This being a dirty interracial story about cheating. Read tags for further details. Part 1, chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4.
_________________________________________________
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