The Weekend Arrangement

A Season for Miraculous Thoughts

Jon's head lifts up from the last bits of deep cleaning he has been doing, his attention piqued by a sound he wasn't expecting. There- just under the swelling vocals of the third cover of "All I Want for Christmas is You" he's heard in the last hour- there's a ringing that does not match the rest of the song. It's a bit tinny and discordant and Jon's eyes widen in shock and alarm when the source comes around the corner.

"Oh, my god - Martin. No. Absolutely not. Please, please tell me you are joking."

Martin has walked into the study in possibly the ugliest jumper Jon has ever seen and he just stares at his boyfriend in the same sort of horrified way that you might look at a person who entered your house holding a severed head. The sweater is a terrifying jumble of garish colours that vaguely coalesced into abstract pictures of reindeer; has bells jingling off of it and most disturbingly looks like it may have garland knit into the very fabric. Jon had been hesitant about agreeing to matching sweaters for this holiday party- he still wasn't sure why special jumpers were necessary; he and Martin could have perfectly nice Christmas photos in regular clothing; and now seeing the monstrosity Martin is wearing- Jon is wondering if there is enough time to cancel the whole thing.

Martin spreads his arms wide, causing a cacophony of bells as he looks at Jon with wide eyed naivete.

"You don't like it? I've got one for you as well."

"Ah- uh. Martin. Please- no ." Jon can barely form words; this sweater was a crime against humanity.

"Dear lord; Jon- of course I'm joking." Martin laughs, and the sound is bright and merry. " A - against my strident protests we invited Elias to this-"

"I am a department head- it's unfortunately expected I at least extend an invite." Jon scowls slightly at the pointlessness of navigating office etiquette.

"Well, anyways I'm quite sure I don't need him thinking I'm any dumber than he already does. B - Tim would absolutely never let us forget being seen by people in something like this and C - when I saw it in the window of the charity shop, I thought it was funny and thought it might relieve some of our anxiety about tonight. No, Jon; I found us some very nice, very respectable red pullovers. Festive without being nearly so lurid, so you can stop looking at me like that."

They both had been somewhat overwrought about the whole idea of a Christmas party, and Martin thought such an obvious joke might help ease their nerves. It wasn't even a large party- just Tim and Sasha, Elias and Hannah- Martin's friend from the library, and now Jon's from book club; plus dates if anybody wanted to bring them. Even for its small size, the holiday party feels huge; momentous even- their first chance to present a united front as an established couple.

Jon's breath leaves him in a relieved sigh, they had spent the last few weeks readying the townhouse for the party, and even with all the preparations in place; he especially has been obsessing over the various things that could go wrong.

"Well, then please; let's get that off of you-"

"Jon! Trying to get me out of my clothing? We have guests who will be arriving any time now!" Martin gives him another laugh and a suggestive brow waggle.

"...and then maybe burn it in the back garden." Now that the threat of hideous sweaters is gone, Jon can't maintain a straight face anymore. Martin's joy is too infectious and he looks so happily ridiculous in the sweater.

This is the first Christmas in a long time- maybe ever - Jon has felt like this. Even as a child his grandmother was reserved and distant; the holidays were always cool, slightly impersonal events. He tells himself now he must have simply misread it, but he won't ever forget the Christmas his gift was addressed to a Jonath o n