“Do you think I’ve lost some weight?” Nick asked, looking at himself in the hallway mirror. The green carpet beneath his feet was scuffed and threadbare in places. It was much, much older than the new, box-like house in which it now lay. “I’ve tried to cut down on sugar and carbs, you know. Only fat free milk as well.”
“Spot of brandy?” Bob, the younger of the two asked as he made his way from the kitchen to the spare-bedroom-study, past the living room where a boot was thrown through the glass of the TV. He didn’t ask.
“Why not? Boeing's long gone.”
They sat down in identical leather chairs in front of a fake fireplace with fake logs and flames. A small nativity scene stood on a shelf. Bob looked at it and smiled. “I’m glad to see you still have it.”
“Of course, not another in the world that can craft wood like that. And the paint? Perfect. Don’t see much of them anymore.”
The younger blushed. Though wrinkled, his face and eyes still held youth pent up inside. “Made another sheep,” he said and took a small, white, wooden sheep from his pocket. “You need a flock. The shepherds can’t just watch three sheep. And you need a few more angels. I’ll make them next year.”
“Thank you.” The old man placed it reverentially on the mantle with the others.
They sat in silence sipping their drinks.
“How’s life treating you?” Bob asked.
“As it does all old people, Bob,” the man said. “They don’t want you around anymore. No more letters. Small house. Lots of people. The neighbour’s kid cursed at me yesterday for moving too slow and called me fat.” He sighed. “Most are like that now. I prefer to stay here with my memories and thoughts.”
A dull thumping sounded from the house next door.
“And my own music. Not this noise.”
“The TV?”
“They had Santa selling some awful pre-cooked soya turkey dinner. Then he strutted around drunk as sailor on leave, in a nightclub, with what looked like teenagers. I couldn’t find the remote, so I chucked the nearest thing. Let’s just say I’ve not felt that good in years. Didn’t like the damn TV anyway.”
They sat in silence for a while.
“I made a toy for my nephew. Wind up train. Built the whole thing by hand. Painted it. Made the tracks – a replica of the track outside town. Trees, people, buildings, you name it.”
“And?”
“He walked into the garage while I was busy. He laughed.” He took a swallow of brandy. “Later he and his friends set it alight. Apparently they wanted to see if painted wood burns faster than unpainted wood.”
“Did it?”
“The varnish wasn’t dry yet. It was like throwing a butt on dry grass.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Should’ve kept it in my room. The paint fumes just got too much.”
The older man grinned. “Ventilation’s the key, hey.”
Someone hammered on the front door.
The men looked at their watches. “Not four yet, he can wait.”
“I’m not getting in the car if he’s drunk.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, of course he’s drunk the useless –“
“O, say it. I’m thinking it too.”
“The sheep’s nice. I’m glad you brought it. Does look more real with more sheep. The donkey’s still my favourite, though. That hanging ear… the spitting image of old Daisy.”
“You know, my nephew asked me what the sheep was for,” he said.
“And?”
“I said for a nativity scene.”
“And?”
“He didn’t know what it was.”
“His parents?”
“Quite useless, the both of them.”
The knock on the door sounded again, loader this time.
“Not yet four. Anyway, we’re deaf old men.”
“Some cookies? Their home made.”
“Never say no to cookies and milk. Best time of the year for them as well.”
“And some music? We’ll have to put it loud if we want to hear it, what with being deaf and all…”
The eldest of the two turned the stereo on and a carol started to play.
The other went to the fridge to get the milk. It was filled with drinks and jelly shots.
“And this?”
“The neighbours didn’t have enough room in their house for all their liquor. They probably need it for the dry Christmas their having.” Neither of them laughed.
Bob ate another of the Pfefferneuse and took a gulp of milk while the hammering at the door continued. They turned the stereo up.
Come, they told me
“Funny how it’s suddenly two days of binge drinking. Or until the day after New Year’s if their livers last.”
Our finest gifts we bring
“And now all everyone’s wants is video games and expensive gadgets. Nobody even wishes anymore. Everything’s a have-to-have. Do you remember the gifts we made?”
So to honour Him
“And the music. And the lights. The joy of the children’s faces? Now their all greedy little buggers.”
I have no gift to bring
“And that feeling of peace when you walk into the church? That could calm your heart for another year, knowing you’re safe.”
Shall I play for you
“And now?” He didn’t have to say anything. They knew.
There was knocking again. “I’m leaving if you don’t come out now!”
Bob took another two Pfefferneuse and dipped them in the milk.
The ox and lamb kept time
“Do you think they’ll ever find the houses, Nick?”
I played my drum for Him
“No. Never. We made sure of that. Nobody will look there anyway. The whole story was a good idea after all, especially the bit about the elves.”
I played my best for Him
“Humph! Stupid Google Earth, it’s the North Pole! Who goes and searches the North Pole!”
Then He smiled at me
