A Modern American Christmas by Susan Anthony-Tolbert

Author:Susan Anthony-Tolbert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8: Christmas Eve Day

Very early on the morning of Christmas Eve, Mr. Glamore decided to have his usual run. As he was leaving the house, he met Derek at the front door. After an exchange of greetings, the older man asked, “Would you be interested in running with me, Derek?”

“That would be great, sir.”

“How about ---- if instead of running around this community, we head over to the Park? I like those trails and I haven’t run them since the summer.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!”

Once in Mr. Glamore’s compact car which had been purchased as a consequence of down-sizing, the two began to talk. The older man was struck by the ease he felt with this young man.

Derek began the conversation. “I want you to know that my intentions are the best with your daughter, sir. I really like her and I won’t do anything to hurt her. She’s really mad at me right now though. So please don’t judge how it’s been between us until now, by how we’re getting on these last 2 days.” He laughed.

“Why is she mad?”

“Well, she’s a little bit of a Princess who wants what she wants when she wants it and academically she’s so smart she gets it.” He paused and sighed. “She wants from me what I can’t give her right now.”

“And that is?”

“She wants a boyfriend ---- a boy friend like her college friends have or whatever the term is now ---- someone to date and hangout with ---- and I’m in no position for that and she pissed at me cuz I won’t ----well --- can’t give her that. But I want you to know I respect her and I would never do anything to hurt her. If time and circumstances were different, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“I appreciate your candor, Derek. Unfortunately after Griffin disappeared I think her mother and, well, me too ---- we over-protected her. We didn’t know if someone had kidnapped our son and there was that abiding fear whoever did that might take Gabby. In retrospect, we should have eased up on the caution sooner.”

“It’s not just the overprotection. She really is naïve but naïve with a really good heart, Mr. Glamore. For example, she had no idea what was going on at the house. Come-on, like, ---- Gabby, ---- where is your head? She accepted my Mother’s explanation that the brown bags in the foyer on the marble table were for trick or treat. Who does trick or treat for Thanksgiving and for Christmas? And then when she was told they contained M&Ms, she thought my parents meant the M&M candies.” Mr. Glamore laughed softly and cordially but added, “Derek, I hate to be as naïve as my 19 year old daughter but what does it mean? ---- I get the part that one doesn’t have trick or treat bags in November and December but M&Ms?”

“Marijuana and Meth!”

“Oh, ---- oh ---- drugs!”

Derek studied Mr. Glamore. He was a slight man who came across as a bit of a worrier and possibly naive but very competent.

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