December 1st

I've always loved the little holiday calendars with a small surprise for each day. As a homage to those annual bits of funs, I will attempt a short ficlet each day approaching Christmas. This is the first one.

On the Roof Top

Jake popped the CD into the car radio. He flinched as the first lines of “The Christmas Song” flowed through the speakers. Quill again. He and his infernal Christmas spirit. If Jake wasn’t careful, he’d find chestnuts just waiting for a quick roast over a naked flame.

Tonight did look like Christmas with fine snow glistening in the headlights. He pulled into their drive, almost looking forward to Quill’s Christmas cheer.

What the hell! Jake scrambled out of the car and ran to the house. Quill was on the roof, one arm wrapped around the chimney. 

“It’s only December first--too early for sliding down the chimney.”

“I’m not practicing my St. Nick technique,” Quill shouted. “The ladder fell. I’m freezing up here.”

“You’re the top. You’re not supposed to do such things.”

“Jake, please, the ladder. You can lecture me on my inappropriate toppiness later. The ladder.”

“I’m getting it. Hang on.”

“Don’t worry, I will. I’m a little short on flying reindeer.”

“Quill.” Jake propped the ladder on the eaves, silently cursing his partner’s sense of humor. “Careful. It will be slippery.” Jake watched, gripping the ladder with white knuckles as Quill inched across the slippery roof  and swung down the ladder. Jake grabbed Quill as soon as his feet hit the ground. “No more Santa acts,” he tried to say, but it was garbled by the crush of the hug.