A fictional story about fictional characters.
This is another interpretation of Season 1-Episode 12 "The Best Christmas Ever".
*****
"So what are you doing on Christmas Eve," Michael Kelso wanted to know.
"Oh, you know," Eric Foreman answered, "my parents are having the same old boring party they do every year and I'll be stuck singing The Little Drummer Boy."
The "gang" was just sitting around in the Foreman basement, as usual, but this time they were watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas on TV, remarking at the size of the Grinch's butt. "Yes, there is nothing that says Christmas like a big green Grinch ass," commented Fez, their foreign exchange student friend. Eric and Stephen Hyde were intently and lasciviously watching Donna Pinciotti standing on a step ladder hanging beer-can ornaments on the basement's silver aluminum tree. More specifically, they were watching her shapely, jean covered ass. She was a gorgeous redhead who had lived next door to Eric for his entire childhood, and everyone knew they were attracted to each other, but there was not yet an official commitment. Hyde hoped to change what seemed to be a pre-destined coupling, and claim Donna as his girl.
Kelso's self absorbed girlfriend, Jackie Burkhardt chimed in, "my favorite thing about Christmas is shopping." Jackie was as cute as a china-doll, but the only reason she was a part of the group was because she had latched on to Kelso.
Kelso added, "my favorite is the presents. What's Christmas without presents. You know what I really like...Lite Brite..it's fun to make things with Lite Brite."
Always the practical one, Hyde contradicted, "naw, cash is the best present. Donna, let's say you had $6 to buy a gift for someone, what would you get?" Hyde tried to pry an answer out of Donna, hoping to get a hint of what to get her to trump whatever Eric was giving her. Donna sidestepped the question and told him the amount was inconsequential, as long as the gift was from the heart.
All week Hyde had been asking people what was a good gift for a teenage girl. Midge, Donna's mother, had said that Donna liked "White Shoulders" perfume, but it cost about $12 a bottle; she added, "it's not just for shoulders, you can put it anywhere." It was easy to see where Donna got her good looks because Midge could have been a Playboy centerfold and every male in the neighborhood lusted after her.
When he asked Jackie, she quipped, "you know if you want to make out with me, the answer is probably, no."
The next day while his parents and sister, Laurie, were sitting around the kitchen table discussing the party plans, Eric casually asked his father, "since you're having a party, I was wondering if I could have a party for my friends in the basement?"
When Red answered a simple, "OK," his mother and Laurie nearly fell out of their chairs with surprise. "Well, every year he just mopes around here like it's the end of the world; he might as well be down there."
Kitty, Eric's mother, was disappointed, "well who's going to sing the high part on The Little Drummer Boy now?"
Laurie pouted and complained, "it's not fair, why does he get to have a party?"
Feeling a natural high, and knowing he was on a roll, Eric pushed his luck and asked Red, "you know I could use some money for the party."
Reaching for his wallet, Red surprised him by saying, "here's $40, you go and get our tree...whatever is left over you can have for your party."
"Oh Dad," Eric whined, "you know I hate all that haggling."
"Haggling is the American way," Red told him, "and you better get a good one."
When Eric told his friends about the party, they were ecstatic. Kelso had, what was for him, a brainstorm, "Eric, we go cut a tree on the side of the road and we keep the whole $40 for beer." Hyde agreed and they easily convinced Eric to follow their plan. Finding a secluded parking spot just off the interstate, the trio of Eric, Hyde and Kelso soon found a great evergreen and proceeded to cut it down. As they were loading it onto the Vista Cruiser's roof, Eric yelled at Hyde for "writing his name in the snow" so close to the tree.
Kitty loved their choice and said it was probably the nicest tree they had ever had. It was agreed that Kelso should purchase the beer since he knew the guy at the convenience store and could probably get a good deal. Eric didn't want someone recognizing him and reporting it to Red, and Hyde had just turned 18 and didn't have an official ID yet. Red knew they were technically old enough to drink, but definitely not mature enough. The group received more good news when they found out Red was going to have to work Christmas Eve at Bob Pinciotti's appliance store. That meant he wouldn't be checking up on them. Bob told Red that "Bargain Bob's" would be the only store open on Christmas Eve because you never knew when some husband would realize he forgot a gift and run out to buy a refrigerator at the last minute.
"What a dumb ass," Red muttered to himself. It rubbed Red the wrong way to know Bob would be at his Christmas Eve party, and Red wouldn't, but he agreed because since being laid off at the plant, he needed the money.
On the evening of the party, Kitty was busily preparing food and drink for her own guests, as well as Eric's (even though he had asked her not to). Laurie, still envious of her little brother for being permitted to have a party, decided to attempt to sabotage the gathering by emptying an entire bottle of rum into the punch bowl. Kitty brought the plate of cookies, and Laurie carried the punch bowl down to the basement; just missing Kelso coming through the outside door with two cases of beer (Old Milwaukee, of course). "Mom, I told you no punch," Eric reminded her.
"You can't have a party without punch," Kitty explained, "that's just insanity."
"Yeah Eric," Laurie prodded slyly, "Mom went to all the trouble of making it...so drink a lot," knowing that if Red caught them drunk, there would be Hell to pay.
Kelso nearly injured himself jumping over the sofa to greet Laurie. He knew her reputation and his hormones would not let him pass up an opportunity to get into her panties. He found Eric's older sister to be incredibly sexy: everyone knew she never bothered with a bra and the way her small breasts were jiggling inside her sweater proved tonight was no exception. "Hey Laurie," he started, trying to be extra suave, but could not think of anything else to say.
"Hey Kelso," Laurie teased him as she thrust her chest forward.
Kelso was about to proceed when Fez burst through the cellar door with an armful of gifts. Kelso became all flustered and blurted out, "presents...I thought we said no presents."
"No, you said no presents," Donna reminded him, "what would Christmas be without presents."
"Awww man, now I've got to go out and get Jackie a gift or she'll kill me," he announced nervously. Then turned to Laurie and tried to calmly add, "yeah Jackie...who I'm dropping, by the way."
As he turned to leave, Laurie offered him some punch, which he refused. Not having any luck with the spiked punch, Laurie gulped down a cup full herself before heading back upstairs.
Just missing Kelso, Jackie arrived with three of her cheerleader friends and introduced them as Lisa, Jenny and Tracy. They were like clones of each other: cute blond and egotistical. Fez's eyes widened when he saw the trio of desirable girls and he immediately introduced himself. Tracy asked if they had anything to drink and Fez jumped at the opportunity to get them drunk, "oh yes...we have beer."