Home is far, the flight was too expensive, thought Kev. He weighted his options. As Christmas approached a sense of solitude invaded him. He hated this time of the year, everyone left town to visit their relatives. What's there to do? He looked at his phone and browsed through the address-book entries: Adela, out of town, Peter, out of town, Sonia, same. Everybody's out but the usual suspects. Sighing he dialed Bosh, old Bosh.
"Wassup Kev"
"Not much, wadalluduin for Christmas?"
"Tradition calls. Get together at the Old Tabern. You coming?"
"Not sure, was thinking about visiting a friend."
"Sounds more like crashing to me."
"Sorta, just a thought."
"See you at the Tabern round eight."
"OK."
He remembered his childhood toys, waiting for that special toy--Christmas seemed to take forever to arrive, and then sort through the gifts, the usual ugly socks, the pants he didn't care about, grown up shirts. He needed the clothes but couldn't care less. The special toy kept him awake for many days. When he finally got around it, he jumped in joy, and went outside to show it off. The other kids were out there playing. Skates, bicycles, soccer balls, actions figures, you name it. But that was a long time ago. He couldn't get a toy anymore, he was all grown up, no more toys, real world, real people, real pain in the butt.
White Christmas? No. It rarely snows in Austin. It was a perfect Christmas eve... perfect for fall, not for winter. He looked outside the window, it was dark already. More cars than usual parked outside his house; a faint laugh. Where all this people come from? He took his coat, got into his car and drove to the Tabern where his "extended family" waited for him. Extended as in, extended hangovers and extended tequila shots. He hanged out there almost everyday hoping to find the girl of his dreams. It was futile, only the casual one night stand that left him feel "hungoveremptyIregretwhatIdidlastnight".
As he was approaching the Tabern he had an idea: why not a toy? why not wish for a toy? A special kind of toy. He quickly went back to his house, once there he wrote a letter:
Dear Santa (?)
I've been an OK citizen, I work, I go to the bar with my friends, and live a peaceful life. It's been a while since I wrote you a letter but it's never too late to want something. When I was a kid I used to write you about action figures, well, this time I want something special, something very important: I want companion. I feel so lonely that most nights I feel like crying. I miss the company, the laughter, the discussions, the sound, the voice of another human being.
Sincerely,
Kev.
He read the letter and a tear rolled down his face, that followed by anger. He took the letter and threw into the garbage can. I'm so stupid, so, so, stupid. Santa Claus, yeah, right. His face covered with tears of loneliness, sadness, and frustration. Suddenly, the sound of a loud crash. People yelling. He quickly went outside to see his car destroyed--a small car smashed on his car's side; somebody trapped inside. He opened the small car's door: blood on the steering wheel, and a unconscious girl inside it. The strong alcohol smell inundated the scene. She woke up and said, "Please don't tell them."
"Don't tell them what?" replied Kev.
"What just happened."
"Are you OK?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Let me call an ambulance."
"No! They'll take me to jail."
"Why?"
"DUI. Is this your house? Can I lay down for a while?"
A dilemma, what to do? He decided to help her, "OK."
They walked inside the house. Kev phoned to a friend so the cars would be taken care of. She lie down on the sofa.
"What's your name?" asked Kev.
"Amelia," she said.
"You feeling better?"
"Yes."
"You got a small cut in your arm. I'll bring the first aid kit."
"Thanks, you are so nice."
"Do you want me to call somebody?"
"No, everybody is out of town."
Kev left and brought the first aid kit, right then he noticed how beautiful she was. He cleaned the bound, put a band-aid, and said, "It's Christmas eve, as a matter of fact it's almost midnight. Where were you going?"
"I was just driving around, I went to a bar, drank a lot, and was just... you know... driving..."
"I think I know what you mean."
No more words, they stayed there looking at the fireplace, hypnotized, and, like that, they fell asleep.
No exception, the next morning they were both hungover, but this time it was a different type of hangover, the feeling happy hangover, the non-empty hangover. Amelia opened her eyes, it took her a second to realize where she was, smiling, she said, "Good morning."
The best way to wake up, greeted by Amelia's smile, Kev replied "Good morning."
A toy? After all, I got my wish granted! thought Kev.
