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Lucia was helping Joe into his costume.
Lucia: "Stand still, Joe or else I might poke you with the needle."
Joe: "Please tell me again why it is, as a grown man at the age of 28, has said yes to playing a role in a Nativity Play when we both know what happened when we were eight."
Lucia looked up at Joe.
Lucia: "Because you hate seeing children crying, you want to be in Santa's good book, and you want to impress my Baby Brother so badly."
Joe: "You noticed that?"
Lucia: "Yes, and you have my blessing to date my Little Brother, but remember this: if you break Nicky's heart, I'll make sure you can't get out of the donkey costume for the rest of your life."
Joe nodded while he scratched his beard before looking in the direction of Nicky, who was busy with getting the children in line. When Nicky turned up last week out of nowhere, it had been ten years since the last time Joe had seen him. Back then, Nicky was a skinny teen at the age of fifteen and had left with his family because his Father had gotten a job in Egypt. During the last week, Joe had tried to grasp how Lucia's Little Brother had grown into this beautiful man because Nicky looked like something that was cut out of the finest marble with hands Joe so badly wanted to hold in his own hands, touch those broad shoulders and then there were the eyes; they did things to Joe he had never tried before. That was why when Lucia asked if Joe could play the donkey in the Nativity Play, he had said yes because he was very desperate to make a good impression so Nicky would notice him.
Lucia: "Oh, I forgot the last reason you said yes to playing the donkey: you make one cute donkey."
Joe looked at Lucia, who got up. Before Joe could say anything, Lucia put the donkey mask on Joe's head.
Joe: "Uhm, Lucia. I can't see a thing in this mask. And not to mention, it's very hot in here."
Lucia: "Sorry, I couldn't fit an air conditioner in the mask, Mr Big Actor."
Joe had missed Lucia's terrible jokes the year they had been apart. Joe had been travelling in the Far East, trying to find inspiration for his art, but in vain.
Lucia: "Joking aside. I made the nostrils a bit bigger than normal, which should give you some more air. And you don't need to see anything. Just follow Josh, he will lead you onstage and don't drop Lucy."
Joe: "Josh? He plays Joseph, right?"
Lucia: "Yes. And Lucy plays Mary. Any other questions?"
Before Joe could ask, Lucia pushed him in the direction of the children and Nicky.
Lucia: "One Tunisian-Dutch donkey for you. A very rare breed."
Joe: "Very funny, Lucia."
Joe could only see shadows while wearing the mask, so it made him jump when he heard another voice to his left.
Nicky: "Is that you, Joe?"
Joe: "Can't be denied. Where do you want me?"
Joe hoped he sounded cool, calm and collected right now.
Nicky: "I'll show you. Come."
When Nicky took Joe's hand, the plan of sounding cool, calm and collected went out of the window.
Nicky: "Josh? Come here, please."
Joe could only see the shadow of a boy standing in front of him.
Josh: "Yes, Mr di Genova?"
Nicky: "Can you promise me to take good care of Joe while you're onstage?"
Josh: "Sure thing, but is the donkey's name Joe?"
Nicky: "No, Joe is him who is playing the donkey. Joe, can you wave at Josh?"
Joe waved at them. He could hear it made some of the children giggle.
Josh: "Ah, okay, that makes so much more sense."
Nicky: "What do you mean?"
Josh: "I just don't think that Joseph would name the donkey after himself. And what was the donkey's name? Everyone's names were mentioned in the story but not the donkeys, so do you know it, Mr. di Genova?"
Joe could see that Nicky's arm moved, and if Joe had to guess, Nicky was scratching his head for an answer to the unexpected questions.
A girl: "Josh is right. What is the donkey's name?"
Another girl: "And was it a girl donkey?"
A boy: "Don't be daft, Susie. It was a boy donkey."
Suddenly, all the children started to discuss the donkey's name and if it was a boy or a girl donkey. It took a moment before Nicky got them to be quiet again.
Nicky: "There is no way of knowing if it was a boy or a girl donkey, but what if we name the donkey "Angel"? It's a name that fits both a boy and a girl, and the donkey was an Angel for carrying Mary the entire way to Bethlehem without complaining."
All the children agreed to the name.
Joe: "Well done, Nicky."
Nicky: "Thanks. Lucia just gave me the signal. We start in two minutes."
Joe nodded, which made the mask move. It made all the children laugh. Nicky got the children to be quiet again while Joe got down on all four. It was there Joe reminded himself that he needed to thank Lucia for all the patting in the donkey costume because he somehow knew that crawling around on all four wouldn't hurt so much as he first thought.
Nicky: "Okay, Lucy. I'm going to lift you on Joe's back and then you take a firm grip in the mane."
Lucy: "Mr. di Genova? What is a mane?"
Nicky: "The donkey's black hair."
Nicky lifted Lucy up on Joe's back, where she took a hold on the mane. Joe was grateful that the mask didn't force his head upwards when Lucy did it.
Nicky: "Joe, you follow Josh, and Josh don't pull in the robe. Let Joe set the pace."
Josh: "Sure thing. Come."
Josh took the robe and started to walk with Joe crawling after him. Josh stuck to the plan for the first few minutes, but then the rope went slack for reasons Joe couldn't figure out. Then Joe felt Lucy's arms around his neck, and she whispered.
Lucy: "Don't move, Joe. Josh got scared, but Keith is on his way."
Joe: "Thanks for telling me, Lucy."
Then Joe felt someone pull in the rope, and the Nativity Play continued. After a couple of minutes, Lucy whispered again.
Lucy: "We're at the stable now. All you have to do is to stand still next to the cow."
Joe: "Thanks, Lucy."
When the rope went slack again, Joe stayed put until his right leg suddenly started to cramp. Before the Nativity Play started, Joe had walked around the stage in an attempt to memorize the layout, and he had noticed the plastic cow. Joe knew he couldn't get up because that wouldn't ruin the Nativity Play, so instead, he tried to find another position, hoping it would help with the cramp. In the process of finding another position, Joe knocked over the plastic cow. Joe hoped that people hadn't noticed it.
Lucy: "Joseph, it looks like the cow is tired of waiting for Gabriel."
The entire room laughed, including Joe. He knew he had to thank Lucy for directing the attention away from him. During the rest of the Nativity Play, Joe leaned up against one of the bales of straw, which helped on his leg. After the entire Nativity Play were over, Joe felt someone pull him out on stage, and the whole room clapped once again. Seconds later, Joe was led backstage, where Lucia took off the donkey's mask.
Joe: "I'll never forget the value of being able to breathe."
Lucia: "Ever so dramatic, but you did good."
Joe: "Thanks. Sorry about the cow, but my leg cramped."
Lucia: "I could tell, but lucky for you, Lucy saved you."
Joe: "I need to thank her. And what happened to Josh?"
Lucia: "Stage fright. It happens, but Nicky handled it, and Josh was able to play one of the sheep in the end. Come let me help you out of the costume."
After getting out of the costume, Joe took a bath before finding the children who were eating cake and drinking hot chocolate.
Lucy: "Joe, I saved a seat for you, and so cake."
Joe sat down next to Lucy.
Joe: "Thanks, and thanks for saving me on stage. My leg cramped."
Lucy: "Don't mention it. Is your leg better now?"
Joe: "As good as new. So, are you going to become an actress one day?"
Lucy: "No, I want to be an admiral. I love sailing."
A boy next to Lucy: "She loves to boss people around."
Lucy: "I don't do that, Marcus. And I'm telling Mom you said that."
Both children started to argue just as Nicky sat down next to Joe. Because Joe was looking at Nicky and was trying to process having Nicky so close to him, Joe dropped the hot chocolate in his lap.
Joe: "Damn it. I didn't mean to swear."
Nicky: "I know. Are you okay?"
Joe: "More than my new jeans. Could you hand me some paper towels?"
Nicky handed Joe some paper towels.
Joe: "And I also spilled on you. Sorry, Nicky."
Nicky: "Don't be. I'm not mad at you."
Joe handed Nicky some of the paper towels.
Lucy: "Joe? Are you going to play the donkey next year? I think you should because you're so good at it."
Joe: "I promise to give it a thought, okay? But thanks for saying that I was good."
Lucy: "Thanks. There's my Mom. See you both."
Lucy ran over to her Mother and soon it was only Joe and Nicky left.
Joe: "Can I help you with the cleaning?"
Nicky: "If I wash up, do you mind drying the plates and cups?"
Joe: "Not at all. I'm an expert in that field."
It made Nicky laugh before they gathered the plates and cups. There wasn't much space in the small kitchenette, so it couldn't be avoided that their shoulders touched each other.
Joe: "So, what brought you home to Brixton after all these years?"
Nicky: "I got tired of Egypt is the short answer. The long answer has to do with Lucia and her starting a family with Mike. You have heard about the baby?"
Joe nodded.
Nicky: "I decided to come home and be an Uncle. I want to see Lucia's children grow up."
Joe: "I know you're going to be a great Uncle. I saw how you handled all the children's questions and that the children loved being around you."
Nicky: "Don't sell yourself short, Joe. You were a hit by the children today. And you'll also be a great Uncle one day unless you already are."
Joe: "Not yet; my Sisters are all between twelve and twenty-two."
Nicky put the cups and plates in the cupboard.
Nicky: "That was the dishwashing. All that is missing is taking out the trash."
Joe: "Let me help you with that."
Nicky took the wet towel from Joe before hanging it up so it could dry. Then Nicky looked at Joe with a shy smile.
Nicky: "What can I give you in return for all the help today? It's soon Christmas, so make a wish, Joe."
Joe rubbed his neck sheepishly.
Joe: "Could I ask you out for coffee tomorrow? You can also get tea if you want."
Nicky moved closer to Joe, who was grateful that he was leaning up against the kitchen cupboard when Nicky took Joe's hands in his.
Nicky: "I would love that. Shall we say 2 PM at the cafe around the corner?"
Joe: "You got yourself a date for Christmas."
Joe realized what he had just said and looked sorry at Nicky.
Joe: "I didn't mean it..."
Nicky placed a finger on Joe's lips, who placed a gentle kiss on the finger.
Nicky: "I love the thought of us dating. Don't you?"
Joe: "Very much. And sorry about the kiss. I didn't mean to overstep your boundaries."
Nicky: "You didn't. You only did what everyone else would have done."
Joe looked confused at Nicky, who pointed up at the ceiling. It was there Joe noticed they were standing under a mistletoe.
Joe: "Oh, could I make another Christmas wish? Maybe a kiss from you."
Nicky: "Only if you give me a kiss in return."
Nicky leaned a bit forward before he placed his hand on Joe's arm. Joe placed his hand on Nicky's lower waist, and they met in a kiss.
Nicky: "Just so that you know it. I would love for another kiss on our coffee date tomorrow."
Joe: "Better bring the mistletoe."
Nicky: "You can't steal the mistletoe."
Joe: "I'm just going to take a little bit of it. And I promise to leave a pound and a note for it."
Joe only took a leaf from the mistletoe and did as he promised Nicky.
Joe: "I'll save this leaf as a memory of our first kiss."
Nicky: "Incurable romantic. Come, we better leave. It's getting late, and I have to be at the bakery at 4 AM."
Joe: "Poor you. Getting up so early."
Nicky: "It's not so bad. I work four days a week from 4 AM to 12 PM, which means a long weekend. And it gives me enough time tomorrow to enjoy the date with you because I don't have to worry about work before Monday."
Joe threw the trash in the bin before looking at Nicky with a smirk.
Joe: "I do like the idea of a three-day date with you."
Nicky: "So do I."
They exchanged a smile that told them both they couldn't wait until tomorrow for their coffee date.
Nicky: "I'm going that way."
Nicky pointed behind him.
Nicky: "Since I'm staying with Lucia until I get the keys to my new flat next week."
Joe: "And I'm going the other way."
Nicky: "Don't look so sad, Joe. We'll see each other tomorrow."
Joe: "Yeah, you're right. One more kiss before we part?"
Joe held up the leaf from the mistletoe with a charming smile.
Nicky: "I would love that. Very much."
They kissed until they were left breathless. After more kissing, they parted for now. When Nicky got home, Lucia sat on the sofa, pretending she hadn't been looking at the front door for hours.
Lucia: "Nicky, hi. How are you?"
Nicky knew exactly what she wanted to know by the smile on his Sister's face.
Nicky: "Nice touch with a mistletoe in the kitchen. Night."
Nicky kissed Lucia on the cheek before walking over to the staircase.
Lucia: "You can't do that. Tell me, did it work? Did Joe kiss you?"
Nicky waved at Lucia before climbing the stairs, laughing.