I have a hard time at Christmas…
It triggers many memories of old…
Like the time I caught my dad…
‘Just trying on mom’s dress’ as I was told…

He had been drinking the eggnog…
Since sometime earlier in the day…
Then he started singing Broadway show tunes…
Dancing and acting all happy and gay…

At first I thought it was rather funny…
To see a grown man wearing a dress…
But you see, that grown man was my father…
I became confused and overwhelmed with stress…

My cousins were coming over to celebrate…
It’s something my family does every year…
But I didn’t want my cousins to see this…
‘What would they say’I began to fear…

Did my mother know he was like this…
Was his secret something they shared…
Did my aunts and uncles know about it…
Was it a secret about which no one cared…

I remember hearing the doorbell…
On that snowy Christmas Day…
Now the entire family would know…
And there was nothing else to say…

As they walked into our home…
Bring presents and Christmas cheer…
My dad shouted ‘Merry Christmas y’all!
I’m so happy my family is here!’

As we hugged and exchanged our presents…
I realized no one cared at all…
Maybe I need to free myself…
And let go of my inner appall…

© 2022 Jeffrey Pipes Guice