Grouch-ish - L. B. Dunbar

nLet's start here. The twelve days of Christmas are actually after the holiday.n n n nAnd my dad, being the great guy he is, and the battalion chief of the fire department, signs up one of his rebellious firefighters for a retreat because of his bad behavior.n n n nThe guy is a total grouch.n n n nBut when he misses the bus for the adult redemption camp, Dad sticks the guy with me for twelve days. n n n nAlone.n n n nSo, on the dozen days some mysterious true love-which I have yet to experience-should be bringing me gifts, like French hens and golden rings, I'm in charge of this firebird on our pear farm. Being the city man he is, he doesn't have a clue how to can fruit, mend fences, or milk cows.n n n nBut he knows how to kiss...n n n nNot that we should be doing such a thing. Only his silver beard is sexy, and his crooked smile kind of sweet. He has this alpha energy vibrating around his well-honed body but underneath the grumpy exterior is a man lonely for something more in his life, like me.n n n nAnd instead of gifting each other random birds, leaping lords, and piping pipers, the gift we give one another is time... and our bodies.n n n nBut what about our hearts?n n n nMaybe true love will strike after all.n n n nA lot can happen in twelve days.n nn