Xmas 2022 - 8 of 12

You love the way your mom smells on Christmas Eve. She smells like a Starbucks. She squeezes you tight, then kisses your cheek.

“This is just so weird,” she says.

“Sorry,” you reply bashfully, pulling back. It’s almost seven o’clock. Kayla’s giving you a look. “Sorry,” you repeat.

“All right,” Kayla says with a shrug. “Keep your secrets.”

“I’ll be back before you’re even awake tomorrow. And I’ll make breakfast,” you promise, backing toward the door. “I love you both.”

“We love you too,” Mom says, still doing her best not to look worried.

You scurry out of the house and to your car. You did your part! You spent the whole day with them. And you’ll spend tomorrow with them. This should not be a big deal! You check your watch as you start the car and pull out, driving a little faster than you probably should… but it’s an hour to the city… then another half hour from the city to camp. So you’ve got some road time ahead of you. Fortunately, the Mariah Carey Christmas playlist is here to keep you company. And there’s not much traffic on Christmas Eve.

The hotel downtown is bustling, though. You bump past families laden with shopping bags, ignoring the elevators and sprinting up the steps. You run down the hallway and, yes, you are sweaty and ridiculous, but it doesn’t matter.

You pound on the door. Seconds go by. You start to worry. Then it opens.

“Hi,” you say to Ana, who stares out at you uncomprehendingly. A few sweaty hairs fall in your face. You blow them out of the way. “Put this on,” you say, holding up an ugly Christmas sweater that matches the one you have on.

“What?” Ana says.

“Just do it,” you insist, pushing into the hotel room. You try to put it on her, but she easily fights you off. As she dazedly puts the sweater on herself, you grab her bag from the bed. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” she asks. This whole situation is Fareeha’s fault. She and Angela are off doing something secretive that Ana won’t tell you about. You hope that means they’re naked and rolling around on a bearskin rug somewhere, but a lot of people from FUTA are into some weird stuff. It’s hard to know anything for certain. Anyway, Ana’s by herself tonight.

She has the sweater on. You’re twins! With her bag in one hand, you grab her hand with the other and pull her out into the hallway.

“Annette’s out of town,” you tell her. Ana is from Egypt. You don’t even know if they have Christmas there, but you’re going to give her some Christmas spirit. Or at least some sweaty, naked spirit in Annette’s bed to take Ana’s mind off Angela and Fareeha. Annette’s got a fireplace and a nice house and stuff. She said it was cool. Leaving Ana alone in a hotel would just be too sad. Maybe next year Ana will be more comfortable with meeting your mom.

She stumbles into the elevator and you slam the lobby button.

“Mistletoe,” you lie, pointing up.

“Huh?” she replies, and you kiss her.