You are currently browsing the daily archive for December 10, 2009.
“Why would you say I’m delusional?”
Holly asked, as she added the herbs to her homemade chicken noodle soup. The pungent aroma from the rosemary wafted up, prompting her to unconsciously lean forward over the pot and take a deep breath.
“Because you believe in Santa Claus! You’re 32 years old! If that’s not delusional, girlfriend, I don’t know what is!” Joy was sitting at the kitchen table addressing the Christmas cards. She was grateful to Holly for letting her move in after she and Jared divorced. The comfort of friendship and divided expenses was beneficial to both of them in this lengthy recession.
“Of course I believe in Santa! I don’t understand why you don’t!” Holly exclaimed.
“Maybe it’s all my rotten luck lately.” Joy reached over to the counter and grabbed the remote control to change the TV channel. It filled her with bitterness to watch those stupid ‘He went to Jared’ diamond engagement ring commercials. Ya… he went to Jared, she thought rancorously. Her mind flashed back to the day she came home unexpectedly for lunch to find her then-husband Jared, in bed with another man. All those years of living a lie. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t aware of the signs. Of course, now, looking back, it should have been obvious. He always dressed very well; knowing the latest Prada styles, and his ability to decorate their home with the flawless knowledge of an interior designer should have triggered her curiosity. Thank God we didn’t have any children, she thought.
What really rankled her ass, was that he confessed to being a closet gay when he asked her to marry him. He just needed to fit in at the law firm where he thought he could never make partner if they knew he was gay. Sometimes she wished she could get him into one of those mixed martial arts fighting cages and kick the shit out of him. “What a jackass,” Joy said out loud. “What decade does he think we’re living in?”
“Was that one of those stupid ‘Jared’ advertisements, again?” Holly asked sympathetically. She knew her friend had a hard time dealing with her situation when those were broadcast. It was especially difficult during this time of year, when the holiday commercialism was at its peak.
“YES. IT. WAS.” Joy enunciated every word as if each was its own sentence. She attached a nutcracker stamp to the last Christmas card in her pile and chuckled at the irony when she noticed it was addressed to her Mother. “How’s that soup coming? I’m about ready to hit Joe’s.”
Holly was always ready for a drink at Joe’s. It was their favorite local bar and right now it was exceptionally festive with all the decorations. “Just let me put a lid on this,” she said as she turned off the stove.
The two ambled out of their apartment to wait for the elevator. Joy looked around at the posh decor in the hallway and again felt grateful to be living here with Holly. Her only other option, was to move in with her parents who lived in Passaic. Yuk.
The elevator doors slid quietly open to reveal a group of boisterous men dressed in Santa suits. “Hello, beautiful ladies… your sleigh has arrived,” a particularly handsome Santa announced, as he pushed the other Santa’s aside to make room in the tiny cubicle. Joy watched in mild amusement as Holly responded to the flirtation. “Are you boys in town for SantaCon?”
“That’s right, little Elf,” another of the Santa’s replied. “Santa here, graciously made his apartment available to the rest of us who traveled from the North Pole.” He pointed to the very handsome one who had pushed everyone else out of the way. The handsome Santa nodded graciously and said, “I just moved in upstairs.”
Holly and Joy pressed themselves into the elevator with the Santa’s. The ride to the first floor was immediate and the girls stepped out into the lobby. They moved to the far wall allowing an unobstructed exit for the costumed crowd. “What the hell is SantaCon?” Joy asked Holly as the Santa’s made their way past them.
The handsome Santa surprised them both by separating himself from the group and returning to where the girls stood. “SantaCon is the yearly Santa Convention,” he announced proudly. “Every year, thousands of Santa’s gather in the city to hand out small gifts and spread cheer to all the children we come across on our way around town. We walk as a group from place to place… actually, it’s from bar to bar… but that part’s a secret… ssshhhhh… Ho, ho, ho!” he laughed jovially, as he put a finger to his lips. “We’re gathering at Joe’s to start, won’t you join us?”
Holly and Joy glanced at each other, barely suppressing their giggles. “Of course, we will,” Holly replied. “But, I’m afraid we don’t have a costume.”
Handsome Santa reached into his big red sack and pulled out two adorable green felt hats complete with pointy Elf ears and handed them to the girls. Joy nearly dropped it in shock, as she looked down and saw her name embroidered in red across the front. “But.. but… how?”
Holly reverently placed her personalized hat on her head, emboldened by the occurrence of Christmas magic. She turned to her stunned friend, positioning her hands on Joy’s arms and looked intently into her eyes. “Are you ready to believe in Santa Claus, now?”
“Ho, ho, ho! C’mon, girls… we don’t want to be late for HAPPY HOUR!”
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