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If there was one thing Eddie hated more than anything in the world, it was presents.
He knew he wasn’t alone; lots of people don’t like the practice of gift giving. But usually those people were adults. Wives whose husbands got household appliances for their birthdays instead of the bracelet they asked for; or trust fund babies who wanted the newest Porsche but ended up with last year’s model. People who hated their jobs, but still had to participate in white elephant parties.
Not kids.
Especially not kids like Eddie. Kids who knew that Santa wasn’t real by the time they’re five because their parents took extra shifts every December to get them a used pair of shoes, and pretended it was magic.
Eddie knew he should be grateful when he opened a box on Christmas and found a toy instead of a necessity inside. And he would be… if it wasn’t always dolls.
Barbies usually, sometimes stuffed animals. There was one time he got a Ken doll, and for a second, he was really excited; until he realized it wasn't a GI Joe.
And he knew GI Joe were basically just dolls with guns. He knew that! But it was the principle of thing.
Barbies were for girls. And he was definitely not a girl.
Plus, the only thing on his “Santa list” for the past three years was a GI Joe. He'd even tried convincing his mom that Barbie needed a stronger boyfriend than dumb old Ken.
He didn't even have a job! How was he supposed to be a good boyfriend to Barbie if he was a bum? GI Joe had a whole career.
For a while there, his mom seemed to be on his side, nodding along to all his reasons for wanting one; but lo and behold, when he opened the gift box on Christmas morning, inside was another beanie baby. A cat this time.
“Wow! Santa really knows what little girls love, huh?” His mom smiled. Eddie hated being called a little girl. He’s told his mom every time she called him her daughter or little princess or whatever else. He knew better than to tell his dad.
Even though he hated the toy, Eddie still thanked his parents. With his dad already four beers in, it was better to keep quiet and not make a scene. The scar on his shoulder made sure he only had to learn that lesson once.
That night, Eddie wished on the North Star, begging for his parents to understand him; but, wishes on stars never come true.
When Eddie was thirteen, his parents kicked him out. They never gave him a good reason, but Eddie could guess. He was too weird for them to handle.
Angry and bitter, Eddie shaved his head and went to the only other family member he had; Wayne Munson, his brother’s uncle. Unlike his brother, Wayne was kind. Gentle, calm, sober.
When Eddie talked, Wayne actually listened which freaked him out at first. Even when he used the right name and pronouns, it took a while for Eddie to trust it.
That was, until that first Christmas.
Eddie didn’t bother making a list, assuming he’d get some new pants or something he needed, if anything at all. He wasn’t expecting anything either, he’d only been in Wayne’s care for a month. Better to have no expectations than be disappointed.
“Here you go, Eds.” Wayne grunted, handing him a gift bag. “I ain’t good with wrapping paper.”
Hesitantly, Eddie took the bag, pulling the tissue paper out.
“No way,” he whispered. Excited as —well as a kid on Christmas— Eddie yanked the cardboard box from the bag. “A GI Joe!” Eddie stared wide eyed.
“I heard that’s all the rage with boys your age. Hope it’s alright,” Wayne shrugged. Unable to contain his joy, Eddie dove across the living room into Wayne’s arms, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He shouted.
“No problem, son,” Wayne replied, wrapping his arms around the boy.
Son. Maybe wishes on stars did come true, they just took a few years to kick in.