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Christmas time was here!

The giddiness in the air was palpable. After a wonderful Thanksgiving (complete with the longest thankful for list imaginable in the Bolasco household - it took up six pages, front and back), Julian was determined to make his first Christmas a rousing success. This meant countless hours spent shopping and reading recipes and listening to holiday music and watching classic holiday movies to understand just what made Christmas so special. Despite not having a recollection of Christmases in the past, Julian knew who Santa Claus was. He knew what a Christmas tree was, and that presents for loved ones were supposed to be wrapped and placed beneath it.

The puffy-haired youth had delicately and nervously asked Roddy for some money to shop at the craft store, as he had something special in mind for the people who saved his life - Sita, Delilah, Mercy and Ginger. He wanted to make something by hand instead of buying something at a store. He wanted to carefully and lovingly create something special. Julian had started his project the day after turkey coma had worn off and worked diligently (perhaps too much so) since. Roddy had found him asleep mid-project several times, late at night, sneaking out of bed to continue to work. Gentle chastising soon followed.

Once the projects had been completed, the house was copiously decorated. Roddy had surprised his newly-reborn roommate by putting up twinkling Christmas lights early in December, Julian having wept at the beauty of them. Soon after, Julian went to work on the inside of the house, producing mistletoe and garland and jingle bells galore. Some of the decorations were tucked away in the attic from seasons past, and some were new acquisitions from the local craft store. Regardless of where it came from, the house was top-to-bottom holly jolly.

With the house decorated, Julian sent out a group text (which Mercy had taught him to do) to the girls:



With dates decided over the next few days, Julian worked tirelessly to bake holiday staples - cookies shaped like snowmen, gingerbread men, stars, angels and an attempt at Santa's face. Santa's face turned out a bit creepier than intended, and Julian realized eating Santa's face was a little horrifying, so those cookies were turned into Santa's sack of presents instead. That was less creepy. Roddy insisted on something less sugary, so another turkey was baked in preparation. Vegetable trays were purchased from the grocery and Julian was decked out in his favorite (lovingly stolen) snowflake sweater and GASP - actual pants.

Delilah would be so proud.

Now that the agreed upon day had arrived, Julian was buzzing with excitement, waiting for the guests to arrive. Poor Roddy would have to contend with him nearly bouncing off the walls, giddy about his very first Christmas.