B-Hey!
J-Hey
B-Not
too shabby out.
J-Yeah,
no wind.
B-So-marking
your territory? Watering the leaves?
J-The
pause that refreshes.
B-You
guys crack me up when you go wild.
J-What?
It's dark out-not like I'm flashing the shrubbery.
B-LOL
no, it's just that you make such a novelty out of it.
J-(zip)
Welp, let's go in. Let me get the slider.
B-Thank
you sir-ahhhh, nice in warm in here.
J-Yeah
it is. Let me go get some refreshment.
B-(stretching
on couch)ohhhhhhhhhhh that feels good.
J-Everyone
else in bed?
B-Yeah,
Mom crashed a while ago and the Calico is in the hall.
J-Silly
girl, why is she there? Did you two fight?
B-Nope.
What do you have there (sniffing)? Ah, the sherry. Hmm, not the cheap
stuff either. Harvey's eh?
J-Hey,
the Perez ain't cheap-And here's something for you.
B-Ohhh,
Aunt Karen's Little Bag of Joy? Very nice indeed. (inhaling)
B-Daayyyemmm,
that's some good nip.
J-Only
the best bud for my Best Bud. Slainte! (takes a good pull of sherry)
B-Slainte!
To the return of the sun!
J-To
the return of the sun!
B-Ohh,
mannnnnnn.(rolling)
J-LOL.
J-Been
a helluva year.
B-You're making money, getting into shape,Mom's doing well. How's your bro?
J-Recovering.
He really dodged a bullet. I'll call him tomorrow.
B-Good
to hear, man. What were those doctors thinking?
J-I
dunno but they nearly killed him. Hey, who's coming in?
M-Joyeaux
Noel, boys.
J/B-Happy
Christmas, Madame.
J-(whispering)
Did she bring anything in? I am not in the mood to be chasing a
Mickey around.
B-Naw,
we're good.
M-I'm
just going to get a snack and go to bed. You boys don't stay up too
late.
B-We
won't. See you in the morning, Madame.
(sound
of kibble crunching)
J-Where's
Cali?
B-Oh,
lurking around somewhere I am sure. Ready to give me my Christmas
punch.
J-Nice.
A new form of wassailing. Hey, got the munchies?
B-Is
the Pope Catholic?
J-Here
you go (opening bag) your favorite fishy stuff.
B-(munching)
ohhh so good, so good. Thanks! Something for you on the table.
J-Mmmmm
Mozarts.
(logs
shift and pop)
B-What
were you cooking the other day that smelled wonderful? Tasty cow
judging from the bits you gave me.
J-Ahh,
well that was the mushroom mixture for tonight's shepherd's pie and
tomorrows dish. I grilled the steak and did the shallots outside.
B-Weird-grilling
in December and not freezing your tail. So-tomorrow's feast?
J-Tartlets:
mushrooms and caramelized shallots for Mom, steak and shallots for
me, side dish of steamed whole green beans with romesco sauce.
B-Mmmmm
sounds good. Nice and simple. Tartlets using puff pastry?
J-Yes-and
whodathunkit-Pepperidge Farms is vegan!
B-Well,
that's a time saver.
J-You
bet! I'm pooped out-7 straight days at work. I don't feel like doing
much.
Hell,
I worked until 6.30 tonight.
B-Oufff.
Well, man-it's warm, I've had a snack and I am high. I'm turning in.
Happy Christmas.
J-(scritching)
You too. Have a good winter's nap.
-
-
-
V-Jeffrey
J-hmm
V-Jeffrey,
I thought I saw Michael.What has happened?
J-Dad,he
flat-lined.
V-What?
J-He
had a calcium imbalance which pushed his blood pressure. His heart
stopped.
V-I
saw him. Is he ok?
J-Yes,
they brought him back.
V-It
is not his time.
J-How
are you? What is it like out there?
V-I
can't talk to your mother-she doesn't dream.
J-She
needs to leave, Dad.
V-You
know, I nearly died on Christmas Eve. They came across the river. And
we came this close. And in the morning we saw. I dreamt about that
for years.
J-How
is it out there, Dad?
V-Take
care, son.
B-Hey,
man-you're dreaming-talking.
J-My
father was here.
B-You
were asleep. Go to bed. I'll explain in the morning.
J-Ohh,
ok.
-
-
-
M-Are
you going to tell him?
B-No,
he doesn't need to know.
M-Ok.
He's fragile for an ape.
B-Stronger
than you think.
