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It was late when the cops showed up at his door. He’d been home alone for days, waiting for his dad to come back. He did this from time to time, but he normally always came back. This time, his father was nowhere to be found and instead there was a cop, with a nice lady in a blue suit. Her hair was pulled back a little sloppy, like she’d been pulled from her bed, much like Eddie was.
Ms. Patty was nice, she spoke softly, calmly; unlike his father who shouted enough to rattle the windows on their dinky trailer. She helped him pack what little things he had left, mostly things that couldn’t be sold, and put them into a single trash bag that was barely half full. Together, they left with the sheriff and she took him to the home of a woman whose house was a little too clean.
The lady with the too clean house didn’t last long. And neither did the other 4 houses he visited. When Ms. Patty arrived for the sixth time, early Thanksgiving morning no less, Eddie knew the problem was him. They drove an entire town over and the fancy houses began getting further and further away.
They pulled up to a trailer park and Eddie held his breath. Was his dad out? Did he even want to go back to his dad? They drove through the park and finally stopped at one near the center of the park. His breath caught in his throat at the truck parked out front. He knew that truck. Uncle Wayne walked out of the trailer as the pulled up and waved.
“Edward sweetie, do you remember your Uncle Wayne?”, Ms. Patty asked with a smile. Eddie nodded. “He’s got the place all fixed up for you, this is where you’ll stay.”
“Stay?” he whispered.
Ms. Patty reached over and patted his little thigh. “Come on sweetie, it’s time for you to go home.”
Eddie climbed out of the car, pulling his trash bag full of belonging behind him. Wayne wrapped his arms around Eddie, hugging him tightly. Wayne took the trash bag from him and led him into the trailer. Coffee cups and trucker hats covered the living room walls and shelves. Eddie couldn’t help but notice the little tv playing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. He used to love watching it with his mama before she got sick.
He’d play it in the living room loud enough for her to hear from the kitchen as she prepared the food. He’d shout the character names as they came down the street, squealing with laughter as the wind would drag some poor helpless balloon wrangler along. Screeching as the balloons popped, causing her to run in not willing to miss the action. Watching the chaos of the balloons popping was their absolute favorite. The last time he watched, Kermit’s head popped after hitting a tree. His mama laughed until she cried and mysteriously had to change pants afterwards. Since she died, he hadn’t watched a single parade. Without her, what did he have to celebrate?
“You like the parades, son?” Wayne said with a soft smile. “I put it on in case you wanted to watch.”
Eddie eyed the tv carefully, “If you like the parade, sir.”
“None of that sir business, son. I know you’ve had a rough go of it for the past few months. But you’re home now. You call me Uncle Wayne and I take care of you. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. You wanna put on some pajamas? I’ll make hot cocoa.” He walked into the kitchen and gestured for Eddie to follow. “Your room is through here. You can put your stuff in there.”
Eddie stepped into the room and looked around. He closed the door and checked it, the lock worked. He had his own space for the first time since his mama died. He opened the closet to find clothes hung up for him. There wasn’t a lot, but he had the basics. He checked the dresser and found socks, underwear, and pajamas. Eddie changed into the pajamas and walked into the kitchen quietly waiting on Wayne.
Wayne turned around to head into the living room and jumped at the sight of Eddie. Eddie watched as the hot cocoa splashed out of the mug and over Wayne’s fingers. He hissed in pain and Eddie immediately cowered in fear. He figured Wayne was just like Eddie’s dad, quick to lash out with words or even his hands. It wasn’t that at all though, Wayne rushed over to the coffee table and gently placed the cups down.
He blew on his fingers, “Hell fire that hurts. You might wanna blow on yours for a while, son.” Wayne glanced over at Eddie and waved him over. “I’m not mad at you, kid. You just scared me, I never heard you come in. Come watch the parade with me. I promise you’re safe here.”
Eddie walked over to the couch and sat down carefully. He watched the screen as people performed and the hosts talked through the broadcast. As Peter Rabbit dipped low to the ground as they swung him around the corner of the street, Eddie gasped.
“That wind is something ain’t it?”
Eddie nodded before tugging his hair in front of his face, eyes glued to the tv. He giggled as the Pink Panther and Quik Rabbit came down the line practically laying down. He gasped and pointed at the tv with a laugh.
“Look at his ear!”
Sure enough, the Quik Rabbit’s ear was deflated. Eddie can’t stop the grin that stretched across his face. A little while later Eddie jumped up from the couch pointing at the TV.
“Uncle Wayne, do you see how low Spiderman is? Man that wind must be awful.”
Eddie sat in front of the tv. He began to giggle as the Cat in the Hat filled the screen with his hat popped.
“Oh my gosh, look at him! He’s sideways!”
Tommy, Chuckie, and Spike from Rugrats make their way down the street. Eddie held his breath as he watched Tommy’s head collide with a lamp post.
“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.”
Thankfully, the balloon continued down the New York streets. Eddie finally drank his hot cocoa, although by the time either of them remembered it was more like watery chocolate milk, but that was ok. Eddie got to carry on his tradition with Wayne. Every year they watched the parade, keeping their eyes peeled for damaged balloons.
Until finally years later, Eddie was able to take Wayne to the parade. Corroded Coffin had decent success. Eddie was famous enough to be able to get a decent room with a balcony for perfect viewing, but not famous enough that he was performing at the parade, thank god.
Chrissy made sure to wake them up bright and early the next morning so they could get outside with hot cocoa to see the parade begin. After working with Eddie the past 15 years, she knew their tradition forwards and backwards, even if she didn’t love their wish for destruction. Last night when they went to the Macy’s Balloon Inflation Celebration and Bluey’s hand blew up, Eddie cackled while Chrissy watched sadly as they tried to fix her. Wayne watched Eddie’s excitement in his soft quiet way while patting Chrissy on the shoulder so she wouldn't cry for the poor balloon.
Between the 3 of them, Chrissy is absolutely the morning person, but today is extra special. Chrissy’s old cheerleading partner is meeting them at the hotel. According to Chrissy she hadn’t seen Stevie in years and was absolutely going to take advantage of Eddie’s “celebrity” status to make sure she gets to spend time with her friend. Basically, instead of them grabbing breakfast in one of the busiest cities during the busiest times of year, she’s making breakfast come to them in the form of room service. Eddie’s never met Stevie before, but it was a small price to pay to have his favorite people all together for his favorite day.
Chrissy was arranging breakfast on the table to look nice when a knock rang out. Chrissy bounced to the door, ripping it open and yelling, “Stevie!”
Now, when Chrissy mentioned Stevie, Eddie made a few assumptions. She’d mentioned wild brown hair so Eddie thought long curly brown hair, not unlike his own. When she mentioned everyone going nuts for Stevie, Eddie imagined a small little flyer like Chrissy. Instead, the Stevie standing in the doorway was a brick shit house of a man with a beanie on and red nose fresh from the cold wind. He grabbed Chrissy and pulled her off the floor and into his arms shaking her around like a little rag doll. She slugged him in the arm quickly and he put her down gently with a laugh that made Eddie’s stomach flip. He pulled the hat off revealing an absolute mess of brown hair that Eddie wanted desperately to run his fingers through. Wayne cleared his throat pulling his gaze away from Steve and catching Chrissy’s attention.
“Oh Stevie! Meet Eddie,” Chrissy drug Stevie over to the doorway. “Eddie, this is my favorite cheerleading partner in the entire world, Stevie.”
Steve stretched a hand out and Eddie immediately grabbed it to shake his hand. His eyes widened at the way Stevie’s hand covered his own.
“Nice to meet you,” he said to Eddie. He cut his eyes over to Chris, “I didn’t know I was meeting your boyfriend. I would have dressed a little better.”
“You look plenty fine to me,” Eddie said before he could stop himself.
Chrissy giggled as Eddie’s face flushed, telling Stevie that he wasn’t her boyfriend.
“And I’m his uncle Wayne,” Wayne cut in. “I wouldn’t mind grandchildren if that’s something you’re interested in.”
Eddie glanced at the balcony, debating on if he should jump when Stevie responded. “I might be.”
His eyes whipped over to Stevie only to find him very blatantly checking him out. Eddie tried to remember what he put on this morning. Was he wearing his elf pajamas or street clothes? Was it worth looking down at himself to see how big of a mess he was? He felt something press against his foot and that’s when it hit him, he’s wearing turkey house slippers.
“Cute,” Stevie mouthed to him.
The crowd below them cheered out on the balcony, signaling that the first of the parade was about to arrive. Eddie smiled at Steve before guiding everyone out onto the balcony to watch the parade.
“Oh wow, those trees seem awfully close to the road,” Steve said as he looked around the balcony. “They are going to be close to us, this is awesome. Do you guys remember when Barney ripped open? What if we saw one pop? I think that would make my year.”
Eddie took a second to compose himself. This gorgeous man was going to be the death of him.
“Ugh! Not you too.” Eddie looked over at Chrissy. “Don’t you look at me like that, Eddie Munson. I know the sick game you and Wayne play, looking out for damaged balloons. Why else would you have picked this spot?”
“Hey now, don’t lump me in with him. He’s the one that kept a list of all the damaged balloons,” Wayne called out.
Chrissy pointed at him, “You helped him find them all online. I swear he’s watched that Barney video a million times.”
“They didn’t show it on TV Christina!” Eddie hollered.
Stevie laughed inching closer to Eddie, “I bet you two of them pop.”
Eddie narrowed his eyes at Stevie. “Define pop. Are we talking total destruction or partial damage? I need to know the terms to accept this bet.”
“I seriously doubt we are in for total destruction. Let’s say a section is deflated.”
Eddie tapped his chin thoughtfully, “What do I get if I win?”
Steve moved close enough that Eddie could feel his breath against his face as Stevie asked, “What do you want?”
“Should I leave you two alone?” They jumped apart at the sound of Wayne’s voice.
Eddie laughed nervously before asking. “Wanna go out for drinks?”
“Loser pays?” Stevie extended his hand.
Eddie grabbed Stevie’s hand, shaking it once. “Get your wallet ready big boy.”