Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 17:16:50 -0800 (PST)
From: GH JUNKKIE <gh_professional@yahoo.com>
Subject: "A Christmas Present for Daddy", Pt 3

"A Christmas Present For Daddy"
Part Three

By gloryholeJUNKIE
gh_professional@yahoo.com


I had Jamie help me clean up our playroom while Justin stood there just
looking at us and sucking his thumb. Making our ornaments for daddy wasn't
as messy as maybe it could have been but I guess that was because grandpa
had been there making sure me and my brothers didn't get into another
glitter flight (one time we did that and my mommy was vacuuming up gold
glitter for weeks)!

It didn't take Grandpa Louis too long to come back into the room. It was
funny but he seemed sort of nervous but excited, too, as he came into the
room and made sure that he locked the door. I could see his pants looked
all kind of tight and taut in the front making his bulge really stand out
even more than when he'd left the room.

He said that our playroom looked real good and that we did a good job
cleaning up. Then, looking at them on the floor, he told us that we should
place our ornaments inside the storage chest built into the windowseat to
make sure they didn't get crushed or anything.

But even as I put all three giant paper ornaments in it, I was more
interested in what grandpa was hiding behind his back. He came into the
room with his hand behind his back and he seemed to be holding something so
we couldn't see.

So the second I shut the lid on the windowseat, as I tried to look around
Grandpa Louis' body, I asked, "Is that the Christmas present for daddy?".

Jamie joined in and tried to look going the opposite direction. But grandpa
just kept laughing and moving to his left and then his right, not allowing
us to see what he had in his hand.

"No, no, no!", he laughed. "My, but I love your curiosity, though! You are
like Santa's little elves, aren't you??!"

"Are we giving that to daddy?", Jamie asked as he hugged grandpa around his
waist; his face almost crushing itself into where grandpa made a real big
bulge.

Grandpa stroked Jamie's head using his free hand as he replied, "No my
lil'elf, Jamie. This isn't for your daddy."

Then Grandpa looked at us and said, "I thought you boys understood. Daddies
and granddaddies prefer presents you can do for them. So what's behind my
back is not something you would ever give to your daddy."

"Then what is it?", I asked, once again trying to sneak a peek behind
grandpa's much bigger frame.

"They're not anything you'd give your daddy", Grandpa Louis said. "But you
might get some ideas by watching them!"

And with that, grandpa revealed what he held in his right hand - two DVDs.

I was confused and looked at my little brothers who looked equally lost by
what grandpa was showing us.

"Go turn on your television, Jonathan", grandpa said to me as he nodded his
chin toward the 27-inch set which was in the corner of our playroom.

As I did so, he explained, "I was thinking that you boys might get some
ideas for what you can do for your daddy's present...and these might just
help."

"What are they?", I asked as I used the remote to turn on the DVD player.

Grandpa smiled as he approached me and set down the two different DVD
holders right along side the t.v..

"Oh look, Justin!", I said excitedly as I pointed to the one facing up on
top. And Justin, still sucking his thumb came up to where we stood. He took
his thumb out of his mouth and smiled big as he said, "Dwum, dwum!"

"That's right!", I said. "'The Little Drummer Boy'!" I then looked at
grandpa and said, "That one is one of his favorites. Along with 'Rudolph,
the Red-nosed Reindeer'."

"Woodolf!", Justin chimed in as he did anytime he heard anyone mention his
favorite reindeer.

Grandpa chuckled and said, "Well, I know that. A little elf of my own told
me that you boys might like this.". He then crouched down to where me and
my two brothers were standing and wrapped an arm around me and Jamie as he
said, "If you can keep a secret, this should be your first one. Okay?"

Jamie and me both nodded and in hushed voices said, "We can, grandpa. We're
good at secrets."

"Okay then", he replied as he looked all about the room as if looking for
something...or someone. "Well, that's good. Because you know who's suppose
to be coming down the chimney tonight...and he's got spies!"

"Spies?", Jamie and me both asked at the same time.

"Huh-ha", grandpa replied as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Santa has
spies watching little boys and girls...to make sure they don't do something
naughty...like not keeping a secret that they promised to keep."

"He does?", I asked, incredulously as I, too, looked around the room.

Grandpa Louis nodded as he whispered, "Hmmmhaaa. Elf spies who make sure
little boys who were on Santa's 'Good' list all year long don't go and do
something at the last minute that would put them on Santa's 'Naughty'
list. And you know what happens to little boys on the 'Naughty' list, don't
you?"

Me and my two little brothers all nodded at the same time as Jamie slowly
uttered, "He doesn't bring them any presents!"

"That's right", Grandpa Louis stated. "But we don't have to worry about
that. Because all three of my lil'troopers have been good all year long!
And Santa knows that."

"So we can't go ruining it now!", I said to my little brothers. "I'm
telling you Jamie and Justin. We can't go telling anything about any of
this to anyone...ever! Hear me? You two aren't going to ruin our Christmas,
right?"

Both Jamie and Justin nodded and promised never to tell.

Grandpa chuckled to himself as he gave both me and Jamie a squeeze around
the waist. He then he stood up tall again as he stated, "Those are my good
little boys! So now here's Secret Number One: I have to wrap that DVD up
after you watch it. It's a present from your grandmother and myself. But I
thought you'd get more use out of it now."

And with that, grandpa slid the disc into the player. "Why don't you boys
settle in and watch this", grandpa said with a big grin. "And by the end,
you might have ideas for the best present you can give to your daddy
tomorrow."

"What's this other one?", I asked as I picked up the second DVD that had no
labels or pictures or anything on it.

"Oh, let's say we just start with Justin's favorite for now", Grandpa said
as he picked up my littlest brother and sat him on his lap as he settled
himself into the big, cushioned glider my mommy used when she'd read us
stories.

We watched "The Little Drummer Boy" and at the end of it, grandpa said to
us, "See, boys? Wasn't that nice? That little guy, Aaron, didn't have any
money or anything else to give for a present. So instead, he did something
real nice. And it was the best gift he could have ever given."

"But I can't drum", Jamie said, almost crying. "We can't drum or nothing!"

"Yeah, we don't know how to play any other instruments either", I said,
feeling downhearted. I thought for sure we would never find something we
could do for daddy's present.

Grandpa rocked Justin one last time in his lap before getting up and
setting my baby brother onto the seat. As he put "The Little Drummer Boy"
back into its holder, he said, "Don't look so concerned you three! There
are all sorts of things any little guy can do for his daddy...or
granddaddy."

He then just smiled at us and told us to do the same. Then he nodded his
chin to the DVD that had no picture or title on it, and said, "Why not play
that other one there while I return this to grandma's suitcase before she
gets back with your dad and notices it missing."

Grandpa Louis unlocked the door but then closed it firmly behind himself
before going downstairs to the guestroom that he and grandma always used
whenever they spent a few days with us even though they didn't live very
far from us.

Jamie stood next to me as I pulled out the second, shiny disc.

He asked, "What do you think's on it?"

I just shrugged my shoulders not having a clue. "I dunno. I guess it must
be something we can do for daddy's present maybe?" Although I didn't know
what to expect, I was all excited - perhaps by not knowing what we'd see
next. After all, my daddy always said I was the most adventurous one, even
though little Justin was always putting his hands where they didn't
belong. And mommy was always telling Jamie not to hug every man who came to
our door. She even had to say that to Jamie just like a week earlier when
the UPS man came to deliver some Christmas boxes. She apologized to the man
because Jamie wouldn't let go from hugging his thigh! The man just laughed
and said he didn't really mind since he had two sons of his own.

So as grandpa's mysterious DVD started to play, I felt excited butterflies
all in my tummy. And I didn't even know why.

The moment that the disc went to the menu part, me and my brothers heard
something outside. We ran to the windows and looked out to see my daddy and
grandma were home already. I was so unhappy because we still hadn't really
figured out the perfect thing for daddy yet.

Suddenly, Grandpa Louis appeared in the doorway of our playroom and looking
at the t.v. set, said, "You boys better turn that off for a minute. Your
grandma and dad are back. You don't want either of them knowing what you're
planning, do you?"

All three of us shook our heads and Jamie said, "It's secret!"

"Seek-wet", Justin echoed.

Grandpa Louis winked at us and said, "Those are my good boys. If grandma
asks, show her the ornaments you made, okay?"

Knowing we were all "Christmastime conspiring" with grandpa, Jamie and
Justin all nodded.

"And, better turn that off", grandpa added. "'Don't need grandma finding
out we opened a Christmas present early, right?"

So I quickly turned off the DVD player along with the t.v. while grandpa
disappeared to go back downstairs again.

Then me and my brothers heard a noise outside again and rushed back to the
windows. Daddy was driving away!

We ran down to the kitchen where we saw grandma was already unloading a bag
of groceries. She looked at us and smiled big, "Oh, I heard you boys got
all creative and made such beautiful ornaments while I was gone!"

Grandpa Louis gave us a wink as he stood at the fridge putting a gallon of
milk away. He said, "They certainly did, Donna. These are very talented
little grandsons we have here."

"Mine's purple", Jamie said as he looked at the bag of chocolate chips that
grandma pulled from a bag.

"Wed", Justin said as he sucked his thumb.

"R-ed, Justin. His is red", I said. Being the eldest, I felt it my duty to
help instruct my little brothers.

"Oh, they sound beautiful!", grandma said. Then as she caught her breath,
she said, more to grandpa than to us, "That store was mobbed. I thought
we'd be in a check out lane for another hour. I told Tom to drop me off."

"Where is Tom?", grandpa asked as he folded one of the brown grocery bags.

"Yeah", I chimed in. "Where did our daddy go? We saw him drive away again."

"Oh, he had some last minute things he needed to do", grandma said with a
smile. She then turned to grandpa and said, "There were some things he
wanted to get at Target...which I feel bad because that's also bound to be
a mob scene I am sure."

"He's buying us more stuff?", I asked with a huge grin.

"Oh, I didn't say that, did I?", grandma said.

"Why else would daddy have to go to Target?", I said, as if I knew
everything on the planet.

"They sell light bulbs there, too, don't forget!", grandpa said, trying to
help out grandma, I guess.

"And dog food, as well", grandma stated. "I think you were running low on
food for Ginger and Noodles", she added, as our two terriers barked upon
hearing their names.

I kept looking at grandpa, as if asking him when we could go back upstairs
to see the special DVD he said might help us come up with an idea for
daddy's Christmas present.

He seemed to notice but, keeping it secret, acted as if he didn't.

"I want to see those ornaments you boys made", grandma said. "But first I
have to start making some chocolate chip bars before I can make dinner. But
I want to see them as soon as I put dinner in the oven. Is that okay?"

"Sure grandma", I said, not much caring since I knew the ornaments wouldn't
be daddy's real present if Justin, Jamie and me could come up with a better
one by morning.

"I'll keep these elves out of your way", grandpa said to grandma as he
pointed for us to go back upstairs. "We have some more Christmas business
to get done up there, anyway."

"Oh, my!" grandma said to me and my brothers as her eyes widened. "That
sounds very important."

"It is, grandma", I said. "And so we can't be interrupted or anything!"

"Oh, yes, yes! I know the rules!", she replied as she sorted through the
items she bought to make the chocolate chip bars. "No one is to be
disturbed while on official Christmas duty! I know that one."

"That's right, Donna", grandpa said to here. "So no disturbing us until
we're done!"

"No snooping", Jamie said.

"No snwoopy", Justin echoed.

I topped off the rules by saying, "And no peeking, no listening or anything
else, too. Swear?"

"Oh, you know I do!", Grandma Donna said as she held her hand to her
heart. "Besides, I'll be too busy down here making gooey chocolate chip
bars for tonight's Christmas Eve snack party in the family room."

With that, grandpa said, "You boys head on up. I'll be there in a minute."
And like three flying reindeer, me and my brothers bolted upstairs to the
playroom again.

I rushed to turn on the t.v. again and told Jamie to get out of the big
glider chair. "Grandpa will probably want to sit there", I said.

The menu to grandpa's mysterious DVD again displayed as we sat on the floor
waiting for him to return.

A minute or more later we heard him climb the stairs. At the same time, the
phone rang and me and my brothers bounced up, thinking it might be our
mommy calling. Maybe she could get home after all. But as grandpa stood in
our doorway, he called downstairs to grandma who had picked up the phone,
"Is that Jill?" (which is our mommy's name)

"No," grandma shouted back. "It's Helen De Blanchette. Do you remember her?
The one with the husband who's on oxygen? She's calling from Fort Myers."

Grandpa whispered to us, "Just friends of your grandma calling. They'll be
gabbing for an hour." He then quickly came into the room, all excited and
locked the door. He even jiggled the knob to make sure it was locked.

"Make sure that the volume is set low, Jonathan", he said to me as he went
to the windows and closed all the shades. "So we don't want to wind up
breaking our own Christmas rules by being so loud that others can hear."

"Can we watch this now, grandpa?", I asked as I squirmed on my little butt
while fidgeting with the remote.

"Sure", he answered. "Just give me a second to get ready." He adjusted his
pants as to make them comfortable before he sat down on the glider. He then
patted his knee inviting Justin to hop up. Sucking his thumb, my little
brother crawled back into grandpa's lap.

Then, seeing they seemed settled in finally, I again, taking charge, asked,
"Can I push play now?"

"Yes, sir! You may now push play", grandpa joked as he gave one of his
naval salutes. Grandpa had been a Navy officer before he retired and became
a real estate broker.

I pushed the button but there was just a white screen for the longest
time. I turned to grandpa and said, "It's blank!"

But he just smiled at me as he bounced Justin onto his other leg and
scooted around a bit to again adjust his pants. "Oh, give it another
second", he said. "It's a special one."

We had to sit through a few more seconds of a white screen. But then
suddenly a picture came on. It was a forest and someone seemed to be
carrying the camera while he walked because everything was a little shaky.

You couldn't see the person or anyone else. You could just hear the
crunching of leaves on the path and the person's breathing.

I turned to grandpa and said, "It's like one of our home movies, isn't it?"

Grandpa Louis grinned and said, "Not one of yours." He then motioned for us
to turn our heads around again to keep watching.

The person walking went on and on down what seemed to be a not very easy
path.

"It looks like Fall", I said. "All the leaves are brown and red."

"And yellow", Jamie added.

"Weh-woe", Justin echoed.

"October", grandpa stated breathlessly as he stared at the screen although
he seemed more excited than I had ever seen grandpa ever before.

"That's when we went trick or treating by Casey's house...", Jamie started
to say.

"Shhh, shhh, shhh!", grandpa said with a smile. "No talking right now. Just
watch. Okay?"

I laid on my stomach, my head in my hands as I watched the screen some
more. The person seemed to be going real far and deep in the forest along
that thick, forever trail. It was pretty but sort of boring. Then, minute
or more into it, you could hear a person, a man, say, "Maybe over there?"

"Yeah, let's try over there", another man's voice, the man with the camera,
answered.

"That sounds like you, grandpa!", I said as I looked back to where grandpa
sat with Justin sprawled across his lap. But grandpa just winked as he put
his finger to his lips.

The two people you couldn't see walked some more and then stopped. The
camera jostled some but the picture was real sharp and clear. It looked
like maybe it was just noontime although it's sort of hard to tell in a
forest.

You couldn't see a lot other than the trunk of the tree where they stopped
and four legs and four feet.

"Those are your hiking boots, grandpa! And you always wear those beige
pants when we go for walks", I said proudly, now certain it was our
grandpa's legs to the right of the picture - the person holding the camera.

Then, the camera shifted upward and slowly scanned up the legs of the other
man who was wearing really tight blue jeans. The camera sort of slowed and
even stopped for a second when it reached the man's bulge and me and Jamie
started to giggle. I looked at the man's bulge and it looked enormous so I
giggled some more even though I couldn't stop staring at the picture.

"You like that, huh, you two?", grandpa asked quietly but with a grin.

Jamie and me just giggled some more which got Justin giggling, too. But
then the camera moved upward some more to the man's work shirt and then to
his face. He was someone I had never seen before in my whole entire life.

"Who's that, grandpa?", I asked. "He has one of those funny beards."

"That's called a goatee", grandpa said, almost breathlessly as he
smiled. "And he's just someone."

"A goatee? Why do they call it that?", Jamie asked.

But before grandpa could reply, I chimed in, using my most big brotherly
tone and said, "Because. Can't you see? It's like a goat beard."

"Shhh!", grandpa said as he again sort of adjusted his slacks. "Now come
on. Hold all questions until later."

The man with the goatee looked straight into the camera and smiled. He
looked nice enough I suppose even though grandpa wasn't going to tell us
who he was.

"This is usually a good spot", the man said as he smiled at the camera.

"Looks pretty good", grandpa's voice replied as the camera zoomed in on the
man's mouth. It was sort of funny and I couldn't help but say, "Your finger
slipped, grandpa!"

But grandpa just smiled as the man on the screen opened his mouth real
wide. The camera zoomed even deeper into it, past his teeth!

"So how many been in there?", we heard grandpa's voice ask on screen.

The man closed his mouth and his eyes looked right into the lens as he
said, "Maybe five...six...thousand?"

"Whoo", we could hear grandpa say.

"Yeah", the man said with a smile. "Somewhere's in there. Maybe more but
I'd suppose six thousand is conservative."

"Since you were three, right?", we heard grandpa ask using the same
breathless tone he had had with us all throughout part of the afternoon.

"Yeah, three", the man with the goatee said with this real naughty smile on
his face. "Earliest I can remember, at least", he added as he laughed and
then licked his lips.

"Niiiice", we heard grandpa's voice say. "Step dad?"

"My dad...then my step dad", the man answered as he smiled and looked
around some. You could almost see how cold the air was in his breath. "Then
mom's boyfriends throughout the years..."

"All before you were ten, right?", grandpa asked as he zoomed out the lens
to show the man from head back to his bulge.

"Yeah", the man laughed. "After that, I was hooked. It was up to me to find
more."

"And you sound like you sure found them. Six thousand of them. Real nice",
grandpa said as he again zoomed back to the man's mouth. He then added,
"And all right in there, eh?"

The man sort of looked like he was embarrassed but laughed, too. "Can't get
enough, man. Can't ever get enough", is all he said to grandpa's camera.

"What do you say I help you with six thousand and one?", grandpa's voice
said on the movie.

"Yeah, that sounds real good, man", the other, goateed man replied as his
eyes dropped down.

The camera jostled some more as it panned 360-degrees around the
forest. Nothing but trees and leaves could be seen anywhere. The camera
then returned to the goateed man but just for a second.

Grandpa's camera then moved downward but this time along grandpa's own
jacket as it pointed at all four of their legs again. Then it pointed
straight down to where grandpa's beige hiking pants made a real big bulge.

It was such a confusing home movie to me. I mean, it looked nothing like
the ones my mommy took.

And as the camera held still there, just focused on these four legs and
grandpa's bulge, my mouth opened as big as it could get.

I even saw that Jamie, who was sitting on the floor right next to me, had
his jaw real wide open, too, as he stared at the same picture that appeared
on the t.v. next.



TO BE CONTINUED...


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