”I just wanted to tell you goodnight Mama B and I’m glad you here with us” I tell her as I sit up and give her a hug. She still feels nice.

”I’m glad I’m here too sweetie. You don’t know how much” She says kissing me on the cheek and lays me back down on the pillow.

She hands me my Hello Kitty doll I let go of when I hugged her and I clutch it again against my chest.

”Goodnight. Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite” She says giggling at me and touches her finger to my nose. I giggle and snuggle under the covers as she turns off the light and closes the door behind her.

Mama had plugged in my night light so I won’t get scared of the dark and I stare at it for a minute before I close my eyes thinking about how much fun I will have at the park tomorrow.

Bette:

As I walk into the living room I see Tina sitting in the sofa looking at the fire we started while Angie was taking a bath. Thank God there was wood already split and that fucking Santa loon didn’t want that to be another task of mine. Thinking about chopping down that tree tomorrow just makes me cringe but it’s for Angie so I’ll be the good little Scrooge and play along.

”Hey, I would offer you a glass of wine or something but there is nothing here in the cabin” Tina says to me as I sit on the other end of the sofa and face her

”Well thank our Secret Santa and myself for that” I say shaking my head and running my fingers  through my hair.

Tina chuckles ”Why do you say that?”

”Because in the last five years you have been gone I have been busy becoming the poster child for Alcoholic’s Anonymous” I say regretfully and Tina looks at me puzzled so I explain.

”When you left me because of my affair I started drinking a lot and I lost my job at the CAC not too long after that. I spent a year looking for you but you did a good job of disappearing. And then Daddy died in the middle of all that. My drinking got worse.  But later I finally got a job teaching Art history at California University but I continued to drink and drink and drink and had my licensed revoked earlier this year after my third DUI. But today makes two days I have been sober.” I say and chuckle at the thought of saying that.