Playing Santa
Author’s Note: For the Ancient Obsessions Advent Challenge – December 20 (Santa’s List)
Peter Thornton opened his latest Christmas card with trepidation.
The return address was that of Jack Dalton, and Pete was a little nervous of what he would find inside.
But as he opened the envelope and pulled out its contents, Pete smiled.
The envelope held not a card, but a single photograph of himself, Jack, and MacGyver.
A simple message, written in permanent marker, ran across the bottom edge of the picture.
Three amigos forever! Merry Christmas, Pete. -JD
Pete laughed as he looked closely at the photo. It was so very Jack Dalton. As he propped the picture against another frame already on his desk, he couldn’t help noticing that he looked nearly old enough to be both Mac’s and Jack’s father in the photo.
That thought brought a bittersweet laugh, and Pete suddenly realized that he was awfully glad he hadn’t been responsible for the two of them as children.
He could see it now.
He’d have played Santa for them.
He’d have had to decide on presents for the precocious boys.
Pete suddenly laughed out loud.
There was no debate how that would’ve turned out.
MacGyver: Nice.
Jack: Naughty.
Pete shook his head. Some things never changed.
The End
