Daddy's Home - Sophie Mayron

24

After we were done celebrating Dylan's little win at bowling, everyone decided that we would go and see Santa. Dad, Brad and Don were waiting in line with Griffy whilst Mom, Karen and the girls are shopping and Grandpa Kurt, Dylan and I grabbed coffee.

Grandpa Kurt actually let Dylan get a coffee so he is currently bouncing around whilst we walk to meet up with the others.

"So, wanna tell me what happened with that guy last night?" Grandpa asks out of the blue as we walk down the street with our boiling hot coffees heating us up.

"I...I...don't wanna talk about it." I tell him. It's the god's honest truth. I don't wanna talk about it, especially with my Grandpa.

"No, don't give me that. I know it's something bad and most of the time you feel better once you've said it. So, tell me. I promise I won't try to give you any of that therapy BS." He pries. Damnit. I guess it's worth a try.

"He just tried to do stuff that I ain't ready for yet. I said no and he said some stuff that pissed me off. One of them being that he has a girlfriend. He wanted me to stay so I slapped him and left. That's it. I guess that did make me feel better." I say slightly shocked that it worked. We walk in silence for a little bit before I see him pull something out of his pocket. I look closer and it's one of those small metal canteen things people put alcohol in. He pulls the top off and motions for me to take my coffee lid off. I do just that and he pours a generous amount in before he quickly puts it away and I put my lid back on.

"Told you I wouldn't do the therapy BS. This is a reward you must never tell your parents or step-parents about ever." He says in a hushed tone so a still hyper Dylan couldn't hear as he bounces past us. I simply nod my head and take a sip. I don't know what it is but it doesn't taste half bad.

We make it to the Santa line and find Dad, Brad, Don and Griffy.

"Hey, where were you guys? We're almost at the front of the line here." Dad asks.

"We were at the Starbucks checking out the local talent." Grandpa Kurt says making me gag.

"No. They were at Starbucks checking out the local talent. I was there getting my medicine." I say earning odd looks. I don't think I would survive this family without coffee....especially whilst on vacation. The alcohol in it just adds something special. "However, a very cute girl was giving this one the eye." I pat Dylan on the head.

"And El Padre got a phone number from the lady who made the coffees. We got free ones!" Dylan says happily and he takes a big sip. "I drink coffee now." We definitely should not have let him have any.

"What? Get in here." Dad says to us. Grandpa and I do it the normal way by simply stepping over it whilst Dylan jumps over it. Mom is probably gonna kill me.

Thankfully the line didn't take too long and we were eventually at the front. Brad took Griffy up to meet Santa and he hated it. He would not stop screaming. Mom and the others arrived right on time and everyone started to take pictures.

"Are you getting it, honey?" Brad asks hopefully from his place on Santa's lap.

"Ugh, no." Mom says looking upset.

"Don't worry, I got a good one I can send to you." I tell her finding a good one amongst the thirty I have taken.

"Thank you, Santa." Brad says happily joining the group again.

"You're welcome!" Santa says back smiling. Hmm, something about Santa has always creeped me out. "What about you, big brother? I'm sure you've been good. What's on your list?" He asks Dylan as he goes up and sits on his lap.

"I kind of want..." He hesitates and glances at Grandpa Kurt before turning back to Santa. "...a 20-gauge shotgun, so I can go turkey hunting with my El Padre!" The room goes silent. Holy hell. Everyone looks at Dylan in shock but I immediately turn my gaze to Grandpa Kurt. He tried this trick on me when I was five. He made me ask my parents for a gun for my birthday and got pretty much the same reaction.

"What the heck? Where'd he come up with that?" Grandpa Kurt asks fake shocked.

"Did he just ask for a firearm?" Don asks sounding truly shocked.

"Sure did! 20-gauge. Kid knows his guns." Grandpa Kurt says with the most pride in his voice I have ever heard.

"Kurt, we've already been through this. Dusty and I..." Brad starts and turns to Dad for support which he of course provides.

"Yeah, it is final. That's it. It's not happening." Dad says nodding his head. Mom turns to them with a look that is usually reserved for me.

"Really? Because I don't remember being part of that discussion. Or am I just some little obedient wife who does whatever the men folk say?" Mom says sounding pissed. I mean, she has a point. Dad and Brad aren't Dylan's only parents so they definitely should have consulted her on this decision.

"Yeah, that doesn't seem quite fair to me." Grandpa Kurt says and I put my hand on his shoulder.

"No, just no." I tell him. Hopefully he will listen to me otherwise he will probably be killed by my angry mother.

"Honey, he's talking about a gun." Brad says in his soft 'I think I am right' voice.

"If I may, can I just have a word with my grandson?" Don says before he walks and crouches in front of Dylan." I just want you to fully understand what you're asking for. To take a gun into the wilderness, find an animal living free, and take away its life. So that it can never breathe or run or play ever again. Now, is that what you really want?" Don preaches. Grandpa Kurt nods his head at Dylan but I think Don's little speech worked.

"No. I don't want to do that." Dylan says sadly. I think Don traumatised him a little bit.

"Ah." Brad sighs happily and obviously on the point of tears.

"You have a good heart, Dylan." Don says as he gives Dylan a little hug. Everyone seemed to relax for a split second before Megan shouts and starts to jump up and down.

"I'll do it! I'll kill a turkey! Can I shoot one? Please?" She shouts and jumps onto Santa's lap. "I'll have one shotgun, please, Santa. And gobs and gobs of bullets." She says to Santa who probably has the same look as everyone else. How could such a sweet, little girl want a gun? Wait...this is my sister I am talking about - she's crazy!

"No, no, no, cupcake." Dad says to her.

"No, I'm sorry. No, the men do the hunting. You ladies cook what we kill." Grandpa Kurt says. Every woman who heard turned to him in complete shock. What the actual hell?!

"Excuse me?" Mom says staring at Grandpa.

"Yeah, excuse you?" Megan and I both say at the same time, staring at Grandpa with the same look as Mom. Well, I guess I know what we are doing tomorrow.