PART FOUR

Well by the time, they arrived back in Blue Cove, Jarod and the family almost collapsed. He and Miss Parker packed the presents away and after making sure the youngest were care for by Lambourni's family, took Jeremiah to the farm to get a Christmas tree.

One of Lambourni's daughters agreed to make the more complicated recipes was a relief. Miss Parker was not that good of a cook and she would make them some biscotti. Jarod started to imagine him and Miss Parker swelling up and it was not due to her pregnancy either.

They went through the whole row, estimating how much of the roof they had to cut off to accommodate the correct tree. "There are artificial ones," said Jarod.

"No we need a real one, a very bushy one," said Miss Parker, but since it was near the end of the season, the pickings were not that good.

Since there were none suitable, they decided to try another farm and spent all afternoon going from one tree farm to another until Jarod suggested they go on someone's farm and cut a tree there.

That was successful, until the farmer caught them, but it being Christmas and they looking so desperate and tired, decided to throw in some old Christmas decorations plus some egg nog

So Jarod and Miss Parker returned to Blue Cove and started on their first Christmas tradition together. They made the short cake, they decorated the tree, they put the presents under, and each checked on the other to see if anyone would dare to open it or if their present moved. (Jarod suspected that perhaps Miss Parker would foist one of the bunnies on him.)

On Christmas Eve, they were at Lambournis, having a real Mexican Christmas, and singing or attempting to sing — that is Jarod and Miss Parker — Christmas carols Lambourni being a tenor would not transpose them for Bass Baritones and Altos. Miss Parker had a hard time trying to reach the high notes, so most of the time they mouthed the words. Jarod sung very low. You could hardly hear him.

Christmas morning they got up early for the Christmas Mass and since Lambourni invited them to his church, they decided to go. The children were more interested in their presents.

"Gun," said Adrian.

"Gre boom thing?" asked Jarvis his eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Be quiet. They're about to sing,"

"No organ," said Patricia pointing to the front.

"Well they're all very good singers and don't need one," their mother explained.

"For Fada and Moda," said Olivia, "Fada, moda need lot help." And she started giggling.

"Thanks a lot," said their father gritting his teeth, "thanks a lot. Besides I didn't have much to sing about when I was little"

They could hardly wait to get home after Lambourni had practically had the whole congregation shake their hands and had a Christmas after service treat of coffee, juice, and some cookies the Ladies Auxiliary made. After that, they rushed home and right to the presents under the tree.

While Miss Parker and Jarod put on some Christmas CDs which thankfully they had not partook in, the children tore open their presents, disappointed that they did not get any AKA 47s, grenades, or bows and arrows. The Lego blocks were a good substitute, and the dolls for the girls, Barbie Dolls and Miss Parker had dressed them all to look like the Barbie Gang.

Sydney came over with presents for all of them — Miss Parker having told him that if he did not bring a present over for Jarod, he wasn't invited. Broots gave Jarod a Play Station 2 which Jeremiah hogged most of the afternoon. Debbie wasn't with him. She was over at Lambourni's, but she brought some small items she considered married people should have, the usual set of dishes, screwdriver set, and the Hungry Hippo game, but she forgot one thing, the earplugs for the adults.

"Do you want some more cake?" asked Miss Parker.

"I think my sweet tooth's getting to large," said Jarod who put his hands into the nut bowl.

"That's yours," she said and saw the expression on the face. If he wasn't a Homo Dominant, he imagined he was going to cry.

She watched as he opened the package, the first present he ever received in his life. And how his eyes sparkled and he had a real smile, not that usual snicker.

The holster was in calf leather, and the revolver, well it was the latest model.

"A Magnum, I figured you'd want that. Has a range of — "

"I know," he said with a smile.

"I loved the perfume. Violets and orchids, my favorite. How did you?"

"I had it especially made."

They opened up the presents they got the children to get for them. Of course, they were small things, a box of candies, two scarf and glove sets, a DVD of Cinderella — well they knew what that was for

Angelo, now Timmy who thanks to the Dominants was now on his way to be a concert pianist, dropped in after supper. He had been with his family. He was their only child, but he had a young woman with him, Monica, which he had met at a rehearsal. She looked quite nice, although she kept bumping into things. Jarod learned that she couldn't see two feet in front of her and she didn't want to wear her glasses. He told Timmy of where he could get a discount on contact lenses. No one missed his ability to absolve personalities. He was back to being normal.

When he left, Miss Parker asked, "Did you enjoy all this?"

"Yes, but next year, we'll start a little earlier."

"Right."

And with that, they both collapsed on the bed. They didn't bother to undress. They were so tired.

THE END