Love Of My Life

Thank God It's Christmas- Dec. 24-25, 2015

Recommended song- Thank God It's Christmas by (you guessed it) Queen.

December 24, 2015

Benjamin's POV

As usual, Elaine had her house decked out for the holiday season. Benjamin's mom lived in the house he grew up in and the small bungalow always came to life at Christmas. The front yard had become "The" place to stop and gawk at while driving by at night. The display had grown over the years mainly from donations of Christmas displays from former neighbors when they move, the yard has become quite the sight.

Inside the home was just as dazzling. Lights, ornaments, tinsel, oh how his mother loved tinsel Benjamin chuckled. He would be picking it up 6 months from now.

As an only child, growing up with his mom and grandparents in the cozy house in Richmond, Benjamin had the most magical Christmases. Nana was a plump, joyful woman who doted on her only grandchild. Grandpa was quiet but taught Benjamin how to fish, change a tire, hammer a nail, start a fire, fix a leak, play poker, build a bookcase, all of those things that a father teaches a son was grandpa that taught him.

His father was not in the picture. He left his mom when Benjamin was still a baby and they had never heard from him again. The times that he missed having a father in his life, it was his grandpa that filled the role. Nana was fun and lively and taught him how to cook and bake, shop for bargains, speak German, hem, knit, and even play the guitar.

He grew up in a musical family. His great grandmother was an opera singer in Germany. Nana and Grandpa were folk singers in Germany and Benjamin's mother could play the piano well enough to get a full scholarship in New York University when she graduated. She never got to go, she had become pregnant with her high school boyfriend. It wasn't common in 1990 to keep the baby, most unwed teenage mother's put the child up for adoption but Elaine's parents were progressive, supportive and didn't really care what the neighbors would think. The support that they gave Elaine allowed her to go to college, become a nurse which she loved and raise her son without the social stigma or poverty that would usually follow a single mom during that time.

They welcomed Benjamin James as if he was the only baby ever born. They doted on him, gave him much love and support, time and patience and it wasn't until Benjamin got older did he realize what a blessed childhood he had.

It was just the two of them now. Grandpa had a heart attack in 2006 and Nana developed pneumonia and passed away in 2009. He missed them greatly and knew his mom was still grieving. He thought that was why she went overboard at Christmas, it kept her busy and mind occupied.

They had just finished their ham dinner with all of the fixings, which Benjamin said not to go to so much trouble since it was just the two of them but she shook her head and said it was nonsence and it was no trouble.

"So how are you doing Benjamin?" She asked while they were doing the dishes.

"Im fine Mom" he smiled thinly at her.

"How are you really doing" she looked at him knowing he wasn't being honest.

"I'm lost without him" he sobbed in her arms. "I miss him so much. Nothing is fun without him. I miss talking to him. It's just hard without him".

Elaine held her son in her arms and rubbed his back in comfort. She didn't have the words to say anything. So she didn't speak, she merely held her grieving son.

***************************************

December 25, 2015

Tyler's POV

All he heard were whispers and little feet moving around his room, quiet giggles and rustling of papers. Tyler pretended to sleep and listened to the adorableness of Shane, Jeff and Kevin trying not to wake him but doing a terrible job of it. He knew Simon would be next in their plan. He cracked open an eye and grabbed the nearest boy. Kevin shrieked with delight.

"Merry Christmas! Are you excited?" Tyler asked laughing at their enthusiasm. It was contagious and he was quickly getting out of bed to head downstairs too.

He motioned to Simon's room and put his finger to his lips and an exagerated tip-toe motion. They all followed exactly the same and he wished he had it on video, it was just too cute how they were. He counted to three using his fingers and then they all jumped on the sleeping Simon. Joke was on them though because he grabbed Jeff and Shane before they could land.

"You knew Simon!" Jeff pouted.

"Haha yeah I heard you ten minutes ago". He shook his heard good naturedly. "Did Santa come?" He asked the younger boys.

"Yes!!!!" They all answered together.

Debbie and Peter were in the kitchen making coffee when they all bound downstairs.

"Look at your stockings boys!!! They are so full!!! Do you want to open them while I fix our coffees?".

They younger ones ran to the fireplace and grabbed their stockings. Debbie's mom had made each of their stockings on their first Christmas that they spent with Debbie and Peter and it had their names embroidered on them. Simon and Tyler took their stockings but were more interested in watching the boys.

Pancake sat beside Shane and sniffed everything as he opened it.

"Let's have some breakfast then we will open presents." Peter announced calling then to the table. Everyone chatted at once, excited to open presents then Peter was taking them ice-skating in the afternoon. Debbie's parents were coming for supper.

After breakfast they opened their gifts. Peter played Santa, as he did every year, handing out presents so everyone could open one at a time. The boys loved their toys and Simon and Tyler appreciated their more grown up gifts.

"We have one more present" Tyler announced getting the boys attention. Jeff reached under the couch where the gift was hidden and they all watched Debbie as she unwrapped her gift. Simon and Tyler had saved their allowances since September and the younger boys had put in their tooth fairy money. Peter pitched in the remainer of the money.

"What is this boys?" Debbie asked genuinely surprised.

"It's from us!" Kevin said happily.

"Oh boys" she said wiping her tears. "This is beautiful. Thank you. I will treasure this always". She slipped on the silver ring on her finger. Set in the ring was five birthstones, from each of the boys birth months and engraved on the inside was "I love you Mom".

"I love you all so much" Debbie said through her tears.

"We love you too" they hugged her and moved to Peter "and you too Dad" Simon said to the emotional man. He barely got out "I love you all too" before he broke down in tears too. He looked at his wife and silently talked to her "soon they will be ours forever". She nodded, knowing what the look meant and leaned over to kiss her husband. They all agreed that it was the best Christmas ever.