White Elephant’s Yuletides
It's something no child should ever have to see.
A memory burned into my brain for all of time.
Our house was all glass and shiny metal wrap.
I went to a private school.
Shoulda said that one first. It is much easier.
A man with a woman. But not just any woman. That was my Aunt!
Mom never talked about her much but I knew her face. I knew she couldn't visit because "Grandmother" had instructed as such.
And I knew "bad habits" were hard to break, especially beginning as bad orders from bad people.
Mistletoe. The kissing leaf.
Gross. I avoided the brain worm plant like the plague plastic or real. There was no taking the chance!
Lips together the pair slowly, dizzily pulled apart eyes utterly wrapped in each other.
If I'd known then what I do now, if I could have seen the future--
I would still do it.
Sipping my juice brought their attention snapping onto me. Done up all pretty in my black and green snowflake Christmas stockings, a plaid red dress with long black sleeves, and a glimmery, jangling clip to keep my hair in place and in center.
"Aggie! Aggie, umm you-- you saw right?" Auntie stammered, terror written across her face.
Expression unchanging and uncaring I called out for a packed tea room not too far away to hear.
"MAMA AUNTIE's FOUND A MAN!"
Said man laughed into his hand.
"I don't wanna keep him though."
I'd be much too jealous.
But by how everything had come to yelling and clipped, icy politeness by Secret Santa I had a feeling no one'd listened. As usual.
"Being just a bit dramatic?" Edith said, a smidgeon of sarcasm in an otherwise cool monotone.
"The furthest thing from," I replied in a huff.
"When's the wedding?"
"When Auntie finishes her licensing exam or something. And then handle Grandma's legal things."
"Want a friend there?"
I nodded, letting my lip pout.
"Then I suppose we're girlfriends."
Aggie took the hand offered. First Auntie, before I know it I may just be the next. What with the fake-date trick we're always pulling.