The next morning in the kitchen Scout, Alice, Jenny, Nora, Jack Sr., Art, Janet, Toshiko and Rocky are at the kitchen table. The kitchen looks like an Army mess hall.

Jack's standing in the living at the window looking out. Ianto walks in. "Aren't you having breakfast?"

"I'm not really in the mood"

"What are you looking at?" Ianto asks.

"The silent majesty of a winter's morn. The clean, cool, chill of holiday air. And an asshole in his bathrobe emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer."

She pulls the curtain aside and looks out. Owen, unshaven, in his bathrobe, black socks, brown loafers, a baseball cap, with bare legs and a cigarette is watching over a four inch black plastic corrugated hose that runs from the RV, across the lawn to the curb and the sewer. Snots is on a rope anchored to the manger. The Santa, the busted reindeer and assorted trash bags are piled up on the curb. Owen takes a drag of his cigarette, spits and looks to the window. He notices Jack and Ianto in the window. He smiles and waves. Jack and Ianto manage forced smiles and waves.

Owen yells to them. "Shitter was full!"

Ianto smiles sheepishly. Jack sighs. "Have you checked our shitters, Tiger?"

"Jack, please. He doesn't know any better."

"He oughta know that's illegal. That's a storm sewer. It fills up with gas, pity the person who lights a match within ten yards of it." Jack shakes his head with wonder.

Todd comes out the front door in sweats. He's on his way for a run. He notices a strange odour. He looks to Jack's house. Owen smoking his cigarette, kicking the hose to keep it flowing. The RV's in the drive, Snots is tied to the manger. Owen sees Todd. He waves. "Merry Christmas!"

Todd is shocked. Owen leans down and picks up Jack's saucer sled. The bottom is worn clean through. He hurls it toward the RV, intending to keep it. Jack turns away from the window in disgust.

"You know, Jack, I have this terrible suspicion that he and Toshiko don't have any presents for their kids." Ianto admits as Jack recalls the conversation with Janet. "Rocky said something about Owen telling him that Santa wasn't coming this year."

"Janet said something like that last night. How could they not have anything for their kids?" Jack sighs.

"Owen's been out of work for close to seven years." Ianto sits and fiddles with his buttons.

In seven years he couldn't find a job?" Jack asks with incredulity.

"Toshiko says he's been holding out for a management position."

"Jeez, what a worm."

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A large, chain toy store jammed with last minute holiday shoppers. Owen and Jack are strolling down an aisle.

"How's the live bait business, Owie?" Jack asks casually.

"Can't complain. How're you doing?"

"Not that good, actually" Jack admits.

"Your company kill all them people in India not too long ago?" Owen asks as he squints at a price tag.

"No, we missed out on that one." Jack says with fake bravo, then adds "You're pretty well set so far as shopping goes?"

Owen senses that Jack knows he's been lying. "Can't lie to you, Jack. The truth is things aren't going good at all. I said I borrowed the RV from my neighbor? It's mine. We live in it. I sold off the house and the barn and the ten acres. All I kept was a 50 foot plot and the pigs and the worm farm. (angry) If I had back all the money me and Toshiko sent that T.V. preacher that was screwing the hockey players ..."

"What about the kids?" Jack's heart is overflowing for those poor kids.

"I sent the money to the preacher himself, his kids can fend for themselves."

"Your kids, Owie!"

"Oh, well, that's the bitch of it, Jack. I don't know what to do. We coasted into town on fumes. Gas money run out in Kankakee." Owen slumps.

"Jack takes a depe breath "Ianto and I want to help you give the kids a nice Christmas. "

"I couldn't do that, Jack"

"No, we insist" Jack places his hands up in defense.

"I'm not one for charity, Jack." Owen bristles, seemingly genuinely offended.

"I know that Owen, but it's not charity. It's family." Jack smiles as he places a hand on Owen's shoulder in a brotherly way.

"I don' t know ... "

"If you don't tell me what they want, I'll get the stuff on my own." Jack is playful now as he sees Oen start to fold.

"Boy, this is a surprise, Jack. Just a real nice surprise." Owen reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of brown paper grocery bag. "Here's a little list. Alphabetical starting with Toshiko. And if it wouldn't be too much, I'd like to get something for you, Jack. Something real nice."

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Janet's hand opens a door marked, DEC. 24. Behind the paper door is a candy cane. Janet leans and licks it.

.

A beautiful sunrise. Except for the RV and the dog tied to the manger and the Santa and the broken reindeer on the curb, the house looks great.

Gifts are placed beneath the tree. A floral centerpiece is placed on the table. Potatoes are being peeled. Rocky is not happy as Toshiko combs his hair. Art ties his Christmas tie. Janet lights the Christmas Candles with glee… like a little pyromaniac. A place is set for everyone at the table as the day clicks through to dusk.

Owen puts a ribbon around Snots's neck.

Jack and Scout are helping an elderly woman, Aunt Estelle, and her husband, Uncle Lewis into the house. Janet's following behind with their gifts. Uncle Lewis is in his late eighties, cranky, stooped, and dressed in a tweed suit and sucking on a long cigar. Aunt Estelle's also in her late eighties, four and a half feet tall, wearing a well-worn mink stole, a polyester pant suit and a hat. She's taking two-inch steps, clinging to Jack. "Don't throw me down, Jack."

"I'll try not to, Aunt Estelle." Jack grumbles to himself as he imagines hefting her through the air like a sand bag or something. Aunt Estelle is now a skeleton. Jack calls into the house "We're here!"

Say, Jackie, me and Estelle figured out the perfect gift for you." Uncle Lewis coughed out.

"Gee, Uncle Lewis, you didn't have to get me anything." Jack says with mild alarm as he glances back at his dower looking daughter and the large box she is carrying.

"Dammit, Estelle, he guessed it!" the old man cackles, then coughs some more.

Ianto, Toshiko and Jenny come into the foyer from the kitchen. Aunt Estelle lights up as she sees Ianto "Oh, that was fun! I love riding in cars."

Ianto helps her off with her coat as Jenny and Toshiko greet her. "Aunt Estelle, you look so wonderful. Hello, Uncle Lewis. "

""How do, princess." Is coughed back as her outstretched arms for a hug gets a coat that smells faintly of cigar smoke.

"Hello, Estelle. Lewis." Jenny embraces Uncle Lewis. The rest of the family crowds into the foyer.

Lewis shifts his cigar in his mouth to keep it from setting Jenny's hair on fire. "Watch the stinkeroo! I don't want you to burn down your wig."

Janet tugs on Scout's coat to get his attention. He looks down at her. "Who're the old geezers?"

"That's your Dad's and my Dad's great aunt and uncle."

Janet looks them up and down then huffs "What's so great about 'em?"