Struggling Forward - 9. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year:

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

Blu opened his eyes.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“What the…” Blu sighed.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“Blondie,” Blu tried to rouse Kyle by kissing his neck.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“OK, what the fuck is that?” Kyle sat up practically launching Blu off the bed, “Oops, sorry Babe.”

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“S’Okay,” Blu said rubbing his head, “Dizzy.”

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

“Khan, get that,” Kyle pointed as he opened the door, only Khan buried his head under Kyle’s pillow. “Seriously?” Kyle shook his head, “Babe our watchdog only goes on duty after he’s fully awake I guess…”

Nan poked her head through the gap in the door, “Oh, you boys are awake,” said the worlds most annoying woman.

“Mhmm,” Kyle rubbed his eyes as he tried pushing the door closed.

Nan pushed her way further into the room and looked at Blu still in bed, Khan laying next to him with his head under the pillow, “Where’d you sleep Stud?” pinching Kyle on the ass. Kyle jumped at Nan’s assault.

“NAN!” Blu yelled at his grandmother, flinging the covers aside, forgetting he was naked, as he climbed out of bed.

“Uh… Babe,” Kyle rolled his eyes and pointed towards Blu’s family jewels.

Blu looked down his body, “Oh,” then looked around for a pair of pants, he found his flannel lounge pants and tripped over as he put his leg in. “Oof, Shit!” Blu’s legs came up in the air to finish getting his pants on.

Khan crawled across the bed looking over the side at Blu, “WHOOOF!”

“I guess the mighty watchdog is finally awake. Did you bring that brochure for the retirement home?” Kyle stared at Nan before setting his eyes on Blu.

BONK! BONK!

Nan cracked Kyle on the head with her wooden spoon.

“I think Mom needs to get rid of the regular coffee and sugar,” Kyle rubbed his head, “You got our attention with the damn wooden spoon banging on that old pot, Nan, what do you need at this hour of the morning?”

“Nothin’ really just wanted to see who was up,” Nan about-faced and left the room.

“What the… everyone’s up now,” Blu shook his head, “silly old woman.”

Blu looked at Kyle with one eyebrow raised, “Save water?”

Kyle nodded his head and was out the door in a flash, “Race ya,” He shouted over his shoulder. The boys raced to the bathroom, bouncing back off the door. Kyle tried the handle again, it was locked.

“Damn it,” Blu said under his breath.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Hurry up shit-head we want to take a shower,” Blu yelled through the door.

“Don’t talk to your Mother like that Blu,” Doug yelled back.

“Sorry, Mom,” Blu called back sheepishly, “can you let us know when you’re done?”

“Go.Away.Blu!” Doug yelled.

Kyle grabbed Blu’s hand dragging him back towards their room as he made a grimacing face, “Umm… you don’t…” Kyle shook his head, “They wouldn’t be? Would they?”

Blu shrugged his shoulder, “I don’t know, we were gonna, so I guess they probably would too,” he answered nonchalantly as he pushed Khan off the bed and climbed back in.

Khan grabbed the blanket growling as he back stepped taking the blanket with him.

Kyle laughed, “I guess he was having his private time with the blanky.”

Blu grinned, “Come back down here and we’ll have our own private time.”

“What about the crazy pot lady?” Kyle glanced at the door expecting Nan to barge in any moment.

“Pfft, leave the door open, it will give her a thrill,” Blu said waving his hand at the door.

“Uh…” Kyle glanced at the door, “My name isn’t Kaleb, I prefer to keep my junk to myself.”

*****

Later that morning Kyle was sitting in the breakfast nook eating a bagel studying his laptop when Lily entered the kitchen with a sheepish look on her face, “coffee is brewed you might need some energy?” Kyle smirked.

“Hmm… Thank you, Kyle,” Lily said with her red-tinged face, walking to the coffee maker, “What are you boys doing today? Are you going to brave the mall?”

Kyle shook his head, “We wanted to talk to Dad about going car shopping with us. Blu’s car is a bit tight on space for hauling our stuff around, especially musical stuff. We thought if we got an SUV it would offer the room we need for hauling and when we travel.”

“Oh, that sounds nice, an SUV would probably make your life easier. You’re not going to have two cars, are you? That would be silly, all the running costs and rego and insurance,” Lily brought her coffee to the table pulling a chair around to see the laptop to help Kyle look.

“Blu insisted on trading his car in on the new one so we had a down payment, that way we wouldn’t need a co-signer,” Kyle scooted over making room for Lily as he scrolled through various SUV’s on the laptop. Kyle stopped scrolling when he saw a loaded 2015 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4, “There that’s perfect for Khan and us. What you think Mom?”

Lily smiled, “I like it, but make sure you take Doug with you. I don’t want you boys falling prey to those car salesmen,” She answered seriously.

“We’ll talk to Dad and see if he can ride along, if Blu ever motivates himself out of bed. Khan took his blanket when Blu kicked him outta bed,” Kyle chuckled remembering how Khan was curled up with the blanket clenched in his teeth.

“I’ll rustle the two up for you, you find a second choice in case this one doesn’t work out,” Lily pet Kyle’s arm and moved away from the table to find her family. Kyle kept looking through the laptop making notes about other motor vehicles in case they couldn’t manage their first choice.

Blu walked into the kitchen, over to the coffee maker, “You need a refill Blondie?”

“Ahh,” Kyle checked his cup, “Yeah just a half Babe.”

Blu leaned with the coffee pot to top up Kyle’s mug, “Find anything good?” he asked kissing his fiancée’s cheek.

Kyle smiled from the kiss, “Ya, a dealer over the next town, here look at this,” Kyle pulled the 2015 Ford Explorer up on the screen turning the laptop so Blu could see.

*****

Doug and the boys walked around the Ford Dealership’s parking lot Kyle spotted the Explorer from the internet. Kyle grabbed Blu’s hand as he dragged him across the lot, “Look, Babe,” Kyle pointed at the Gray colored Explorer, “It’s perfect looking, don’t you think?”

Blu circled the car, looking at it, he tried to open the door, but it was locked. The three guys looked around for a salesperson. A man wearing a cowboy hat, a blue button down, cowboy boots and a pair of Levi’s sauntered over to them.

“Howdy Folks,” The man tipped his hat, “I’m Cletus T. Jenkans. That sure is a purty truck right there, ain’t she?”

Kyle quietly snickered poking Blu in the ribs, whispering, “Do ya think his Mom is his wife?”

Blu stood next to Kyle trying not to laugh, he looked away trying to school his reaction, letting Doug handle the negotiations. Kyle leaned into Blu to say something else, Blu pinched Kyle, he was barely keeping it together. Doug glared at the boys then turned to the salesman smiling.

“Yeah, she is, we are looking for a family type truck,” Doug said jokingly.

“Oh yes siree,” Cletus ran his hand over the hood of the Explorer caressing the truck, “Which wuna these heer boys is makin’ you a Pappy?”

Kyle snickered pointing at Blu, “He’s hopin’.”

Blu lifted his hand, “That’d be me,” he answered, pinching Kyle again.

“Awe you gots you a Philly back home?” Cletus walked over placing a hand on Blu’s shoulder.

“Uh… more of a stallion, but what can you tell us about this truck?” Blu answered.

Cletus stared at Blu and let his eyes drift to Kyle giving him a questioning glance, “You?” Kyle nodded. “Well, uh… She here is purty powerful has 3.5 liter, 6 cylinder, 6 speed automatic,” Cletus said patting the hood.

“Cruise Control?” Blu asked.

“Yesum,” Cletus mumbled.

“Air con and heating works?”

“Yeppers, she’s certified,” Cletus nodded.

“Miles under 35000?” Kyle blurted.

Cletus nodded, “31,236 miles.”

“Had all her services, logged and done by the dealer?” Doug scratched his chin wary of the salesman.

Cletus puffed out his chest and crossed his arms, “Done right heree at this lot.”

“What about the interior, leather?” Blu asked.

“She’s real leather, not that fake stuffs,” Cletus opened the door with the keyless remote running his hand over the headrest, “Give her a feel, sheez smooth to touch.”

“ABS braking and traction control?” Blu enquired.

“Uh huh, and new all tearain tires we jus’ put’em on,” Cletus walked over giving the tires a kick.

“What about a test drive?” Doug asked.

“I gots the keys right here lemme run up and grab us a deal’r plate,” Cletus jogged off in the direction of the office. A few minutes later a winded Cletus placed the plate on the truck, “Heres the keys I gots ta sit up front as passenger, but we can all go. Who’s driving this fine gurl?”

“One of you boys should go first, Kyle maybe, you’ll probably be driving the most,” Doug pointed out.

Kyle smirked thinking about his earlier adventures at driving taking the keys he hopped in the driver's seat. Kyle stared into the rearview mirror, “Babe is your seatbelt on?”

“Yes!” Blu said through gritted teeth, “Drive it like you stole it Blondie,” he said gripping the fuck me dead handle above the window.

Kyle started the engine giving her a good rev’ and snickered, “And we’re off,” the tires chirped as the tread grabbed to the asphalt. Kyle drove at the top end of the speed limit but had Cletus’s eyes bulging by the time they pulled back into the dealership parking lot.

“Well done Kyle, I see the defensive driving course and driving lessons didn’t go to waste,” Doug squeezed Kyle’s shoulder.

“Yeah Blondie, way less scary than it used to be, no one would believe you only got your license this morning,” Blu smirked watching for Cletus to react.

“Shh… Babe, you weren’t supposed to say that. I’m not sure the ink is dry yet,” Kyle couldn’t keep from laughing, “She handles like a dream, great on the corners, even that brake check went rather nicely I reckon Cletus will survive to sell another day don’t you Cletus?”

“Uh… I has a busy day heres. So’s you ready to do’s some paperwork?” Cletus prodded the group along.

“Well I have a Ford Taurus, what kind of trade-in can we get for that?” Blu asked the man.

“Well is it here on the lot?” Cletus rubbed his forehead.

“Yep,” Blu pointed to his car.

“Keys,” Cletus held out his hand taking them from Blu. Cletus took the car for a quick test drive and returned. He pulled out his pre-owned car value book and studied it for a moment, “I reckon I could offers ya $1,500 best I can do’s.”

“Hmm… I don’t know,” Blu’s eyes moved to his car again, “what can you do on the price of the truck, it’s two years old, and a new one is only five grand more.”

Cletus pulled a folded stack of papers out of his rear pocket looking at it, “I, uh… well… I can knock off $2500. That there truck has all the bells and whistles.”

“Give us a minute, please,” Doug asked Cletus.

“Shure,” Cletus nodded as he headed toward the coffee machine.

“Boys this is the first vehicle you’ve looked at, you don’t have to get one today, we can keep looking. I’m not saying don’t get it just make sure you’re happy with it.” Doug advised the boys, the car seemed to be in pretty good shape, the only other concern was with the financing. “Will you be able to afford the payments, do you think?”

“Yeah, I’ve thought about that. I can try and pick up a few more students on the weekends which should help until the whole trust fund issue is settled to take care of tuition,” Kyle smiled, “Plus everybody is working now so a lot of the financial burdens will ease up.”

“And this truck, have another look through the SUV, sit in it a minute. Ask each other questions, will Khan be comfortable, will your instruments fit and be easily accessed? What about the comfort of the seats on a long drive. I did notice that it has a nugget warmer, so that’s a tick in the pro list,” Doug laughed at his own joke. The two boys looked at the other confused, “Seat warmer, geez, are you two sure you’re smart enough for college,” Doug griped rolling his eyes and shooing the boys into the car.

Kyle wrapped an arm around Blu as they both stood staring at the vehicle, “What do you think Babe? There’s plenty of room for Khan as he grows up and more than enough space for instruments. And you can’t forget we get built in ball warmers.”

Blu chuckled, “I like it, it was a smooth ride, comfortable seats like lounge chairs. If you’re happy let’s see what they can do with financing. If we can get the farm boy to throw in a tow package, you never know when we’ll need to tow something.”

The boys walked toward Cletus’s desk and sat down. Kyle leaned forward in his chair placing his elbows on the desk, “Cletus let’s cut to the chase, you’re gonna knock off $5000 from the asking price. We’ll get rid of Blu’s car ourselves, plus you bein’ a good ol’ boy you’re gonna throw in a tow package. We want a certified safety inspection done by the mechanic, and we’ll finance through you. We drive away today, no messing around. How’s that for a done deal?”

Doug stood off to the side impressed with Kyle’s demands, he thought maybe he’d have to step in, but Kyle was doing okay by himself.

Cletus picked up his paper with car prices and punched something into his computer, “Well you’s drives a hard bargain, but I reckon we can do’s $4000 plus that tow package,” Cletus stuck out his big paw for a shake.

Kyle shook Cletus’s hand, “Let’s git’er done,” Kyle chuckled at himself.

After about a half hour of paperwork with both boys signing their names over and over again, and Doug agreed to co-sign the loan, the SUV was safety checked and detailed before Cletus handed the boys the keys.

*****

Christmas day arrived with snow falling heavily outdoors, the entire family gathered around the Christmas tree with the fireplace crackling in the background. Lily had Christmas music playing softly in the background, as the family joked and laughter filled the air. The house was filled with the smell of pine and gingerbread which Nan made earlier.

Kyle’s smile reached ear-to-ear, “This has been a great holiday,” Kyle kissed Blu’s cheek and stood up, “I need to grab the present’s I got everybody, I’ll be right back.” A cheerful Kyle returned dragging a bag of gifts as Blu walked back into the living room carrying his own gifts.

Kaleb smirked at his brother and Blu, “So which of you are dressing as the fat red bastard? I’m not wearing any costume with Khan around,” Kaleb shook his head as he grabbed Davis’s hand and kissed it, “Your ass is too cute to dress as Santa.”

“Shut it, Kaleb, or I’ll take your gift back and see if we can’t send you to a Christian summer camp,” Kyle chided Kaleb causing Davis to smirk.

Blu laughed so hard he had to run to the bathroom, “Sometime’s Blondie,” Blu yelled over his shoulder as he ran from the room.

“Here, Mom and I will do it together, but we aren’t wearing a costume,” Doug said, picking up his wife’s hand and kissing her palm before resting it on his cheek.

“Who wants their presents first?” Doug asked.

“Oooh, me, I do,” Nan said jumping and wiggling around in her chair.

“Okay Ma,” Doug knelt down next to the tree and gathered her gifts together and pulled them in front of her. Blu sat down on Kyle’s lap snuggling while they watched Nan open her presents.

Nan opened her presents one at a time, a nice sleeping set from Lily and Doug. Nan thanked them and moved to the next gift, smiling as she opened a bottle of ‘Pleasures’ perfume from Liv and Charlie. She spritzed some around grinning. Then she unwrapped driving gloves from Kyle, and from Blu, she received bail money, which earned him a thanks and a cuff on the back of the head, issued by Nan executed by Kyle. Nan smirked at Kaleb and Davis as she opened their gift, a box of coffee cappuccino condoms and a year’s subscription for ‘Hustler.’

“Eureka!” Nan screamed and launched herself at Kaleb and Davis. The boys braced themselves for the incoming of the flying octogenarian. She squeezed both of them within an inch of their lives, then sat right there between them, refusing to move an inch.

Kyle knelt under the tree gathering Doug and Lily’s gifts, he handed them a rather large box from Nan as they opened the wrapping paper they found a Keurig coffee machine. The next package was filled with a variety of flavored coffee pods from Blu and Kyle. Charlie and Liv’s present was crystal looking coffee mugs with their names etched on them. The final package contained two stainless steel Keurig travel mugs, which were from Kaleb and Davis. Doug and Lily agreed their joint present to each other would be a weekend in the Pocono Mountains where they are renewing their vows.

Doug went back to being Santa, he pulled a bunch of gifts over to Liv and Charlie. They had received quite the haul. Lily had gotten a little over-excited being able to buy for girls, along with the gifts from the rest of the family. They both were given clothes, scarves, bath salts, and certificate for a couples massage.

Chris sat quietly in the corner of the living room, Kaleb stood up and walked out of the room returning to a larger size box. Chris sat up as Kaleb placed the box in front of him. He tore the metallic looking wrapping paper open exposing the lid, as he picked the lid up he found a card on top of the cellophane. Chris opened the card which was from Charlie and Liv, inviting him to be their roommate for the duration of college which caused him to get weepy, after a few sniffles he picked up the cellophane.

Kyle stopped Chris, “Before you go any further Chris are you gonna accept the girl's invitation?” Chris nodded his head, and Kaleb and Kyle both smiled, “Good, we hoped you would so the rest of the present is from all of us for you.”

Chris started pulling the packing out of the box, he pulled out an emerald and black colored comforter with a matching sheet set for his bed. There was another box inside that held a desktop waterfall that appeared to be made out of stone and had a bluish light that shined through the water in the picture on the outside of the package.

Kaleb leaned forward with his knee bouncing from all the excitement, “We thought you would like to have something that brought a calmness to your room,” he said trying to explain the waterfall.

“It’s all great guys,” Chris wiped his watery eyes, “I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me.”

Kyle reached into his bag pulling out an envelope handing it to Kaleb, “This is for the both of you.”

Kaleb opened the envelope pulling out a gift certificate for a weekend getaway at a local inn, “Thanks, Kyle we really appreciate it.” Kyle tossed him a small rectangular sized box just bigger than a ring box, “What’s this?” Kaleb opened the box pulling a set of keys out if holding them up with a questioning look.

“I know you probably had something else in mind. We are giving you my old car, since we now have the SUV. It will make a good first car while your learning and until you can afford something better,” Blu slapped Kaleb on the shoulder, “Blondie and I thought you might need something to get to and from work now that you’re no longer a punching bag for kids parties.”

Kaleb looked at the keys in disbelief, “Thanks, Blu, I really appreciate it. You really are made to be with my brother.”

Doug, Lily, and Nan gave the boys a bunch of clothes and a gift certificate for Texas Road House to eat dinner along with a gift card for the local movie theatre.

Kaleb looked at Nan’s name on the tag from his gifts, “Hmm… that’s really quite a tame present from you Nan,” Kaleb chuckled.

“Hmpf! Don’t I know it, my son the Scrooge, wouldn’t let me get you, boys, a male stripper,” the older woman spat out with venom.

Davis winked at Nan, “The strip club downtown is having an afternoon buffet, and there are boys on tonight, that’s our present to you Nan.”

“Can I give Blondie his gift yet?” Blu said bouncing in his seat, he couldn’t wait any longer.

Kaleb shook his head, “Not yet I didn’t give Davis his gift.” Kaleb handed Davis a small square box.

Davis unwrapped the box lifting the lid off exposing a gold chain and bracelet, “Leb,” Davis looked at his boyfriend, “Thank you.”

Davis took the necklace out of the box and gave it to Kaleb to put around his neck. Kaleb secured the chain and kissed Davis’s neck. He then fastened the bracelet around Davis’s wrist, the two boys hugged. Davis reached under the tree and pulled out a wrapped package for Kaleb.

Kaleb opened the gift, inside were cookbooks entitled Boy Meets Grill, Bobby Flay’s BBQ Addiction, Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain cookbook, Bobby Flay’s Burgers Fries and Shakes, which were all written by Iron Chef Bobby Flay. Kaleb smiled as he looked at each of the books, “Thank you so much, you know how much I love cooking,” Kaleb chastely kissed Davis.

“Congratulationsnicegifts! Ya done, good!,” Blu ran into Nan’s bedroom and come back with a huge box and laid it in front of Kyle, with a massive grin on his face. The family all seemed to lean in closer to see what Kyle’s gift was. Blu had not told anyone, not even his parents, what he’d gotten Kyle. He’d ordered and paid for the gift over the phone and had it delivered to Nan and sworn her to secrecy. He knows she’s a loud mouth and boisterous, but she would always keep a secret for him.

Kyle opened the wrapping paper exposing a guitar case, he unclipped the latches on the case exposing a mahogany Gibson acoustic guitar. Kyle picked it up stroking his hand over it gently, pausing to stare at the mother of pearl crown inlays, “Wow, Babe it's beautiful, I’ll name her Sable, I can’t wait to take her to school and show her off.” Kyle let his fingers strum out Silent Night, “She sounds beautiful, I’ll even be able to record some tracks with her since she’s wired for sound.” Kyle placed his guitar back into the case and secured its latches. “Thanks, Babe,” Kyle pulled Blu in for a passionate kiss until Kaleb sighed acting bored, “Oh shut it, Leb,” Kyle rolled his eyes.

Kyle reached into his bag pulling out a present sporting blue metallic wrapping paper with a silver metallic ribbon with a card attached to it and handed it to Blu. Blu kissed Kyle before opening his gift, carefully pulling the tape back as to not ruin the paper. Once the wrapper was off, he found a fancy display folder, with the logo for ‘The American Writers Museum’ in Boston.

Blu was moved at the thoughtful gift opening the folder to find, a couples membership for the center for two years, “Thanks, Blondie, this is so… I can’t believe you… thank you.” Blu wrapped his arms around Kyle hugging tightly, then pulled back and kissed his fiancee. He kept inspecting the membership information, “Can we go when we get home?” Blu asked in amazement, hey look there’s even guest passes so ‘Frick and Frack’ can come with us.”

“You’re welcome, ya, we can go and take dumb and dumber with us,” Kyle chuckled as Kaleb glared at him, “You might wanna open the last part of your gift too.”

“Huh?” Blu grunted still looking at the information in the folder. Blu hadn’t noticed the other gift he put beside him, he was mesmerized by the first one. He picked up the book beside him. Blu’s eyes went blurry from gathering tears, in his hand, he held a hardcover, First Thus edition, published 1891, of Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol,’ with illustration. Blu’s favorite book as a kid.

“Holy moly, where’d you find this Blondie?” Blu said his hands running over the hardcover.

Kyle shrugged his shoulders, “A bookstore in town that day I took off to do Christmas shopping.”

Blu flew at Kyle forgetting other people were in the room until he heard;

“Go get ‘im, tiger,” and Nan whooping and hollering. The two boys sat up and looked around, wearing the loveliest shade of red on their faces. “Now that’s a kiss, you’re definitely my Grandson.”

Blu dragged Kyle off to go sledding as a distraction so the rest of the family could make Christmas dinner and prepare Kyle’s birthday cake.

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“Happy New Years,” rang out through the house.

The couples swayed and kissed as ‘Auld Lang Syne’ played over the radio.

Kyle whispered into Blu’s ear, “To the first of many more Happy New Year’s we get to spend together Babe,” Kyle kissed Blu tenderly.

“Love you, Blondie,” the boys kissed again, Blu smiled at Kyle, “We’re getting married this year my gorgeous man.”

“Yeah,” Kyle said dreamily, “You ready to be related to that?” Kyle pointed to the drunken birthday boy who was grinding on Davis’s leg.

Blu laughed, “Is it possible to divorce brothers?”

Kaleb stopped grinding on Davis, “I heard that Blu!”

“You should have, I said it loud, shit-head,” Blu laughed, pulling Kyle closer to him.

“Ya… ya… whatever…” Kaleb did a very dirty version of Dirty Dancing that caught Nan’s eyes.

Blu let go of Kyle and grabbed Kaleb by the ears, then pulled his face toward him and kissed Kaleb on the lips, then pushed him away, “Happy Birthday, dipshit.” Blu laughed his ass off all the way back to Kyle.

Kaleb wiped his mouth off making gagging sounds, “Blu you kiss like the sister I never had.”

“You should see what else he can do with that mouth,” Kyle said back, taking Blu in his arms to dance again.

“Uh… ya… Happy New Year,” Kaleb waved dismissively as he grabbed Davis’s hand and dragged him toward their room.

Blu fake yawned, “So tired,” he said to Kyle “Maybe we should hit the hay too. Are you tired?”

Kyle smiled mischievously, “Ya,” Kyle stretched his arms and wrapped his arm around Blu’s waist, “Goodnight everybody and Happy New Year.”