Free Lonely This Christmas by Krissie LaBaye Page A

Catherine’s sister, and had been married to Uncle Thomas forever. Every New Year’s Eve, Ruth and Thomas would invite the entire family to celebrate bringing in the New Year with them. This was one occasion that Catherine would dig her heels in about, and curiously it was the one battle that Ronald always allowed her to win.
    The annual congregating of the in-laws was a bone of contention with Judy’s parents, and as long back as Judy could remember her father had spent much of the Christmas holidays moaning about the New Year’s ritual. Most times he would reluctantly attend the party and just permanently sulk, but the rosy cheeked eternally happy Aunty Ruth refused to allow him to bring the party down. The slightly built Uncle Thomas would attempt to cajole Ronald into joining in the celebrations, but with little success, and then finally everyone would simply give up trying. It had always seemed to Judy that her father was his own worst enemy; he really would rather sulk to make a point, than lighten up for a few hours and enjoy the celebrations.
    Judy had always enjoyed the family get together, because it gave her chance to catch up with her cousins, and it was also the rare occasion when her mother looked really happy. Judy loved to see her mother smiling and it didn’t seem to happen much these days.
    Anyway, this New Years Eve Judy had managed to persuade her parents that she didn’t feel too well, and she’d rather have an early night. She did feel rather guilty about the deception, but she knew that if she’d said that she wanted to spend the evening alone with Ian, they certainly wouldn’t allow it.
    As soon as she waved them off in the taxi, Judy picked up the phone and invited Ian over for the evening. He had no idea what she had planned, but she was almost sure that he would not object.
    Unlike many other of her friends, Judy wanted the first time to be very special. They could have gone all the way much sooner, but they had both agreed that they’d wait until it was legal, which in their case was when they had reached the ripe old age of sixteen. Tonight they would have the house to themselves, so they could relax and take their time with each other.
    Despite all the talk about ‘free love’ in the 60’s and 70’s it wasn’t quite so liberated as some liked to make out. Of course, boys could still ‘spread the love’, but girls were still scorned if they tried the same. Judy knew that she could never survive being labeled ‘easy’; even though Ian had already assured her a thousand times that they would be together forever.
    When the doorbell rang, Judy nervously answered the door. A shivering Ian stood there, bright red nose, soft flakes of snow covering his shoulders. Inviting Ian in to the warmth of her home, she knew already this would be a night to remember.
    After a respectable time of the usual canoodling, Judy suggested that they go up to her room to listen to some music. Hand in hand they nervously climbed the staircase to her room. Sitting on the bed Ian looked slightly uncomfortable and was not his usual jokey self.
    Turning on the small bedside transistor radio Judy hoped that some of their favorite music would help them both relax. When the dulcet tones of Elton John, Alvin Stardust, and Showaddywaddy had eased the tension, the love struck anxious couple lay down on top of the shocking pink bed cover. Hugging each other tenderly the apprehensive teenagers showed their love for each other in the most ultimate way.
    When the radio DJ introduced the next track Ian and Judy were relaxing in each other’s arms. They had shared something special together, and as Dr. Hook began to sing Ian was almost his old self again.
    “Listen, do you hear fireworks?” asked Judy, snuggling Ian tightly.
    “Yes; but I’ve been hearing fireworks for the past half hour,” he joked as he stroked her hair.
    “Very funny,” Judy responded as she dug him playfully in the ribs, “but this won’t