My First Christmas

Part 6

From

Eric Murphey

The past few days has flown by. I have been giving Tina rides to work and her boss is giving her rides home. Its only about a mile walk. But its pretty chilly and she said she would walk. I wasn't having it. Besides she heads to work and the boys come with me after we drop her off. So it has been working out pretty well for all of us. We have the frame up for the bridge now. Today is the day before Christmas. Christmas eve day? Is that a thing I don't know its all new to me. What I do know is I am having so much fun with the boys. We haven't had any other sexual times. I don't know if it was a one time thing or not. If it was it was an amazing time I will never forget. If it happens again I'm sure it will be just as amazing. But I know I'm not going to push it and if they want to do things I will.

Tina and I have been talking nearly every night when she gets off of work. As I think about it, its not nearly every night It is every night. It started off just talking about the boys. Now its just things we want to talk about too. I suppose we are becoming friends. Who would have thought at my age I'm making new friends. Or should I say making a friend. All through my childhood I didn't really have friends. All the kids at school. thought I was a freak because of my religion. The kids at the Kingdom Hall thought I was a freak because I was the leaders son. They expected me to be perfect and therefore didn't want to be around me. So in a way Tina and the boys are my first real friends in my life. As I think this I think that I'm kind of pathetic.

But I'm happy now and that's what is important. I think Bo is loving having the boys over everyday to play in the snow with and get chased and chase them around the yard.

We just got back from dropping their mom off at work and they are helping me make sweets today for tomorrow. OK and today. How can you make fudge and not have some? Or a batch of cookies? I imagine it can be done if you show a little restraint. Something I have none of. With that in mind we will be filled up on sugary treats in no time flat.

I will say that they all ganged up on me and I was informed that the boys aren't working when they are helping me on making treats because they are for them. I tried to argue with it. But, Tina put her foot down on the subject, and I didn't think I wanted to cross her. Shes kind of scary. All five foot two inches of her pointing her finger at me with her casted arm. I suppose they are right. I just like seeing what the boys do with the money I give them. Its pretty neat.
The boys and I make quick work of it and before we know it the time to pick up their mother from work has arrived. Its four now and she is coming back to my house for supper. the boys helped me make meatloaf and some mashed potatoes with corn. I don't really like corn so I think I will skip it.

Once we get their mom picked up and back to my house. We sit down and she sighs.

"Rough day?"
"You now people are crazy right?"
I just nod and she proceeds to tel me about the insanity that was her day dealing with the public. As I listen I get up and get a cup of coffee for her and refill mine. The boys are playing outside with Bo. I can here the laughing and barking so I know all involved are having a great time.

She takes the cup and takes a sip.

"I think its sweet my boys started calling you grandpa Randy. You aren't upset b it are you?"
"Not at all. I like it to be honest. Even when I was part of my real family I never really felt like I was part of a family."
"Yeah the boys told me you had a bad relationship with your father."
"Bad is the tip of the ice. What we had was horrendous. I would try to be like he requested and it was never good enough. So he beat me a lot. Then at school being Jehovah's Witness made me the freak in class. It was not what I would call a good childhood. But, its been a lot of fun with the boys because in a way I'm having a second childhood."
"They said you like playing games and things like that with them."
"I love playing with them. They are such good boys."
"Not to change the subject. But the boys told me what you did for Jenny Barnes."
"I don't know who that is."

"The little boy at Walmart's mom."
"Oh yeah. I didn't know her name."
"Shes a good woman from everything I have seen. Shes struggling so bad right now because her boyfriend was a drug dealer and got arrested a while back. He wasn't a good one obviously as he got caught. But he did manage to make enough to provide for them. But he was strung out so bad on the drugs it was a real blessing he got arrested. I don't think she would have ever left him."
"Was she using too?"
"I never saw her high on anything. She just has shitty taste in men I think."

"The boys said they lived just down from you."
"They do. I guess the state has been helping her with bills and things like that since it all happened. She came in to my work the other day trying to get hired. My boss isn't sure he wants to try her out. Hes worried she will bring in the wrong kind of crowd."
"I don't know her at all. But from what I saw of her all she really cares about is that boy of hers. You should have seen her face so sad that she couldn't get him whatever he wanted for Christmas."
"You took care of that didn't you?"
"A little. DO you think they will have somewhere to go for Christmas? I would hate to see them home alone and nothing special going on."
"I don't know."
"Do you know her number? Can you call her and find out. I just hate to think of her and that little guy alone on Christmas. I'm making a massive meal so we will have plenty."

"I can call her and find out."
"Would you?" I ask with hope in my voice.

She smiles at me. A few minutes later she is hanging up the phone after explaining I'm her "adopted" dad. Ever since she was in the hospital she has been jokingly calling me dad.

"OK now we have to get a move on. I have to get to Walmart to get Jenny you said and her son Jimmy if I recall some gifts."
"They aren't going to care about that. They sound like they are overjoyed to join us and not be alone."

"That's good."
"Randy I uh am kind of embarrassed to say this. But uh I kind of like calling you dad. I never knew my dad growing up. I always imagined he would be like you though. Nice to everyone and someone that people would look up to and admire."
I don't know what to say so I just speak from the heart.

"Tina its obvious to anyone I would think that I love you and the boys so much. So much that I don't think if I really was your father that I would love you guys any more. So if you call me dad I would be honored that you think so highly of me."
I can see the tears starting in her eyes.

"You cut that out or I will be crying with you." I say and quickly wipe a tear that slips from my eye. "Now let me look to see what time Walmart closes so we can zip over and get some gifts for our guests tomorrow."

I look and they close at 8. By the time we get there we wont have much time and it will be packed I'm sure of that. We get the meatloaf out of the oven and call the boys and all hop in the Escalade and zip over to Walmart. Tina and the boys head to the toy department. I tell them I have to pee and will meet them in a few minutes. What I really did was stop at the jewelry department and get Tina another little gift. I think she will be very pleased this year with her gifts. I hope so anyway. I know the boys will be. I slip the purchase with the receipt into my pocket and go and find them. We get half a dozen things for Jimmy and then head to the ladies department and pick out a few nice sweaters and things for the mom. We go to pay and people like Tina said earlier are crazy. I mean this is supposed to be a time of love and happiness. What it is, is a bunch of bitter people fighting over stupid shit waiting in line to check out. At least my little "family" is happy. I smile when I think of it. My little family. I look at Tina and the boys. She is next to me and I just wrap her in a hug. She looks up at me a little surprised but hugs me back and smiles.

I kiss the top of her head like I do to the boys when I hug them too. We finally get out of the store in one piece. Though I'm kind of surprised that we did. Them people are plum nuts.

Jake shows his mom how he is learning in the kitchen and makes the instant mashed potatoes. OK he isn't a great chef but he has to start somewhere. Kevin also helped and made the corn and he put a big glob of butter in it with some salt and pepper like I showed him so that they will have a nicer flavor. Now since he made the corn I feel obligated to eat some. Even if I don't really like it. But my grandson made it.

We have a great supper and laugh and joke around with each other. After we eat Tina thankfully helps me wrap the gifts. She saw the others I had wrapped. She didn't say anything. But, you just can kind of see the look like. Well, he tried anyway. I know they look awful. But I did try.

Even if they do look like an 8 year old with limited mobility wrapped them.

Doesn't matter I don't think how nice they look. The paper will be shredded tomorrow morning anyway.

I smile at that thought.

We have our supper with some cookies for dessert of course. After we sit around an hour or so Tina announces the need to get back to their house. I carry them all home and she comes back out the door after the boys are in and I step out of the truck to hear what she says.

"I will have the boys to bed at around 9 or so.…"
"So deliver the bikes around 10 or so. Or should I wait later?"

Maybe 10:30 if its OK. They will be too excited to get right to sleep."
I smile and she hugs me this time.

"You know with you around its like we have a real family now." she tells me.

"I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I have a family now too. If Bo hadn't seen your sons I would just be sitting home alone all the time and at the time I didn't think anything of it. But now it just makes me kind of sad that's what my life was. No love in it. Except for Bo. But people to love. Its really special. Thank you for allowing me into your family."

"Thank you for accepting." She giggles in my arms.

"Get on in there before you freeze to death."
She takes off into the house.

I get back into the truck and head home. I get back and Bo greets me and it seems like he is looking for the boys and Tina.

"They don't live here buddy. They are going to visit a lot more I think, and hope. So you will have not one but two boys to play with all the time."

He wags his tail at my news and I go get him a treat. I feel the container is nearly empty. I wonder how many treats he has gotten today. The boys spoil him. Not like I don't. But they really spoil him. I get a cup of coffee sit down and relax watching another Christmas movie. Apparently there are tons of them. Never knew. Well, kind of.

After its over I get the presents for Jimmy and Jenny we wrapped and put them under the tree in their section. I think of the excitement in his eyes when she told him he could get the truck that had a car with it. Just the pure joy he was showing. I wish I could make every child in the world feel just like he did at that moment. Have them feel like that all the time.

I wonder what Tina was like as a little girl. I think she would have been a holy terror to raise. But in a very good way. I smile at the thought of her as a little girl calling me daddy. All spruced up in a pretty dress showing it off to me. I kind of feel like in the first part of my live up until now I have cheated myself. I never allowed anyone into my life because I just didn't expect a good reception. I guess childhood really affects a lot of how and who you are as an adult. What I don't guess is the fact that this is the happiest I have ever been in my life. I am constantly smiling at just thoughts of things the boys have done or said. They are two very funny boys. Always have me laughing about something. I don't think in my entire life I laughed as much as I have recently. I know that I have probably said more in the past couple of weeks then I did in ten years before.

I see its getting to e a little after ten now. I slip on my boots and coat. Then head to the shed to get the new bikes. I smile as I wheel them to the truck and put them in the back. I walk inside and get some of the gifts I put away so they didn't see them and load them in the truck so they will have lots to open before they even get here in the afternoon. We talked and I am to pick them up, as well as Jenny and Jimmy around 11:00 and then come back here, and the boys open their gifts because Tina has no idea I got her anything. Wont she be super surprised. I smile at the thought. I close the back and drive over. When I pull in I see the front door open and Tina come out.

She looks at me funny when she sees the extra presents.

"Its some other things I got for the boys. I know you've had a hard year and I wanted to make sure they had lots of things from you too."
"You're too much. You know that?" she says wiping away a tear that escaped.

"Its for my daughter, and grandsons how can I not?"
She smiles and we both take in the bikes and gifts. She hugs me and kisses my cheek.

"Goodnight Dad."

I leave and when I get to the truck I have to keep wiping my eyes so I can see the road home. I think I wish I got her a nicer gift. But I know she will be overjoyed with it anyway. Always next year or a birthday or any day to celebrate just being alive, and having people love you. Because that is truly a celebration I am certainly learning to have in my life. It breaks my heart all the people that take each other for granted. They don't really appreciate each other because they have always been there. I haven't had that in my life and I guess I appreciate it more because of that fact.

I take a long shower and let Bo out before I do so he can have a Christmas eve run in the woods. When I get out I decide if the boys can do it I can too. I put on my robe and nothing else. I let Bo in and head back to my bedroom and slip off the robe and climb into bed naked.

I feel so naughty. I feel so free. Oh my goodness. I think about the night the boys and I had together and my cock rises. I decide to enjoy the thoughts and feelings. I have a nice long slow wank and cum hard. I have no troubles whatsoever finding sleep.

I wake up and look at the clock. Its close to 7. I'm sure the boys are up already. If not it wont be long. I smile at the thought of them tearing through the house to see how much Santa brought. I know they are old enough they don't believe in it anymore. But I like that they let me pretend they don't. Its fun to me. I had a nice thought. That Tina finds another nice man to love her and they have more babies and I get to help to raise them and I will have always been their grandpa. That and Tina is still young yet. She doesn't need it but she deserves to have a man in her life that loves her the way she needs to be loved as a woman. I can and will love her as a daughter. But I couldn't do more than that. I let Bo out and make myself some toast and coffee for breakfast. I've never been a big breakfast person. I know a lot of people are. But I'm happy with just some toast.

7:23, 7:24, 7:25 take a sip of coffee.

"Bo this is ridiculous. I'm staring at the clock and you are staring at me. Lets go for a walk."
With this he is dancing around like he hit the dog lotto. I go and get dressed he follows to make sure I don't get lost I imagine. We head out the door a few minutes later. We stroll around the property him sniffing lots of everything. Me watching him and looking around the place. Its so amazing here. I cant believe how at peace I have felt ever since I moved to the country. I was always on edge before. I had no reason to be. I lived in a decent neighborhood. Its just people are everywhere. Here I can be out here for weeks and see no one. Its nice so long as I still get to see Tina and the boys. The rest of the world not so much.

Bo and I walk around and get back to the house around 10. I put the turkey in because it said it would take around 3 hours. But it has a pokey thing that pops out when its done. That's a technical cooking term. Pokey thing. Only great chefs know that term. I get potatoes pealed and into some water. I look and its FINALLY close to 11. I get my coat on and Bo acts like he wants to come along.

"Come on then." He races to the truck and I open the door and in he bolts.

We head to pick up Tina and my boys. Her boys? No our boys. Yes our boys and their neighbors Jenny and Jimmy. I pull in and the boys are riding their bikes.

"Look what momma got us." Jake shouts as he whizzes by me.

I smile and head to the door.

Tina opens the door and smiles.

"Those two terrors tried to wake me up at 5am. I'm like no sir you two go back to bed until at least 6."
"I'm sure they were outside your door at 5:59 waiting."
She laughs.

"You know my boys very well. Thank you for all the gifts for them. They loved them."
"I'm glad they do." As I am saying this there is a knock on the door.

"That's probably Jenny and her boy." She tells me and sure enough it was.

Tina shouts at the boys to put the bikes up and to get Bo back in the truck and why did they let him out in the first place. You know mom stuff.

Jenny doesn't recognize me but Jimmy sure does.

"You know Santa."
I smile at him.

"Yes and he left a few more presents at my house because he knew you would be there for supper."
"Gosh he already gave me bunches. I cant think of anything he didn't give me yet." he answers.

I smile and we all walk out after Tina gets her coat on.

We all pile into the Escalade and Bo is having a great time with three boys now to move around between to get attention from. Maybe earlier he knew he did hit the dog lotto.

When we arrive and walk in.

"IT smells amazing in here." Tina exclaims.

"Yes it does." I agree.

As we are all taking off our coats Jenny corners me.

"I just wanted to thank you for inviting me and Jimmy. It was going to be a very bleak Christmas this year. You have made me have to reevaluate the human race the past few days."
"I hope you found it to be better."
"I have." she answers with a soft smile.

"Good lets get the kids presents opened. I'm sure that they are excited about a few more gifts."
We all go in and I get the boys some hot chocolate to drink and us adults coffees. We sit down and I have Jake start passing out gifts. What shocks me is in front of me are two presents. For me? A present for me? I haven't ever gotten a present before. Not like this anyway. Not a wrapped gift. Something someone had to put thought into. They took the time to wrap it and everything. I watch as the others open their gifts and Jake puts the gifts on my lap and I slowly open them. Its all I can do not to cry like a little girl that skinned her knee. I open the first one its from the boys. I smile when I see it and I do let a few tears fall. Its a baseball cap and on the front it says My grandkids are better than yours. I think its funny. I smile and put it on my head. Then I open the other from Tina. Its a coffee mug that reads Dad. Inside is some candies. I open the mug and pour the bag onto the coffee table and pour my coffee into it from the other mug and take a sip smiling at Tina as I do. I sit back with my new mug and watch the children, Jenny and Tina open their gifts. I can see Jenny is pleased with Tina's picks for her as she seems to admire each new article of clothing with a little smile on her face. I watch as Tina gets to my gift. She opens it and looks at me and smiles as tears slip down her cheeks. She pulls out the chain and puts it on. She smooths it out and the chain leads to a sign that reads daughter. She gives me a heartwarming smile.

After a few minutes the paper shredding has ended and everyone's eyes appear glazed over. A little after present bliss.

"I didn't think about it I need a couple of chairs from the garage because i only have the 4 at the kitchen table. Tina would you hep me grab them please." I ask her getting up. She turns and I motion for the boys to follow. I let her lead and she opens the door and then stops and turns to look at me.

"Merry Christmas."
"Its too much. I cant accept it."
"Its what dads do. We do too much and expect nothing in return. Besides what are you going to do without a car? You got two boys that need one too you know."
The boys have scooted past and are looking in the car.

"Besides its hardly new. Its a 2008 Accord. I got an amazing deal on it after I told him it was for my daughter. Who I mentioned was a single mom and working a lot of hours to support my grandsons." I tell her grinning at her.

She smiles and wraps her arms around me. Shes so little. I think as I hug her back as hard as she is hugging me.

She backs away and looks at me. With that look I know something immediately. That no matter what happens she will always be my daughter. Her boys will always be my grandsons and they will always be in my life. I also know that this is the first of many celebrations for our family to have.

A while later the boys have all had time to play with their toys and each others toys. Laugh and just have fun being children. Us adults talking and laughing at the silliest things. Just because we wanted and needed to laugh. To enjoy each other.

Now its been a few hours after supper and I started a fire in the fireplace. We are all gathered around it. The boys on the floor playing with their new toys. All three laughing and loving the day and the excitement of it. I look at each person and I watch as the fire reflects off the side of the boys faces as they laugh. Just capturing the joy that's in their hearts and minds. Watching the content smiles on the two mothers faces watching their children have fun.

So I close my eyes and pray.

I thank God for allowing me to have a second chance at living. A chance to be in a family. But one that loves each other for who they are. For their uniqueness of that person. One that embraces that part as what makes them who they are and why part of why we love them.

What I have learned from this, my first Christmas. That its not about the gifts or the food. While they are nice its not the true meaning of the day. We all know that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. But, I think that people that don't celebrate Christmas are shorting themselves. No cheating themselves of the day thats filled with people you love. The people you want to be around the most in the world on a day devoted to love. The love that God has for us that we are told we are to emulate. To love our neighbor as we love our self. Because you don't know. That neighbor may become family.

Fuck all that mushy shit. Much to their delight I climb on the floor and start playing with the boys and their new toys.