christmas day

It is his first Christmas away from home. He is spending it in Beeville, Mississippi. At home, back in Vincent, Kansas, a fire is roaring in the fireplace and Aunt Junie has just arrived with her mince-meat pie. In an hour or two, his father will pull the turkey from the oven and slice it into submission, while his mother mashes potatoes and his two younger sisters, now 16 and 18, respectively, set the table. Twenty-three people, relatives and friends, are expected. The family dog, Junior, sleeps at the top of the stairs. Outside it has begun to snow. Three to five inches are expected. It’s 83, with 90 percent humidity, in Beeville. In 15 minutes, he will drive to the nearest Subway and order a foot-long meatball sub. He will eat it alone, while watching ESPN2. He should call home, but waits, instead, for them to call him. He is feeling sorry for himself. He feels as though he’s allowed to. This one day, if none other.