Page 38 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
“Uh, well, I didn’t really think about it.” I start stirring the eggnog withone of Aunt Cindy’s glass stir sticks, the seasoning having a tough time blending with the thick concoction.
“These are things you need to think about, dear. Now go ahead, drink up.”
I’d rather not.
It’s all…clumpy, and the smell is unpleasant.
I know for a fact that this will singe my taste buds. There’s no way this is going to taste anything like, as Aunt Cindy said,Christmas in a cup.
“We don’t have all day,” she says. “Competition is tonight, so we need to make sure this is right. Go on, drink.”
Talk about pressure.
And from my aunt, of all people.
Knowing she’s not going to drop it, I set the stir stick on the folded towel on the rose-pink marble counter, and I bring the hobnail glass up to my lips.
Oh fuck, that smells.
“You know, I think I can already tell this won’t be good.”
“Storee Taylor, we’re never going to win with that kind of attitude—now, drink!”
This freaking old lady…
I smile at her, then bring the rim of the glass to my lips, tip my head back and sip.
Oh.
My.
Fuck.
Immediately I can feel hairs sprout from under my nose, my armpits…and my chest. The potency of ginger has instantly yeti-fied me. This drink embodies that termhair of the dog.
I set the glass down, brace both hands on the counter, and then cough.
And cough.
And cough.
Until I feel my stomach revolt.
I quickly run to the sink, turn on the water, and then point the faucet directly into my mouth as I try to wash the burning sensation of the ginger off my taste buds.
“Dear heavens,” Aunt Cindy says from her table.
I turn off the water and stare down into the stainless-steel sink as I try to catch my breath.
“Was it…was it bad?” she asks.
How could you tell?
I swallow, praying that I didn’t just lose all my ability to taste as I look over at my aunt, her expression innocent and genuinely concerned.
“It was horrific.”
She leans back in her chair, her hand going to her chin, rubbing it a few times. “Hmm, maybe that’s the amount I use for making actual gingerbread, not a drink. I tend to forget in my older years.”
