44
Carlie had delegated the task of purchasing the perfect Christmas tree to Jon, a job he found daunting. Two hours and half a dozen tree lots later, he finally found and settled on a blue spruce that smelled terrific, was the perfect shape, and looked to be the right size for the corner Carlie had picked out. He paid the attendant and arranged for the tree’s delivery that evening.
When the delivery truck arrived, Jon watched as two burly men hoisted the tree over their shoulders and walked across the drive to the front porch.
Without a word, the delivery men carried the tree up the steps, past Jon, and laid it down in the corner.
Lying on the floor, the tree somehow looked a great deal larger than he remembered it on the lot.
Resting her hand on Jon’s shoulder, Carlie started laughing uncontrollably. “Jesus, Jon. All we wanted was a Christmas tree, not a friggin’ sequoia.”
Jon wanted to have the Christmas tree up and in place before Carlie awoke the next day, so he set the alarm for 5:00, rolled over, pulled the comforter up over his shoulder, and fell asleep—long before Carlie even closed her eyes.
The next morning it took Jon hours to get the tree ready to stand up. Wrapping his arms around and through the sharp branches, he pushed with all his might. With a full head of steam and momentum fostered by intense pain and pure determination, Jon pushed and shoved the monster tree into a standing position.
From the top of the stairs, Carlie watched as her husband disappeared into the foliage of the enormous tree. While Jon grunted and struggled to stand the tree upright, she made her way as quietly as possible down the stairs into the kitchen.
Within a few minutes, the front room fell silent. The only sound Carlie could hear was the cursing and heavy breathing of her husband as he walked into the kitchen. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Gobs of sticky yellow tree sap and pine needles covered Jon from head to toe. He had deep gouges on his forehead, neck, and arms. He looked pathetic.
“The tree is up—sort of.”
“That’s wonderful. Go clean up. When you’re not all sticky, you can help me decorate it.”
Jon hung his head and walked out the back door.