For JJ, Christmas was always a time where his Mom set up their tiny old tinsel tree and bought the pre packaged roast turkey. He'd try to wait up all night on Christmas eve, too excited for the presents the next day. Not even his dad yelling at him to "get the hell to bed" could ruin it, but in the end, sleep always won over. His Mom would leave his presents under the tree. Always a pair of old new shoes, some toys from the thrift store. It was never much but it was special. It wasn't perfect. His parents still fought but less than normal
Christmas wasn't going to be like that anymore. Not since his Mom left 5 months ago. The memory still fresh in his young mind. It was late at night when JJ had been woken by sounds coming from the other room. He'd hopped out of bed and quietly crept out of his room. He could see his dad sprawled on the sofa, snoring loudly. Light from his parent's bedroom filtered through the half open door. He could see his Mom packing clothes into a suitcase, the dim lamp casting shadows on the bruises that surrounded her eye. "Mom?" he whispered. She looked up suddenly, as soon as she met his eyes she dropped her gaze down and continued packing. She moved quickly around the room, grabbing jewellery and trinkets from her dresser. "Mom?" he asked again a little louder. She looked up again, annoyed, "Be quiet JJ and get back to your room". She shoved past him on her way to the bathroom. He followed her in, still with a questioning look adorning his face. She ignored as she collected more personal items into a bag. He reached his hand out to her arm, she cringed away from his touch like it burned. He was confused and wanted to cry. Finally she turned to him and said evenly, "Go back to sleep, everything is fine". JJ listened that time and went back into his room and went to sleep. When he woke in the morning she was gone.
Things had gone down hill for JJ since then. His dad was always in a bad mood. Drinking and taking whatever he could get his hands on. Washing was never done and dinner was never cooked. When his dad would get his ass to whatever job he had that week he'd leave JJ alone at the house to fend for himself. When his Mom was there and she had to get to her job at the motel she'd at least ask Hollis to watch him while she was gone. But that was then.
He was in the third grade and wasn't a baby anymore. He knew this Christmas was going to be different. He still hoped that it would be, but he wasn't stupid, despite what his dad and teachers told him. JJ also had a new best friend this year. He'd never had a best friend before. He used to play with his cousins sometimes but his family wasn't very close anymore, all they do is yell at each other when they get together. He was known at school for being the wild one, always getting into trouble, joking around and constantly getting into fights. The teachers didn't even bother to ask where the bruises came from anymore, they just assumed it was from a playground scuffle. Or maybe they just knew the truth and didn't care. JJ's new best friend went by the name John B. and as soon as they were put together in the seating plan they'd become inseparable
JJ was the instigator but John B always went along with his hair-brain plans. He always laughed when JJ pranked one of the teachers and always stood up for him when he got caught. John B would do so much for the little bouncing blonde haired boy. On the second day of being best friends he noticed that JJ didn't have any lunch again. So after that he started sharing half his ham and cheese sandwich with him every day./span/span/p
The weather was starting to get cooler and Christmas lights in figure 8 started going up. JJ's jacket was a few sizes too big for him. A hand me down from an older cousin. His long pants were too small so he just stuck with wearing shorts. One day after school the two boys went back to John B's house to hang out. They dumped their bikes and raced to the front door, JJ trying to trip John B then ended up being wrestled to the dirt by a laughing said boy. They heaved themselves up and slammed inside the house. Big John's in the kitchen with a beer. He chuckles when he sees them trampling in, shoving and joking loudly with each other.
"Hey Bird, you fellas hungry?" Big John asked, already opening the fridge.
"Always Big John!" JJ answered over John B. Ten minutes later the two boys were seated on the porch munching on peanut butter and celery sticks. "Hey JJ do you wanna come help me and dad set up the tree on Saturday?"
"Sure, as long as you feed me I'm there".
JJ met up at John B's house on Saturday. Big john came out of the shed holding an old cardboard box. John B ran over excitedly.
"Come see JJ, these are our decorations. Look at the Santa one and this one I made in kindergarten!" JJ followed at a slower pace, he wanted to be excited too but just couldn't help feeling a little down about it. He could remember last year, helping his mum put cheap plastic baubles on the tree, she'd sing jingle bells and ruffle his hair.
John B was busy sorting through the jumble of baubles and stars while Big John was swearing at the Christmas lights. JJ was tasked with putting the tinsel on. He chose a gold glittery string and started to wrap it around the tree. Big John finished untangling the lights, he put on some records and went into his office, leaving the boys to finish decorating.
"Whatcha doing for Christmas JJ?" John B asked after minute. He didn't know all that much about JJ's home life. He knew that he didn't have a mum like him, he knew JJ didn't have food for school and he knew that Big John didn't like his dad.
"Probably nothing, just a tree and some turkey or somethin, it's not a big deal. Maybe I'll just come to yours and steal your presents like the grinch". He joked at the end. John B threw a green bauble at the blonde, he ducked and they laughed.
"Hey dad" JJ was standing in his house later that day, looking at his dad drinking on the couch. His dad looked up and shrugged. "Whaddu want kid?" He slurred in reply, taking another swig of his beer. JJ nervously twisted the hem of his unwashed t shirt. "I was wondering... well I was wondering bout Christmas, we gunna have a tree and presents like normal or somethin?" He said all in one breath. Luke Maybank's eyes met his as he sat up. "You think I'm gunna go to all the damn effort of fucking Christmas? You think I got the money to get you some damn presents, like you even deserve them you little shit. All you do is fuck around and cause trouble." His dad ranted at him. "You think your fucking mother ever really cared bout you, she realised how useless you were from the start, thats why she's gone. Don't you ever think your'e gunna get christmas here again." JJ stared at the worn floorboards, trying not to cry. His dad stood suddenly and made his way out to the back porch, yelling about all the work he needed to get done, shoving JJ into the wall as he went. JJ didn't bring the subject up again.
"It was Christmas eve. John B was sitting at the kitchen counter with a bowl of hot tinned spaghetti. His dad was in his office again. The house lights were off, only the fairy lights from the tree illuminated the room. The wind outside howled and John B shivered beneath his sweater. There was a sudden knock on the door. John B stood up, it was late and it was Christmas eve, who could be at the door? He considered getting his dad but then the knocking started again, a little more frantically. John B leapt off the stool and made his way to the door, he reached it and yanked it open. In the doorway, shaking and dirty stood a blonde messy haired 9 year old.
"H... hey John B" JJ managed out, trying on his signature grin. He had mottled bruises along his small jawline and a cut above his right eyebrow leaking blood down his face. John B grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. "What happened to you JJ?! Did you walk all the way here?".
"Uh haha yeah, it wasn't that far really, I um fell off my bike earlier." He paused, running a hand through his hair, "could I uh... could I stay the night?" John B looked at him quizzically for a moment, his expression then changed to determination, dragging JJ through the house.
Big John was sitting in his office, immersed in maps and figures. He was thrown from thought by the sound of John B calling him from the other room. He stood and stretched, opening the office door. When he entered the lounge he was met with the sight of his son holding a cloth to his best friend's head. The two boys looked up at his entrance, JJ smiled sheepishly at him and saluted. "JJs staying the night okay dad." John B said while dabbing the cloth on the cut. Big John could only just nod, a little taken aback at his son's tone.
"Damn that Luke Maybank", he thought to himself as he studied the boy's face.
It was late into the night. John B and JJ lay half awake on the fold out couch under a nest of blankets. John B was buzzing with excitement for the coming morning.
"Hey John B?" JJ asked tentatively in the dark.
"Yea?"
"I'm sorry for messin up you and your dads Christmas. I'll go in the morning, I've gotta..." He was cut off by John B smacking him with his pillow.
"Shuddup JJ, course you're staying for Christmas, you ain't messing anything up dummy." John B couldn't see JJ's expression but could feel the slight shaking of his body beside him as he let go of pent up tears. They lay together staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours though probably only a few minutes as sleep overtook them both.
It was Christmas morning. The rooster was crowing and the pale winter light shone through the thin curtains. John B sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he leant over and shook JJ awake. "Hey JJ! JJ wake up it's Christmas!" He sprung out of bed and went straight to the tree. There was a small pile of wrapped presents at it's base. JJ joined him and couldn't believe it when he saw the gift tags with his name on them. "There's presents for me?"
"Course there are, look that ones from me, I got it special." John B replied. JJ grinned.
"You boys up already, I know its Christmas an all but you can't let me get a little more shut eye?" Big John ambled into the room yawning. He slumped down onto his armchair and smiled at the two kids. "Who wants pancakes for breakfast?" He asked. "We do!" John B and JJ chorused back.
"But presents first dad!"
"Let me make a coffee then presents."
Big John returned to his chair holding his coffee a few minutes later, catching JJ trying to peak through a gap in the wrapping paper to the presents. "Hey! Can't you guys wait five minutes. Sheesh, alright go ahead!" He laughed at the blonde. JJ and John B didn't need to be told twice, they each grabbed a present and ripped into them. John B ended up with a pair of new socks, a sweater, a couple of card games and best of all, in the big package was a whole new telescope. John B and JJ oohed and aahed at the object, touching it's shiny surface and wanting to set it up immediately.
"Thought you two would want to look at the stars, there's a book in there too, you guys can set it up yourselves later. not a bad present eh bird?"
"it's great dad!"
JJ's little pile of gifts consisted of a matching pair of new socks, a couple of new shirts, and a pre loved copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
"Loved that book when I was a kid, Tom and Huck remind me a bit of you two, just promise me you won't be running off and stealing boats".
JJ gently traced the cover, he thumbed through the worn pages and found Big John's name scrawled in the corner of the first page. He had really given him something special. "One more for you JJ!" John B held up a small messily wrapped package. JJ tore the paper open and found a small wooden beaded bracelet.
"Do you like it?"
JJ leapt up and hugged John B hard.
"I love it!"
After presents Big John made them all pancakes. They ate them with hot cocoa and marshmallows. They played John B's new games and watched Big John's favourite Indiana Jones movie. Big John went back into his office in the evening after making the boys some turkey sandwiches for dinner. JJ and John B then set up the new telescope, they grabbed a couple of blankets and went out to the dock. They sat huddled together looking up at the wide clear sky dotted with shimmering stars. It was quiet and cool.
JJ whispered to John B, "This was the best Christmas ever".