Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 17:16:50 -0800 (PST) From: GH JUNKKIE Subject: "A Christmas Present for Daddy", Pt 3 "A Christmas Present For Daddy" Part Three By gloryholeJUNKIE gh_professional@yahoo.com I had Jamie help me clean up our playroom while Justin stood there just looking at us and sucking his thumb. Making our ornaments for daddy wasn't as messy as maybe it could have been but I guess that was because grandpa had been there making sure me and my brothers didn't get into another glitter flight (one time we did that and my mommy was vacuuming up gold glitter for weeks)! It didn't take Grandpa Louis too long to come back into the room. It was funny but he seemed sort of nervous but excited, too, as he came into the room and made sure that he locked the door. I could see his pants looked all kind of tight and taut in the front making his bulge really stand out even more than when he'd left the room. He said that our playroom looked real good and that we did a good job cleaning up. Then, looking at them on the floor, he told us that we should place our ornaments inside the storage chest built into the windowseat to make sure they didn't get crushed or anything. But even as I put all three giant paper ornaments in it, I was more interested in what grandpa was hiding behind his back. He came into the room with his hand behind his back and he seemed to be holding something so we couldn't see. So the second I shut the lid on the windowseat, as I tried to look around Grandpa Louis' body, I asked, "Is that the Christmas present for daddy?". Jamie joined in and tried to look going the opposite direction. But grandpa just kept laughing and moving to his left and then his right, not allowing us to see what he had in his hand. "No, no, no!", he laughed. "My, but I love your curiosity, though! You are like Santa's little elves, aren't you??!" "Are we giving that to daddy?", Jamie asked as he hugged grandpa around his waist; his face almost crushing itself into where grandpa made a real big bulge. Grandpa stroked Jamie's head using his free hand as he replied, "No my lil'elf, Jamie. This isn't for your daddy." Then Grandpa looked at us and said, "I thought you boys understood. Daddies and granddaddies prefer presents you can do for them. So what's behind my back is not something you would ever give to your daddy." "Then what is it?", I asked, once again trying to sneak a peek behind grandpa's much bigger frame. "They're not anything you'd give your daddy", Grandpa Louis said. "But you might get some ideas by watching them!" And with that, grandpa revealed what he held in his right hand - two DVDs. I was confused and looked at my little brothers who looked equally lost by what grandpa was showing us. "Go turn on your television, Jonathan", grandpa said to me as he nodded his chin toward the 27-inch set which was in the corner of our playroom. As I did so, he explained, "I was thinking that you boys might get some ideas for what you can do for your daddy's present...and these might just help." "What are they?", I asked as I used the remote to turn on the DVD player. Grandpa smiled as he approached me and set down the two different DVD holders right along side the t.v.. "Oh look, Justin!", I said excitedly as I pointed to the one facing up on top. And Justin, still sucking his thumb came up to where we stood. He took his thumb out of his mouth and smiled big as he said, "Dwum, dwum!" "That's right!", I said. "'The Little Drummer Boy'!" I then looked at grandpa and said, "That one is one of his favorites. Along with 'Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer'." "Woodolf!", Justin chimed in as he did anytime he heard anyone mention his favorite reindeer. Grandpa chuckled and said, "Well, I know that. A little elf of my own told me that you boys might like this.". He then crouched down to where me and my two brothers were standing and wrapped an arm around me and Jamie as he said, "If you can keep a secret, this should be your first one. Okay?" Jamie and me both nodded and in hushed voices said, "We can, grandpa. We're good at secrets." "Okay then", he replied as he looked all about the room as if looking for something...or someone. "Well, that's good. Because you know who's suppose to be coming down the chimney tonight...and he's got spies!" "Spies?", Jamie and me both asked at the same time. "Huh-ha", grandpa replied as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Santa has spies watching little boys and girls...to make sure they don't do something naughty...like not keeping a secret that they promised to keep." "He does?", I asked, incredulously as I, too, looked around the room. Grandpa Louis nodded as he whispered, "Hmmmhaaa. Elf spies who make sure little boys who were on Santa's 'Good' list all year long don't go and do something at the last minute that would put them on Santa's 'Naughty' list. And you know what happens to little boys on the 'Naughty' list, don't you?" Me and my two little brothers all nodded at the same time as Jamie slowly uttered, "He doesn't bring them any presents!" "That's right", Grandpa Louis stated. "But we don't have to worry about that. Because all three of my lil'troopers have been good all year long! And Santa knows that." "So we can't go ruining it now!", I said to my little brothers. "I'm telling you Jamie and Justin. We can't go telling anything about any of this to anyone...ever! Hear me? You two aren't going to ruin our Christmas, right?" Both Jamie and Justin nodded and promised never to tell. Grandpa chuckled to himself as he gave both me and Jamie a squeeze around the waist. He then he stood up tall again as he stated, "Those are my good little boys! So now here's Secret Number One: I have to wrap that DVD up after you watch it. It's a present from your grandmother and myself. But I thought you'd get more use out of it now." And with that, grandpa slid the disc into the player. "Why don't you boys settle in and watch this", grandpa said with a big grin. "And by the end, you might have ideas for the best present you can give to your daddy tomorrow." "What's this other one?", I asked as I picked up the second DVD that had no labels or pictures or anything on it. "Oh, let's say we just start with Justin's favorite for now", Grandpa said as he picked up my littlest brother and sat him on his lap as he settled himself into the big, cushioned glider my mommy used when she'd read us stories. We watched "The Little Drummer Boy" and at the end of it, grandpa said to us, "See, boys? Wasn't that nice? That little guy, Aaron, didn't have any money or anything else to give for a present. So instead, he did something real nice. And it was the best gift he could have ever given." "But I can't drum", Jamie said, almost crying. "We can't drum or nothing!" "Yeah, we don't know how to play any other instruments either", I said, feeling downhearted. I thought for sure we would never find something we could do for daddy's present. Grandpa rocked Justin one last time in his lap before getting up and setting my baby brother onto the seat. As he put "The Little Drummer Boy" back into its holder, he said, "Don't look so concerned you three! There are all sorts of things any little guy can do for his daddy...or granddaddy." He then just smiled at us and told us to do the same. Then he nodded his chin to the DVD that had no picture or title on it, and said, "Why not play that other one there while I return this to grandma's suitcase before she gets back with your dad and notices it missing." Grandpa Louis unlocked the door but then closed it firmly behind himself before going downstairs to the guestroom that he and grandma always used whenever they spent a few days with us even though they didn't live very far from us. Jamie stood next to me as I pulled out the second, shiny disc. He asked, "What do you think's on it?" I just shrugged my shoulders not having a clue. "I dunno. I guess it must be something we can do for daddy's present maybe?" Although I didn't know what to expect, I was all excited - perhaps by not knowing what we'd see next. After all, my daddy always said I was the most adventurous one, even though little Justin was always putting his hands where they didn't belong. And mommy was always telling Jamie not to hug every man who came to our door. She even had to say that to Jamie just like a week earlier when the UPS man came to deliver some Christmas boxes. She apologized to the man because Jamie wouldn't let go from hugging his thigh! The man just laughed and said he didn't really mind since he had two sons of his own. So as grandpa's mysterious DVD started to play, I felt excited butterflies all in my tummy. And I didn't even know why. The moment that the disc went to the menu part, me and my brothers heard something outside. We ran to the windows and looked out to see my daddy and grandma were home already. I was so unhappy because we still hadn't really figured out the perfect thing for daddy yet. Suddenly, Grandpa Louis appeared in the doorway of our playroom and looking at the t.v. set, said, "You boys better turn that off for a minute. Your grandma and dad are back. You don't want either of them knowing what you're planning, do you?" All three of us shook our heads and Jamie said, "It's secret!" "Seek-wet", Justin echoed. Grandpa Louis winked at us and said, "Those are my good boys. If grandma asks, show her the ornaments you made, okay?" Knowing we were all "Christmastime conspiring" with grandpa, Jamie and Justin all nodded. "And, better turn that off", grandpa added. "'Don't need grandma finding out we opened a Christmas present early, right?" So I quickly turned off the DVD player along with the t.v. while grandpa disappeared to go back downstairs again. Then me and my brothers heard a noise outside again and rushed back to the windows. Daddy was driving away! We ran down to the kitchen where we saw grandma was already unloading a bag of groceries. She looked at us and smiled big, "Oh, I heard you boys got all creative and made such beautiful ornaments while I was gone!" Grandpa Louis gave us a wink as he stood at the fridge putting a gallon of milk away. He said, "They certainly did, Donna. These are very talented little grandsons we have here." "Mine's purple", Jamie said as he looked at the bag of chocolate chips that grandma pulled from a bag. "Wed", Justin said as he sucked his thumb. "R-ed, Justin. His is red", I said. Being the eldest, I felt it my duty to help instruct my little brothers. "Oh, they sound beautiful!", grandma said. Then as she caught her breath, she said, more to grandpa than to us, "That store was mobbed. I thought we'd be in a check out lane for another hour. I told Tom to drop me off." "Where is Tom?", grandpa asked as he folded one of the brown grocery bags. "Yeah", I chimed in. "Where did our daddy go? We saw him drive away again." "Oh, he had some last minute things he needed to do", grandma said with a smile. She then turned to grandpa and said, "There were some things he wanted to get at Target...which I feel bad because that's also bound to be a mob scene I am sure." "He's buying us more stuff?", I asked with a huge grin. "Oh, I didn't say that, did I?", grandma said. "Why else would daddy have to go to Target?", I said, as if I knew everything on the planet. "They sell light bulbs there, too, don't forget!", grandpa said, trying to help out grandma, I guess. "And dog food, as well", grandma stated. "I think you were running low on food for Ginger and Noodles", she added, as our two terriers barked upon hearing their names. I kept looking at grandpa, as if asking him when we could go back upstairs to see the special DVD he said might help us come up with an idea for daddy's Christmas present. He seemed to notice but, keeping it secret, acted as if he didn't. "I want to see those ornaments you boys made", grandma said. "But first I have to start making some chocolate chip bars before I can make dinner. But I want to see them as soon as I put dinner in the oven. Is that okay?" "Sure grandma", I said, not much caring since I knew the ornaments wouldn't be daddy's real present if Justin, Jamie and me could come up with a better one by morning. "I'll keep these elves out of your way", grandpa said to grandma as he pointed for us to go back upstairs. "We have some more Christmas business to get done up there, anyway." "Oh, my!" grandma said to me and my brothers as her eyes widened. "That sounds very important." "It is, grandma", I said. "And so we can't be interrupted or anything!" "Oh, yes, yes! I know the rules!", she replied as she sorted through the items she bought to make the chocolate chip bars. "No one is to be disturbed while on official Christmas duty! I know that one." "That's right, Donna", grandpa said to here. "So no disturbing us until we're done!" "No snooping", Jamie said. "No snwoopy", Justin echoed. I topped off the rules by saying, "And no peeking, no listening or anything else, too. Swear?" "Oh, you know I do!", Grandma Donna said as she held her hand to her heart. "Besides, I'll be too busy down here making gooey chocolate chip bars for tonight's Christmas Eve snack party in the family room." With that, grandpa said, "You boys head on up. I'll be there in a minute." And like three flying reindeer, me and my brothers bolted upstairs to the playroom again. I rushed to turn on the t.v. again and told Jamie to get out of the big glider chair. "Grandpa will probably want to sit there", I said. The menu to grandpa's mysterious DVD again displayed as we sat on the floor waiting for him to return. A minute or more later we heard him climb the stairs. At the same time, the phone rang and me and my brothers bounced up, thinking it might be our mommy calling. Maybe she could get home after all. But as grandpa stood in our doorway, he called downstairs to grandma who had picked up the phone, "Is that Jill?" (which is our mommy's name) "No," grandma shouted back. "It's Helen De Blanchette. Do you remember her? The one with the husband who's on oxygen? She's calling from Fort Myers." Grandpa whispered to us, "Just friends of your grandma calling. They'll be gabbing for an hour." He then quickly came into the room, all excited and locked the door. He even jiggled the knob to make sure it was locked. "Make sure that the volume is set low, Jonathan", he said to me as he went to the windows and closed all the shades. "So we don't want to wind up breaking our own Christmas rules by being so loud that others can hear." "Can we watch this now, grandpa?", I asked as I squirmed on my little butt while fidgeting with the remote. "Sure", he answered. "Just give me a second to get ready." He adjusted his pants as to make them comfortable before he sat down on the glider. He then patted his knee inviting Justin to hop up. Sucking his thumb, my little brother crawled back into grandpa's lap. Then, seeing they seemed settled in finally, I again, taking charge, asked, "Can I push play now?" "Yes, sir! You may now push play", grandpa joked as he gave one of his naval salutes. Grandpa had been a Navy officer before he retired and became a real estate broker. I pushed the button but there was just a white screen for the longest time. I turned to grandpa and said, "It's blank!" But he just smiled at me as he bounced Justin onto his other leg and scooted around a bit to again adjust his pants. "Oh, give it another second", he said. "It's a special one." We had to sit through a few more seconds of a white screen. But then suddenly a picture came on. It was a forest and someone seemed to be carrying the camera while he walked because everything was a little shaky. You couldn't see the person or anyone else. You could just hear the crunching of leaves on the path and the person's breathing. I turned to grandpa and said, "It's like one of our home movies, isn't it?" Grandpa Louis grinned and said, "Not one of yours." He then motioned for us to turn our heads around again to keep watching. The person walking went on and on down what seemed to be a not very easy path. "It looks like Fall", I said. "All the leaves are brown and red." "And yellow", Jamie added. "Weh-woe", Justin echoed. "October", grandpa stated breathlessly as he stared at the screen although he seemed more excited than I had ever seen grandpa ever before. "That's when we went trick or treating by Casey's house...", Jamie started to say. "Shhh, shhh, shhh!", grandpa said with a smile. "No talking right now. Just watch. Okay?" I laid on my stomach, my head in my hands as I watched the screen some more. The person seemed to be going real far and deep in the forest along that thick, forever trail. It was pretty but sort of boring. Then, minute or more into it, you could hear a person, a man, say, "Maybe over there?" "Yeah, let's try over there", another man's voice, the man with the camera, answered. "That sounds like you, grandpa!", I said as I looked back to where grandpa sat with Justin sprawled across his lap. But grandpa just winked as he put his finger to his lips. The two people you couldn't see walked some more and then stopped. The camera jostled some but the picture was real sharp and clear. It looked like maybe it was just noontime although it's sort of hard to tell in a forest. You couldn't see a lot other than the trunk of the tree where they stopped and four legs and four feet. "Those are your hiking boots, grandpa! And you always wear those beige pants when we go for walks", I said proudly, now certain it was our grandpa's legs to the right of the picture - the person holding the camera. Then, the camera shifted upward and slowly scanned up the legs of the other man who was wearing really tight blue jeans. The camera sort of slowed and even stopped for a second when it reached the man's bulge and me and Jamie started to giggle. I looked at the man's bulge and it looked enormous so I giggled some more even though I couldn't stop staring at the picture. "You like that, huh, you two?", grandpa asked quietly but with a grin. Jamie and me just giggled some more which got Justin giggling, too. But then the camera moved upward some more to the man's work shirt and then to his face. He was someone I had never seen before in my whole entire life. "Who's that, grandpa?", I asked. "He has one of those funny beards." "That's called a goatee", grandpa said, almost breathlessly as he smiled. "And he's just someone." "A goatee? Why do they call it that?", Jamie asked. But before grandpa could reply, I chimed in, using my most big brotherly tone and said, "Because. Can't you see? It's like a goat beard." "Shhh!", grandpa said as he again sort of adjusted his slacks. "Now come on. Hold all questions until later." The man with the goatee looked straight into the camera and smiled. He looked nice enough I suppose even though grandpa wasn't going to tell us who he was. "This is usually a good spot", the man said as he smiled at the camera. "Looks pretty good", grandpa's voice replied as the camera zoomed in on the man's mouth. It was sort of funny and I couldn't help but say, "Your finger slipped, grandpa!" But grandpa just smiled as the man on the screen opened his mouth real wide. The camera zoomed even deeper into it, past his teeth! "So how many been in there?", we heard grandpa's voice ask on screen. The man closed his mouth and his eyes looked right into the lens as he said, "Maybe five...six...thousand?" "Whoo", we could hear grandpa say. "Yeah", the man said with a smile. "Somewhere's in there. Maybe more but I'd suppose six thousand is conservative." "Since you were three, right?", we heard grandpa ask using the same breathless tone he had had with us all throughout part of the afternoon. "Yeah, three", the man with the goatee said with this real naughty smile on his face. "Earliest I can remember, at least", he added as he laughed and then licked his lips. "Niiiice", we heard grandpa's voice say. "Step dad?" "My dad...then my step dad", the man answered as he smiled and looked around some. You could almost see how cold the air was in his breath. "Then mom's boyfriends throughout the years..." "All before you were ten, right?", grandpa asked as he zoomed out the lens to show the man from head back to his bulge. "Yeah", the man laughed. "After that, I was hooked. It was up to me to find more." "And you sound like you sure found them. Six thousand of them. Real nice", grandpa said as he again zoomed back to the man's mouth. He then added, "And all right in there, eh?" The man sort of looked like he was embarrassed but laughed, too. "Can't get enough, man. Can't ever get enough", is all he said to grandpa's camera. "What do you say I help you with six thousand and one?", grandpa's voice said on the movie. "Yeah, that sounds real good, man", the other, goateed man replied as his eyes dropped down. The camera jostled some more as it panned 360-degrees around the forest. Nothing but trees and leaves could be seen anywhere. The camera then returned to the goateed man but just for a second. Grandpa's camera then moved downward but this time along grandpa's own jacket as it pointed at all four of their legs again. Then it pointed straight down to where grandpa's beige hiking pants made a real big bulge. It was such a confusing home movie to me. I mean, it looked nothing like the ones my mommy took. And as the camera held still there, just focused on these four legs and grandpa's bulge, my mouth opened as big as it could get. I even saw that Jamie, who was sitting on the floor right next to me, had his jaw real wide open, too, as he stared at the same picture that appeared on the t.v. next. TO BE CONTINUED... gh_professional@yahoo.com COPYRIGHT/2004 THIS IS FICTION. COMPLY WITH ALL LAWS IN YOUR AREA.