—Tensanne’s to Ronnie
Tensanne
Christmas Day
I SLEEP AS late as my body will let me. This is the first Christmas I will spend by myself. I tried contacting my dad again to see if he was still going to work all day today, but he never responded back to me. I plan to spend my day watching the A Christmas Story marathon and eating myself stupid. I have worked very hard to lose weight but this day requires mass quantities of comfort food.
At noon, I drag myself out of bed. Using what little money I had, I stocked up on all things Hostess: Twinkies, ding dongs, ho-ho’s—plus a few bags of chips, hot chocolate k-cups, and popcorn.
Don’t judge me. The holidays always require gaining ten pounds.
After a shower, I put on Kohl’s t-shirt. It’s only me in the room so I run around in his shirt and my panties. At least I feel close to him wearing the shirt he gave me.
I set my laptop on my bed and load up my Direct TV account, going to the channel showing the movie all day. I go to the kitchenette and pop some hot chocolate in the Keurig and start digging through our cabinet for snacks. While I’m digging, I find Ronnie’s bottle of peppermint Schnapps. I’m not much of a drinker, I have had a few glasses of wine here in the room with Ronnie but I’m feeling lonely and some peppermint hot chocolate is sounding good right now.
When my cocoa is finished brewing, I add my daily two drops of the potion and a splash of Schnapps, grabbing some Twinkies I settle in on my bed and watch Ralphie shoot his eye out.
At five, my movie is interrupted by a video call from Ronnie.
“Merry Christmas, Ten,” she cheers, her smile lighting up my screen.
After four cups of peppermint-laced hot chocolate, my body is feeling tingles and warmth.
Her face is a little fuzzy on my screen.
“Merry Christmas, did you get anything good?” I slur.
“Why are you slurring your words, are you ok?” she asks moving closer to the screen.
“Yesh, I’m fiiiine, just having some Schnapps. Oh, that’s a fun word to say . . . Scccchhhhnaaaps,” I draw out.
“Are you drunk, Tensanne?”
“Yesh, I believe I am,” I lisp, slobbering down my chin.
“Do you want me to come back and sit with you?” she asks, concern filling her eyes.
“Nope,” I say popping the ‘p’, “I’m perfectly happy here wisch my good friend Schnaaaapps and Ralphie,” I say giving her what I think is a happy smile but my face is numb so I’m not sure.
“Promise me you will stay in the room. You’re underage and I don’t want to have to bail you out on Christmas,” she jokes but I know she’s serious.
“I promish, Imma not going anywhere,” I say giving her the okay sign with my fingers.
Oh look, fingers, I think, waving my hand slowly in front of my eyes, they’re so many of them.
“Tensanne,” she shouts, “Stop analyzing your fingers. Woo hoo, Ten? I’m here, on the screen,” she giggles, shaking her head.
Moving my head slowly back to the screen, she continues when she sees she has my attention.
“My dad got you a great gift,” she says excitedly, “And wait till you see what he got me,” she shrieks. “I will give it to you on New Years. Take care of yourself, Ten. Call me if you need anything and stay in the room,” she demands, emphasizing the last part shaking her finger at me.
“Otay,” I say making the ‘ok’ symbol with my fingers. Oh, fingers again.
“Merry Christmas, Ronnie.”
“Love you, Ten.”
“Loves yous too, Ron’s,” I babble disconnecting the call and clicking back to my movie.
By seven o’clock my hot chocolate is more alcohol than chocolate. In between movie showings, I go to make myself another drink. Dancing my way to the bottle, I frown when I notice that it’s almost empty.
“All I want for Christmas is some peppermint Schnapps.
Some peppermint Schnapps.
Some peppermint Schnapps, oh and Kohl.
All I want for Christmas is more Schnapps cause Schnapps is the funniest word to say.”
I sing, swaying my hips seductively.
Turning back to the bed, I jump when I see Kohl leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest, pushing his arm muscles out. One side of his mouth raised in a smirk.
Faded jeans rest low on his hips and a red t-shirt stretched tightly across his expansive chest with a sliver of tanned skin showing where it has ridden up from his crossed arms, I see a hint of his dark treasure trail leading into his jeans.
“Oh, holy peppermint hallucination of yummy,” I giggle. Setting my cup down, bouncing excitedly on my toes. Finally, my brain has created something useful and he seems so life like, I think with a little clap.
Schnapps is not only fun to say it provides great hallucinations.
“Why is your door unlocked, Ten?” he broods, his eyes raking over my body, my skin heating with every inch he scans.
“Merry Christmas to me,” I sing, dizzily “I get a Kohl mirage to fulfill my Christmas fantasy.”
Walking to him, sashaying my hips boldly, I trip falling into him. My hands crash into his solid pecks, the heat of his skin searing me through his shirt. Wow, he even feels real too, I think.
“You’re here alone? Are you drunk? Why is your door not locked?” he questions, bending to look me in the eye.
“No, no dreamy Kohl,” I argue shaking my head, slowly, back and forth. “That’s not what you’re supposed to say,” I state, pointing him in the chest.
“What am I supposed to say?” he chortles his body quaking with suppressed laughter.
“You’re supposed to say how much you want me and you’re supposed to be wrapped in a red bow and naked, and you’re making my Christmas wish come true,” I slur, sticking out my lower lip in a pout.
“You wish for me to be naked with a red bow?” he purrs, all humor leaving
