Page 3 of Kit
“I’m hoping, too, even though I don’t believe in him.”
“What?” Colin put a hand to his chest. “Santa isn’t real? Say it’s not so.”
I laughed.
The doorman made me tap my pass on his tablet.
I checked my coat and scarf at the counter but kept my teddy and fire engine scrunched under one arm and went inside.
When I came around the corner my mouth dropped open to see a huge Christmas tree decorated with erotic ornaments and condom garlands. The strings of lights flashed in spirals up and down the tree.
Someone had taken a lot of time decorating it. I couldn’t stop staring.
Club 99 never failed to put on great parties.
Christmas EDM tunes were playing, and the dance floor was already full. There were leather guys wearing Santa hats, guys in light-up t-shirts and even an ugly Christmas sweater or two cut at the neck and arms to look somewhat sexy.
The bar sported Christmas garlands and lights flashing. Every table and booth had little miniature trees next to candles in deep glass bowls.
I recognized some guys in the crowd and longed to join in the fun, but I was hesitant. I began to wonder why I had come. I’d vowed to myself: no more coal stockings. No more grinning, leering daddies.
I might not look it, but I was twenty-four now and still I’d never had a real relationship. It was time. Somewhere in this kink club there had to be the right daddy for me.
2
Parker
“Inever thought you’d find the perfect outfit for getting laid that I’ve ever seen, but you have managed it.” Nelson, my little brother by one year, kicked up his feet on my white couch—with his shoes still on.
I put it out of my mind and turned around, arms out, in my new suit.
“You think so?”
“I know so. Wow. What made you decide to wear that to the club?”
“I auditioned.”
“What?”
“They were having auditions for someone to play Santa at all their Christmas parties. Three of them. I got hired.”
Nelson frowned. “People who play Santa at Christmas as an extra job are usually down on their luck.” He glanced around my clean and rather large living room and said, “You don’t need the money.”
“It wasn’t about that.”
I turned around in my new red suit again. It was perfect, complete with a black leather belt, gold buckle, and long red velvet jacket trimmed with white faux fur and gold brocade. The knee-high black leather boots felt good on my calves. All that was missing was the hat with its built-in wig, and the beard. And the round belly. I had the hat and beard in my pocket. The round belly was in my Santa pack. But the beard was a problem. It itched and I worried I was allergic to the elastic that went behind my ears to hold it in place.
“Is this about getting laid?” Nelson asked.
“No. I’ve decided to go back to pursuing acting like I did in my early twenties. As a hobby.”
Nelson jumped up and punched me in the shoulder. “I’m so happy for you. You were really good. I was mad you gave it up for such a boring career.”
“I like finance. I was always good at math. But the acting bug never quite left my blood.”
“Well hell. It’s a paid gig, right?”
I nodded.
