The Beary Best Holiday Party Ever by B.G. Thomas Page B

non-Christians in their group. And what about atheists and agnostics? Big Christmasy themes often kept them away as well. One guy had shared with him once that his Baptist family had kicked him out of the house when he was fourteen for being gay, and to this day, just passing a church with a nativity display outside could give him the shakes.
    “Yeah, yeah,” Paddy said (and even his tone set Ron’s teeth on edge—like Paddy was blowing off something Ron considered important). “You’re right, of course. Inclusive. They did that where I work too. Changed the name of our Christmas party. They call it the December party, though….”
    Ron closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It wasn’t like Paddy had been around in the days the club had a Christmas party. He’d blown in out of nowhere six months ago ( seven months, actually, Ron—don’t forget that! ) and suddenly become as popular as mobile phone payments (which Ron loved), shirtdresses (that information came from Billy, of course—he loved them), and movie reboots (why come up with something new when you could redo something a studio already had the rights for?).
    “Well, thanks for calling,” Ron said. “But I’m sort of worn out. I’m sure we’ll see each other very soon.” Unfortunately. “At our first meeting in a few weeks, at least.”
    “Wait. Before you hang up. Just a quick thought.”
    Then make it quick!
    “What say you and I get together for coffee or a drink—lunch, even. Before the meeting? See where we both stand. We want to present a united front to the board, right?”
    Oh joy. Joy to the world. And a holiday appropriate “And Heaven and nature sing.”
    He sighed because he knew Paddy was right. The two of them should be on the same page. He just didn’t feel like admitting it. At least not yet. “I’ll have to check my schedule,” he said.
    “Well, I know you usually go to The Male Box on Sunday evenings—”
    You do? How do you know that? Ron grunted, still uncommitted.
    “—and I thought I could meet you there? We could talk a little bit? Meet out on the back patio? It’s not as loud there. Discuss a few things? I think I’ve got some good ideas….”
    Oh you do, do you?
    “ Especially ,” Paddy continued, “about the Christmas—I mean, holiday party. Last year’s was a little lame, don’t you think?”
    Ron gritted his teeth. Again. Ron had helped with that party. A lot. In fact, in his estimation, he thought he’d done way more than Mel. He thought the former leader had, for the past few years, left the party to inertia rather than put in the hard work. Which Ron didn’t think was suitable, especially considering how important the party was to the club. It was their most important fundraiser, and the money it brought in was what kept the club in the black the rest of the year. He knew that Mel had run things for a long time, but maybe it was a good thing he was leaving. Ron thought that maybe Mel was getting tired of running the club but hadn’t quite been able to give up the reins.
    “Not,” Paddy said, “that I want to step on your toes or anything—”
    No, of course not.
    “—but between us, I think we could make this the beary best party ever!” He laughed. “Get it?” He laughed again. “ Beary best?”
    Ron almost said something inappropriate but noticed the look Billy was giving him. It was almost like Billy could both hear what Paddy was saying and read Ron’s mind.
    Ron smiled with effort. His boss at the call center where he worked said customers could hear a smile in your voice. “Yeah, that’s pretty funny, Paddy.”
    “Maybe we could make it the name of this year’s party!”
    “Maybe,” he said, meaning no such thing. Beary Best Holiday Party Ever? He could see the banner in his mind now. No. No way! This year’s party would be the best ever. But the very best, not the “beary” best. And it would be his ideas that made it so. “But you know the party is six months away