Christmas Wish
Son
of a bitch! How could he break up with me two days before Christmas? I lit the
disgusting cigarette and took my very first puff. Choking, I walked to the sink
and poured water over it, watching it fizz out. Couldn’t imagine why I even
bought the repulsive things. It wasn’t like I ever smoked. More anger built in
me. With unbridled frustrations, I broke every cigarette in the package,
throwing them in the garbage.
Standing
in the middle of the kitchen, I wondered how to keep my mind busy, because
inevitably, it drifted back to Brian, the jerk who made me fall in love with
him just to break my heart.
It
was Christmas Eve and I stared at the decorated tree, sitting in the corner of
my den.
Images
flashed in my mind. Rushing to my study, I grabbed my sketchbook and settled at
the drawing table. My hand moved the pencil across the blank page, creating a
black and white portrait of Kevin, the boy next door I had a crush on since the
third grade. It didn’t matter to me he was a few years older. When he graduated
from high school, though, he joined the armed forces. I only saw him once after
that.
In
college Brian walked into my life so I tried to forget the feelings my heart
held for Kevin. Big mistake! Brian turned out to be a complete jackass.
The
black and white image of Kevin looked perfect in his naval uniform. I’d only seen
him once in it, but could never forget how handsome it made him look.
Midnight.
Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day.
Happy
Birthday Jesus.
I
took the sketch with me, placing it under the pillow. “Jesus, I know it’s your
birthday and I’m supposed to give you a present, but if you find it in your
heart to give me one, bring Kevin to my door step.”
I
fell asleep with wonderful thoughts.
Morning
arrived all too soon. I rushed to get ready for church, where I joined my
family.
After
church we all went to my parents home and I helped with the dinner preparations.
“Who’s
coming over?” I asked Mom.
“All
the usual people, dear.”
How
the hell was I supposed to remember all the people she had over last Christmas?
Besides
my sister, her husband, my two aunts with their husbands, four cousins, she
always invited a large crowd of friends, some I had never even met. Like I knew
them all.
I
rolled my eyes.
The
doorbell rang none stop. I preferred hiding in the kitchen where I didn’t have
to put up with all the kissing and hugging that went on during the holidays.
Mother
stepped back in the kitchen. “Ani, dear, would you be so kind and go set the
two tables your dad set up in the great room?”
“Sure.”
I walked in the room for the first time that day. The usual furniture had been pushed
to the sides to make room for the two long tables covered in festive
tablecloths. Back in the kitchen, I asked, “Mom, how many people are coming?”
“All
together we are thirty three.”
Where
did she find all these people? I always thought the holidays should be spent
with family. But then, what did I know?
Later,
I stepped back to admire my handy work. Sure it took a little more time, but I
was proud of the paper napkins turned into swans, sitting on the dishes. As I
turned to head back into the sanctuary of the kitchen, I smashed into a solid
shoulder.
“Ouch!”
I glanced up to meet a surprised expression in the amazing green eyes I
remembered so well.
“Wow!
You’ve changed since I’ve been gone.” Kevin gawked. “What happened to the
scrawny kid with braces and freckles I left behind?”
What
a reaction. I basked in it. Damn! Why is
my mouth not functioning?
“What
a change? You’ve never been speechless before.” He smiled.
“Dinner
is served.” Mother’s voice could be heard for miles, saving me from myawkward
silence.
We
all grabbed our dishes and lined up to file through the kitchen where Mother
set up the buffet. Kevin was right behind me.
“So,
you gonna sit by me the way you always did when we were kids?”
“Are
you going to pull my hair?” I said without turning.
He
leaned real close to my ear. “I promise to behave.” The warmth of his breath
sent an exhilarating shiver down my spine.
At
the table, he focused all his attention on me.
For
the first time, in a long while, I felt like a princess.
“What
are you up to lately?”
“Well,
I still have one last semester before I graduate with a degree in
architecture.”
“Where
are you going to school?”
“Right
here at Virginia Commonwealth University.”
“So,
you’re living at home?”
“No,
I have an apartment on campus.”
“Shall
we go hide there after dinner, I hate crowds. It will give us a better chance
to catch up.”
My
heart missed a beat. Serene warmth spread through me and I nodded for fear my
voice would crack with the emotions coursing in my veins.
Kevin
wrapped his arms around my waist. “You’re the best thing a Christmas wish has
ever brought me.”
I
turned around in his arm, tilting my head with expectation.
His
warm lips brushed mine. I smiled. “Merry Christmas, Kevin.”
Annamaria Bazzi spent twenty years programming systems for large
corporations, creating innovative solution, and addressing customer
problems. During those years she raised four daughters and one husband.
Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now
dedicates a good part of her day writing.
Blog: www.annamariabazzi.com