Latter Days

Chapter 14

Chapter 14.

          “Oh! You kids look so great in your matching outfits! Come on, hurry over here next to the fireplace so we can a picture of all the cousins before the little ones have to go to bed.” All of Jack’s sisters and I had just come upstairs from the basement where we changed into our new pajamas—red flannel button-up tops with a skiing penguin pattern, and matching pants. All the girls in the family had the same pair, and all the boys had the blue version. When we got upstairs, we noticed the boys descending the staircase into the living room at the same time, donning their new outfits as well.

          As I headed over to the fireplace to take the picture, Jack’s mom pulled me aside. “I’m so glad they seem to fit you,” she whispered. “I had a sneaking suspicion you’d be joining us this evening, so I grabbed a second pair in Kelsey’s size just in case. Do you like them?”

          “Oh, I love them,” I responded genuinely. “I’ve never had special pajamas just for Christmas Eve.”

          “You’re kidding! What do you wear on Christmas morning, then? Didn’t your parents take photos of you opening your gifts under the tree in your special outfit?”

          “Nah, my mom wasn’t really into the whole holiday spirit thing. In fact, she’s worked through most Christmases I can remember, so usually I just wake up in the clothes I had on the night before, pour some cereal, and hang out and watch old Christmas movie marathons on TV.”

          Her face fell completely as I spoke, and that was my cue to stop speaking. She pepped up soon, though, as she realized she was holding up the picture-taking. “Alright, you guys, gather up close in front of the tree so I can get the photo, and then anyone aged 12 or below is heading to bed!”

          A chorus of ‘aaaaawwww’s rang out among the cousins, and one of the aunts called out, “Pipe down, kiddos! You want Santa to come find you here, right? And you want to be well-rested for when you wake up in the morning and see what he brought you, right?!” That got a couple hoots from the gaggle of kids. “Then it’s settled!”

          “How come the kids older than 12 get to stay up later than us?” one of the younger cousins asked. I think his name was Kevin, and he looked about eight years old to me.

          “Oh, because once you get to be 13, Santa doesn’t bring you gifts anymore, so there’s no reason to be in bed when he gets here,” Jack stated.

          “WHAT?!” shrieked Annie, who would was turning 13 soon.

         “He’s only kidding,” their mom consoled. "It's only Jack that doesn't get any presents because he's bad." She slapped Jack on the shoulder and said, “You, cut it out, or you’ll be going to bed with the little ones, too.”

          His smile vanished and he rubbed his arm. “That’s child abuse, you know.”

          She ignored him, but I caught a small smile threatening to appear on the corner of her mouth. “Okay you guys, seriously we need to get this picture done. Do you guys feel like they’re set up pretty evenly?” She asked the other parents in the room, who were all gathered behind the camera, ogling us.

          One of the uncles offered, “I think Jack’s girl needs to move closer to him, and the twins should be up front, near the center there.” We made the arrangements, and looked at the parents expectantly. “Perfect!” he commended. “Go on and take it, Julia. We’re not gonna have ‘em looking like perfect little angels for much longer.”