CHEERS

“Are you kidding me!?” I cried out as I stepped off the bathroom scale.

“Is everything alright in there?” My husband Steven called from the other side of the door.

I opened the door and cinched my bathrobe tighter. “The holidays are only beginning and I’ve already gained a pound!” I went over to our closet and began looking through my clothes. “I guess I should break out my ‘fat’ clothes for the rest of the season.” I sighed.

“It’s only a pound.” Steven tried to reassure me. “I don’t see any difference in you.”

“That’s not the problem.” I said as I tossed an over-sized shirt on my bed and went to grab some sort of jacket to camouflage my ultimate weight gain. “I haven’t changed my diet. I’m eating exactly what I always eat and here I am already packing on the pounds!” I tossed my hands up in the air in frustration.

“You haven’t changed anything in your diet?” Steven asked as he sat on the bench at the end of our bed and began putting on his shoes.

“Well, I did eat a lot on Thanksgiving but that was weeks ago. It shouldn’t be showing up now.” I pulled out a pair of jeans and tossed them on the bed next to the shirt.

“So, it wouldn’t have anything to do with the glass of egg nog you have every night after dinner?” He gently reminded me.

“What?” I turned around to look at him.

He was holding both hands up, palms facing me in surrender. “I don’t want to start a fight.”

I sighed again. “I forgot about the egg nog.”

I’d gotten a quart of egg nog right after Thanksgiving. It was my winter treat that’s only in the stores this time of year. After dinner I’d pour a small glass, put in a shot of brandy, and curl up on the couch to read. It was my favorite way to unwind this time of year.

“But how can an inch of egg nog in a glass put on a pound already?” I asked.

“Hmm…” Steven raised his eyebrows. “That’s a tough one.”

I cinched my robe even tighter as I headed for the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator I took out the carton of egg nog and began to read the side of the carton. “Holy smokes! It’s 190 calories for half a cup of this stuff!” I called out.

My son Alex came out of his room. “What are you talking about?”

Steven came down the hallway. “Your Mom’s upset because she’s gained a pound and there’s still a lot of the holiday season left to go.”

Alex took the carton from me and began to read the nutritional facts. “This stuff is horrible for you.” He began listing everything in it.

“Okay, that’s enough.” I said as I took the carton from him. “That’s why it’s called a treat.” I reminded them as I put the carton back in the refrigerator.

I turned to face both of them. “A quick little reminder you two.” I pointed in the direction of the living room. “Later tonight I’m going to be sitting on the couch with a delicious glass of egg nog, reading my book.”

Both of them were nodding their heads.

“And I don’t want either of you to remind me of what was said this morning.” I looked at Steven and then at Alex.

“Not a word from me.” Steven said as he looked at Alex. “What about you?”

“What if I just say ‘cheers’ when I see you?” Alex asked with a laugh.

I stared at him not saying a word.

Alex stopped laughing and cleared his throat. “Not a word from me either.”