The Interview by Lee_Brazil

Author:Lee_Brazil
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Ordinarily, I'd have been bouncing in my seat or teasing Dad to let me drive. He never would, though. This car was his pride and joy, taken out of the garage for special occasions only. Christmas shopping was one of those occasions. Why he felt brave enough to park it in the mall parking lot on the busiest shopping day of the year, I didn't know. But since that first time when I was twelve, it was a treat I wouldn't question. Driving to the mall in the classic car, listening to the engine purr, I wished each year I'd get the chance to drive it one day. That day had never actually come, but I still dreamed of it. This car was more than half the reason I'd bought my own Mustang. Didn't look like I'd ever share the ride with a son of my own, but still.

This year I wasn't bouncing. I was realizing that I hadn't done much shopping for Cris either. I'd gotten the kids their graphic novels, my brother his Douglas Adams. In fact, I'd chosen perfect books for everyone else. I hadn't picked up anything for Cris. I knew why, too. I couldn't stare at his gifts under the tree, knowing they'd still be there, wrapped in shiny paper and tied with silly bows, when all the others were gone on Christmas morning.

It was our tradition, his and mine. My family always opened gifts after Santa's visit, in the early hours of Christmas morning. Cris's family had the same tradition. We never spent Christmas morning together as a result. We always had Christmas Eve. We celebrated Our Christmas the night before and went to our respective families the next day.

I trailed Dad around the mall, pointing out new game systems, smart phones, tablet computers, and diamonds. He nodded, bought pretzels and soda, cookies—even though I reminded him that Mom was baking more as we shopped. He compared sweaters, and videos, and collected bags and boxes.

I watched. Frowning people hurried to and fro, whispering furiously into cell phones and pushing their way into stores. Everyone was single-mindedly focused on getting in and getting out. No one looked like they were having much fun. They didn't seem to have the holiday spirit any more than I did.

Except, in the DVD store, while Dad searched for the latest teen vampire flick, I found a little out of the way corner near the documentaries, leaned against the wall, and watched. It was crowded. The theme of the season seemed to be—when in doubt, buy a DVD. A little ways away, a young boy—maybe five or six—stood with his mom, clearly torn between a military movie and a kid's cartoon.

"You only have ten dollars, Mason," his mother said patiently. "Which one do you think Daddy will like?"

The boy looked reluctantly from Platoon to GI Joe. He put the cartoon back on the shelf and patted it gently, then handed the other to his mom with a smile. I watched them wander off to the checkout, where the woman spoke briefly to the clerk.

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