Forever ago on Christmas Eve in the middle of a blizzard. It was way past bar close, but both of us knew the bartender, so we were still in the bar. Heads swirling round like snow globes. God, we were fools. God, we were young. Course now we’re both older. Court ordered sober. But still all these years later he’s my best friend. Wearing a shitty Santa suit bought off Amazon for thirty bucks. We’ll be lucky if the seams last the night. With him out in my backyard. Sloshing through the snow. Making his way from tree to tree. Heading toward my house with a half sack of toys. My kids perched at the window. Santa is here, they shout. He made it, they yell. When my kids look at me I don’t have to pretend; I’m just as astonished they are.