Jopper's Holiday

Getting in the right festive mood

December fourth

Only two strands remain. Jonathan prefers to have his feet on solid ground so it Hopper who is perched on the ladder, hammer in hand, nails jingling in his coat pocket. With the remains of a cigarette clamped between his teeth, Jim takes the small tangle of lights from Jonathan's hands, and strings them across a series of nails above the eaves trough.

"You're not really much for Christmas, are you, Hop?"

"What would give you that idea?" Hopper mumbles, taking a quick drag on his smoke as he descends the ladder to move it along a few more feet. He climbs back up and, using more force than is necessary, starts hammering nails into the frame of Joyce's house.

Jonathan shrugs. "I've just never seen anyone look so pissed off while putting up decorations."

"Well, if there's a law against that, I'm sure I would have heard about it," Jim replies, his jaw once again clenched around his cigarette.

Jonathan passes Hopper a final strand of lights. "It means a lot to her that you're doing this. Mom, I mean." Jim's expression softens and he is noticeably more careful with this last bit of ornamentation.

They collapse the ladder and start carrying it back to the shed. At first Jonathan thinks Hop is talking to himself. "Look, kid, the holidays don't have the same feeling once you've spent a few of them in a hospital." He pushes open the shed door and Jonathan helps him maneuver the ladder to its place along the wall.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Jonathan stammers.

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. Jesus, it's not even my fault." Hopper sighs and starts to make his way back to the house. Jonathan keeps pace, his feet sinking in the deep snow.

It feels wrong for their conversation to end on such a somber note. Before he can stop himself, Jonathan blurts out: "Mom says that the darkest time of the year is meant to remind us of what gives us light."

Hopper stops walking and turns around. "No offense, Jonathan, but I've never taken you for much of an optimist," he remarks, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Jonathan musters his courage before continuing. "All I know is that since you've been around, Mom is different. I think you're her light in the darkness." He can tell that his words have hit a nerve, and although the temperature hasn't dropped in the time that they've been outside, Jonathan finds himself shivering as he awaits Hopper's response. Having spent plenty of time in Jim's company Jonathan is quick to notice how the Chief unconsciously shifts into an authoritative cop stance whenever he's grappling for self control. Hopper is gazing out into the woods, pretending to squint at some object in the distance. He mutters something about the "brutal wind" and quickly dabs his eyes with the fingertips of his glove, even though there hasn't been so much as a light breeze all day.

As they approach the house, Will, El and Joyce come out onto the porch in their coats and boots. "Is it too early to turn them on yet?" Will asks, looking hopefully at the darkening sky of late afternoon.

Hopper clears his throat. "Sure, why not? Jonathan do you want to do the honours?"

The older boy tracks down the outlet, plugs the lights in and then wanders to where his family is taking in the spectacular effect. Hundreds of bright-coloured lights glow along the roof, around the windows, across the shrubbery. The snow around the house is a glittering rainbow. "I love this," Joyce says, softly. "I love this so much." Jonathan turns, expecting to see his mom gazing at the lights, but realizes instead that her eyes have been on Hopper the whole time.