Work Text:
December 1984
Fucking finally, it was Christmas break.
Steve couldn’t wait to not see any of his classmates for two full weeks. He made his way to his car, avoiding groups of teens loudly celebrating freedom.
“Took you long enough!” Dustin and his bike were leaning against his car and Steve tried to squash a smile.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” he asked.
“My bike has a flat and I need a ride home,” Dustin said. “Chop chop, my mom is waiting!”
“I don’t think I heard a question in there,” Steve said, unlocking the driver’s door.
“Steve, my new friend with an excellent car, can you please drive me home to where my mother is very patiently awaiting my presence?” Dustin asked, clasping his hands like he was an innocent child and not an obnoxious little shit.
Steve rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He popped open the trunk for the bike, and let Dustin into the passenger seat.
Dustin kept a steady stream of words going, catching him up on all the middle school doings of Max and the Party, like he thought Steve was invested.
He’d die before admitting that he was.
“We’re doing a special Christmas campaign over break,” Dustin said. “We’re starting the 26th. Will you join us?”
He actually looked hopeful until Steve laughed. “Uh, don’t think so,” he said.
“Why are you laughing?” Dustin demanded. “Steve? That’s not something to laugh at! I meant it!”
“Really?” Steve asked, checking Dustin’s expression. Very pouty. “Oh. Well, sorry, then. But I think I’ll leave the nerding to you guys.”
“Ohhh,” Dustin said, sounding knowing, and Steve did not want to hear what he’d say next. He turned up the music, but Dustin just raised his voice. “I get it, you don’t want to be at the Wheelers and see Nance.”
“Or I would like to spend my break not hanging out with 8th graders,” Steve shot back.
“Whatever, you love us,” Dustin said, waving him off. “I won’t interfere in your broken heart, though.”
Steve grit his teeth.
“So if you won’t hang out with us, what are you doing?” Dustin’s tone implied that nothing could be as good as their campaign.
“Uh, sleep, mostly,” Steve said. Or try to, anyway. “English paper. Movie marathons. Whatever I feel like.”
“Steve, my man, that is just sad,” Dustin said, shaking his head. “Fine, fine, waste away in your house. What about Christmas?”
“What about it, man?” Steve asked, slowing for a red light.
“What are you doing for it? Are you visiting family?” Dustin asked.
“Oh. No, we don’t travel. My parents are in Chicago until Tuesday night, and then we just hang around the house after church on Christmas.” Steve turned right and then left into Dustin’s driveway.
“You’re going to be alone for Christmas eve?” Dustin sounded shocked and Steve frowned.
“Sure. It’s not the big day or anything,” he said, shrugging. “C’mon, get your bike.”
He hopped out of the seat to open the trunk, and then saw Mrs. Henderson was wrestling with the garbage cans on the snowy curb. “Dustin! Be a gentleman,” he said, rushing over to help her.
“You told me to get my bike,” Dustin protested, and Steve groaned.
“It’s all right, thank you for your help, dear,” Mrs. Henderson said as he set one can down in their garage and took the second one from her.
“Mom, Steve’s going to be alone on Christmas Eve,” Dustin cut in, and Steve dropped the can down with a crash.
“Oh, no, no,” Mrs. Henderson said, turning to him. “You should spend the day with Dusty and I! We would love to have you.”
“We really would, Steve,” Dustin said, blinking up at him, all big eyed and shit.
“Thanks so much for your offer, but I’ll be fine,” Steve said, offering Mrs. Henderson his most charming smile.
“Steve’s parents are out of town until nighttime on Christmas eve, and he doesn’t have any plans to do anything with anyone at all over break,” Dustin added. Steve glared at him.
Mrs. Henderson clucked her tongue. “Steve, dear, please spend Christmas eve with us. It would mean a lot to Dusty, and it would let me thank you for all the help you gave Dusty before his dance.”
“Well, how can I say no to that?” Steve said, after taking a moment to desperately try and think of a way to do just that.
Dustin beamed at him and he wondered how Mrs. Henderson would respond if he strangled the kid right there in the driveway.
—--
Steve woke up to a cold, grey, snowy Christmas eve. He’d promised to be at the Henderson’s by 10:30, and it was only 9.
He puttered around the house, eating breakfast, wrapping gifts, picking out which records to bring. The Hendersons had been specific on that. All of the Christmas music was his mother’s, but he guessed it counted as a Harrington tradition.
When he couldn’t put it off any longer, he cleaned off his car and drove to the Hendersons. Despite everything, he did like the kid, but he wasn’t really sure what to expect today and that always made him feel wrong footed.
He knocked on their door and prepared his “parent smile.”
“It’s so good to see you, dear,” Mrs. Henderson greeted him, taking his shopping bags from him. She was wearing a bright red sweatshirt with kittens climbing presents embroidered all over.
“Thank you for your invitation,” Steve said, hanging his coat up. He pulled out a bottle of champagne that had been delivered to the house as a gift for his father and presented it to her. “This is for you, Mrs. Henderson.”
“Oh, dear, that’s so kind of you, really,” she said, eyes widening as she read the label. It must be a good one. “And please, call me Claudia. Dusty talks about you all the time, I feel like I already know you so well!”
As she bustled into the kitchen, he looked around. The living room was small, but nice, with a lot of colorful blankets piled around. The tree was loaded down with lights, tinsel, and ornaments, most of which looked homemade. A few cards were taped to the wall next to it.
“Steve! You came!” Dustin came barreling out of a hallway, beaming at him.
“Of course I did,” Steve said, grinning at Dustin’s clearly homemade Christmas Star Wars shirt. Nerd..
“Did you bring everything?” Dustin asked, bouncing by the bags Claudia had placed on a side table.
Steve had fielded multiple calls from Dustin since Friday, asking about favorite music, recipes, and movies.
“Yeah,” Steve said. “What I could, anyway. I don’t actually have a favorite Christmas movie.”
“Oh, that’s fine, I borrowed a bunch from Family Video,” Dustin said. “You can pick from those. Are you ready to get started?”
He glanced over at Claudia, who was still in the kitchen. “Sure.”
“Let’s have some cocoa to start,” Claudia suggested and Dustin spun around.
“It’s already ready?” he asked. “Aw, yeah! Steve, it’s the best cocoa anywhere, you’re going to love it, man.”
He rushed over to grab mugs, and Steve helped Claudia carry the crock pot to the dining table.
“We usually have it after cookies, but I thought it would be nice to sit down together first,” Claudia said. She had a nervous energy around her, even as she smiled welcomingly, and Steve wondered if that’s where Dustin’s energy came from.
Dustin brought over a set of chipped Charlie Brown mugs and gave them each one. Steve’s had a Christmas tree and Snoopy with presents on it. Claudia served them all and Dustin gave a deep, satisfied sigh.
Steve sniffed it and took a small sip. “Oh, wow, that is good,” he said. He hoped he didn’t sound as surprised as he felt, but Dustin looked happy at his response. It was really creamy, and spiced without being spicy. He’d never had one like it.
“My nana’s recipe,” Claudia said, beaming at him.
“Cheers to Nana,” Steve said, holding his mug up and taking a longer drink.
“Now, Steve, what are your traditions?” Claudia asked. “I want to make sure you get your holiday fun in today!”
“Oh,” Steve said, wiping at his lip. “Well, when my parents are in town, Dad has to work so my Mom and I bake her mom’s peanut butter cookies together. We all love them. Usually she’s playing music, something classic. Bing Crosby or Lawrence Welk or something. David Rose. I brought the records like Dustin asked.”
“Lawrence Welk?” Dustin asked, making a face.
Steve shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. She’s a nice lady with musical taste that never left the 50s.” Honestly, it was objectively bad musical taste, but he liked dancing with her in the kitchen as she sang with the orchestras and they baked. He did miss that, a little.
It had always made him wonder, though, if she was stuck in the 50s because she’d married an older man, or if they’d gotten married because she was the kind of person who was stuck in the 50s.
“But nothing special for dinner?” Claudia asked.
“Nope, whatever takeout was open when Dad came home,” Steve said. “Some years, there’s a holiday party, and then they bring me back something. It’s never the same.”
“Maybe they’ll bring you takeout tonight,” Dustin said.
“Probably,” Steve agreed. “They should get home around 8, they think. I gave them your number, so Mom will call when they’re home. And then I’ll be out of your hair.” He leaned over and ruffled Dustin’s curls.
Dustin smacked at his hand and Claudia immediately sounded distressed. “Oh, no, no, no, Steve,” she said. “We’re so glad you’re here. It’s nice to celebrate with someone this year.” She patted his hand.
Dustin slurped up the last of his cocoa. “Okay, now can we start?” he asked impatiently.
“Of course, Dusty,” Claudia said, smiling. “Put on one of your records, Steve,” she directed. “Dustin can choose the next one. Let’s bake some cookies.”
The Hendersons had already baked cookies for their friends and neighbors on Friday, after Dustin got home, and now it was time for their own batches. They had Steve’s peanut butter cookies, Dustin’s sugar cookies, and Claudia’s almond spritzes.
Dustin ate dough every time his mom had her back turned, and Steve couldn’t resist some himself.
“I see you both,” Claudia said, not turning around, and the boys exchanged chagrined looks.
The longer they baked, the most relaxed and comfortable Steve felt. Claudia really didn’t seem to mind him there, and she even laughed when he would sass Dustin, although she’d been shocked the first time.
Steve was mixing his ingredients when Dustin ran off to the bathroom.
“I can see why my Dusty likes you so much,” Claudia said, after a pause.
Steve looked up, surprised, and she was smiling at him, a little mistily. God, he hoped she wasn’t going to cry.
“It’s good for him to have an older boy around, help him with things I can’t. Like get ready for dances.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Dusty said that when our sweet sweet Mews went missing, you helped look for him. Thank you.”
“Oh, uh, well, it wasn’t just me,” Steve said, awkwardly. “All his friends were. I just…herded them around, really.”
“Still,” she said. “You’re a very nice boy, and it means the world to me that you’re looking out for Dusty. He’s so impulsive, you know? He needs a good role model.” She must have seen something on his face, because she laughed and the tears disappeared. “I know that’s the last thing you want to be called. But I’m glad he has you, and I’m very glad you’re here today.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” Steve said, honestly. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
“Good,” she said. “You’re always welcome here.” She turned back to the icing she was making, and Steve wasn’t sure how he was feeling.
Actually, no. He thought he might just be happy.
Weird that that was a weird feeling, but it had been a rough few weeks. It felt good to be around people who liked him and wanted him around.
“White Christmas” started playing and Steve couldn’t resist. He took Claudia’s hand as she reached for the fridge and spun her around like he did with his mom.
She laughed, delighted, and they waltzed a few steps before Dustin came back in.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Feeling Christmassy,” Steve said. “Now get over here and help me finish these.”
He showed Dustin how to use a fork to flatten the cookies and add the decorative lines to the top. “And then we add an m&m on top when they come out of the oven.” he said.
“Aren’t they supposed to be Hershey’s kisses?” Dustin asked, doubtfully.
“Not in this recipe,” Steve said, and they moved onto the spritzes.
It turned out it was hard to use the cookie press, and he fumbled a lot of them. Claudia was more patient than Dustin, unsurprisingly, so she helped him fix them while Dustin took on m&m duty.
When all the batches were out of the oven and cooling, the record ended and Steve expected Dustin to swap it for some ridiculously weird cassette. Instead, he just turned the player off and exclaimed, “Movie time!”
He pulled out TV trays from a corner and set one up by the couch and one by the armchair. “Come on, Steve,” he said impatiently.
“I’ll get the cookies, you get the cocoa, dear,” Claudia told him, and he carried the crockpot and rattan thingy that went under it to the coffee table. She had filled two plates with cookies, one heaped much higher than the other, and set them on the trays. Dustin laid out all the movies that he’d rented and lifted one up.
“We always start with “White Christmas,” he explained, popping it into the betamax. “It’s Mom’s favorite.”
Steve settled onto the couch and poured himself some more cocoa. “I don’t think I’ve seen it,” he said.
“Oh, you’ll like it,” Claudia said. “There’s a lot of pretty girls in it.”
“Moo-oom,” Dustin protested.
“I don’t think he’s going to like it for the music, dear,” Claudia said, pulling out some yarn. “It’s a musical, and Dusty-buns and I always sing along, don’t we?”
“Mom!” Dustin hissed, trying not to look at Steve.
“Oh, but it’s tradition, Dusty,” his mother said. “Surely Steve doesn’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Steve said. “Gotta follow tradition, Dusty.” He smirked at him.
Dustin grumbled as he sat down next to Steve and stuck a cookie in his mouth.
Claudia was right, he was grateful for the pretty girls and their dance clothes. But he couldn’t help being charmed by the way Dustin forgot to be embarrassed with each new song and really let loose singing about snow.
“So what did you think?” Dustin asked eagerly when it finished, jumping up to rewind it.
“Really really pretty girls,” Steve said, smirking.
“Philistine,” Dustin groaned.
“The live concert made it better,” Steve allowed.
“Damn straight it did,” Dustin agreed.
“Dusty,” his mom scolded. “Come on now, behave yourself. Come wash your hands.”
Dustin made a face at Steve. “You, too,” he said. “It’s time to make dinner.”
Steve led himself be led into the kitchen, where they began work on macaroni and cheese. After a few false starts, Steve was put on jello mold duty, and then cheese ball rolling.
“Now everything cooks while we watch our next movie,” Claudia said. They refreshed their cocoa and Dustin knelt by the movie choices.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this. I haven’t seen it in a few years, it’s been checked out. But it’s a classic, Steve. A classic.”
Dustin looked really serious and Steve tried to match that as he nodded. “Classic, yes. Got it.”
Dustin held it up. “Santa Caus Conquers the Martians,” he said reverently.
“Totally a classic,” Steve said.
“Oh, you already know it?” Dustin lit up.
“Never even heard of it,” Steve said and Dustin glared at him.
“Classic,” he repeated, popping it in and joining Steve back on the couch. He dropped a blanket on Steve as he passed, and snuggled under one of his own. Claudia continued making something with yarn.
Kids were being hunted by martians when the phone rang. Dustin heaved a sigh as he went over to pause the movie.
“Oh, Mary, hello,” Claudia said. “ Yes, of course. We’ve had such a nice day today, he’s been lovely.”
Steve frowned, glancing at his watch. It was too early to be his parents, but Claudia was waving him over.
“It was so nice to speak with you,” Claudia said. “Merry Christmas!”
“Mom?” Steve asked, stepping down a hall.
“Darling, hello!” his mother said, her voice bright as ever. “I’m so sorry, but I have bad news. All the flights here have been grounded for the night.”
“Grounded?” Steve repeated, looking out the window. “Why?” It was still lightly snowing, nothing abnormal.
“Ice storm here, darling,” Mom said. “You’d think Chicago would know how to handle some ice!” Her voice softened. “I am sorry we won’t be home until morning. We’re hoping to get out first thing, then maybe we can make some cookies.”
“Oh, well, I made some here today,” Steve said, twisting the cord. “We set some aside for you and Dad.”
“Well, that’s perfect then,” she said. “If all goes well, we’ll be home around 11. I’ll call if that changes. Love you, darling!”
“Love you,” he repeated and stared down at the carpet while the signal buzzed in his ear. He’d never actually woken up alone on Christmas before.
What a fucking year.
He stepped back into the living area and hung up the receiver.
“They’re not home yet, are they?” Dustin demanded from his place in front of the TV. “Because you have to finish this first.”
“Nope,” Steve said, sitting back down on the couch and pulling the blanket up to his shoulders. “They’re stuck in Chicago until morning, actually.”
“Seriously?” Dustin asked. He jumped up and flung his arms in the air. “Sleepover!”
“No, no, no,” Steve said quickly, shaking his head. “I am not going to impose on you Christmas eve and Christmas day, too. I’m going home tonight, just like we planned.”
“Steve!” Claudia said, shocked. “Of course you’re staying. I wouldn’t hear of you leaving.”
“See?” Dustin said, pointing to her. “Sleepover!”
“I really don’t want to put you out any more,” Steve said, his chest feeling tight. “You’ve already been so welcoming. Dustin, hit play. What is happening with those kids, anyway?”
Dustin was easily distracted, of course, and Steve kept his eyes on the ridiculous movie.
On the screen, the kids were kidnapped to Mars, moved in with a martian family, and felt homesick even with Santa there, too.
He was 17 years old, 3 miles from home, and was in no way homesick. He tucked the blanket tighter.
When it was finally over, he let himself be pushed into the kitchen to serve himself dinner and then back to the couch where Dustin had set up a third TV tray for himself.
“Your turn to pick,” Dustin directed.
Steve glanced over the piles. Some were obviously Claudia’s, black and white classics, and others were clearly Dustin’s. Black Christmas, Twilight Zone. He didn’t even recognize most of them.
“Pick anything you like, dear,” Claudia said. “I’m used to Dusty’s taste, they’re all fine.”
He hesitated, his hand hovering over Gremlins. He’d wanted to see it, Phoebe Cates was hot, but Nance had refused.
“I knew you had some taste,” Dustin said, grabbing it up.
It was a good movie, a fun kind of scary, even with Dustin’s commentary. Claudia excused herself midway and didn’t return until the movie was over. Steve felt guilty–he definitely had to head out soon.
He started folding his blanket and ignored Dustin’s pleas to stay, when she called him over and led him down the hall.
“Look at this,” she said, pointing into her room. There was a small stack of wrapped presents by her bed, with a kitten perched on top of them. “Because you were here, I was able to wrap everything early and Dusty wasn’t lonely. If you stay, I could even go to bed early, for the first time in 13 years, and not worry about him.”
She looked at him, beseechingly, and rested her hand on his arm. “It would be a lot of both of us if you would stay.”
Steve was torn. “But Christmas is a family day,” he protested. “I really don’t want to be in your way tomorrow.”
“Dusty’s been sad since our Mewsy left,” Claudia said. “He tries to hide it, but I know. You’ve made him so happy. It would be the best gift you could give us if you stayed.”
The thing was, he wanted to give in. He had from the start. Who wanted to wake up alone on Christmas if they didn’t have to? And now he was feeling guilty for saying no. Like he could actually make the day better if he was around with them.
“Anything for you, Claudia,” he said, and she beamed at him. He grinned back, already feeling like a weight had been lifted.
“All right, gremlin, you got your wish,” he called out, heading back into the living room.
“I knew you’d come to your senses!” Dustin said, offering a high five. “This is going to be awesome.”
Steve wouldn’t admit it, but it was. They stayed up until midnight with weird, creepy Christmas movies and a cheese ball with crackers. He didn’t even mind being forced to read Star Wars comic strips about something called Life Day.
When they were finally in Dustin’s room, Steve in Dustin’s sleeping bag on the floor, Dustin still wouldn’t shut up.
“Santa’s not going to come,” Steve threatened.
“Oh, ha ha ha,” Dustin said dryly, rolling his eyes.
“Or maybe he’ll come in with an axe,” Steve said, making a swoosh sound.
“Eh, that’s what your bat is for,” Dustin said. “ We’ll be fine.”
He was silent for a moment, and Steve wondered if they could actually sleep now.
“We need to commemorate this,” Dustin said, sitting up.
“Commemorate what?” Steve asked. “The Christmas invasion?”
“This! Us! Christmas sleepover!” Dustin got out of bed and sat next to Steve. “Up! Up!”
“You’re so fucking weird,” Steve said, grumbling as he pulled himself up and wrapped a blanket around him like a cape.
“Yep,” Dustin agreed. “Okay, hold out your hands.”
Steve sighed and complied, palms up, and wondered what the hell he’d gotten himself into.
“You want to start like that?” Dustin asked. “Okay, I guess.” He didn’t sound impressed but still clapped his hands down on Steve’s. “Now side to side.”
“Are you making a handshake?” Steve asked, cocking his head.
“Yeah!” Dustin scowled at him. “Hey, don’t laugh. Steve! This is our friendship handshake.”
“Serious business,” Steve agreed, still grinning. “You nerd,” he said affectionately. He was rather touched, ridiculous as it was. “All right, sideways.”
“All right then,” Dustin said, appeased. “Clap, slap, slap.” They tried it.
“Shake, then clap,” Steve suggested.
“Shake, clap, slap, slap.” Dustin grinned wickedly. “Lightsaber!”
“What?” Steve exclaimed. “Hell no, I’m not one of your nerds.”
Dustin made sounds at him, swinging his arms like he held a baseball bat. “Lightsabers, Steve.” He kept going with the sounds.
“Oh my God! Fine! Just stop with the shoom shoom sound, for the love of God,” Steve finally gave in. “I’m not making that noise. Mine is a bat.”
“Acceptable,” Dustin conceded and they swung at each other. “I win, though,” he said gleefully, stabbing at Steve’s chest.
“Augh!” Steve cried. “This is the thanks I get?” He grabbed his chest and collapsed, to Dustin’s delight.
They ran through it one more time before Dustin got back in bed.
Steve settled himself back into his sleeping bag, and Dustin finally seemed ready to go to sleep.
“Thanks for staying, Steve,” Dustin said drowsily. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, buddy,” Steve said, and fell asleep the most relaxed he’d felt since Halloween.
—----
Christmas was clear and bright when Steve woke up, before 8. He slid out of the bag, as quietly as he could, and got redressed in his jeans and green and white snowflake sweater from the day before.
Claudia was still asleep, so he plugged in the tree and set the gifts he’d brought under it. The tree’s glow was cozy and homey, and with the shades down, it offered the only light as he poured the remaining cocoa from the fridge into a pot on the stove to warm it.
He was considering scrambling some eggs, his one real cooking skill, when Claudia joined him in another festive sweater. This one glittered and was decorated with cats drawn in puffy paint.
“Merry Christmas, dear,” she said, smiling at him. “Thank you for starting the cocoa. I’m sure it will wake Dustin up soon.”
Sure enough, they’d just settled on the couch with mugs and cookies when Dustin came barreling down the hallway and flipped on all the lights. “Merry Christmas! Cocoa, excellent! Where's the loot?”
“Does he ever stop?” Steve asked, as Dustin sat himself by the tree.
“Hasn’t yet,” Claudia said, beaming at her son.
Claudia clearly adored Dustin, and Steve wasn’t sure Dustin realized what he had.
Dustin tore the wrapping paper off his first gift. “Weird Al!” he exclaimed. “Thanks, Mom!”
“You’re welcome, baby,” his mom said happily.
“Here’s one for you,” Dustin said, tossing it to Steve.
Luckily it was squishy, as he barely caught it before it smacked his face. “Wait, really?” he asked, surprised. The tag said it was from Claudia, and he glanced at her.
“Yeah, there’s a few here,” Dustin reported, poking around. “C’mon, hurry up!”
Steve unwrapped it carefully and revealed a hat and scarf, matching in grey and white stripes. “Is this what you were making last night?” he asked, wrapping the scarf around his neck.
“Just for you,” she confirmed. “
“Thank you,” he said, unable to stop rubbing the soft wool. He leaned over and hugged her, and she held him tightly.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” She patted his back and he settled back into his seat.
“Merry Christmas,” he repeated, feeling a lot warmer than the scarf alone should be.
“For Mom,” Dustin said, oblivious to Steve and Claudia’s emotions, and slid it to her.
It was from Steve, and he was so grateful that he’d gone back to the store where he always got his mom’s gifts.
She gasped as she lifted up a patterned silk square scarf. “This is gorgeous,” she breathed. “Oh, thank you, dear,” she said, tying it around her neck.
“Way to show me up,” Dustin complained, but he was already tearing into his next gift. “Faberge Organics!” he cried. “Steve, you’re the best.”
“We can keep practicing on your sprays,” Steve said, grinning.
Dustin passed a big box to Steve. “This one next,” he said, but the phone rang.
Claudia answered it, and Steve held it on his lap, not wanting to open it without her.
“Merry Christmas, Mary! Of course, of course.” She waved Steve over and he went reluctantly.
“Hi, Mom,” he said, wondering what the next delay was.
“Merry Christmas, darling,” Mom said. “We’re home!”
“Really?” Steve asked. “How?”
“Your father hired a private pilot so we could get home early,” she said. “Surprise! Of course, we didn’t think you’d still be gone.”
“Last minute decision,” Steve said, ignoring the little barb.
“Well, your father decided he’s had enough snow and ice,” she said. “So we’re heading to Hawaii for a last minute trip! Isn’t that exciting?”
Steve’s heart fell. “Oh, yeah, absolutely, Mom,” he said, wondering how long he could milk this invitation from the Hendersons.
“So tell your friend thank you for hosting, oh, I hope you brought his mother an appropriate gift,” she interrupted herself. “But then come home and pack! Our flight leaves very early tomorrow, and we’ll get you back before school starts again. Love you, darling!”
“Love you, too,” Steve said, and hung up the phone. He turned to the Hendersons. “They’re home and we’re heading to Hawaii for break,” he said, still a little surprised he was invited. “So I have to go. Thanks for having me for so long.”
“Wait, wait, wait, you gotta open this up first!” Dustin cried.
Steve glanced at his watch. His dad was real strict about being on time and not making people wait, and he already had without realizing it. “Really quick,” he agreed, and tore it open.
It was a walkie talkie, and it took his breath away.
“Channel one is for the whole party, in case, well, you know,” Dustin said. “Party business. And channel two is just for me and you. I’ll teach you how to use it when you come home, okay?”
“Definitely,” Steve said, pulling him in for a hug. “Thanks, bud.” He ruffled Dustin’s hair and dodged the swats as he released him. “Wait, here.”
He held his hand out and Dustin lit up as they went through their handshake.
Claudia had gathered the gifts for him and his cookies, and had them in his shopping bag by the door. Steve put on his new scarf and hat with his jacket, and hugged her again.
“Thank you for everything,” he said, feeling like the words were inadequate. ”Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, dear,” she said, her smile a little watery. She and Dustin stood in the doorway waving to him until he was out of sight.
He already missed the warmth of the Hendersons and their little house, and he thought this might have been his favorite Christmas yet. He’d worried that he’d peaked with the Wheelers and their family last year, but the Hendersons had them beat by a mile.
Hawaii was sure to be warm, though, too, and a break from Hawkins might be exactly what he needed.
And then he’d come home and learn the walkie talkie.