Eddie Kaspbrak (ekaspbrak) wrote in snapthread, @ 2019-12-14 18:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | eddie kaspbrak, stanley uris |
Who: Eddie Kaspbrak and Stan Uris
What: Hallmark’s attempt to be inclusive by using Hanukkah as a plot device
Where: A big city with very few Jews, apparently
When: Now
Rating:A for Awkward
It had taken a lot of coaxing, a littler bartering, a few promises, and more begging than Eddie would ever admit to actually get Stan to try the doors again. The first and only time his friend had allowed himself to be talked into it they’d found themselves dumped back into the middle of the source of their childhood trauma. Well. The source of most of their childhood trauma. It wouldn’t be fair to blame Neibolt for all of their problems when their parents, Derry, and Henry Bowers had contributed. Either way they had wound up in the last place they had wanted to visit and the two of them had sort of decided to never try those doors again. That, of course, was before Eddie decided he needed to buy gifts. Before he realized just how close the holidays were and how they lacked anything more festive than the ugly sweaters Richie had brought back for them. Eddie could, at least, find a place and purchase a few gifts. Maybe they could get a menorah too and celebrate Hanukkah with Stan.
As they made their way towards the door, Eddie looked back at the other man. “Come on….” He all but whined, sounding nearly as bad as Richie as he tried to get Stan to follow. “I’ve been hearing good things about the doors this time. Richie went through and came back unscathed. How bad could it be?” Yes, famous last words but Eddie was hopeful this time. He was pretty sure things were going to turn out okay. He hoped things would turn out okay or Stan would never trust him again. Once the other had joined him, he reached out and took ahold of Stan’s hand. They’d do this together. “If it’s bad, we’ll leave. We won’t even try another door. We’ll just go.” He promised.
He opened the first door he came to and gave Stan a hopeful look, a comforting squeeze to his hand, before he stepped through…
It was strange how a great week could turn out so horribly. Just yesterday things seemed to be going his way. Eddie was in line for a big promotion and had managed to impress an important client. The account was all but his. He just needed to come up with an idea for a new toy line. It wasn’t a problem. He was creative enough and his boss had promised him the client wouldn’t actually be asking for ideas until after the holidays. It hadn’t worked out that way. Eddie and the new client, David, were kindred spirits in a way. They both loved children, loved making toys, and loved the holidays. He’d been invited to a big holiday party and, assuming they were talking Christmas, Eddie had proclaimed himself an expert. He was more than happy to take charge of whatever activities were on David’s list for the party. Christmas was his favorite time of the year. Unfortunately, David wasn’t throwing a Christmas party. He was throwing a Hanukkah party and Eddie knew absolutely nothing about Hanukkah. This account could be his, that promotion could be his if he could just show them what he was capable of. There was no way he could do that if he was fumbling his way through dinner and embarrassing his boss and himself all night long. It was just lucky his friend, Samantha, knew someone who could help.
Samantha had something of a crush on her son’s teacher. Eddie heard about it often enough when she was dropping the boy off at school and, probably, staring at him. Now he could see why. The guy was handsome. Taller than Eddie with a cute button nose, dark curly hair, and the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. He had to remind himself that he had a boyfriend who he loved (and that Stan had a girlfriend whose Christian family he was trying to impress) as he extended his hand. “Edward Kaspbrak. I guess you’ll be teaching me about Hanukkah. I hope you’re a good teacher.” He said, flashing the other man a smile. He only had eight days to become an expert, after all. His father had said they probably didn’t actually expect it, but Eddie liked to exceed expectations.