Merriton

“Merry Christmas!” Kevin was on Random and Sierra’s doorstep with two presents and an armload of food. Random held out his arms to take some of the burden when he entered. “Glad you decided to stay HOME for Christmas.” Random had pronounced the word “home” as if he wanted Sierra to notice. Kevin carefully worded his answer, “Well, I went to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Of course, I’m gonna stay HOME for Christmas.” The two of them exchanged a look and Kevin worried that he had taken the wrong side of a marital fight.

Sierra, however, ignored them. “We considered going home for Thanksgiving, but it was easier to stay here.” Behind her back, Random and Kevin exchanged looks. Kevin had already heard about the real reason Sierra didn’t want to go back to San Francisco. He wanted to change the subject. “I saw you two at the Winter Festival last weekend. What did you think?” Random laughed. “It was pathetic. Less than half the town showed up, but it was STILL too crowded. They should have had it at Mt. Zen Cafe.” Sierra defended it, “It was the first year. The first year for anything has kinks to work out. I was just surprised at how many people I didn’t know. I had no idea that most of Merriton is Mormon, did you?”

Kevin shrugged. “Roscoe is a Mormon. I can see his Mormon underwear under his uniform. Last year, I just thought it was extra clothes to keep warm, but he wears them all summer, too.” Sierra asked him, “What does it mean to be ‘married in the temple’?” Random shook his head and looked to Kevin. Kevin just shrugged. “Roscoe and Dora were married in the temple. Does it mean something special?” Random went to his computer and pulled up Wikipedia.

“All it says here is that you have to have a temple recommend to get married in the temple.” The three of them sighed and Kevin asked, “Why is it important?” Sierra squinted and looked at the two of them. “I don’t know. A.S. said that she did everything ‘right’ by getting married in the temple, but Angie got married when she was in high school and DIDN’T get married in the temple.” Sierra shrugged. “She made it seem like Angie and Curly did something wrong.”

Random blew out a puff of air and stood up from the computer. “I don’t like A.S. I don’t know why you let her come here so often.” Kevin instantly felt guilty for telling A.S. to visit. Sierra defended her. “I like her. She doesn’t pretend to be something she isn’t. If she doesn’t like what I say she tells me. She doesn’t just nod and pretend that what I said was alright…” Sierra’s voice trailed off. “Plus, Angie gets really busy in the winter. I need somebody to talk to.”

Kevin tried to change the subject. “What are we having for dinner? I brought some stinky cheese.” The two of them looked at him and he rushed to the pile of food he had dropped on the futon. He picked out the cheese from the bag. He could smell its pungent odor through the plastic wrap. “It’s supposed to be good with orange marmalade.” Random smiled and A.S. was forgotten for the night. Another quiet Christmas in Merriton and the three of them laughed under the heavy fall of snow.