Christmas in Seattle: Christmas Letters / The Perfect Christmas

“You wrote that fantastic Christmas letter for me,” her neighbor reminded her.

“I did a good job, didn’t I?” she said.

“Oh, yes, a good job all right.” LaVonne frowned. “I liked it so much, I mailed it right away.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Well…” LaVonne sat down in the chair across from K.O. “It was such a relief to have something clever and…and exciting to tell everyone,” LaVonne said, “especially my college friends.”

So far, K.O. didn’t see any problem at all. She nodded, encouraging her friend to get to the point.

LaVonne’s shoulders sagged. “If only I’d waited,” she moaned. “If only I’d picked up my own mail first.”

“There was something in the mail?”

LaVonne nodded. “I got a card and a Christmas letter from Peggy Solomon. She was the president of my college sorority and about as uppity as they come. She married her college boyfriend, a banker’s son. She had two perfect children and lives a life of luxury. She said she’s looking forward to seeing me at our next reunion.” There was a moment of stricken silence. “Peggy’s organizing it, and she included the invitation with her card.”

“That’s bad?”

“Yes,” LaVonne wailed. “It’s bad. How am I supposed to show up at my forty-year college reunion, which happens to be in June, without a man? Especially now. Because of my Christmas letter, everyone in my entire class will think I’ve got more men than I know what to do with.”

“LaVonne, you might meet someone before then.”

“If I haven’t met a man in the last forty years, what makes you think I will in the next six months?”

“Couldn’t you say it’s such a tricky balancing act you don’t dare bring any of them?”

LaVonne glared at her. “Everyone’ll figure out that it’s all a lie.” She closed her eyes. “And if they don’t, Peggy’s going to make sure she tells them.”