Tentacle on 34th Street (Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Christmas Eve

“ I can’t believe I’m going to ride in an alien spaceship,” Alex said, his stomach a jumble of nerves. “I realize we’re only flying to North Carolina, but still.” He stood between Qylar and Cryss as they prepared the flight, watching their every move. The interior walls were iridescent blue metal in a wave pattern that reminded him of the walls of Cryss’s room in their dreams. Waves and water were clearly the basis for the design. Everything had a flow to it. Curves all around. “I never heard either of you mention, were there any trackers?”

“I’ve swept the ship twice and pulled three,” Qylar murmured. “We should be in the clear.”

Cryss reached for Alex and dragged him closer. “Want to take the long way to North Carolina?”

“What’s the long way?”

“A dip out of the atmosphere and back,” Cryss said.

“You mean—go out to space?”

Cryss smiled. “For a few minutes, at least. Enough for you to get a peek at this great big universe of ours. See some stars and the way Earth looks from above. Then right back down.”

Alex grinned, until the doubts hit. “Human astronauts have to go through weeks of training and preparation to get ready for a flight. Can I travel without that?”

“They have to go through that training because of the propulsion systems they have,” Cryss said.

“Technically it’s not the propulsion,” Qylar countered. “It’s the fact they don’t have the technology to balance the g-force that propulsion causes.” He looked at Alex. “We have a gravity screen, coupled with the magnetic forcefield outside the ship, which compensates for variable g-forces. You won’t have the same pull on your body that your astronauts do. It will feel like nothing more than a flight in an airplane as we rise through the atmosphere. You might feel a little turbulence here or there, but nothing more.”

Alex eyed Cryss a few seconds, searching the man’s face for any signs of doubt. When there was none, he nodded. “Take me to the stars.”

Cryss hooked his head toward the seat beside him. “Grab a seat.”

Alex sat, and Cryss locked him in with an odd harness system before typing something into the helm.

“Course changed to the long way.” Cryss glanced at Alex. “Ready?”

Alex nodded, his stomach twisted tighter in excited knots.

Cryss touched the helm’s screen. A few seconds later, Alex sensed motion, but just barely. The ship shook a bit not long after that—less than what Qylar had suggested. There was a split second where Alex’s stomach felt queasy, but it faded fast. A minute later, Cryss turned and smiled. “We’re here.”

“Already?” Alex asked, incredulous.

After Cryss hit a few spots on the screen, the wall ahead of them slid open. All Alex saw was a blanket of stars.

Cryss unlocked his harness. “Go get a closer look if you want.”

“I’ll be safe?”

“You only needed it as we rose through the atmosphere—and as smooth as that exit was, you really didn’t need it at all. We’re clear. Smooth sailing until we go back down.”

Alex rose, kissed Cryss’s cheek, and rushed to the window. The inky blackness was somewhat desolate feeling—a void never to be filled—but the billions of glittering stars dotting it were absolutely beautiful.

“Bringing her around,” Cryss murmured a minute later.

Alex felt a slight motion, and suddenly Earth came into view. He gasped, the sight of his planet more magnificent than he’d anticipated. Photographs and video he’d seen hadn’t done it justice. The colors were richer. The patterns of the clouds more distinct. The enormity of his world was palpable. He heard a faint buzzing sound and somehow sensed it was billions of whispers in his mind, as if he could hear every voice below.

The backs of his eyes stung as he took it all in.

Cryss quietly sidled up beside him. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Alex looked up, blinking back tears. “I’m having one of those religious experiences, I think. I’m not religious, of course, but… looking down at my world from above? It’s… it’s life changing.” He reached for Cryss’s hand. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“I plan to share the entire universe with you, my love.” Cryss leaned down and pressed his lips to Alex’s.

Alex hugged Cryss, holding tight.

“Ready to go back down, or do you need a minute more?”

Alex pulled away, gave the Earth one more look, and smiled. “I’m ready. I suspect this won’t be my last time seeing this view.”

“No, it won’t.” Cryss kissed his forehead. “Let’s get locked in.”

Alex trailed Cryss to their seats and helped lock himself into his harness. Less than fifteen minutes later, they were hovering above the waters just outside Duck, North Carolina. “We left Colorado, went to outer space, and made it to North Carolina in, what? Thirty minutes?”

“Maybe less,” Cryss murmured.

“So how do we get to my parents’ house from here?” Alex asked. “Where are you going to land this thing?”

“We’re not,” Cryss said. He rose, pulled their single shared suitcase from a nearby cubbyhole, and offered a hand. “Hold on tight.”

In a flash, he was suddenly standing in the shadows near Alex’s parent’s home with Cryss at his side. He spun, searching the neighborhood, sure they might’ve been seen. Thankfully, it was well past seven on Christmas Eve and no one seemed to be out and about. Many of the houses were summer vacation homes, so it wasn’t odd for it to feel almost abandoned that time of year. “Was that wise? What if someone saw us?”

“I picked a good, shadowed spot with few heat signatures close. No one saw anything, I’m sure,” Cryss said. “Are you ready?”

Alex eyed the house he’d grown up with, his stomach feeling worse. “Is it sad that I was less scared to fly into outer space than I am to knock on the door of my childhood home?”

“Why are you scared?”

Alex shook his head. “My mom can be a lot, and I don’t know how she’s going to react to you or how much she’s going to embarrass me.” He sighed. “Might as well get this over with.”

Cryss led him toward the door and knocked for him.

Alex rested his forehead against Cryss’s chest. “I’m sorry in advance for anything she says or does that’s ridiculous or offensive.”

The door whipped open, and there she was in her tacky Christmas sweater and big hair best.

“Alexander Scott Parker! You get in here right now!” She dragged him closer, wrapping her arms about him and bouncing up and down. She leaned back, smiling at him—but then frowned and fixed the front of his hair and collar. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming. Ethan and Keely have been here for hours. What took y’all so long?” She looked over at Cryss and craned her neck. “And who’s this you’ve brought with you? My neck’s already hurting from looking up that high.”

“Cryss, this is my mom, Helen. Mom, this is my friend, Cryss.”

“Boy friend,” Cryss corrected, offering his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Helen.”

Alex’s mom took Cryss’s hand but looked at him instead. “So which is it, Alex? Friend or boyfriend?”

Cryss nudged his arm. He looked at his mother and sighed. “Boyfriend.”

His mother turned and smiled at Cryss. “Well, it’s nice to meet my son’s boyfriend. Come on in, Christopher. Dinner’s on the table. We’ve been waiting for y’all to get here before we dug in.” She stepped back to give them room. “I don’t know how your momma does it at her house, Cryss, but we have our big dinner on Christmas Eve and then we pick from the leftovers on Christmas Day and just be lazy in our pajamas. Well, come on. We’ve got the whole family round the table waiting to eat.”

Cryss pressed a hand to his lower back and urged him deeper into the house when he didn’t move.

“By whole family, who do you mean?” Alex asked his mother.

“Well, the family, of course.”

Alex sighed. “Are Uncle Bobby and Uncle Keith here?”

“I know you said you didn’t wanna come if they were gonna be here, but I can’t just not invite my brothers and their families to Christmas dinner, Alex.”

Alex shook his head, ready to leave. “I told you I wasn’t going to come if they were here, and you invited them anyway?” He turned to eye Cryss. “We should go.”

“Honey, they promised me they’d be on their best behavior and wouldn’t say a word about you being gay or anything about your politics. They’re not coming round tomorrow, so it’s only one night for a couple of hours. I’ve already told all of ‘em that if they made a scene they’re dead to me. Okay?”

“I’d like to meet these uncles of yours,” Cryss said. From his tone, Alex wasn’t sure his uncles wanted to meet Cryss. “We came all this way. Might as well sit down and have a meal.”

Alex glared at Cryss. “Okay. You asked for it.”

“Oh good,” his mother said. “I like this one already. Come on, you two.”

His mother padded down the hallway toward the dining room.

“Don’t kill my uncles the day before Christmas, Cryss. Just promise me that,” Alex whispered.

“Kill? No. Maim? I make no promises.”

Alex fought a smile. “This is going to be interesting.”

Ethan appeared in the hallway outside the dining room before they walked in. “Finally . Took you guys long enough.” Ethan hugged Alex and then shook Cryss’s hand. “Hope you’re ready to eat. Looks like Mom made enough for an army.”

“You saw how Cryss eats,” Alex murmured to Ethan. “He can eat enough for an army.”

“I was pretty amazed at how much he and Qylar threw down at Thanksgiving,” Ethan whispered. “It was impressive, to say the least.”

“I’m standing right here, you know?” Cryss murmured as he took Alex’s topcoat off and then his own and laid them over the back of a nearby armchair.

Ethan stood back and looked at Alex. “New clothes? You’re looking rather stylish, big bro. I’m used to chinos and dad sweaters. This is a new you.”

“He looks amazing, doesn’t he?” Cryss asked, grinning.

“Don’t answer that,” Alex warned his brother. “Do not answer that.”

“Are y’all coming in here to eat or what?” their mother yelled from the dining room. “Food’s gonna be cold in a minute. I swear to Christ, these boys are gonna be the death of me, Roy.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t swear to Christ on the day before his birth , Mother,” Ethan yelled in her direction. “He’ll tell Santa, and you won’t get any presents tonight.”

“Don’t you be tellin’ me what not to say, Ethan Lee. I’m a grown ass woman in her own damned house. Sit your ass down at this table right now.” She paused a second. “Alexander? Come on and bring that boyfriend of yours to the table so we can say grace and eat.”

Alex took a deep breath and forced a smile. He turned to eye Cryss.

Cryss chuckled. “The faster we get in there, the faster we might get out.”

Alex led Cryss in behind Ethan and watched as all the members of his family looked up wide-eyed when they saw Cryss.

“Everyone, this is Alex’s boyfriend, Cryss. Cryss, this is my husband, Roy—Alex and Ethan Lee’s daddy. And my brothers, Keith and Bobby Ray. Their wives, Janice and Beverly. All these assorted teenagers are theirs. And I hear you’ve already met Keely. Everybody, say hi to Cryss.”

“Hi, Cryss,” came a chorus of voices.

“Hi,” Cryss replied, grinning.

“Well there’s only the two seats left, so sit on down and we can say grace,” his mother said.

Fortunately, they’d seated them between Alex’s dad and Ethan—but that meant his uncles were directly across the table watching with a mix of scorn and curiosity. He sat down slowly, still contemplating an escape as Cryss shook his father’s hand. Two of his teenage cousins burst out laughing, looking directly at Alex. He lifted his gaze at them and glared, which only made them laugh again. Cryss took his seat, smiling at Alex.

“Hands, everybody. Let’s hold hands,” his mother said.

Alex reached for his dad’s hand. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” he whispered, grabbing Alex’s hand. “Goodlooking fella you got there.”

Alex smiled. He’d really missed his dad. It was the only reason he’d agreed to come home at all. He snuck phone calls on the occasional Sunday his mom was in church to catch up. They hadn’t done it in a while, though. Between work and Cryss, they hadn’t had a good heart-to-heart in months.

“You doin’ okay?” his father asked.

“Yeah. I am. You?”

“Can’t complain,” his dad said, squeezing his hand. “No one would listen if I did.”

“I’d listen,” Alex murmured.

His dad smiled at him.

“Hush, y’all,” his mother muttered on the other side of his dad. “Thank you Lord for gathering us here for this meal and bless the hands that prepared it. We pray this meal will nourish our bodies so we might have the strength to live as you would have us live. I’d also like to thank you for having Alex return home this Christmas and for him bringing his new boyfriend, Cryss. Amen.” His mother clapped her hands. “Alright, y’all, dig in.”

“Isn’t it a little self-serving to ask to bless the hands that prepared the meal when you’re the one that prepared the meal?” Ethan asked their mother.

“Stop goading her,” Alex muttered Ethan’s way.

“Well, it’s not like anyone else here’s gonna appreciate all the hard work I put into this meal,” his mother said. “I never get a single thank you for slaving away in the kitchen for the week before Christmas or any other holiday, for that matter. I don’t know what any of y’all are gonna do when I’m gone. You’ll likely starve.” His mother looked down their way. “Cryss, I bet you treat your momma so much better than this. I’ve got nothing but ungrateful children in this house.”

Alex’s dad passed a plate of mashed potatoes. Alex felt sick to his stomach and just passed it to Cryss. Cryss added a dollop to his plate, and added one to Alex’s, too. Alex eyed Cryss, who smiled and passed the plate to Ethan.

“So, Alex?” one of the cousins who’d been laughing when he sat down asked. “Are you the bottom or the top?”

Beverly slapped the boy on the back of the head. “Shut your mouth.”

Alex wanted to slide under the table and disappear.

“Not like we all don’t know. We saw him gingerly sitting down,” Uncle Keith said with a chuckle.

“Keith,” Janice quietly admonished.

“Well, as big as that fella is, no doubt he’s sore,” Uncle Bobby said, laughing and pleased with himself.

“I’m actually the bottom,” Cryss announced.

Instant silence followed as everyone froze.

A sudden burst of laughter came out of Alex’s mouth. Ethan wheezed and snickered—and Keely sat open mouthed, smiling. Alex covered his mouth, as the urge to laugh came even harder when he saw the shock on his uncles’, aunts’, and cousins’ faces.

“To answer your question, Alex is an aggressive top,” Cryss told Alex’s cousin. “Very dominant. He’s hung like a horse, too. I couldn’t walk straight for two weeks after our first night together. I started to worry he’d ruined me forever. Finally, I got used to that monster.” Cryss grasped his hand. “Didn’t I, Daddy?”

Everyone at the table remained completely frozen and silent, staring at Cryss like he had two heads. Except for Ethan and Keely. They were both struggling to breathe and hide their laughter on the other side of Cryss, tears in their eyes. Alex turned to eye Cryss, shaking his head and fighting a shocked smile.

Cryss grabbed another platter from the table and added a slice of ham to his plate and Alex’s. “Is that enough, Sir? Or do you want more?”

Alex fought another chuckle. “That’s plenty, thank you.”

Everyone slowly returned to filling their plates after that. Silent as a church except for the occasional clink of spoon against china.

Cryss added more food to Alex’s plate as he filled his own. When everyone’s plates were full, very uncomfortable silence continued as they ate. For a couple of minutes, anyway. Until Bobby slammed his fork down, looking red faced and riled up.

“You know, we didn’t need that foul gay sex talk at the table. I have impressionable children sitting here,” Bobby grumbled. “You and your immoral wickedness on Christmas Eve—it’s not right.”

“Well, y’all started it,” Alex’s mom spat, throwing down her fork. “Y’all promised me you weren’t gonna pick on Alex, but ya ran your damned mouths, and ya got burnt, didn’t ya? You’ve got no one else to blame but yourselves. I finally get this boy back home and you’re gonna make him not wanna come back for another three years. I asked for peace at my damned table and y’all couldn’t last five minutes before starting a mess up in here. That is my son, and I won’t have you talking to or about him like that in my home. If you can’t be respectful, then get the fuck out.”

“I’ll get the fuck out, then,” Bobby said, rising. He grabbed his plate and walked out.

“You best bring back my china, Bobby Lee!” his mother roared.

Alex covered his face with both hands.

“Anyone else?” his mother roared. “You leave Alex and his boyfriend alone when you’re in here from now on or don’t you bother darkening my doorstep ever again. I won’t have you running him off.”

Alex glanced down at Ethan, whose eyes were wide.

Ethan mouthed one word. “Wow.”

Wow was right. His uncles shouldn’t have been invited in the first damned place, but to see his mother stepping up and fighting for him was rather impressive. She’d always let Bobby and Keith run roughshod over her for some reason, which she didn’t let anyone else do.

“I’m sorry, Alex,” Keith said. “It was my fault, not the boys. I knew better and should’ve shut it down, not added on.”

“Damned right it was your fault,” his mother said. “Now, eat if you’re staying. It’s not getting any warmer.” She reached for her fork, but it had landed in the beets. She rose from the table and spun for the kitchen. “Got damnit, I’m done with this foolishness in my house.” She reappeared a few seconds later with another fork. “Well, eat! I didn’t spend days making it you not to eat it!”

Cryss rubbed his hand on Alex’s thigh as they all dug in to eat the quietest Christmas dinner the Parker household had ever experienced. The good thing about the drama was everyone ate quickly and left even quicker. With the aunts, uncles, and cousins soon gone, it was more comfortable. Ethan and Alex cleared the table while Keely and his dad did dishes. Mom was managing the leftovers, with Cryss carrying plates to her in the kitchen from the table.

“I’ll have to say. This might be my favorite Christmas dinner yet,” Ethan murmured as he collected the plates. “Aren’t you glad you came home?”

“Maybe,” Alex replied, gathering all the silverware. “Too early to tell.”

“Oh, come on,” Ethan said. He turned to Cryss as he walked back in to grab a couple of casserole dishes. “That was epic, dude. Ten out of ten stars.”

“Glad you approved,” Cryss said with a wink before walking back into the kitchen.

“I wish I’d taken a picture of Bobby Lee and Keith’s faces. It was absolute gold. We could’ve made them into Christmas ornaments for next year,” Ethan said. He lifted the stack of plates in his hand and marched into the kitchen with it.

Cryss returned to the table for more. He paused beside Alex. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good. Thanks.”

Cryss leaned in and snuck a kiss before grabbing two more plates and heading for the kitchen.

His mother entered the dining room as Cryss walked into the kitchen. She ambled to the table. “I know what you’re gonna say. I shouldn’t have invited them, like you asked, but I really thought they were gonna behave this year and act right. I told them how important it was for me to have you home again and I thought they’d taken that to heart, but I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me for making the wrong call.”

Alex sat the pile of utensils in his hands down on a nearby empty plate and hugged his mom. “I appreciate you taking up for me. I know that wasn’t easy for you to do with them. Thank you.”

She squeezed him tight. “I love you, kiddo. I’ve missed having you home.”

He leaned back and smiled. “I love you, too, Mom.”

“No uncles from now on,” she said. “You coming next year?”

“I can’t make any guarantees, but I’ll try my best.”

His mother hugged him again. “I’ll take that.” She pointed to Cryss as he walked out to grab more of her casserole dishes. “I like this one better than that last. Although, I don’t need that talk at my table again, Christopher, but I like that you stood up to my brothers.” She hugged Alex. “And gave me the strength to finally stand up, too.”

Alex chuckled. Cryss smiled at him as he carried two more items out. His mother trailed behind Cryss.

“Slow down, Christopher. I need to find all my storage containers,” Alex’s mother said. “I might have to go dig out my old Tupperware from the garage.”

Once the food was stored, dishes clean, and house settled, they all sat around the table and played a few board games as a family until the apple pie came out. Alex’s mother fed Cryss several pieces, noting she liked a man with a good appetite. Alex’s mother shooed them all to bed later, saying Santa had to have time. Alex led Cryss to his childhood bedroom.

And realized the double bed in there was not going to fit the two of them.

“We could sleep on the ship,” Cryss whispered. “Wake up early and come back.”

“Could we leave from this room and come right back to it?”

Cryss nodded. “I’ll have the exact coordinates once we teleport out and can return to the same ones. Lock the door and no one will be any the wiser.”

Alex locked the door and returned to Cryss. “Let’s go.”

Cryss took his hand and kissed it.

“By the way… thank you for tonight,” Alex said. “I know it was a big, giant mess, and my family’s ridiculous, and you probably don’t want to come back tomorrow, but… that’s about the best Christmas I’ve had here in a long time. I could’ve done without the uncles being here at all—but having you and my mother shield me from that bullshit felt pretty damned good.”

“I’m sorry it started so rough, but I’m happy you felt better by the end. After the extra family was gone, it seemed fairly nice. Your parents clearly love you.” Cryss smiled. “You already saw that my family is a big, giant mess and ridiculous. Some families are like that.” He took Alex’s hands. “Maybe we make our own family one day and do better.”

Alex smiled. “Maybe.”

When they made it back on the ship, Qylar appeared, looking worried. “Is everything okay? I thought you were staying there tonight?”

“The bed’s way too small. We’ll sneak back in early tomorrow morning,” Alex said.

“Ah,” Qylar said. He searched their hands. “No food?” He scoffed. “I thought I might at least get a plate of leftovers. I see how it is.” He shuffled off, shaking his head. “Unloved. Unfed. As always.”

“The galley’s stocked,” Cryss yelled toward Qylar. “Family is a big mess. Even the ones you adopt as your own, too.”

“I heard that!” Qylar yelled from a distance.

“Good!” Cryss replied. He gathered Alex close and stole a kiss. “We’d better get to bed before Santa catches us awake.”