The 37 Days of Gusmas Title: Gus's Epiphany Author: wavingcat5 Prompt: Yes Gus, there is a Santa Claus Notes: 3 drabbles. The library won't let me grab a Linds-Mel icon. Waaah! I've been on the road for 2 days, spent 5 hours beside the highway with the 2 little ones, waiting for assistance, and I'm in a library to post this so I'll be slow to do comments! I can't keep away from this place ^__^ ETA icon found!
‘Come on Gus. The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner Santa’ll come,’ said Mel. ‘But it’s really you and Mommy who get the presents isn’t it? Santa’s not really true, is he?’ Mel couldn’t suppress a smile. ‘Well, I guess he’s true for people who believe in him,’ she made herself say. She tiptoed to the living room. Lindsay was setting down mugs of fortified hot chocolate. A concert was on television. ‘Some poptart’s desecrating Santa Baby. Again.’ Lindsay rolled her eyes. ‘Christ, between Miss Piggy and the Pussycat Dolls, who hasn’t?’ Mel grabbed the remote and hit mute.
‘Good,’ nodded Lindsay. Mel disappeared. She pulled a record from a long untouched pile, put it on the turntable, blew dust off the stylus and pressed play. ‘Better,’ said Lindsay as the air filled with the warm crackle of needle on vinyl. ‘Even better!’ she squealed when Santa Baby kicked in. ‘Nobody does it like Eartha, do they Mel?’ asked Linds. ‘Mel?’ Bare toes poked into the doorway, followed by a slender brown leg. Then it was Mel herself curling around the architrave in nothing but a tank, a thong and a Santa hat. ‘And this is best,’ Lindsay murmured.
Without taking her eyes off her, Lindsay settled down to watch Mel’s burlesque. Just as Mel began the feat of peeling off her top without losing the hat, Gus appeared. ‘I knew Santa was really you!’ He rubbed his eyes. ‘But why did you put on the hat first instead of the rest of the costume?’ Mel looked at Linds, half laughing, half pleading for a way out. ‘You’re right Gus,’ said Lindsay solemnly. ‘Momma was silly getting changed into the hat first! Now get back to bed so we can all get our presents tomorrow.’ Or tonight, she whispered.