Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Tom and Ben's Wonderful Life


Here are this week's prompts:


"I saw Daddy kissing Santa Claus! or "Bah, humbug! Just call me Scrooge!" or "when did you become so mean?" or "a fire smoldered in his eyes" or use egg nog in your story, with or without alcohol or "Did I hear a reindeer on the roof?" or "My boss is so cheap...." or use: front door fox or  have a character make hot chocolate with marshmallows or "Did I hear a waltz?" or use a poltergeist in your story or "To every day, there is a season" or mention the three kings or the three wise men or "Merry Christmas!" or make a Christmas Carol reference or "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings" or have your characters barbecue or make a Duck Dynasty reference  or use swimming in some way or "he's a regular Jekyll and Hyde!" or "the power of love."


Tom and Ben's Wonderful Life

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings   was heard coming from the TV speaker.   Tom and Ben were sitting on the couch, alternating between crying and laughing.  A box of tissues passed between them as the pile of used Kleenex on the coffee table grew.  

“Gosh, that movie gets me every time, Tom.” Ben got up to dispose of tissues in the kitchen trash. 

“Me too” Tom joined him in the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove to warm up some water.  “Do you want marshmallows in your hot cocoa?”

“Of course, do you seriously have to ask that question?”   Ben answered.  He sat at the counter and watched as Tom took two packets of Land O’ Lakes hot cocoa mix out of the cupboard where they stored their beverages.   He took a hazelnut variety for himself and took a chocolate supreme for Ben.   Tom joined him at the counter as they waited for the kettle to whistle.   “I love this time of the year. I’m glad we don’t have to go to the mall again, that was a crazy day we had.  I did get the rest of my shopping done online.”

“I did get some Chanukah gifts, too, but still not having to venture out. The mail carrier is just like Santa, or Chanukah Harry.”   Ben mentioned the character created for Chanukah on Saturday Night Live many years back.

The kettle’s high-pitched whistle drew Tom’s attention back to the task of making their hot winter beverages.   He took out a bag of mini-marshmallows and filled each mug with hot cocoa mix, water, and marshmallows.   “Here ya go, hon.” Tom put the mug on the counter in front of Ben.  

Both men were glad for the times that their busy schedules allowed for them to be home together,  especially with Tom’s busy schedule. He decided to take a few vacation days to spend with Ben.  They planned to have some family and friends over on Christmas Day.  Travis wasn’t able to come.  He said he’d try to make it out the weekend after New Year’s.  Things would get quieter then, plus the cost of an airline ticket would be a lot less.   Still, they would miss him at their dinner table.

Normally, most people had ham on their Christmas table, but in deference to Ben being Jewish they had roast beef or brisket.   Ben was going to cook the main meal and Tom was going to take care of dessert. 

They had bought their tree at one of the farms in the area.   They liked to pick out their own tree and cut it.   Tom played the role of lumberjack, and took an ax and cut it down.

They had decorated it all in lights, garland, and ornaments.  Each year they visited the Hallmark Gold Crown store, and the decorated tree stood proudly in front of their living room window for anyone who passed by to see.

“It’s like magic, isn’t it, Ben?”  Tom asked him as they returned, mugs in hand, back to their cozy spot in front of the fireplace.   

“It is.  Hey look, it’s snowing.”   Ben pointed outside the big window.  They had already had some storms come in over the past few weeks.  The landscape had been blanketed by the white stuff already.    

“Let’s go sledding tomorrow.” Ben sounded like a little kid.

“Yeah, we can do that, I’ll take the sled out of the attic. In the morning.”

They settled back down and decided to watch “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. And “Frosty the Snowman.    They also planned to watch another holiday classic.  “Miracle on 34th Street.”

It truly was a wonderful life they lived.  



Tbc

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