It was mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve and Dexter was out of clean clothes. He’d have to go to the laundromat.
Christmas didn’t mean much to him anyway. The family had long ago stopped sending gifts and, since the divorce, he had quit putting up decorations. Couldn’t tell you the last time he talked to the kids. It was just another day in the year.
When he walked into the laundromat there were three other people there. A teenage girl folding clothes, and what looked like her two younger brothers. The first, about six, was in rapture enjoying a candy cane. The second, about four, was eyeing Dexter intently.
Dexter put in two loads, sat down, and started browsing through Tik Tok. The littlest boy walked over and sat alongside him, not saying anything but taking it all in. Dexter looked over at the girl to make sure it was okay but she was busy with the task at hand. “Hi,” Dexter said to the boy. “My name’s Dexter, what’s your name?”
“Javier.” the boy replied. With that he stood up on the chair. Dexter thought maybe he was going to pat his hair. He was used to that, sometimes even from adults. Instead, the boy whispered in Dexter’s ear: “Tomorrow’s Christmas!” Dexter looked over. Javier had his eyes shut tight and his hands in fists covering his cheeks, trying hard to hold in the glee but failing miserably. Dexter had to smile. “I know,” Dexter whispered back.
The boy stood there and reveled in the pure joy that is a four year old and Christmas Eve. After awhile he jumped down off the chair and walked over to his sister. He whispered something in her ear, and she handed him a candy cane. He came back over to Dexter, sat back in the chair, and handed Dexter the candy cane. Dexter glanced over at the girl. She just smiled and shrugged. Dexter broke it in half and gave half back to Javier. They both sat back, contented, working on their candy canes and looking out onto the street, Javier resting his tiny hand on Dexter’s forearm.
“Time to go, Javy.” The sister said. She grabbed her basket full of clean clothes and held the door open. Javier jumped down off the chair and made his way to the exit. Just before leaving he turned and waved to Dexter. Dexter waved back.
Dexter got up and switched his loads to a dryer. Then he sat down and finished his candy cane. He reached over and grabbed his phone. Thought he might give the eldest a holler.
