The whole family was here and also my future in laws, they decided to join us since we had to accommodate Richard's family too. I went gift shopping earlier this week and I sat and individually wrapped all of them myself, Richard's brother was rich and boujee as hell but he was my favorite uncle and his spoilt ass kids were my favorite nieces and nephews.

I pushed my final presents under the huge nicely decorated Christmas tree. Sharon's family should be here as well and I would finally get to sit at the adult table since I was now 18. It was always weird drinking wine from a normal tall glass and calling it juice.

"WHERE'S THE SORREL?" Mr Ekuban shouted while walking through the foyer.

"WHERE'S THE EGGNOG?" That was my Uncle Timothy, Richard's brother.

"Talk about culture difference," I laughed and ran up to Kwashie giving him a hug. My uncle gave me a weird look as I walked over to him to introduce them.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He pulled me away.

"First of all, why is your hair neon green? And weren't you gay? Like just yesterday?" He asked me.

"Uncle, uncle. Focus on the bigger picture here and I'm channeling my inner Sza," I patted his shoulder.

"Which is and who is Sza?" He tilted his head to the side.

"The weekend girl and I get to dress how I want and I'm happy," I smiled.

"The guy who has a girlfriend and has her too but only sees her on the weekend girl?" I nodded with a laugh.

"Did you really dye your hair?" He asked running his hand through the front.

"Issa wig Uncle T."

"No fucking way.. where's the hairline or whatever?" He literally dragged the hair and I had to slap his hand away.

"You're gonna ruin my perfect lace front" I pushed him away.

"That's what it's called?? I think I've heard Brielle say that and something about being laid." He tried to remember.

"Bruh, this shit laid and slayed for the Gods Uncle!" I flip my hair and stuck my tongue out.

"You surprise me all the time but anyways as long as you're happy, tiger." He pulled me in for a hug and then disappeared around the corner calling for Richard.

His wife died five years ago and he hasn't found a woman to fill her shoes but he hires a nanny to help him with the little monsters. I heard screaming throughout the hallways and it felt like I spoke too soon.

"Cecila, Brielle, Daniel and Dewi," I shouted at them.

"Yes cousin Zim?" Brielle stood in front of me with an attitude.

"Little girl, what I tell you about that stinky attitude you got?" I asked.

"Drop it," she mocked.

"Well drop it before I drop you," I pushed off her head before walking away to pick up Cecila.

I threw her up in the air and made funny noises with her while she screamed and laughed grabbing at my hair. She was 5 and I hoped Brielle didn't rub off on her once she got older. Daniel and Dewi were 15 years old twins that embodied thing 1 and thing 2, they annoy me but they put up a good nerf war so I loved them regardless. I introduced them all to Kwashie as she took Cecila from me talking to her about toys.

"So that's your fiancé?" Dewi, my favorite twin, asked me and I nodded.

"So what about CJ?"

"Carter straight up horse poop, man." I shook my head.

"Yikes, I was rooting for her." He rested his hand on my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Whatever, lets go play some games until dinner is ready." I ran off and he was right behind me.

We did this every Christmas, we would lock away in my room hiding from everyone else while we sat on the couch in front of my bed playing games and Carter would be on my bed watching us or scrolling though social media. Some time had passed before I heard a soft knock on my door and then it opened to reveal Kwashie's head peeping in.

"Thought I'd find you here," she smiled at me.

I wondered if I could confide in Dewi about Kwashie, I wasn't sure but I decided against it for now and stood up to speak with her.

"Wassup?" I asked.

"I dey fine," Kwashie said.

"That's good to know but I wanted to know why you are here," I pointed out.

"You do not want me around?" She held onto her chest.

"Your accent is really thick," Dewi spoke before I could. Kwashie smiled down at him but didn't answer.

"That's.." I started but got cut off by Dewi again.

"How do you say shit in your language," he looked genuinely interested.

"Should he be saying that?" She asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders and said, "shit" to Dewi. We both laughed and Kwashie rolled her eyes, she's always so serious.

"But for real, how do you say something simple like I want to eat?" He had his hand on his chin.

"I wan chop," Kwashie said.

"How many languages do you speak?" Dewi kept the questions coming.

"I speak Twi, Pidgin, French and English." She replied.

"Pidgin like okuuuuuur?" Dewi asked. I couldn't fight the laughter that came from my mouth as I held onto Kwashie's shoulder for support.

"No, Pidgin as in Nigerian Pidgin o" Kwashie seemed annoyed.

"Where are you from?" He asked.

"Ghana."

"So why do you speak the Nigerian language?"

"We coexist with each other," She shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay, that's it. I'll have more questions later." Dewi turned back to the tv and resumed the game without me.

"I vex" Kwashie turned to me.

"Why?" I asked.

She pointed down to her shirt and I just noticed that there was a huge stain on it.

"What spilled on your shirt?"

"More like WHO spilled on my shirt... Cecila had one too many chocolate candy on her way here." she hissed her teeth.

I laughed as I directed her into the walk-in closet. I told Dewi to leave for a minute so that she could change and then we could continue the games afterwards.

"Who told you I have a shirt that can fit you?" I teased.

"I'm assuming. It's definitely a big plus and advantage that you dress masculine," she kissed me.

"I will not allow you to shop in me closet."

"You can shop in mines," I remembered the fleet of suits that she has and said, "deal." I smiled kissing her back.

Kwashie had on a full African print linen suit. I took out my black satin long sleeve and a white cotton long sleeve and held them up.

"Choose..."

"Neither.."

I sighed and went back to look for a black linen long sleeved shirt and held it up. She smiled before slowly sliding her shirt over her face trying to avoid it making contact with her skin then threw it into my dirty clothes hamper. She had on the wrap instead of a binder.

"How many times I gotta tell you that this," I pointed at the wrap, "isn't healthy."

"I know, I know. I just didn't want the strap of the binder to show if the shirt moved a little too far on my shoulder. I will take it off as soon as I can, babe." She lifted the shirt bringing it over her head.

We stepped out of the closet and I heard my phone ringing, I looked at the caller I.D to see that it was CJ, I allowed it to ring out leaving my phone in my bedroom as I left and walked back to the living room where everyone was. The tv was on and Moana was blaring through the surround sound. I knew that for the rest of the holiday Richard and I would be watching Christmas movies and we've long had the debate on whether The Nightmare before Christmas was a Halloween or Christmas movie.

I got there in time for Maui's song, he was my favorite character in the show and this was my favorite scene right next to when Heihei found out that he was on the boat. Cecila was sitting in front of the tv and I jumped over the couch just in time as he threw his necklace away and started singing.

"I see what's happening here," I started and flashed my hair behind my shoulders.

"You're face to face with greatness and it's strange," Cecila was singing with me too. We've watched this movie a million times together.

"You don't even know how you feel, it's adorable." We flashed our hands and bumped fists just like Maui did and continued singing.

"But it's nice to see that humans never change. Open your eyes, let's begin. Yeah it's really me, it's Zim breathe it in." Brielle rolled her eyes as I used my finger to flick her chin.

"I know it's a lot, the hair," I flashed my hair.

"The bod, when you're staring at a Demi God," I struck the same pose he did in the movie.

I slapped my chest and then my legs in the same rhythm and way he had done moving my feet. I learned it to entertain Cecila and she hasn't gotten tired of it as yet. She was now beside me prepared to do the dances from the movie.

"What can I say except your welcome, for the tides, the sun, the sky. Hey it's okay, it's okay, you're welcome I'm just an ordinary Demi guy." We we're still dancing and singing.

"Hey! What has two thumbs and pulled up the sky, when you were waddling yay high? THIS GUY!"

"When the nights got cold, who stole you fire from down below? You're looking at him yo!" We rubbed our tummies and moved our waist.

"Oh! Also I lassoed the sun! You're welcome! To stretch your days and bring you fun. Also I harnessed the breeze, you're welcome! To fill your sails and shake you trees!" We twirled around and I lifted her up spinning her around.

Brielle joined us and we were all dancing and singing trying to keep up with the movie. Richard walked in and joined in on the fun.

"Well, come to think of it. Kid, honestly, I could go on and on. I could explain every natural phenomenon, the tides, the grass, the ground oh that was Maui just messing around. I killed an eel, I buried it guts, sprouted a tree and now you've got coconuts." Richard sung.

"And the tapestry here on my skin is a map of the victories I win. Look where I've been, I made everything happen." Richard sung.

"Look at that mini me Maui tiki tee taki tee ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha HEYY!!" Richard shouted and we all laughed and continued the song.

"I'm sailing away away, you're welcome because Zim can do anything but float." Richard sung.

"You're welcome, you're welcome and THANK YOU!" I sung.

We all laughed and I left them to sit down while I walked back to Kwashie who seemed to have not looked anywhere else but on me.

"Spectacular performance, my love. You'll make a great mother." She said bringing my hand up to her lips for a kiss.

"What I say?" I asked her.

"That you want to bear my children and live happily ever after with me," She had a wide grin on her face.

"You know that's not what I said," I rolled my eyes.

"I no sabi o, that's what I heard," she laughed and walked away from me.

I walked into the kitchen just in time for Richard to pour himself a glass of whiskey. I ran over to him and gulped the brown liquid down feeling the warm and familiar feeling caress my throat. I rested the glass back in front of him and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Don't tell Kwashie or I will knock you out in our next sparring match," I threatened.

"I won't tell nobody o" He mocked Kwashie's accent. He only did it around me because he didn't want to offend them.

I quickly went to the fridge for an icicle and started to suck on it. I looked over at Richard and he had on the same ugly sweater as I did, it was tradition and the only one my mother participated in.

"Isn't it cold? Why are sucking that?" Kwashie said to me.

"It doesn't even snow here, the breeze is just right." I sucked in my jaws as I slowly dragged the icicle from my mouth with a popping sound.

Kwashie bit her lip and walked away from me again going to the kitchen where I was coming from. I walked up the steps going to my room to check my phone. I saw different missed calls and a text message from CJ.

Carter Jones: We usually spend Christmas together, if I can't be there then no one else should. I'm pressing charges.

Why can't this little girl leave me alone? I'm getting tired of this shit, might just hire a hitman for her.

Me: Do anything stupid and it's gonna be lights out for you this Christmas 😐

I hissed my teeth and went to my closet where I kept small liquor sample bottles and sat in the corner turning them down my throat one after the other. I belched and the feeling of raw rum on an empty stomach made my head swoon. Kwashie's going to be upset, was the only thing running through my mind.

I threw the bottles in the bin, splashed my face with cold water and took out the plastic bag from the bin walking downstairs and exiting the house. I threw the bag in the bin and went to the side garden where my weed stash was. Instead of the weed and my pipe that I had just recently moved out here there was a note with really good penmanship.

I didn't mean to follow you, I just wanted to know what you were hiding. You seem to get addicted to things easily, my love, so I'm trying to help you as best as I can. Please, enjoy a stick of gum instead.

- your love, K.

Two wrapped Winterfresh gum packs were lying where my weed should have been. I wanted to storm inside and create a scene just so she could throw me over her shoulder then fuck me senseless and make some more irrational ultimatums afterwards. I tried my best to calm myself as I opened the gum and stuffed two into my mouth and angrily chewed them. I walked back inside making sure to bump into Kwashie when I passed her and made my way to Richard.

"Houston, we have a problem." I said and he excused himself from the round table from Mr Ekuban, Mr Devereaux and Uncle Tim.

"It's CJ..."

"What's happening now? He asked.

"She texted me saying that if I'm not spending Christmas with her then I shouldn't be spending it with anyone and that she's going to press charges. I don't want to spend Christmas in jail, they won't process it until after New Years," I felt the tears threatening my eyes. I really needed to start working on being sober more because I was an emotional wreck when I wasn't.

"This girl is literally getting on my nerves now," he grabbed his hair. He always grabbed his hair and that's how I started the habit of running my hand through my hair and that's exactly what I was doing now.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

"We're gonna wait.."

"I can't wait in jail," I grabbed his arm.

"Not in jail silly, now.. wait for now." He pulled his arm away and walked back to the table.

"Alien, alien." Cecila was behind me tugging at my sweater.

"Are you calling me an alien?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Kassi said your hair makes you an alien," she laughed.

I stretched my palm over the top of her head and said, "well I'm going to drain your brain." I tried my best to imitate an alien voice but it came out like a male zombie who could still form words.

She ran away from me screaming and as I was about to run behind her my mother shouted from the kitchen that dinner was ready. She ran back to me and I lifted her up setting her on my hip and I walked to the dining room area and sat her at the kiddies table. I sat at my seat and Kwashie came to sit beside me along with Sharon and her baby father. My mother and Richard sat at the head of the table while Uncle T was on the other side and the Ekubans sat beside him.

"Zim! How did I not realize that bright color on your head?" Mrs Ekuban called out.

"I'm not sure," I laughed.

"You look like an exotic bird," uncle T said and everyone laughed.

"At least I'm exotic."

"I agree with that," Kwashie whispered to me and I blushed.

We all shared our plates and laughed. Richard got up to share the wine and when he got to my glass he looked at me questioningly and I looked at Kwashie, she gave me a nod and I smiled wide nodding to Richard and he chuckled.

"I'll allow you two glasses."

"Four.."

"One.."

"Alright, I'll settle with the two." I already had a buzz from the sample whiskeys that I drunk earlier but what she doesn't know won't hurt her, ignorance is bliss for a reason.

My plate was stacked and Kwashie looked satisfied that I was back to my normal eating habits. We shared laughter as I stole ham from her plate and she threatened to stab me. There wasn't just conventional Western Hemisphere dishes on the table, Mrs Ekuban had brought a taste of Africa with her Ati Ogufe, pounded yam, potato dumplings, and, Eforiro. The potato dumplings were my favorite, I used them to wipe up the curry gravy from the goat meat.

"Careful now, Zidania. Wouldn't want to get colic," Mrs Ekuban chuckled.

"Is that even a real thing?" Richard asked.

"Is niggaritis real?" I asked.

"Zim, you always fall asleep." Uncle T added.

"I would like to make a formal complaint on Timothy McGlashan, he has been verbally attacking me since he got here and has also tried to snatch my wig," I held up my hand.

"That is not a wig," Mr Ekuban said.

"Was that all you heard?" I cried out and everyone around me was laughing.

"It is a wig, I watched her through the whole process yesterday at the salon," Kwashie said.

"You were at a salon?" My mother finally spoke up. She never approved of my wig choice and was about to snatch my scalp off but Richard came just in time.

"Zim begged me to follow her so I went, I had nothing else better to do ah," she laughed and covered my hand with hers.

"Real man, right here. If you're afraid to go to the salon with your wife say I," I said.

Uncle T, Richard and Mr Ekuban all raised their hands saying I and my faced dropped. Then Uncle T dropped his hand and sadly said , "I wish I even had a woman to take to the salon."

Everyone was giving him awes and sympathetic looks so I said, "sucks to be you."

"What about you Mr Devereaux?" Mrs Ekuban asked Sharon's baby father.

"I don't send her to the salon, I try to treat her as best as possible by doing it myself and she has never complained plus it gives us more one and one time," he said and Sharon was completely flushed.

"It's settled. You aren't going back to the salon," Kwashie said.

"And get burns every time I get a perm? Nope!" I pulled my hand away from her.

"Then go natural," She shrugged her shoulders.

"I support that," Mrs Ekuban chimed in.

"Of course you would," my mother said but Mrs Ekuban ignored her and so did everyone else.

"What about my lace fronts?" I asked.

"I'll YouTube it," she smiled.

"We'll make a deal later."

"Bet," she winked at me.

The doorbell sounded throughout the house and Richard got up to answer the door. We all sat patiently eating and waiting on him to come back. I had refilled my glass and was now on my third cup of wine feeling that comfortable feeling I got whenever I was drinking.

"Mr Ekuban," Richard cleared his throat and we all looked up at him. There were police officers behind him and he had a grim look on his face.

"Which one?" Kwashie asked.

"We're here for a Kwashie Ekuban," the taller light skin one said.

We all stayed silent and looked around the room. I brought my wine glass to my lips and slowly sipped not looking over at Kwashie nor at the police officers.