JOSEPHINE

Quietly and on tiptoe, I tried to sneak back into my room after letting the dogs out again. It was still snowing relentlessly outside when- "Have you checked on your gifts?" Matteo asked, his eyes wide with an unusual urgency. I jumped, startled.

"What are you doing under the stairs?" I asked, trying to calm myself.

"Gifts," he replied as if that was a perfectly logical answer. I shook my head and turned to leave, but he grabbed my ankle. "Yours are still missing."

"I know, but it'll be a while until everyone is awake."

Matteo grinned mischievously. "Not for long. We should wake my brothers!"

I frowned, shaking my head firmly. "No way. Let them sleep. They need their rest."

"Come on, Josephine! It's Christmas! We can't let them miss it!" he insisted.

"It's too early, and they'll just be grumpy and you just want to open your presents," I replied. "How about we play Mario Kart instead? We can have our own little celebration until they wake up."

"Alright, but we should keep an eye on the time!" Matteo said, already heading toward the living room. We tiptoed into the living room, careful not to make a sound. At least I did. I grabbed the game console while Matteo rummaged through the kitchen for the leftover cookies. The colorful lights from the tree twinkled around us, adding to the festive atmosphere. 'Next year, I will give everyone a "sleep-in" voucher as a gift.', I thought to myself.

____________

"Okay, my gifts first!" Matteo exclaimed, as soon as the other ones arrived, practically bouncing on his feet, his enthusiasm palpable as he sprinted toward the towering pile of colorful boxes. "Here, Vito!" He thrust a bright red present into his brother's hands, his face a radiant mix of glee and anticipation. "This is for you, and this is for you, and this is definitely for you!" With childlike delight, he tossed gifts around like confetti, laughter spilling from his lips, until he finally stopped in front of me, holding the largest package high. "And this is for you!"

"Thank you," I replied, cradling the gift with both hands, the weight of anticipation settling in my chest-a mystery wrapped in bright paper. As I slowly peeled back the wrapping, my heart skipped a beat when I discovered a life jacket nestled inside. Confusion washed over me, and I looked up at Matteo, brow furrowed.

"This is a life jacket," he explained earnestly, eyes glimmering with sincerity. "It's more symbolic than anything, but I spoke with Dr. Bradford. He said you can work on your fear of water. When we fly to Italy this summer, you should be able to swim and I can teach you!" His warmth ignited a genuine smile across my face as I absorbed the true meaning behind the gift.

Before I could express my gratitude, Valentino interjected, a teasing grin plastered across his face. "Thank yous at the end! Always at the end!" Matteo rolled his eyes, laughter bubbling beneath the surface as he eagerly turned to his next gifts. I watched him light up over a small herb garden, his excitement contagious, so engrossed that he nearly overlooked the gift from Vito and Domenico. Almost.

"It's small," Matteo murmured, shaking the package curiously. "It rattles. Hmm." He paused, considering it, then tore into the wrapping, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock as he unveiled a sleek black key. Glancing between Vito and Domenico, he stammered, "Is that-"

"-my car key?" Riccardo exclaimed, disbelief mingling with a hint of dread in his voice. "What's going on?"

"Calm down," Domenico replied nonchalantly, handing Riccardo another gift with a smirk. Riccardo, still flustered, tore it open to reveal yet another car key. "Nino?" He looked to his brother, who winked at him mischievously. "But my Golf!"

Matteo playfully tapped Riccardo on the back of his head. "Are you stupid? Nino's car is way better!"

Riccardo, unfazed, protested, "Why do you get my Golf?"

Vito cleared his throat, cutting through the chaos. "Because it's a safe beginner's car, and Matteo doesn't need a brand-new car as his first, especially not with that much horsepower."

"If you don't want the gift, I'll gladly take my car back," Valentino said, reaching for the key, but Riccardo was quicker, snatching it back protectively.

"Absolutely not," he replied firmly, determination etched on his face. "You gaind some weigh around your hip lately; a little running will do you good." The familiar bickering sparked with warmth and affection, and I couldn't help but smile at their playful banter. Meanwhile, Domenico handed me a gift wrapped in empty picture frames, promising we'd hang them together the next day, making sure I felt compelled to fill them with memories. He hinted at another gift still waiting for me and left me confused.

As the others continued their light-hearted arguments about who had gained weight over the winter, I turned my attention to the two oldest brothers. Vito was the first to unwrap his gift, and his eyes softened as he admired the painted glasses case. "It belonged to our father," he said quietly, and a pang of guilt struck me, the urge to apologize for using it rising in my throat. But he wasn't angry; instead, his smile widened as he recognized the details, understanding my intentions. "It's beautiful!"

Domenico had also unwrapped his bracelet by now, and I felt a flutter of anxiety creeping in as I worried about his reaction. "It's made from my shoelaces-the ones I wore when we first met," I explained softly, my voice barely above a whisper. He pulled me close, wrapping me in a warm embrace that enveloped me in comfort. "Do you like it?"

"Very much," he replied, and my heart fluttered, feeling cherished in that moment. He hold his wrist towards me. "Could you?" I nodded.

"Now you have to open mine." Valentino held a gift between us, a playful glint dancing in his eyes. "And I need your necklace," he added as I took it in my hands, a mixture of confusion and hesitation bubbling up. I handed it to him slowly, unsure. "Good, now you can open it." Inside the small box lay a pendant similar to the one on my necklace, but instead of Saint Benedict, a beautifully engraved rose adorned it. "This is our family's seal. I asked Nonno about it. You said Saint Benedict protects the homeless. Since you're not homeless anymore, I thought you needed something else to protect you," he explained, carefully threading it onto my necklace as the others watched with eager anticipation.

"I didn't even know we had a seal," Vito murmured, breaking the momentary silence that had settled over us.

"We even have a coat of arms, but it was too complicated for engraving. So, Josie, how do you plan to respond to this very thoughtful gift of mine?" In that moment, the weight of Valentino's gesture settled heavily on my heart. The rose pendant against my chest igniting a warmth within me that was hard to describe.

"Valentino," I began, my voice wavering slightly. "This means so much to me. I never imagined I-" I trailed off, speechless, gesturing to the pendant, feeling the warmth of their gazes enveloping me like a cozy blanket. Shaking off the emotional swell, I reached for my own present. "Here it is, Valentino. This is for you." I handed him the voucher I had designed, featuring a vibrant sunset scene.

"What's this?" he asked, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes, eyebrows knitting together in curiosity.

"It's a voucher for a sunset viewing," I explained, my smile brightening. "I remember you telling us how beautiful the sunsets were in Spain, so I thought we could experience one together."

His face lit up with delight, laughter spilling from him like sunlight breaking through clouds. "Wow! This is perfect! I can't wait!"

As the buzz of excitement filled the room, I noticed Riccardo watching us with a thoughtful expression. He stepped forward, his demeanor more reserved than the others. "Okay, Josie, your turn," he said, holding out a carefully wrapped package, anticipation evident in his gaze.

I accepted it, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness bubbling inside me. As I peeled back the paper, I revealed a small booklet adorned with colorful illustrations and the words "Museum Adventures" emblazoned on the cover. "It's a voucher for a trip to the art museum," he explained earnestly, his tone sincere. "As a student, you can get in for free. I thought we could go together-there's a new exhibit opening soon, and it might be nice to experience it together."

My heart swelled at his thoughtfulness, understanding the deeper meaning behind it. "Riccardo, this is amazing! I'd love to go with you. Thank you so much!" I could see the pride in his eyes as he smiled back, a warmth blooming between us. Before I could ask if he wanted to open his gift, I felt a flutter of nerves. Would it be okay for him? "And this is for you," I said, my voice steadying, as Riccardo's brow furrowed in curiosity.

As he accepted the gift, I watched intently as he unwrapped it, feeling the weight of the moment. When he revealed the picture, his eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back. The photo captured a moment from a family picnic: Riccardo, beaming with joy, flanked by his smiling parents, their love evident.

"I- I can't believe you found this," he stammered, his voice thick with emotion, the surprise evident on his face. His expression shifted, revealing a mix of surprise and profound gratitude that made my heart race.

"I had a little help," I said softly.

For a heartbeat, he was silent, absorbing the gift. Then, with a deep breath, he smiled-a genuine, heartfelt smile that lit up his entire face. "Thank you, Josie. This means more to me than you know." He turned to Valentino to show him the picture.

As the others continued to unwrap and exchange gifts, I sat on the sofa, feeling almost weightless, a sense of belonging filling me from the inside. It was so-perfect. Vito settled next to me, an envelope in his hand, his expression serious yet warm. "There's something else, a gift from both Domenico and me for you."

He handed me the envelope, and excitement rushed through me as I slowly opened it. The first lines caught my eye, and my heart raced as I looked up at Vito, eyes wide. "He's alive?"

Vito smiled, joy and relief mingling in his gaze. "It took a while to find him, but yes, he's alive." With trembling hands, I read again, the words dancing on the page as emotions surged within me-hope, joy, and a hint of anxiety intertwining. In that moment, the world around us faded, leaving only the envelope and its message.

Ay Boy,

Surprised to hear from me, huh? Bet you thought I was a goner. I was close, no lie. Got knocked out and ended up in a coma, and when I finally woke up, I was stuck in some rehab joint. Was a nightmare, but they kept moving me around. Now I'm living near my fam, and this new place ain't half bad. Staff's cool, and I've been sober for three months now-feels kinda good, you know?

Hope you're doing alright. You been on my mind a lot, but I didn't wanna get the wrong attantion on you. Seems like that street life is finally behind us, huh? Can't say I'm sad about it, and you shouldn't be either.

You're a good kid Joseph, picked up a lot on the streets. I wish I could've shown you what it really means to live. You'll figure it out. Seems like there's people around you who care.

I'm glad, you deserve way better than what we had.

Take care of yourself kid!

Charles (not so crazy anymore)