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(Christmas)

We'd had such a great Thanksgiving and we told the boys not to plan on coming back for Christmas; they needed to be with their own families and friends. And anything they might spend on gifts, they should donate to a food pantry or other good cause. We sent packages to Jake in Korea, and Devon in Germany, of course. We were surprised how quickly we received thank-you letters from them. In Devon's letter to Jason was the suggestion that he come to Germany for Christmas. I was surprised how easily he shrugged it off, and I wondered why.

"So, it's gonna be just you and me," Jason remarked over supper.

"It's not the first time," I reminded him.

"Instead of putting up a tree-hell, there won't be any little ones around to enjoy it-I think we oughta spread a little cheer around the neighborhood."

"What've you got in mind?"

"Well, there's the nursing home, for starters. We've never been there; it's time we made ourselves known."

I grabbed a notebook and pen. Jason kidded me about being so organized, while he liked to do things more randomly. We visited the nursing home and came away with a list of suggestions for gifts for the residents, ranging from handkerchiefs to socks to slippers.

"This won't do," Jason said as he started scratching things off. Then he went to the phone and called the nursing home and asked for the supervisor. He arranged to have one of the nurses we'd met meet us at the drug store the next morning to help pick out gifts for the residents.

The drug store had a very nice gift department and we pretty much bought them out. Helen knew the residents well and helped pick out something special for each one; mostly toiletry gifts for both the women and the men. Then we went to the city's only department store, to the ladies department, where Nurse Helen helped pick out not just boxed handkerchiefs but slippers and very nice house dresses, robes in small, medium and large sizes. Then to the men's department where she selected nice slacks, dress shirts, robes and slippers. She worriedly asked at one point if she might be spending too much money. I told her not to worry about the money but I asked if she could round up others at the nursing home to wrap and tag each of the eighty-one gifts. She assured me she could. We bought a bundle of gift wrap for her to take along.

One of Jason's random ideas was to purchase a Santa outfit; he would be Santa Claus at the nursing home. He bought me an elf outfit, complete with tan leather boots, a bulky blouse and a hat with a tassel. I wasn't sure I would wear it.

"I don't look good in green tights," I told him.

"You'll look great in green tights. Give the ladies a thrill."

I put on the outfit.

"A tight assed college kid couldn't pull it off any better," he said with a huge grin as he eyed me up and down.

I took a look in the mirror, front and back. It wasn't so bad. In fact, it looked pretty damned good the way the tights hugged my thighs and my butt. But I was a little concerned how they fit in front.

"Damn, you haven't lost it," Jason said, eyeing my butt. "You've got the ass of a twenty year old."

"Make that thirty and I might believe you," I said. Then I turned around and we both surveyed my front in the mirror. "I don't know about these tights," I said.

"They're perfect."

"You're drooling! What's this going to do to those old women?" I said.

"Well, it'll get their heart rates up," he said.

Another last minute random idea was to pass out boxes of chocolates.

"If you don't think it would be too much," he said.

"No, it's a great idea. All cremes, though," I said.

"I meant the money," he said.

"Nonsense."

"Your parents would be proud of how you've handled your inheritance. You're a good steward, Brad."

"There's no reason not to be. We don't want for anything, do we?"

We had an absolute ball at the nursing home. Jason was perfect as Santa and I got a rousing welcome from the staff as his elf assistant. I mean, they gave me the once over, all around. One of the male nurses, especially. I was a little embarrassed. Later, he asked if I would consider playing the elf at his own Christmas party. I declined. Nurse Helen had done an outstanding job of wrapping and tagging the gifts. She had even wrapped them so each resident got two presents.

Jason's portrayal of Santa was memorable. We heard more than once from the staff, "We haven't seen these kinds of smiles in ages."

The director thanked us profusely. "They've never had this nice a Christmas."

One of the gentlemen used his walker to go up to the piano where he sat down and began playing Christmas carols. The nurses started singing and encouraging the residents to join in. They did, with gusto, very much out of tune except for one elderly woman who sang like a bird. I was amazed that her voice was so steady and strong. Well into the second song others began to drop out, till the lady was singing solo.

As things were winding down several cameras came out and for the next hour we posed for pictures with the residents.

"I can't believe the elf has upstaged Santa," Jason whispered.

"I can't believe how many of these women are feeling my ass."