DECEMBER 12, 2007

A little Christmas Magic
By Vic Winter

Darkness was falling quickly, it always did this time of year, the time between the sun still being in the sky and being gone seeming to be over in a simple blink of an eye. A chill wind blew, Barry’s fingertips feeling icy in no time.

There was snow falling, though, large, fluffy flakes that he could catch on his tongue if he was quick about it. It blanketed the busy streets in a hushed silence that he knew was more illusion than truth, but tonight the illusion was enough.

As he turned on Smyth Rd. a gaggle of urchins surrounded him and he put his hands in his pockets. “Go away! I don’t have anything for you, today.”

The chorus of “awws” went up and he couldn’t contain his laugh. “Oh, come on, it’s Christmas Eve -- of course I have something for you.”

Pulling his hands out of his pockets, he snapped his fingers several times in succession. Each time he did, tiny fireworks went off, sparking and dancing above his fingertips. The “awws” turned quickly to “oohs” and “ahhs” and, waving one hand in front of the other, he made a multicolour bouquet of lollipops appear.

The next part of the trick was easy, the kids making the lollipops disappear as quickly as they’d appeared.

“Merry Christmas,” he called to them, slipping a twenty into an older boy’s pocket.

He shoved his hands back into his pockets and hurried down the street, going right onto Naesmith Drive and turning into the French Bakery on the corner. The little bell tinkled and warmth pushed into him, the air redolent with the smells of sugar and spices, bread rising and baking.

“Ah, Barry, I didn’t think you were going to come.” Madame. Renaud bustled about behind the counter, fetching a rectangle box and putting it down near the cash.

She opened it and Barry peeked in, almost moaning at the sight of the Christmas Log. He did lick his lips. Covered in Mocha Butter Cream, the log boasted candy leaves, a chocolate axe and meringue mushrooms. He couldn’t wait to get it home and eat it all up. “This looks fantastic, Madame. Renaud.” His stomach growled loudly, making them both laugh.

“Make sure you save some for that man of yours,” she admonished.

Barry smiled sadly, and decided not to remind her that he didn’t have a man of his own, not anymore, not for almost a year now. “Have a good Christmas,” he told her, handing over the money for the Log.

His steps weren’t quite as light as he made his way through the darkness, that chill wind having a real bite to it now, the snow falling harder, the smaller flakes stinging against his face and hands as he walked through it. Now that the spectre of Neal had been raised, his entire mood had changed.

He couldn’t help but think how sad it was that he was going to have to eat this Christmas Log all by himself. Last year... last year he’d fed his lover one finger full of butter cream icing after another. Last year eating cake hadn’t been the first thing on his Christmas to do list.

He rounded another corner, seeing the smoke coming from the chimney of his little brownstone, the thermostat scheduled to turn the furnace on just before he got home. And damn it, eating cake wasn’t going to be the first thing on his to do list this year either. Just because Neal had left him -- nine months ago, he had to get over himself already -- didn’t mean he had to mope and be dreadful. He had a home and food and… Turning around, he headed back to Smythe Rd.

The children were still there and they came over to him, begging more sweets, but he shook his head and held up his bakery box. “This is a Christmas Log. And I have a little turkey at home, too. I need help eating it all.”

They stared at him, and he’d never heard them quiet like that before. He chuckled and turned, motioning for them to follow. “Come on. We’ll have ourselves a merry little Christmas feast.”

“Why?” asked the older boy he’d given the money to earlier.

“Because no one should have to spend Christmas alone and no one should have to spend Christmas in the streets.”

They didn’t say anything after that, all of them keeping their heads down as the wind began to howl, the snow falling heavier than ever, making the going rough. It was a nasty night to be out.

Finally they got to his place and Barry frowned as a miserable looking figure detached itself from the shadows by his door. The man was hunched in on himself, obviously not dressed for the weather, and Barry gasped as he stepped into the light of the streetlamp.

“Neal. What are you... I...” He shook his head, and scrounged for his key in his pocket. “Come on everyone, let’s get inside before we freeze off anything we might need later.”

“Me, too?” Neal asked softly and Barry nodded.

“Yeah, you, too.”

“Oh, babe. I wasn’t sure you’d even talk to me, let alone let me back in. I’ve been such a fool.”

“Yeah, you have. But it’s Christmas and you’re here, and we’re all hungry so come on in.” Barry opened the door and they all tumbled in, noisy now that they were in the warm, filling his little brownstone with life.

Smiling, Barry put down the cake box. “You back to stay?”

“If you’ll have me.” Neal held out his hand.

If he’d have Neal. The man he’d been dreaming about every night since Neal had walked out the door. The man who made his heart pitter patter like no one else ever had. The man he loved. This one was a no-brainer.

Barry slid his hand into Neal’s and they stepped up to each other, mouths meeting in a tentative kiss. It stayed soft and awkward for a moment, almost as if they’d forgotten how to do this, and then they pressed up against each other, mouths melting together. Their tongues touched, Neal’s dancing along his own and Barry could have cried it felt so good.

A couple of the kids made ‘ew’ noises and Barry laughed, breaking the kiss and rubbing noses with Neal.

“Who are all these kids?” Neal asked.

“Just some kids I invited for Christmas Dinner.”

They were interrupted by a shout from one of the kids. “Oh my God, look at the tree!”

Barry grinned as they went into the living room. “It’s just a little--” He stopped, mouth agape as he saw the huge tree in the corner where his little tree had been. The lights were on and twinkling, shining off the ornaments. “I didn’t... This isn’t...” Someone must have... what, broken in and improved his tree?

“Look at all the presents!” squealed one little girl with dark pigtails, smudges of dirt on her face. “Look! That’s my name!”

The rest of the kids crowded around her and sure enough, there were presents for everyone, including Neal and Barry himself. Lots of them. So many they overflowed from beneath the pine branches.

The little girl came running over and hugged him tight. “Thanks a lot, Mister.”

Barry shook his head. “No, don’t thank me. It wasn’t me.”

“Don’t be so modest, Barry. You always did overdo at Christmas. How did you know that I’d be coming back, though?” Neal asked, holding one of the gifts with his name on it.

“I didn’t... Really. This isn’t... It’s...” Looking out the window, at the snow falling once again in big soft flakes, the cold safely held at bay, the streets quiet enough Barry would swear he could hear sleigh balls and fading laughter. Then he looked back at his tree, the gifts, the happy children and his lover.

“It’s Christmas Magic.”

***

Buche de Noel (Christmas Log)
5 eggs, separated
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 c. sifted cake flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar
Mocha Butter Cream
Whipped Cream Filling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease jelly roll pan; line with waxed paper and grease paper. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; set aside. Beat egg yolks until lemon colored. Add sugar and cocoa gradually; beat until thick. Blend in flour and salt. Fold egg yolk mixture into beaten egg whites carefully. Pour batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Bake 15 minutes or until done. Loosen cake edges immediately; turn out onto dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Roll up cake from narrow end. Cool. Unroll cake; spread with about 1/3 cup Mocha Butter Cream. Spread with Whipped Cream Filling; reroll. Frost roll with remaining Mocha Butter Cream. Make bark-like appearance with spatula or fork tines. Refrigerate 24 hours before serving. Let cake set at room temperature 30 minutes before slicing.
Mocha Butter Cream:
3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. sifted powdered sugar
1 tbsp. cocoa
1 tbsp. instant coffee
2 egg yolks
Cream butter, sugar, cocoa and coffee together until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks. Spread while soft.

Whipped Cream Filling:
1 c. cream, whipped
1/4 c. sugar
Combine all ingredients.

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