Even at seventeen, Hazel still gets excited to the point of just before she jumps off walls at the sound of the doorbell on Christmas Eve. Practically jumping down the stairs, her voice carried a jerky tone when she called out, "I'll get it!"
She opened the door to alight her gaze on the faces of Savannah and her boyfriend, Timothy Blancherd. As I came out from the living room into the hallway, that at one end bore the door and to the other were the stairs, I greeted my sister warmly.
"Hi Tim!" I said as I shook his hand.
"Well, hello! I'm so glad you invited me."
"Absolutely, no problem. Were so glad you could join us!" As Hazel greeted them with hugs all around, I glanced around for Shiloh. She was nowhere to be seen. I politely excused myself and headed up the staircase to check if she was in one of the rooms. And, just as I suspected she was tidying up an already tidied room. I let her know the guests were arriving and when I did so she straightened up from bending to fix the covers of the bed, and rushed down the stairs. But not before informing me that I had some changing to do. As she skipped downstairs I looked down at myself. I was still dressed in the sweatshirt and slacks I put on this morning. I hurried to my own bedroom, which was up another flight of stairs and at the end of the hall, and pulled off my more comfortable clothes and replaced them for slightly less comfortable clothes that I laid out that morning. Since tomorrow was Christmas Eve, I picked a sparkling green long-sleeved shirt that fit my torso nicely, and a slender, black, boot-cut pant that fit wonderfully over my red three-inch high boots. As I pulled the boots on my eyes glazed over my jewelry box. My favorite necklace lay hidden in the far corner of it. I stood up and pulled it out, taking care not to entangle the others.
The clip-clip-clip of my heels were deafening in the quiet room as I walked out of my bedroom. I went down the hall to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. At the sight of my reflection, I nearly let out an involuntary cry. After countless times of unconsciously brushing the hair out of my face, I created what looked like a birds nest. I combed it until the front swept gracefully over the side of my face, like it was supposed to. I was in a hurry to return downstairs so I just put some make-up on, the lipstain, mascara and eyeshadow. I picked up my necklace that I had set on the sink counter when I came into the bathroom, then clasped the band around my neck and judged the appearance in the mirror. I liked what I saw. I saw a women who's determination lead her this far. I gazed at my eyes, a blue-green-grey shade, framed with black glasses. I gazed at my necklace, black beads that sparkled with crystals weaved in. I gazed at myself, a woman who God blessed with the love of many. And that many were about to be disappointed if I didn't show up soon, I told myself. With one last look toward the mirror, I opened the bathroom door and walked out. Clip-clip-clip could be heard all the way.
The party was in full swing when I stepped off the last stair. Gay Christmas music could be heard amidst the people's chatter. Along with Savannah and Timothy, Destiny was in the party, as well as her sons. I turned my head toward the general direction of the kitchen, just in time to see Jack give Xavier a piece of chocolate. I would've have found that funny, except for they were hiding behind the island in such a way, so that I could see them, but their mother couldn't. I started to walk toward the Knorell boys, but was stopped by Savannah.
"We were wondering where you ran off to." She stepped back to bring my full body into view. "Getting dolled up I see." I smiled at her. At that moment our cousin Heidi Rodriques came into the living room with her husband, Juliano. Each of them were carrying gifts and Hazel stepped past to show them where they could set the packages, which seemed obvious to me. All the gifts were under the tree, and nobody could not see the Christmas Tree. As I looked for them, Sebastian and Kenna both crashed into my legs and pushed me back a few steps causing me to fall onto the couch. It became a cheerful embrace, all three of us laughing.
"Hey! I thought I was the favorite aunt!" My niece and nephew turned guiltily to see Savannah looming over them with a supposedly stern face. I knew better. I also knew that the twins were easily fooled, and that Savannah should've been a little less serious when she joked around with people. Especially when they're only five.
I gave Savannah the 'They're five' look.
"I'm just kidding! Get over here!" The twins ran to her with smiling faces. I pushed myself off the couch, and, the boys totally forgotten, made my way to the Christmas Tree where Heidi was hugging another of my sisters.
"You staying overnight?" I heard Shiloh say. Since both Savannah and the Rodriqueses lived a good two hours away, we made our party extended, and Christmas Eve. That way they wouldn't have to drive four hours total that day.
"Yeah, actually! We weren't going to, but the twins begged and begged. So we let then have their way."
"And I'm glad you did!" I put in. "Those boys need someone to keep them in line."
"And Kenna will do just that." Heidi said. Just then Sebastian came through and said, "Jack and Zaver got in trouble." Poor boy, I thought. He can't pronounce his own cousin's name. I turned to see Destiny grabbing both her boys at the forearms and taking them into the hall.
"They weren't supposed to eat any sweets until after supper." Hazel explained.
"Really? It's hardly past lunch." Timothy declared. Hazel shrugged.
"That's what she told me. Now, who want's a drink? We have hot chocolate, juice and water for the kids. And beer, wine and..." She continued naming drinks, but I wasn't listening.
I heard the door open and went from the living room to investigate. As I entered the hall, Jack nearly ran me over in his headlong rush to join his cousins in mischief. When he caught sight of Jack and Xavier, he stopped short, skidding a few inches. He looked from them, to his aunt Destiny, then back again, an unspoken massage clear. Xavier looked at his mother.She opened the door to alight her gaze on the faces of Savannah and her boyfriend, Timothy Blancherd. As I came out from the living room into the hallway, that at one end bore the door and to the other were the stairs, I greeted my sister warmly.
"Hi Tim!" I said as I shook his hand.
"Well, hello! I'm so glad you invited me."
"Absolutely, no problem. Were so glad you could join us!" As Hazel greeted them with hugs all around, I glanced around for Shiloh. She was nowhere to be seen. I politely excused myself and headed up the staircase to check if she was in one of the rooms. And, just as I suspected she was tidying up an already tidied room. I let her know the guests were arriving and when I did so she straightened up from bending to fix the covers of the bed, and rushed down the stairs. But not before informing me that I had some changing to do. As she skipped downstairs I looked down at myself. I was still dressed in the sweatshirt and slacks I put on this morning. I hurried to my own bedroom, which was up another flight of stairs and at the end of the hall, and pulled off my more comfortable clothes and replaced them for slightly less comfortable clothes that I laid out that morning. Since tomorrow was Christmas Eve, I picked a sparkling green long-sleeved shirt that fit my torso nicely, and a slender, black, boot-cut pant that fit wonderfully over my red three-inch high boots. As I pulled the boots on my eyes glazed over my jewelry box. My favorite necklace lay hidden in the far corner of it. I stood up and pulled it out, taking care not to entangle the others.
The clip-clip-clip of my heels were deafening in the quiet room as I walked out of my bedroom. I went down the hall to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. At the sight of my reflection, I nearly let out an involuntary cry. After countless times of unconsciously brushing the hair out of my face, I created what looked like a birds nest. I combed it until the front swept gracefully over the side of my face, like it was supposed to. I was in a hurry to return downstairs so I just put some make-up on, the lipstain, mascara and eyeshadow. I picked up my necklace that I had set on the sink counter when I came into the bathroom, then clasped the band around my neck and judged the appearance in the mirror. I liked what I saw. I saw a women who's determination lead her this far. I gazed at my eyes, a blue-green-grey shade, framed with black glasses. I gazed at my necklace, black beads that sparkled with crystals weaved in. I gazed at myself, a woman who God blessed with the love of many. And that many were about to be disappointed if I didn't show up soon, I told myself. With one last look toward the mirror, I opened the bathroom door and walked out. Clip-clip-clip could be heard all the way.
The party was in full swing when I stepped off the last stair. Gay Christmas music could be heard amidst the people's chatter. Along with Savannah and Timothy, Destiny was in the party, as well as her sons. I turned my head toward the general direction of the kitchen, just in time to see Jack give Xavier a piece of chocolate. I would've have found that funny, except for they were hiding behind the island in such a way, so that I could see them, but their mother couldn't. I started to walk toward the Knorell boys, but was stopped by Savannah.
"We were wondering where you ran off to." She stepped back to bring my full body into view. "Getting dolled up I see." I smiled at her. At that moment our cousin Heidi Rodriques came into the living room with her husband, Juliano. Each of them were carrying gifts and Hazel stepped past to show them where they could set the packages, which seemed obvious to me. All the gifts were under the tree, and nobody could not see the Christmas Tree. As I looked for them, Sebastian and Kenna both crashed into my legs and pushed me back a few steps causing me to fall onto the couch. It became a cheerful embrace, all three of us laughing.
"Hey! I thought I was the favorite aunt!" My niece and nephew turned guiltily to see Savannah looming over them with a supposedly stern face. I knew better. I also knew that the twins were easily fooled, and that Savannah should've been a little less serious when she joked around with people. Especially when they're only five.
I gave Savannah the 'They're five' look.
"I'm just kidding! Get over here!" The twins ran to her with smiling faces. I pushed myself off the couch, and, the boys totally forgotten, made my way to the Christmas Tree where Heidi was hugging another of my sisters.
"You staying overnight?" I heard Shiloh say. Since both Savannah and the Rodriqueses lived a good two hours away, we made our party extended, and Christmas Eve. That way they wouldn't have to drive four hours total that day.
"Yeah, actually! We weren't going to, but the twins begged and begged. So we let then have their way."
"And I'm glad you did!" I put in. "Those boys need someone to keep them in line."
"And Kenna will do just that." Heidi said. Just then Sebastian came through and said, "Jack and Zaver got in trouble." Poor boy, I thought. He can't pronounce his own cousin's name. I turned to see Destiny grabbing both her boys at the forearms and taking them into the hall.
"They weren't supposed to eat any sweets until after supper." Hazel explained.
"Really? It's hardly past lunch." Timothy declared. Hazel shrugged.
"That's what she told me. Now, who want's a drink? We have hot chocolate, juice and water for the kids. And beer, wine and..." She continued naming drinks, but I wasn't listening.
"Can we go play?"
With the pleading look from both her boys and from her nephew, she couldn't say anything else.
"I suppose so. But-" She couldn't go further. All three were already clambering up the staircase, yelling all the way.
"I can never get him entertained for more then two seconds at home," came a familiar voice from behind the two of us. "I'm so glad you agreed to this. This big house has more than enough nooks and crannies to get himself into." I turned to see Chester Pfleegor, carrying many gift bags and a big wrapped box, shut the door with his foot. He scowled at it.
"He never shuts any of the doors he opens."
"So I've noticed," said Destiny, bringing her sweater closer around her. I grabbed a few of the bags my brother was carrying and gestured with filled arms into the living room. Not a crumb could fit under the Christmas Tree, with all the wrapped goodies under it, so I put the bags between it and the fireplace and told Chester to follow suit. After arranging the bags in a more or less orderly fashion, I straightened. When I looked around myself, I saw Chester already in deep conversation with the other two men.
But for the first time since the party started, I noticed Destiny's husband, Josh, wasn't here. When I asked her about it, she just replied that he had work business.
"On Christmas?!" I couldn't think of anything more wrong. She nodded, but didn't say anything more. And I didn't press her. What could be worse than not having your family with you on Christmas? That was the reason we were hosting this party, wasn't it? I shook my head and realized that Destiny had walked on to the snack bar. Oh well, I thought. But I could not think of anything to even think to myself to lighten the moment. Luckily, the kids fixed that problem.
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