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Kevin, Axel and Jakob were in Kevin's kitchen, getting ready to eat the leftover Christmas food. Kevin had asked, almost begged his friends to come and help him get rid of the food. And when one of his friends was Jakob, Kevin could rest assured that the problem would be taken cared of. In addition to the boiled potatoes, casseroles and slices of Christmas ham, they had also set out boiled frankfurters, French fries and potato salad. Jakob would have been happy if they'd just popped the frankfurters in the microwave for a bit and they would still have tasted good, but his friends had steamrolled right over him. And so they had ended up going all the way and boiling them. They also had a bottle of bubbly to toast the beginning of 2026. Kevin and his wife still had some Christmas lights on the windows, casting their soft, warm glow in every room. Their Christmas tree was still up in the corner of living room. Kevin wondered that the tree and decorations might stay in place until the 6th of January. Greta and Alfons were playing together in the living room. The occasional playful growling and barking could be heard as the dogs wrestled or fought over a rope toy, whatever they were doing.
Jakob was eyeing all the food quite impatiently, with a hungry gleam in his eyes. He couldn't help himself; his mouth was watering and both Kevin and Axel were secretly sure that he was dangerously close to actually drooling. Some things would (and should) never change, and Jakob being constantly hungry was one of them. His friends loved him just the way he was. Jakob's foot was tapping a proper and rapid, yet quiet drum solo under the table as he waited for the others to sit down. They took too long to place down the mustard and the carton of milk. But once they finally had taken their places, Jakob couldn't help himself any longer. And so he asked:
"Can we start?"
Kevin and Axel exchanged amused glances, the latter feigning playful annoyance, like he did quite often. They were the angel and devil sitting on Jakob's shoulders.
"Sure, I think we've got everything,"
Kevin mused.
"Go right ahead. The hungriest should definitely be fed first."
Jakob did not need to be told twice. Staying true to himself, he picked up his plate and nearly lunged at the food. Naturally he wasted no time piling up a few potatoes, spoonfuls of both casseroles and a few slices of ham on the plate before moving on to the traditional New Year's dishes. He didn't mind one bit that he was mixing everything up. The food was there to be eaten. Once he had a little bit of everything on his plate, he settled back down and let the others also get food. Axel handed Jakob a tube of mustard before also shifting his focus on the food.
"2025 was a hectic year for us,"
Kevin noted as he also started to fill up his plate.
"Hectic, but good. What do you think this year will be like for us?"
"Well, Jakob's of course going to be in a musical, but that won't be until later,"
Axel commented calmly as Jakob poured himself some milk.
"Some gigs,"
Kevin chimed in.
"Although definitely less than last year."
Both Jakob and Axel nodded in agreement. They all were on the same page about that.
"People are hungry to get more Vörjeans, too.. And you two are going to be parents,"
Jakob spoke with his mouth full and only then swallowed.
"How does it feel now? Any different than last time?"
"About the same.. Exciting,"
Axel was the first one to say and took another look at Kevin.
"I'm excited, too.. And a little nervous,"
he admitted. Jakob's attentive gaze washed over them both.
"I know both of you will do just fine. And me, I'll be uncle SCHakob!"
he announced and winked with both eyes. His smile also widened at the thought.
"If either of you ever need a babysitter, you can ask me! I'll help, and you don't even have to pay me."
He sounded so completely serious about it.
"Oh, yeah? And what do you know about babies?"
Axel inquired, taking those familiar, playful jabs at Jakob.
"Well, they eat and sleep a lot.."
Jakob began to say.
"So, quite like you. Right now you look like a squirrel with your cheeks full,"
Axel said with a straight face. However, his poker face began to crack and fall apart as Jakob burst out laughing, almost immediately followed by Kevin. Soon all three of them were trying to catch their breath.
After they'd had enough to eat and they'd cleared the table, the three best friends had relocated into the living room. All of them were sitting comfortably on the couch in the beginning stages of post-dinner food coma. Both Alfons and Greta had settled down after all of their playing and were now asleep on the carpet.
"It's the start of a new year.."
Jakob mumbled as he got more comfortable on the couch, eyes already half-lidded. He looked like he was ready for a little nap. Still he did his best to carry on talking.
"With some firsts for us. It is a little scary.. But I know that it's all going to be fun. And like I said, I'll help if you ever need me to.."
He tried so hard to keep his eyes open. But just like on Christmas Eve, his intentions quite soon turned into fighting a losing battle. His eyelids grew too heavy and closed on their own, carrying Jakob to sleep.
"I don't know why or how he still surprises me,"
Axel spoke to Kevin as Jakob snoozed all peacefully, without a single worry.
"He does this often enough that I should know to expect it. He eats like a horse and then falls asleep on the couch."
"His neck is probably going to be sore when he wakes up,"
Kevin added as he kept looking at Jakob.
"Probably. But it won't kill him,"
Axel dead-panned.
"Should we wake him up?"
Kevin still wondered but Axel shook his head.
"No, let him.. A sore neck, as annoying as it is, won't kill him,"
he decided.
And so they let Jakob sleep. He'd need to be stocking up on rest if he was going to keep his promise about being a babysitter to both Kevin and Axel's kids later down the line.