The Present

by

Angelise and Megan McKay

Copyright October 2000

Two pair of curious eyes stared out the window, their warm breaths misting over the glass panes. Blaine laughed, looking down at his faithful collie, Lady. His joy at discovering the present Santa had left him overwhelmed his young seven year old heart.

Blaine turned back to the window, anxious to share this Christmas magic with his good friend Trent. He really liked his buddy Trent; they did everything together. They were best buds forever. Biting his tongue in serious concentration, Blaine crawled up on a nearby chair and wrote across the foggy moisture on the frosty windowpane.  

Blaine + Trent

Jumping off the chair, he threw his arms around Lady and wrestled her down on the floor. The next few minutes were spent in quiet play with his collie. After being pinned for the third time, Blaine gave up and graciously surrendered to the winner's revenge . . . a sloppy, wet tongue bath. Throwing his arms around Lady, he gave her a solid smooch on the nose and wiggled out from beneath her large furry body.  

Grabbing the dog by her collar, he whispered in her ear. "Let's go wake up Mom and Dad. It's way past time to open presents."

The two co-conspirators crept down the hallway, making sure their approach was absolutely silent. Unmindful of the closed door, Blaine fell to his knees, opened the door and crawled into the room. Lady followed behind, adopting the same posture, slinking across the carpeted floor on her belly.  Their faces materialized on Sean's side of the bed, quietly staring at the sleeping man. 

Blaine turned to his companion and whispered a question.  "Do you think Dad's awake?"

A finger stole forward and poked the snoring man in the ribs. Sean stirred slightly and turned on his side, facing the two intruders. Lady took advantage of his owner's new position and offered a drooling kiss. The man murmured a protest and swiped at his face but remained asleep.

Blaine looked at Lady. "I think if we don't do something big, Mom and Dad ain't never getting out of bed." 

Blaine backed up to the doorway and took a deep breath. With a mighty warrior's battle cry, he launched himself across the room and onto his dad's side of the bed.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Time for presents!!!"

Sean and Allanah Matthews sprang straight up in bed, stunned into instant wakefulness. A set of scrawny arms circled their necks, shutting off any hope of supplying their drowsy brains with oxygen. Loud smacking kisses were bestowed upon each parent's cheek as Blaine hugged them enthusiastically.

Allanah screamed and ducked back down under the covers, shielding her naked body from her son's curious eyes. She pulled the blanket up to her chin and stared in disbelief at her wicked child. Words of admonishment were strangled as a pink canine tongue offered up a good morning kiss.

Sean smiled down at his indignant wife, watching as she maneuvered Lady away from her pregnant tummy. His wife lost the war however, as both son and dog surrounded her with more kisses and hugs. Slipping out of bed, he hastily slid on his discarded pajama bottoms.  Pulling his son away from his wife, he reached across the bed and presented his blushing lover with her robe. Throwing Blaine over his shoulder, he moved to the fireplace and stirred the flames, adding another log to the blaze. He laughed at the protesting screams of his son and swatted his behind.

With a loving smile on his face, Sean watched as Allanah eased from under the covers and made herself decent. Stretching out a hand, he assisted her to the nearby rocking chair and tucked a thick quilt around her slightly swollen tummy.  "I love you," he whispered as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Turning his attention to his wiggling son, he tossed Blaine back on the bed and initiated a major no-holds-barred pillow fight. Sean was soon outnumbered as four furry paws joined the battle. He cried, "UNCLE!" and threw his hands up in the air, signaling his defeat.

Blaine laughed and snuggled within his father's loving embrace. He turned and smiled at his mother, his blue eyes bright with love. Suffering through several kisses from his dad, he then wriggled free and crawled across the bed to be closer to his mother.  Reaching out he placed his hand on her pregnant tummy and whistled when he felt his unborn sister kick. He leaned out over the edge of the bed and kissed the spot where he had felt his sister's presence before grinning up at his mother, basking in her happiness and joy.

Blaine screamed as his legs were grabbed and his body was snatched back into the arms of his father. Sean rasberried his son's abdomen before letting the little monster escape.

"Merry Christmas, Blaine."

Blaine moved to the window and pulled back the curtains.  "Look Dad! Snow! Santa gave me my wish . . . SNOW! And lots of it. Me and Trent are gonna have so much fun."  Blaine turned back to his dad. "Can I call Trent now? He's gotta see this!"

Sean began to speak but was interrupted by the phone. Stretching his hand out, he snagged the cordless and answered the early morning call. A second later, he smiled and handed the headset to his son.

" 'lo?"

"Blaine, Blaine!! Did ya look out your window? Did ya see it? Isn't it so cool? Can I come over now? Can I come play?"

Blaine threw an arm around Lady and moved over to sit in front of the fireplace. He sprawled out on his stomach with his dog by his side. Waving at his parents as they vacated the room, the young boy nodded his head, acknowledging his mother's instructions.

"We're going to fix breakfast. Come down where you're through."

Turning his attention back to his caller, Blaine spoke into the phone, a huge grin on his face.  "Merry Christmas, Budman. Did ya see what Santa left us? How soon can ya get here, Trent?"

Blaine listened as his friend quizzed his own parents. A frustrated sigh came back at him.  "Mommy says I gotta eat breakfast first. And then she says I gotta wait cause we're all coming over together."  Trent's voice dropped low into a whisper. "I got you a present, Blaine. Hope you like it."

Blaine laughed and hugged Lady close. "I got you one, too, Trent and you're gonna love it! Hurry up and get over here, ok?"

Trent's yell blasted over the phone line. "MOM! Let's eat!" His voice settled back down to normal. "See ya, Blaine."

Several hours later found the remains of a holiday breakfast scattered over kitchen counters. Sean began the clean up as a knock on the front door sounded throughout the house. A whirlwind blew by him, as he moved toward the foyer.

Blaine jerked open the door and found himself tumbled to the floor by his best friend, Trent. He hugged the smaller boy to him, holding him close for a few seconds. Lady joined in on the welcome, slobbering her happiness all over Trent's face.  Trent's parents, Devin and Tracey stepped over the two boys, giving up their coats to Allanah's outstretched hands. The two couples embraced and moved into the living room.

Blaine divested Trent of his snowsuit and pulled him toward the giant Christmas tree. He dug around in the pile of presents and pulled out a wrinkly wrapped box. He thrust it at Trent and waited shyly for the younger boy to unwrap it.  Trent hugged the gift to his chest and ran over to his father. He pulled Devin down to his level and whispered in his ear. The older man smiled and reached behind him pulling out a small present with a wobbly, off center bow. Trent ran back to where Blaine was sitting in front of the fireplace.

"Here. Here's yours." He offered up the gift and stood back, his foot tapping nervously on the wooden floor.

Blaine pulled Trent down bedside him and put his arm around him. Holding him, he slowly, one handedly, opened the package. His eyes grew enormous when he saw what was inside.

"Trent. I . . . you shouldn'ta. This is your favorite. I mean . . . you never ever let noobody touch this." Blaine looked down at the smaller boy. "I can't believe you're giving this to me."

Trent's small hand crept inside Blaine's larger one. He squeezed it and smiled. "You're my best bud, Blaine. I wantcha to have it."

Blaine returned the squeeze and stared with awe at the gold plated Pokeman trading card. He carefully traced the plastic casing that held the treasured item. A tear fell down his face and he swiped at it, embarrassed to let his friend see how touched he was. He pulled Trent close and buried his head in the small tyke's thick blonde hair.

"Thanks, Trent. Thanks a lot. It's the best present I ever got."

Trent wiggled free and laughed at his friend. He then grabbed his present and ripped the wrapping paper away. His squeal of delight echoed across the room. In his hands he held a battery powered dump truck. He clasped the truck to his chest before jumping on his friend and hugging the daylights out of him.

"You're the best ,Blaine. The best! Mommy, Daddy . . . look what Blaine gave me!"

Blaine watched as his friend proudly showed his present to his parents. He smiled at the young boy's excitement. Minutes later, Trent was back, pulling the older boy off the floor.

"Let's go outside, Blaine. Mommy said we can go play now."

Both boys were soon dressed snuggly in their winter snowsuits. Gloves and boots were slipped on as were thick woolen caps. The two boys raced outside followed by one happy collie.  Hours sped by as snowmen came to life, snow forts took shape and snowballs became accurately thrown missiles. Joyful laughter floated in the crisp morning air as the two boys played every winter game they could think of.

Early afternoon found Sean easing his wife off his lap as he left the kitchen to check on the two boys who had grown extremely quiet. He stopped to refill Devin's coffee cup and offer Tracey another piece of pecan pie. Laughing at his best friend's newest joke, he stepped into the living room and felt a happy warmth invade his heart.

There on the floor in front of the fireplace were the two boys, sound asleep. A smile stole across his face at the sight of Blaine tenderly embracing Trent, his thin hand resting over the smaller boy's heart. Beside the two children was Lady, lending her furry warmth to her sleeping companions.

His breath caught as he listened to his son's drowsy voice whisper to his friend.

"Love ya, Trent.  Love ya lots."

To be continued...

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