Letting it go, Bette lost herself in her book until a few minutes later, another commercial broke into her thoughts.

Soaring instrumental flourishes faded as yet another male voice instructed, “Give her what she really wants – what she deserves – this holiday: Give her diamonds.”

There was a couple, a man and woman, sledding and rolling around in the snow. The male half of the couple, dark-haired, good-looking, pulled a small box with a ring inside from his coat pocket. Bette made a face as he slipped the horrid gewgaw on his companion’s finger. Bette rolled her eyes and looked at Tina, who was sighing as she watched.

“Look, Mommy! More diamonds!” Angie cried.

“I see them, baby.”

Bette shook her head and hid her face behind her book. She couldn’t believe Tina was falling for these cheesy commercials. Money couldn’t buy love. Neither could diamonds. She turned another page and steeled her resolve to never again buy into the tacky diamond industry. No amount of manufactured romance was going to sway her.

“Disgusting,” Bette muttered.

“I heard that,” Tina sing-songed.

“What’s disgusting?” Angie wondered aloud.

Bette set down her book and looked at the duo on the couch. “I don’t like these commercials and I don’t like those ‘sparkly stones’ because the diamond industry isn’t just about jewelry, it’s a whole heartless industry that traffics in untold human misery.”

“What’s misery?” Angelica wanted to know.

Tina hid a giggle behind her hand. “Nevermind, Angie.”

“Moreover,” Bette continued, “It’s clear that the advertising arm of this soulless diamond trade is determined to dupe the gullible masses into believing that the ability to procure diamonds is some sort of absurd litmus test for a provider. Diamonds supposedly represent money and security, but to the informed they’re nothing more than –”

“The show is on!” Angie interrupted, turning her attention back to the screen.

Bette met Tina’s gaze and noticed the merriment in Tina’s eyes. So she was enjoying this, was she?

Bette opened her book back up and flipped the pages until she found her place. It was beyond irritating that she couldn’t make Tina see the truth. Angie got a pass, being only five, but Tina… Bette sighed.  What made it worse was that they seemed to like those awful commercials.

She read the same page twice, unable to concentrate. She set her book down again. “T?” Bette called. Tina didn’t immediately answer.

“What, babe?” Her eyes were glued to the tv, and Bette looked to see what was so fascinating that she couldn’t have Tina’s attention. A couple in a cabin, watching the snow fall outside.

“The eternity diamond bracelet,” a grandfatherly voice spoke over the image of the happy couple. The camera panned from the glittering bracelet to the snow outside and the twinkling stars overhead. “This holiday, show her that your love is everlasting.”

“Ugh.” Bette got up and grabbed the remote, muting the tv. She stood in front of Tina and Angie with her arms folded. Angie craned her neck to see around Bette.

“Enough is enough. I just can’t sit by and watch you two be brainwashed by these commercials and their traditionalist hetero-normative presentation of reality.”

“Heterowhafative?” Angie was confused. Tina started snickering again.

“Yes, hetero-normative. All built around some sappy paternalistic fantasy that has nothing to do with our lives.” Bette turned to Tina. “What is it you like about these stupid ads? And don’t deny that you like them – I’ve been watching you and it’s obvious you do. Don’t tell me you want any of that tacky jewelry.”

“No… but there is something.”

“What?”

Tina sighed and Bette put her hands on her hips. “Well?”

“I wish it would snow.”

Bette opened her mouth and closed it again. “Snow? You like these commercials because of the snow?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Well we can go somewhere snowy for Christmas then, if that’s what you want.”

“Mama, I know what I want, too,” Angie piped up excitedly.

“What’s that, sweetheart?” Bette’s annoyance melted as quick as a snowflake as she looked at the happy smile on Angie’s face.

“I want diamonds!” Angie replied, clasping her hands to her heart.

Bette covered her face with one hand and shook her head with a groan as Tina laughed out loud.

                                                                        ☆☆☆☆☆