow hardly a flake all during December. That’s not good planning from somebody….”

“No it isn’t,” Brian agreed. “Wasn’t me though – so you can’t blame me for that…..”

“But it was you who invited Gus to spend Christmas evening with us,” Justin accused him, “knowing what we usually do on Christmas night – like building our Christmas snowman and…..”

“There was no snow for our Christmas snowman, Sunshine – and Gus asked if he could come home with us for a while, Sweetheart. On the other hand, it was you who suggested that we light the fireplace and have Gus sit between us, JT,” Brian accused back. “And you did that deliberately and with malice in your heart…..”

“Well,” Justin grinned at him, “A defensive measure – like the snowball stock-pile. But, remember, Gus went home pretty early and we sat back down in front of the fireplace later And a famous philosopher once said and I quote: “It’s not so much what happens while Gus is here as it is what happens after he leaves…..’”

“Kierkegaard?” Brian wondered. “That really sounds like Kierkegaard….”

“Nope,” Justin enlightened him, “a more modern philosopher…..”

“Martha?” Brian continued his speculation but he got no verbal reply – which suited Brian quite well.

What happened instead was a Justin-induced pause - which more resembled “after Gus left” than “while Gus was there.” – and that was probably why it suited Brian so well.

“The trip to Children’s Hospital was a success,” Brian eventually revived the conversation. “The kids all had a great time – and so did our gang….. As usual….”

“Yep it was perfect,” Justin readily agreed. “Maybe too much stuff for the kids from Dave…. Rex was in seventh heaven. I think he had the best time of all. I don’t know if it was the hospital visit or the new red bicycle though….”

“Well I’m invited over to his place to ride it, Kiddo,” Brian bragged. “I think he knows I talked to Santa Claus for him. Bet you didn’t get invited to ride…..”

“Actually I didn’t, BK,” Justin laughed in response. “But Rex did ask me – before you ever got any old invitation – if you could really ride a bike – and if it was safe to let you ride it. Rex is pretty perceptive - and he does not want his new red bicycle smashed up….”

“What did you tell him, Baby?” Brian wanted to know. “It must have bothered you some to have to tell the kid the truth….”

“Not at all, Kinney,” Justin was still laughing. “I had no problem telling him the truth – that it was perfectly safe to let you ride the bike – if I were there – and he made me promise to come with you whenever….”

“Geez, Taylor,” Brian grinned at him. “You are a first-class genuine spoil-sport. That’s like – what you do….”

“I didn’t spoil your open-house for the Kinnetics crowd last night, Kinney,” Justin defended himself, “or at least I didn’t think I did….”

“Nope, you didn’t, Baby,” Brian admitted. “That was another triumph. I always get a kick out of how surprised the Kinnetics gang is – they always tell me about how different I am here than I am at the office….”

“That’s cause you’re really in charge at the office, Brian,” Justin started to give his analysis.

“And I’m like – not in charge here?” Brian grinned. “I don’t see the difference…..”

“Of course you’re always in charge here too, Bri,” Justin assured him with a smile. “But it’s like – a different kind of responsibility….”

“Liar,” Brian told the kid - and a Brian-instigated pause followed – which was amazingly similar to the earlier Justin-induced pause – so you couldn’t prove who was actually in charge from those pauses.

“Brian,” Justin eventually returned to the conversation. “I wish we weren’t flying to New York for New Year’s Eve….”

“Well Dave really wanted us to come up there, Baby,” Brian told him. “I don’t see how we could have got out of it. And you like - almost promised him last year. We’re gonna have that TV connection between us in New York at Dave’s party and the big party at the Center back here – just like last year. It’s like being in both places at one time. And we’ll be flying back the nest morning so you’ll be back in plenty of time for the reception at the Institute…..”

“I know that’s what’s supposed to happen, Bri,” Justin admitted, “but it’s also supposed to snow both here and there on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. What if that happens and we can’t get back…?”

“We’ll manage, Taylor,” Brian assured him. “Even if we don’t get back on time it won’t be a catastrophe,,,,, And if it really snows over the holiday maybe we can finally build our Christmas snowman on New Year’s night – just a week late,” Brian suggested.

“And go sledding in the park?” Justin added.

“Yep,” Brian said, “And the snowball fight too – if you have enough time to stock-pile hundreds of snowballs, that is….”

“For defensive purposes only, Kinney,” Justin insisted.

“For defensive purposes only, Sweetheart” Brian grinned. “What else? So you’ll get your white Christmas a little bit late….”

“But I already had my white Christmas, Brian,” Justin reminded him. “Remember - it’s not the snow outside that makes a white Christmas. It’s the warmth inside….”

“So there’s enough warmth inside to make us a white Christmas?” Brian smiled at him. “Even with no snow…?”

“I think so, Bri,” Justin told him – moving closer to the big guy. “I really think so….”

Brian thought so too.
 

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