grabbed a few neatly wrapped boxes and sighed heavily.
the snow fell undisturbed, adding a slight melancholy aura to the world outside my luxury vehicle. opening the door, the cold rushed to greet me like a long forgotten loyal canine. it licked my face in its entirety leaving me already regretful for this trip.
i shuffled through the cold and snow to reach the front door. a door i used to know so well.
rang the doorbell with an extended finger from a full right hand.
no answer.
second ring.
i did a little shuffle to keep my feet warm and wondered why the hell mothers always get to take the kids.
i let her have the house and cars, all i wanted was my children. the children that i read to while she was asleep and pregnant. i fed them. they cried for me when they cried. but she got them.
thanks justice system.
before i could fully finish my mental rant, i heard the unlatching of locks from the other side of the door.
"Robert?"
"nah, santa. easter bunny. whoever i need to be to get the hell outta this cold."
"oh, sorry. sorry. come in."
"thanks."
i stepped in and slipped off my shoes without putting down the gifts. with the presents resting securely under my chin, i looked around the now unfamiliar house. walls re-painted. beautiful Black statuettes missing.
normally, i would have said something slightly snide but i decided to keep my mouth shut.
"a wife can be replaced, blood cannot." -chinese proverb
i kept my children in mind.
"i'll take the gifts..."
"no. i want to give my children their presents. "
"oh. well, i just thought you'd be tired."
"oh dear, sweet, wondrous woman, i am, in fact, tired of many things. but no amount of weariness will keep me from hand delivering these sweet gifts to my sweet children."
she stepped aside and i proceeded to where i knew the living to be, half-walking half-sliding on the hardwood floors.
my daughter ran up and hugged my leg without a word as she usually did. never much for words, that one.
"Mornin, Big guy." my son, evercool and effortlessly smooth. can't say i know where he got that from.
"has santa treated you guys well?" i asked the two.
my son nodded and my daughter remained silent.
"well, allow good ol saint daddy try to top him."
i set down the mound of presents expecting the children to rush to them and tear them to shreds. they didn't.
my daughter spoke somberly, "mommy told us that there is no santa."
i shot a glare at my ex.
"Troy said i should, they're getting old..."
i stood and got as close to that woman's face without seeming to be a threat, "next time you decide to alter the mindset of my children, whom i've worked so hard to train against your blissful ignorance, please, let me know. i'd like to be there. Troy isn't their father and should have much less say in these matters than i do, according to the courts that you so dramatically cry to. thanks."
turning back to my offspring, i smiled, stooped and sighed, "shes right, guys. santa isn't real. but your mother didn't tell you the entire truth, either. Christmas actually isn't even a Christian holiday or Jesus' birthday. there are certain things in this world that you're gonna have to question if you want the full truth. don't leave it to the likes of your mother to tell you everything. question everything, my loves. understood?"
"so santa isn't real?" my sweet sweet innocent daughter had finally been tainted by the evils of this world. in my irritation, i instantly thought to kill her mother.
"well, actually, saint nick, also known as santa, was a real person. but he was a bad bad man, he never even really gave out gifts!"
she gasped.
"i know! can you believe that?"
"but why is he so famous now?"
"you know, i don't really know. i want you to look him up and tell me next time i see you, okay?"
"okay."
"giving homework on christmas break now, dad?"
"the quest for wisdom is a never-ending one, kiddo."
there was a tap on my shoulder.
i stood.
"Robert. you know i don't like when you talk to my children wile they're adults. like they're going to understand..."
"seems like they understand to me. so you want them to grow out of santa but you're not ready to support their growth?"
"i don't apperciate you defacing my religion either."
"i said nothing about your skewed Christian views either, woman. i simply told the children what i know to be fact and that is christmas is not the holiday your confused relatives made it out to be. research it, give me a report stating otherwise and we'll debate that when you have actual proof."
she stood fuming.
i turned back to my main objectives, "alas, my loves, it seems that, yet again, your mother has nonverbally shortened my stay and i must depart. tomorrow is my day so we'll have plenty of fun then, eh?"
"i'll have my report then, daddy!"
"i'll bring this new game for us. and some comics."
"then i suppose i'll have plenty of food and movies. oh! have you seen this old one called "twelve angry men"? you'll love it, i promise."
"robert.."
i whispered loudly enough for all to hear, "see? i don't think she likes me to much. but you guys are my favorites. abbey, love, you remember the bleach in the milk trick, yes?"
my daughter nodded harshly and giggled while my son smiply smiled and kept himself occupied toying with nails on his toes. "i love you guys."
"we love you too, dad," in unison.
"do you love mommy?" abbey asked.
i chuckled, "i do, but blind love without insightful knowledge leads to failed relationships."
at the door the ex one said, "i don't know how you get her to talk like that."
"treat her like a human."
"shame you couldnt treat me the same way."
"shame you couldnt be human. Merry Christmas."
(excuse the spelling. wrote this between finals.) (insert copywright information. tbf2 productions stuff)
