They nestle in beside me, each on either side. Never really was one for threesomes, but I could get used to this.

Bette brushes the hair back from my face, securing it behind my ear the better to kiss my cheekbone and to whisper in my ear. “We live for you. We need you. We’re fiction, and without you, our audience, we are nothing, we wouldn’t exist. And now that it’s Christmas, we come in its spirit. The spirit of loving.” Another kiss for my lucky cheekbone. “The spirit of giving.” This time just behind my fortunate ear. It makes me shiver. “And to make wishes come true” With her tongue in my ear, it’s all I can do not to squeal.

Perhaps I would have gazed into her brown eyes for a long time. Perhaps not. Anyway, Tina captures my attention. For one thing she’s stroking my thigh. I suspect high tide is not far off. She says “And besides, Santa’s not as young as he used to be, he needs a little help these days.” “He’s not the only one.” I say, my reply equally a prayer.

“So let us help you. Let us complete the mission our hearts, our souls, our very beings have assigned us.” When they speak in unison like that, it’s kind of like the fairy twins in Mothra, only bigger and not Japanese. But very *****, all the same. Noting my stunned silence, Bette asks me “Is that OK?” OK? OK? Is she brain damaged? For clarity’s sake I shout “*****, yeah, that’s way more than OK!!!” What else could I do? I help Tina take her bow off. I ask Bette to leave the slippers on. And I let them complete their mission. Best damn present I ever had. I’m not sure I’ll ever think of Christmas as a family holiday again. Can’t wait to see what they bring me next year. And I won’t say any more than that. Like Bette I think it’s wrong to kiss and tell. That woman has class written all over her. Well, actually, not all over her. The print is quite small, only covers a tiny area and you have to hold the light just right to see it. Why, I’ve said too much already.

Just one last thing:

A Merry Christmas to All,

and to All a Good Night