This being a dirty interracial story about cheating. Read tags for further details. Part 1, chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4.
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Chapter 1. Winter Break
December 14, 1980.
As a young man raised an only child. I hesitated, when accepting the scholarship to Juilliard, knowing I wouldn't be able to afford traveling home for weekends and holidays. Christmas of course being the exception.
'Tis the season, with festive colorful lights wrapped around outside windows and rooftops. Mass produced cutouts of familiar Christmas characters displayed on front lawns. Decorative wreaths hanged on doors greeting solicitors and guest.
Carolers dressed in Victorian fashion, bringing yuletide throughout the neighborhoods.
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
'Tis the season to be jolly.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la..."
Reminders of holiday cheer everywhere one looks, with the true meaning of Christmas being consumerism. Motorists circling full parking lots. While the Salvation Army Santa, rings his bell outside a department store.
"Ho ho ho, merry Christmas," said Santa. As boisterous shoppers crowded the mall dropping coins into his red donation bucket.
Inside, a river of patrons streaming in and out of retail shops. Fragrancing the air with a mix of flowery perfumes, strong colognes, and cigarettes. Shuffling past jittery children, waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap with raised small hands trying to get Mrs. Claus's attention. As she walks by, pushing a tray cart handing out small paper cups of hot cocoa and freshly baked gingerbread men cookies.
The North Pole, conveniently located in the shopping centers largest gathering spot. Where potential customers and loitering mallrats, cluster together flipping coins into an indoor water feature and moving between floors on escalators.
Natural sunlight, shining through the glass skylight illuminating the festive atmosphere. Holiday decorations festooned throughout, with the main attraction being the tall Christmas tree wrapped in ornaments and colorful lights. Its dazzling star topper, only inches from touching the glass ceiling.
"All aboard!" said a midget. Dressed as an elf, occupying the engineer seat up front.
"Chugga lugga, chugga lugga, chugga lugga," on repeat. Coming from several speakers built into the rides carriages.
"Choo, choo," goes the conductors air horn.
As the small electric locomotive pulls out from the station. Children smiling and waving at their parents. Traveling the railway track around the makeshift Christmas Village. While water vapor puffs out the train's smokestack.
My mom, in a soft voice. Explaining how she played the role of Mrs. Claus. Managing four rambunctious elves, on a cardboard set made to resemble a toy workshop.
"They were banging away, with all their little moving parts shaking the set. Thought the walls would collapse on top of us," she said. "Anyways, I can't get over how large..."
Lights dimmed, sitting around the dining room table. Mom wearing a pink satin bathrobe, with her head wrapped in a white towel, and an avocado mud mask smeared over her face. She leans back on her chair, swirling the mostly emptied glass of red wine in her right hand. The tips of her left index and middle finger pressed against her lips. Grinning at the whirlpool she created.
"How large... hello mom?" Snapping my fingers and waving in her direction. "Hey mom."
"I'm sorry. It's late, and I had one too many." Tapping a fingernail against the wine glass. "Considering everything else inside the workshop being small. I thought their tools would be proportionate to size. Anyways, enough talking about my boring jobs. How's life in the Big Apple?"
In her youth, she dreamed of being a leading lady on the big screen. Her name on a Hollywood star with a mantle of lifetime trophies from award shows. Only to get married, pregnant, and settle for the role of happy homemaker.
Widowed at the age of 37, with my father dying April 12, 1978. She's left alone to roam a two-story four bedroom in Modesto, California.
Surprised, when I returned from my absence. I found her to be in good spirits and thriving with the purchase of a new car, a new stylish look, and new friends.
Mom, a college graduate. Able to type 58 words per minute and speaks 4 languages. Started working for a temp agency in October of 1980.
Affording her enough leisure time at home, with a variety of occupations to choose from. Before commuting to different job sites, working as a secretary, nurse's aid, and Mrs. Claus.
Prior to her seeking employment from the temp agency. She did a favor, tutoring her friend's son in biology. Without boring me with a long story. She briefly mentioned it, while we continued to sit around the dining room table.
"The principal, wouldn't let him play football if he didn't pass his female anatomy exam." Swallowing her wine in two gulps and smiling at the polished glass. "Combining the biology textbook with an 18 year old boy's interest. He finally buckled down, and started grinding away on his studies."
Chapter 2. It's too Much
The following afternoon, mom emerges from her bedroom dressed for the disco.
Stepping down the staircase in black knee high stiletto boots wrapped tight around her calves. Tucked into the waistband of her black pleated mini skirt, a silver and black polyester button down top resembling a referees striped uniform.
The tight short sleeve shirt with buttons unfastened exposing cleavage. Drawing attention to the silver necklace and crucifix pendant hanging between her large breast. Earrings dangling six Sapphires linked together on a silver chain by threes. A thick silver bracelet wrapped around her left wrist with fingernails painted chrome.
Small black leather handbag hanging off her left shoulder. Mom, smiling down a warm reception.
As I stood at the bottom of the staircase with the front door behind me. To my right, framed photos of the extended family nailed diagonally going up the wall. The Oakwood banister and handrail to my left.
"Hi mom. You've been in your room all morning."
"Lost track of time, reading about a recently divorcee who couldn't keep her legs shut. She ends up in a sex cult. Don't know why I keep buying these trashy romance novels. Anyways, decided to go Christmas shopping with money I earned at the North Pole." Stepping off the staircase, digging her hand inside the black purse. "My employer, wanted me to wear these boots at tomorrow's New Year's party."
"Early to be celebrating New Year's." Shrugging my shoulders. "Why don't they throw a Christmas party?"
"It's a company party, and not everyone celebrates Christmas."
"And the boots?" Tilting my head down, with eyes drawn to the spike knee high stilettos.
"When getting the rundown on my next job. My boss, overheard me telling his secretary about the boots sitting in my closet. And asked, if I would wear them." Mom, rotating a full three-sixty. "Anyways, thought of counting down to midnight with this outfit. What do you think... its to much?"
"It's fine, if you're trying to flirt with salesmen for discounts. However... shouldn't wear it around men you work with. Last thing you want, is to be the prized tenderloin. First served up to your boss. Before getting forked, by every office horndog making a diner reservation."
Mom paused, dropping her lower jaw, and raising her long eyelashes under black smokey eyeshadow. Shaking her head and rolling her brown eyes. She smiles, stretching her arms around me with an open palm rubbing small circles on my back, and stamping red painted lips against my left cheek. Lilac, honeysuckle, and lavender coming from her hair and skin.
"I've been faithful to your father longer than you have been alive. While finding single life to be liberating. Dating and starting a romantic relationship, is the last thing I want." Smacking another kiss on my cheek and releasing her embrace. "Speaking of forking choice meat, I'm bring home Bar-B-Q for dinner. Now lock up behind me."
Mom, stepping out front with keys jangling in hand. Greeting the outside world with a smile. Her shoulders pulled back, head held high, and curvy hips swaying with every stride of her stiletto boots knocking on the walkway.
Small Virgin Mary figurine on the dashboard. Driver side door opens and shuts. The Cadillac engine comes alive. "Gypsies Tramps & Thieves" by Cher, blasting from the 8 track stereo. She blows a kiss goodbye before reversing out the driveway. Cher's singing fades as the car disappears between rows of white, yellow, and soft turquoise suburban houses built in the early 1950s.
Meat cooking in hickory smoke coming from downwind. Mild air replaced by cooler weather whipping leaves off trees and knocking over aluminum trash cans. Sending one of the barrel shaped receptacle loudly rolling downhill. Before skipping against the road, smashing into a black El Camino parked curbside.