From the
Outside of Time:
Christmas was approaching. Barry grew restless. He
decorated their home. Amy shrugged, “It’s pretty. Kind of a waste of money and
time, but I guess we have to do it for Allen.”
“Oh, Amy, come on.”
“Well, it is a lot of work. Christmas is just commercialism
for the capitalists, as much as you try to say it is religious or how do you
say it? ‘The birth of your God.’ What do pine trees, snow and bells have to do
with it? And Santa Claus, whoa, there is confusion.”
“Allen will know the meaning of Christmas. See, I have
this Advent calendar with Bible verses my mom
sent us.”
“Yeah and chocolate. Hmm, sweeten the
deal, huh?”
Barry waved his hand, “Speaking of Mom. She wants us to
come for Christmas Eve. She thought since you probably didn’t have any traditions.”
“You mean religious traditions. My family celebrates.
They would love to see Allen, too.”
“Well, we kind of did your family thing last year and it
would be boring for Allen.”
“I can see right through you, Barry Wilson,” Amy stomped
her foot.
“Getting drunk and champagne breakfast is hardly any way
to celebrate a child’s holiday.”
“I suppose. Still, stuffing their heads with baby
stories and a fat guy in a red suit is kind of cross purposing, isn’t it?”
“Amy, please, this year, can we please go to my
parents’? Next year, we can go after Christmas. We will have to start making
our own traditions. You know if I keep taking Allen to Sunday school, he’ll be
involved in Christmas programs.”
Amy
sighed, “Ugh, I can’t wait ‘til January second. Ruin a good break from school.
You know how much writing I can do on break?”
“It’s a two-hour drive. We’ll spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with
Mom and Dad. Allison comes home. Amber will be there.”
Allen woke from his nap, toddling into the study,
rubbing his eyes. His curls bounced, “Aunt Amber? See Aunt Amber?”
Amy’s heart melted. Amber did delight her son and that
delighted her. Amber’s joy shown through and she had no judgment of Amy. She was
modern enough to think nothing of Barry shouldering most of the child care and
household chores. She hadn’t channeled into role expectations.
“Yes, we’ll see Aunt Amber on Christmas Eve and
Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa’s house,” Amy hugged her boy, as she smiled at
Barry.
Barry beamed back, “Just this year. I promise. We’ll
make our traditions.”
Amy nodded.
They both got out of school on December twenty third.
Last minute shopping, they divided. Barry didn’t cook that night, as they ate
at a favorite restaurant. December twenty fourth, they managed to sleep in.
Allen seemed to be just as exhausted as they were with the end of year running
and Christmas excitement.
“Mom would like us there for supper
before the church service. I thought we’d leave around two.”
“I guess. Allen should sleep in the car for the two-hour
ride. Hope that snow holds off.”
“It will. Mom tapped into that higher source. She always
does for the holidays. Allison got in yesterday. She drove straight from work
again. I do worry about her five-hour drive from Ocean City, through those
mountains.”
“Yeah, we just have flat roads.”
“Good thing about Ohio, huh?”
“Unless, you’re from the south near
West Virginia.”
“Kind of glad we’re not going there. Hope the weather holds
out ‘til next week when we visit your folks down there.”
“Well, don’t worry. They’ll be fine. They will
understand if we have to cancel,” the unspoken words, ‘not like your mother,’
hung in the air between them.
Barry jumped up and rinsed their breakfast dishes and
coffee mugs. He plugged them into the dishwasher and set it on light load, so
it would run before they left.
Amy hugged Allen out of his high chair, “I’ll take my
shower first, okay?”
“Ah, yeah, sure,” Barry didn’t look from the sink, as he
wiped it down.
“Hey, I’ll be good, I promise, Santa,” Amy had let Allen
run into his bedroom and now, hugged Barry from behind. Barry turned around with a
grin on his face and kissed her.
“Unless, you want me to be naughty, Santa Baby,” Amy
coyly asked as she returned the kiss.
“Mm, we’ll see how Allen sleeps.”
“He’s playing now, want to try a few
things before the trip?”
Barry raised one side of his face in a conspiratorial
grin, “Maybe a few.”
“What toys you got in your bag, Santa?” Amy snaked up to Barry and felt in his pajama
bottoms.
“Don’t you want to know?” Barry grinned, and bent his
back toward the sink. Amy kissed his neck, chest, and continued.
“Mm,” Barry moaned, “preview, Amy, just a preview. Allen
can walk in any second.”
Amy threw her head up wickedly, “Yes, let’s do this at
your mother’s.”
“Um, Mom and Dad are not prudes. They are still very
much in love.”
“Yeah, I know,” Amy put on a pouty voice, “but I still
want to do the ‘nasty’ under the tree.”
“In my bedroom. We’ll pay Amber to play with Allen tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, Amber won’t take
any money,” Amy flirted away.
“Okay, we’ll take her to a movie,” Barry shouted after her.
“I’m not a cheap date.”
Barry ran after her and tackled her around her waist,
“No, you cost me dearly,” he growled as he tried to give her a hickey on her
neck.
Allen trotted down the hall, “Mommy
and Daddy playing?”
Amy laughed as she grabbed her robe
around her tighter, “Yeah, Allen, we’re playing. We’re excited
about going to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah, Amy, get him antsy, well you take your
shower. I have to pack the car yet.”
“I think both my boys are a little excited,” Amy
smirked, “I’ll be quick, then I’ll read a story to Allen while you pack the car
and get ready. How much packing do you have to do? Seems you have been packing
all week.”
“Just hiding some things,” Barry raised
his left eyebrow.
“Hide and seek” Allen jumped up and
down.
“I like that game,” Amy mocked in a
Mae West voice.
“Like that game,” Allen nodded
enthusiastically.
“Get in the shower, woman,” Barry faked exasperation. He
loved when Amy played. She usually put herself under such pressure with working
and writing. Her neck would be so tense in the evening, as she tried to relax,
with too much wine, he thought, as soon as she quit breastfeeding, but he never
said anything. He only tried to make her life easier. She had agreed to taking
the two days off from writing. Yes, she deserved the holiday, she agreed.
Happy and safe traveling to those who are. Have grace in your preparations for the holiday.
