Ding! Dong!

This post is an audio submission meant to be read along with the song.

I wrangled the family to go pick out our tree last night. It was a silent ride except for Mariah on the radio. We brought an untouched thermos of hot chocolate and admired the Christmas lights tickling the windshield. Like every year, we go to the typical white-tented apparition at the local fairgrounds. We took my wife's mouse-like hatchback for some reason, sure to soon resemble the Grinch's toppling sleigh. Our son wore his skeleton pajamas while galloping down the recently forested aisles, shout-singing “Jingle Bell Rock.” The trees stood at attention like unwhittled toy soldiers. He pointed to the 10-footer. "Sorry, my boy." He looked to his mother. She had wandered to the corner of forsaken branches that didn’t survive the ceremonial pre-purchase tree-dragging. Once you pick your tree, it’s schlepped to the front, shedding sprigs like piney entrails. They use them to make wreaths, but I’ve never seen them. She always loved the smell of pine. It reminded her of him.

♫ Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet. Jingle around the clock! ♫

The owner, like a Santa-sized Jabba the Hutt, glides up to us on a golf cart with his oxygen tank in tow. Feigning propriety, he finds his breath and gnarled, "You finding everything alright?" Turning her vacant gaze from the drooping star atop the model tree, she looks through me, “I want to go home."

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Anthony Cervo is a husband/dad/musician/artist from Winter Park, FL. He sings lead and plays guitar/banjo in his band, Mt. Eleanor. The best advice he can bestow upon you this Christmas season was best said by our wise sage David Bowie: “turn and face the strange.”

Personal Instagram: @anthonycervo
Band Instagram: @mteleanor 
Email: ant.cervo@gmail.com

Track Info: Written, produced, recorded, and mixed by Anthony Cervo.
Read by friend/artist/actor Stephan Monteserin.