The old man was still getting over the holidays. No cancer, at least not this Christmas.
The young redhead was the only one who understood him. A childless grandpa can be a strong presence. Like a gigantic yew in the corner of the yard.
He was an emotional mess, sure. But he drove home in the dark without killing anybody. Most of all, themselves.
Jesus, turn down your brights!
***
The old man felt embarrassed every Yuletide. All the presents. He remembered being impecunious. Not something you forget. Like hunger.
His favorite three gifts this year, among so much generosity, merit memorial mention.
Also-Ran is a winner. A Young Adult novel suggests Holden Caulfield and Steve Prefontaine on the same cross-country team. The old man was so not a young adult. Also-Ran reminded him of his Aunt Joanne’s lasagna – back when she still made lasagna.
Each layer a tasty discovery.
The old man had a great head of hair, if he did say so himself. Okay, he’d been told. But he loved to rock a bold chapeau.
That hairline was receding, looked like time-lapse photography.
His six-year-old grandson – great smile – rushed up with a sizable box wrapped in Leggo Xmas wrap.
“Doo-Dah, DooDah, open this, open this, I picked your present out all by myself!”
Kid likes giving almost as much as getting.
The old man chuckled as he tried on his new Batman slippers. And the little boy gave his DooDah a big hug.
“How did you know I wanted these?”