Take Me to the Races

“Damn Angel, don’t want to stay straight?” I grumble. I use pins to try and keep her in place. She looked straight while I was face to face with her, but when I got on the floor she was crooked.
“Maybe it's time for you to face facts our angel is gay. Let her live her truth.” Archie laughs. I turn to glare down at him from the top of the ladder. When I saw his dopey smiling face looking up at me, I couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Fine, we’ll have lesbian Jesus on top of the tree this year.” I climb down. Once my feet touch the ground the holiday spirit was suck out of the room.
“Dad what is that, a letter from the Black Hood?” Archie rush from the living room to the dining room, where dad was hunch over a piece of paper.
“No, it's worse. It’s from Riverdale General, it’s my hospital bill.” Dad throws the paper down on the table. I walk over to the other side of him.
“How much is it for?” He asks. I grab the bill, wanting to know too. Maybe if we return the bigger gifts this year we would be able to make it.
“Eighty-six thousand,” I gaps as Dad told Archie what I just read.
“What, dollars? That can't be right, can it? Or doesn't your insurance... ” Archie shook his head, not believing our luck could get any worse.
“They probably made a mistake. I'll call them tomorrow.” Dad took the paper from my hand and put it back in the envelope. Archie and I stare at it, knowing deep in our gut that this wasn’t a mistake. “Hey, this is not going to ruin our Christmas. Now, go about your holiday plans. Archie, you have to go to Kevin’s secret Santa. Abby, you have a gift exchange with Trevor and Tomoko. Go!” Dad got up and pushes us towards the door.
Archie and I move on autopilot as we went our separate way to find our friends. I pull up to the park that we had our Christmas picnic at every year. Trev run over when he saw me to carry the cooler and the bag for me. I grab my blanket, pillow, and the gifts. We went to the biggest tree in the park. “Merry Christmas!” I lean down to give Tomoko a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I gave Trev the same greeting when he put the stuff down.
I put the gifts down to the side and then laid out my blanket right by theirs. “How did you want to do this, eat or open the gifts first?” Tomoko ask.
“Eat.” Trev and I said. After a shared laugh, we all brought out the food we prepare. Tomoko bring out fried rice and garlic shrimp. Trev took out cut up steak and coleslaw. I hand out the plates, utilities, and sodas of their preferences.
“What did you bring for desert?” He lean over to look into the cooler, but I slam it shut.
“Surprise,” I wink at his pouting face. “Is everyone doing their regular Christmas tradition?” I change the subject.
“As always our families is going to go caroling and volunteer at the homeless shelter. Then we will have a big feast at home with all the family coming over.” Trev was happy to give back and have family time.
“We made all our Christmas tree decoration and put them on the tree. On Christmas we’re going to have a movie marathon and eat all day long.” Tomoko cheered. “What about you? Are you going to go visit your mom?” She turns to me.
“No, we were going to, but she decided to go on a single cruise.” I focus on getting some fried rice and shrimp onto my spoon.
“I’m sorry.” Trev apologize, even though it wasn’t his fault.
“It’s like right when I feel like I’m started to forgive her, she does something to make me feel betrayed all over again. With her work she hardly gets to see us, the only guaranteed time is during Christmas break when we come up to visit her. It’s like she goes out of her way to say I love you as a mother, but I don’t like you.” I feel the tears swell up in my eyes. It was a vicious cycle of emotions with my mom of feeling hurt, to anger, and then forgiven. “I’m sorry I’m ruining the Christmas spirit.” I wipe my eyes.
“You don’t have to be sorry. We are your best friends. We are here for you to confide in. You guys have to listen to all my reporting work.” Tomoko reach over to give my hand a squeeze.
“You both listen to my rants of Betty, sports, and music. In the words of Destiny Child, girl I can tell you been crying and you needing someone to talk to.” Trev sang the last part.
“I wish I could talk to her about it, but every time I bring it up, she says that I have to understand that she has to follow her dream. Doesn’t she get that part of the problem, that her children aren’t apart of her dream life. They didn’t even give us the option of who we wanted to live with. Archie and I were old enough. Not that I would have went, but it would be nice to feel wanted.” I sigh in relief it felt good to get that out.
“I want you.” Tomoko put her head on my shoulder.
“Me too.” Trev put his head on my other shoulder.
I laugh and push them off me. “Let’s do dessert.” I open the container full of cheesecake cupcakes. “The cherry is for Tomoko. The Blueberry is for Trev. And, the strawberry is for me.”
“Yummy.” Trev shove a blueberry cupcake in his mouth.
“I’ll pass out the gifts.” She passes two gifts to each of us.
“You can open first since you pass them out.” I told her.
She opens up the gift I got her first. “Thank you so much, I love it.” She held the leather satchel close to her chest. She opens her last gift it was a two leather notebooks and a bunch of old fashion pens. “I’m going to look like an old fashion reporter. Thanks you guys.” She put her supplies into the satchel. We smile telling her you’re welcome.
“I’ll go next.” I pick up a gift from Trev. “I love it.” I pull out a sweater that said all I want for christmas is Steve Harrington. There were old graphic style hearts and Steven Harrington in the middle. I put it on, smiling down at it. I open the gift Tomoko got me. I scream in excitement at the book of dog treat recipes. “You guys know me so well, thank you.” I smile from ear to ear.
“Saving the best for last,” Trev pick up the gift from Tomoko. He pulls out a pair of football cleats. He shot her a look before opening my gift to find a football and gloves “What going on guys?”
“We been talking and you shouldn’t give up your favorite sport, because of some jerks.” Tomoko smile at him.
“Yeah, just because you’re on that team doesn’t mean you condone everything they do. You are your own person.” I nod. I never wanted him to quit in the first place.
“You guys really are the best.” He put his arms out signal for a group hug and we gave it to him.

“Whoa! Who are all this gifts for?” Archie stare at the gifts all over my room.
“For my friends that aren’t in jail,” I bite my tongue to stop from saying anything else bitter.
“I thought the police round them all up.” His eyebrows meet in the middle in confusion.
“You’re a fool for thinking the Riverdale police would do their job right.” I roll my eyes. He open his mouth to say saying else, but I put my hand up to stop him. “If you’re going to say anything bad about the Ghoulies leave.” I wave my hand in the direction out.
“I can’t believe dad still letting you see him.” He shook his head.
“ARCHIE!” I yell and point to the door. It was like he couldn't control himself.
“I’m sorry, I won’t say anything else about it. I actually come in here to talk about dad hospital bill. Does Malachai have it?” He sat down at the foot of my bed.
“No, he doesn’t have eighty-six thousand dollar lying around. If he did, he wouldn’t be in an abandoned warehouse.” I roll my eyes.
“What are we going to do?” He throws himself on the bed.
“Hopefully be able to pay in installment.” I huff, knowing that was going to be the best outcome, still a shitty outcome but the best one.
“You want to pay that for the rest of our lives?” He turns his head to stare at me in shock.
“Better than them wanting all the money now, we would have to sell the house.” I point out to him. At the end of the day hospitals were a business, they didn’t care if they bankrupt you. All they care about was getting the money you owe them.
“How may I suppose to pretend that everything okay? How can you?” He shot back up, and pace in front of the bed.
I got up and grab him by the shoulders. “I do it, because that what he asked me to do and you’ll do it too. We will deal with this after Christmas.” I let him go to put all the gifts in a few big reusable shopping bags. I didn’t turn to look when my bedroom door slam shut.
I carry the bags out to the red truck and made my way over to the house of dead, when I park in front I texted Maverick that I was outside.
After the Ghoulies thank me and carry their stuff inside. Maverick and I jump back into the truck, with him in the driver’s seat since he was the one with the licenses. “I can’t wait for this visit.” I dance in my seat.
“What’s so special about this visit?” He asks, starting the drive to the prison.
“It’s Christmas Eve. They let you sit at table with them. You get to hug him.” I smile. I couldn’t wait to have his arms wrap about me.
“Oh, why didn’t you just say that? I can’t wait to have those manly arms wrap around me.” He let out a girly giggle.
“You joke but you know it’s true.” I wink at him.
“Nah, I love you too much to take your man.” He smirks, winking back at me.
I jump out of the truck as soon as he pulls into the parking space. “Hey, I didn’t even put the car in park.” He scolds me, but I was already halfway to the building.
I walk up to the check in desk and smile at the lady. “Hi, we’re here to visit Malachai Rodriguez. I’m Abigail Andrews and this is Maverick Santiago.” I point at the guy that was glare a hole into the back of my head. We both gave her our IDs.
“I’m telling Malachai what you did.” He hisses in my ear.
“Don’t be a Scrooge.” I look back to smile at him.
“A guard will be here shortly to pat you down and take you to him.” The lady gave us back our IDs.
“Thank you and Merry Christmas.” I nod to her. Like she said the guard came to pat us down and take us to the visiting room. It had a bunch of folding tables set up and four chairs to every table. I rush over to the table that had Malachai sitting at it. He stood up when he saw me coming and wraps his arms tightly around me. I cherish the moment, not knowing when I would get it again.
“Why are you wearing that ugly sweater?” He pull back to look down in disgust.
I laugh, moving out of his reach and sitting down on the chair next to the one he had occupied. I was wearing the sweater that Trev gave me, a pair of ripped up Capri and black Chuck Taylors. I had my hair up in a high ponytail and light makeup.
“Merry Christmas, boss man,” Maverick did a bro hug with him before taking a seat across the table.
Malachai took the seat next to me. He stretches his legs out, keeping it push up against mine. “I would do more under the table, but I got to keep hands above it.” He leans over to give me a kiss on the cheek.
“Must you two scar me?” Maverick fake gagged.
“How is everyone doing?” Malachai ask him.
“All of them are doing well, we just missing half of our family.” He shrugs. It was something they had to grin and bear it.
“We missing you guys too.” He nod in understand. I smile at the two of them. I love the family bond that the Ghoulies had. “I’m sorry that I’m in here for our first Christmas. I’ll get you a gift as soon as I get out.” He turns to me.
“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault. It’s my stupid brother’s. You don’t have to worry about getting me a gift. You give me gifts all through the year.” I lean over to give him a peck on the lips. The guard by us cleared his throat letting me know I was pushing it.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” He asks me.
“I’m going to be a morning shift at Pops, then we having Christmas dinner and opening gifts.” I told him the plans for tomorrow.
“The old man is making you work on Christmas.” He pulls a disgusted face.
“He isn’t making me. I volunteer since my dad working that morning selling trees.” I roll my eyes. He makes like Pops was a dictator, when in reality he was the easiest going boss around.
“Is your dad construction business not doing well?” He wraps an arm around me.
“The thing about construction is there only work if there something to build. No one wants to build anything right now.” I shrug.
“You need money, you let me know.” Malachai pull my chair closer to his.
“I will.” I lied mostly for my dad sake. He might have a heart attack if he found out drug money was going to pay off his debt.
“Good.” He leans in to give me a hard kiss on the lips. The guard and Maverick loudly clear their throat, causing Malachai and I to pull away from each other. I was giggling while Malachai look annoyed.

“Merry Christmas, what can I get you guys?” I smile at the family who came into Pops. It was Christmas morning. I was waitressing while Dad and Archie were working outside selling trees. I wrote down their orders and put it in. As I move around the restaurant I was humming along to the carols that Josie and Kevin were singing outside.
The morning and afternoon went smoothly. Everyone was in the holiday spirit. Not letting little things like their bacon not being cook to their preference bother them. It made my job easy. Now, it was four in the afternoon and we were helping Pops close up.
“Thank you for all our guys help, I can’t wait to have Christmas with the family.” Pops hung up his apron and pick up his keys.
“You got one more pick up order, Pops.” Archie points out the food containers that were on the counter.
“No, that for you guys.” He smiles at us.
“There no need for that.” Dad shook his head.
“It’s my Christmas gift to you.” Pop insisted.
“Alright, thank you.” Dad smiled at his old friend. Each of us gave Pops a hug and wish him one last Merry Christmas before we made our way home.
We carry the food into the kitchen and place it down on the counter. The phone ring echoes throughout the house. “Go get the phone.” Dad told me as he un-pack the Christmas dinner.
I pick up the retro house phone that was hanging on the wall. “Merry Christmas,” I cheerful greeted.
“Hey sweetie, Merry Christmas to you too,” My mom voice brought a frown to my face. My dad mouthed to me to be nice. I glare at him, when I realize that this was a set up.
“Hi mom, how is the cruise? Did you get caught under the mistletoe with any hot men?” I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly.
Mom laugh, “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“That would be a yes.” I smirk. “There no need to be coy, you’re on a single cruise. The whole point to of it is to have a fling with a hot stranger that you’ll never see again.” My dad chuckled shaking his head at me.
“Give me the phone you’re disgusting.” Archie took the phone from me. I gladly let him take it to help dad set the table.
I pour everyone a glass of eggnog and put it on the table. With everything set, I went the extra mile as we waited by folding the napkins into swans. “I’ll say Merry Christmas to your mother and then we can have dinner.” Dad went to talk to his ex-wife.
When Archie didn’t come back into the dining room to wait for dinner, I went to look for him. I first look in his room then the garage and found them both empty. Seeing that bathroom wasn’t in use and the backyard was empty also, I was at a lost. “If you’re looking for your brother, he’s kissing his girlfriend on the porch.” My dad had a smirk on his face when he told me.
“I hope that all their going to do on the porch.” I shudder remembering them about to do it with the bedroom door open.
“Come on Vegas, Pops even gave a bone for you.” Dad calls for the dog. In hearing the word bone, the dog was right behind him. We took a seat at the table and dad gave the bone to Vegas, who happily chewed on it underneath the table.
Archie came in with a big goofy smile on his face. “Merry Christmas Son,” Dad smiles at him.
“It really is!” He sat down the table. I snicker under my breath as I put food on my plate. This Christmas may have had a lot of setbacks like my boyfriend being in prison and dad’s hospital bill but it was still a good Christmas.