Mistletoe
“You warm Adam?” Lyall asks he himself was freezing the thin t-shirt he wore wasn’t doing much for his own warmth.
“Yeah,” Adam nods. “Are you doing okay, Ly?” He asks leaning against him on their park bench bed. He was warm underneath Lyall’s coat. The other demanded he take the coat, when he let out a little sneeze.
“I’m fine, Kitty-cat don’t you worry about me.” He chuckles. He stares up at the sky. The bitter December wind snapping at his cheeks. He rubs his arms discreetly to warm himself up.
“But..Ly...It’s cold I have a hoodie.” He whines. “All you have is a t-shirt.”
“I am strong kitty-cat. It’s hard for me to get sick or even get frostbite.” He consoles Adam. “Stay warm. We if you get sick we can’t get you to a Doctor, anytime soon. We don’t have enough money right now.” Lyall sighs. They were running low on funds and food.
“I know…”He mumbles and sneezes again. “I’m fine, it’s just the sniffles.” He yawns. “Ly, Tomorrow’s Christmas day. Can we work at the town’s soup kitchen, you know if they’ll let us?”
Lyall nods. “Yeah, of course.” He smiles. “It’s warm, there.” He smiles, realizing that this was his first Christmas away from his family.
Adam giggles, “Good..” He murmurs falling asleep.
Now with Adam going quiet Lyall felt slightly alone, and he missed his mom, and even his dad. Christmas always seemed to soften his dad. They would set up a big tree, and he’d bake cookies with his mom. It was great. He could almost smell fresh baked sugar cookies laying on cooling racks, begging for thieving fingers to take a nibble. On Christmas, they’d open gifts and watch Christmas cartoons. Lyall’s dad would smile and drink eggnog getting some on his upper lip. He’d call him champ, and it was like all coldness was forgotten.
Lyall let’s a tear slid down his cheek, as he wished for home. He knew it was silly, his father kicked him out, and besides they were extremely far away. Lyall sniffles alittle being quiet because he didn’t want Adam to see his tears. He didn’t want him to know how much he missed home, because he’d feel bad and blame himself. Lyall didn’t want that. He choose to go on this journey with Adam, and as much as he missed home now, he still wanted to be there with him.
He rubs his eyes slowly, as he hears someone approach them. It was an older gentleman, he chuckles, eyeing Lyall, and then the cat boy next to him. “What are you two young boys doing out here in the cold, on Christmas eve?” He asks shaking his head.
“Well...we needed to stop and this seemed like the only good place to sleep.” He says looking at the old man.
“Out on a park bench….Really, that won’t happen. I won’t allow it not on a day such as this. You two are coming home with me. I have room, and I ought to have something warmer than that flimsy T-shirt you’re wearing there boy.”
Lyall looks down at his thin T-shirt and back at him. “Really sir I’m fine there’s no need…”
“Bullshit, I know you don’t think I was born yesterday. It’s below zero out here. Come on my cars not far from here. You’re going to come home with me.” He says as he stands there giving him a stern glare.
“Alright, alright, but you’ll have to convince him. He doesn’t like help, at least, he doesn’t like to trouble others.” He says gently nudging Adam to wake him up.
“Ly, what’s wrong?” He asks.
Before Lyall could speak the old man start. “You two are going to leave this old man alone, on Christmas eve, and Christmas day while you selfishly stay out here admiring the park.”
Adam gasps startled seeing the man the first time when he spoke, “W..What..Well? I mean...Huh?”
Lyall smiles letting out a warm laugh. “He wants us to come stay with him tonight.”
The old man nods. “What do you say kid? Help an old man to have a good Christmas.”
Adam stares. “O..Okay?” He says still groggy, though he could tell this man was safe. He moves away from Lyall standing up.
Lyall gets up.
Adam stares up at Lyall trying to get his brain working enough to get up and move, as Lyall scoops him up. “Come on kitty cat.” Lyall smiles staring at Adam’s surprised look. He found it funny the other was surprised by his ability to lift him.
“Alright, follow me.” The man says.
Lyall nods following the man carrying Adam along. Adam wasn’t that heavy, and Lyall was used to carrying him, as he would carry him to a nearby empty house if he’d fallen asleep on a bench or something like that. Lyalls smiles as he gets to the car and the old man opens the door for them. Lyall places Adam inside the car before slipping inside himself. The old man smiles and sits in the drivers seat. He then turns on the car and drives to his home.
The old man lived in a plain two story house. There was a small light up Santa, and snowman on his porch, other than that nothing. The old man gets out, and waves to Adam, and Lyall. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
Lyall nods, as he walks with the old man Adam in toe. Adam was staring at the house it was nice, and cozy. It was a white wooden house with a little red chimney, and a green roof. Even if it was undecorated it was still beautiful. The old man leads him inside. The house was decorated from floor to ceiling. It was an amazing sight. There was holly on the walls, and bows around the room. Poinsettias were sitting on an end table, and a huge tree could be seen even from the doorway. It was full of little lights of all different colors twinkling.
“Well, boys, I’m Pete. I realize, we don’t know each others names yet so I started with mine.”
“I’m Lyall, and that’s Adam.” Lyall says.
Adam stands quietly, shy around this new man. He did like him though, he sensed he was good.
“Well, if you boys would like to shower, the bathrooms over there, and if you wish to just sleep tonight there’s a bed for you upstairs, first door to the left.
Lyall and Adam nod. Lyall smiles. “We’d like to sleep for now it’s been a long day.” He says as Adam stands behind him.
“Alright, good night you two, sleep well. I will see you in the morning.” He says as he walks off. Adam and Lyall go upstairs and slip off their shoes before slipping into the bed one on each side. They fell asleep almost instantly as it was warm, and the blanket was soft. Moreover they didn’t need to worry about some bum stealing their shoes.
When the woke up the next morning there were a pile of clothes next to the bed. It was a fresh outfit for each of them with a note.
Lyall picks up the note reading it aloud. “Dear Lyall and Adam I have left you a fresh change of clothes. I am downstairs if you need anything-Pete.” Lyall smiles.
“Well, I’m going to take him up on that shower now before I change. You should too, who knows when we’ll get to take a warm shower again.” He says leaving with the clothes, and slips down the stairs. Pete was sitting down reading a newspaper. “Mind if I use the shower and maybe the washing machine.”
Pete shakes his head “Not at all, feel free to use whatever you need.” He says waving him off as Adam comes down standing behind Lyall.
Lyall nods as he and Adam leave to clean themselves. After getting clean and throwing their clothes in the wash the boys slipp into Pete’s living room wearing matching outfits that Pete lent them. They both wore blue sweaters with snowmen on them and a pair of washed jeans, and wore white sock on their feet. They smile at Pete.
“Thank you Pete for letting us borrow the clothes it’s nice to wear something else for a change.” Lyall says.
Pete nods some. “Keep ‘em looks like you boys could use another set of clothes and they’re useless here. They’ll get some good use with you. Well, how about we scrounge up some breakfast.”
Lyall nods. “Sounds good. I can make something. My mom taught me how to cook.” He says.
Pete chuckles. “If you want to cook for me, I ain’t gonna stop you. Make what you want.”
Lyall smiles. “Yes sir.” He turns and heads off to the kitchen. Adam stays and sits on the floor in front of Pete.
“Mr. Pete…” He looks down. “Thank you so much, I hope we’re not a burden.”
He shakes his head. “Adam, I am happy to have someone to spend the Holiday with. You see I haven’t seen my son, in years, and my wife died three years ago. It’s funny I decorate every year hoping he’ll come but he never does.”
Adam frowns. “I’m sorry Mr.Pete. I can understand how you feel being lonely and all.”
“You, no, you got Lyall to take care of you. He really likes you kid.” Pete says letting out a hearty laugh.
Adam blushes. “I used to be alone. Yeah, Lyall likes me. He’s my best friend.” He sometimes wanted to be more like the girls and boys holding hands in the park but he didn’t say that.
“More than that Adam.” He chuckles. “Trust an old man about these things.”
Adam nods blushing. “Oh,” He starts to grin. “I like that.”
Pete nods good. “I’m glad you two have each other. “
Adam smiles. “Me too.” He whispers.
Pete chuckles. “I have an idea boy.” He beckons him, and Adam comes over he whispers something to him.
He smiles some and nods running off to Lyall. “Ly! Ly!” He says in a purr.
Lyall raises an eyebrow as he was trying to figure out what to make for breakfast.”What do you need Kitty-cat?”
Adam smiles taking his hand. “Come on Pete says that he wants to tell you.” He says dragging him by the hand to the doorway of the living room.
Pete chuckles looking up at the pair in the doorway. “Lyall, look up.”
Lyall does as he says and looks up. “Mistletoe.” He blushes looking down at Adam.
Adam stands on his tip toes as Lyall was thinking and gives a him a quick peck on the lips. “I didn’t want bad luck.” Adam says playfully. “Merry Christmas, Ly.” He says.
Lyall tips Adam’s head up and bends down kissing his lips slowly and gently. Adam kisses back slowly wrapping his arms around Lyall’s neck. They pull apart. Lyall smiles. “Merry Christmas, Adam Cornelis Mapel.”
