It was the evening of the third day when Kim charged through the door in a blast of cold air and parcels. "Pen, where are you? I'm home."

"Here, love." Smiling with delight, Penny emerged from the kitchen.

Kim dropped her parcels and wrapped her partner in a big hug and kissed her several times. "I missed you so much. We gotta talk. Come on, let's go into the living room."

"What about these parcels?"

"They can wait. This can't. Come on."

They sat across from each other and Penny smiled seeing her partner fairly squirming with excitement.

"So, you know, I've been in Sean's sister's kindergarten class learning about kids."

Penny slipped over beside Kim and pulled her close. "Kim, you didn't have to do that. If you don't want kids we don't have to try again. I love you. I love our life together. There are no strings tied to that."

"No listen. I want kids. They like me. Well, not at first, but I got the hang of it after a bit and you know, I had lots of fun. How about we see the doctor and try again?"

Tears welled in Penny's eyes. Kim was so caring and supportive of her needs. "Thank you. You're wonderful. I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

For a bit they showed each other just how much, but Kim was far too excited to settle for long. "Do you know what a breakfast program is?"

"Sure, I used to go all the time. The schools run them, providing cereal and milk for breakfast for kids who normally would go without. The parents help run them along with the teachers."

"Well, why didn't you tell me? We could do that."

"Do what?"

"Patricia, that's Sean's sister, said that it's really expensive to run these programs and the teachers often bring in cereal or money when things start to run out. So why don't we add that to our mitten tree? People can bring in boxes of cereal and we'll give them all to the breakfast program. You know, for the other kids. I want to do some good for them."

"Other kids?"

"Yeah, ours will have good breakfasts with us. You know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

"'Ours'?"

"Don't you think we should have more than one?" Penny laughed and hugged her partner close.

The next Monday, they arrived with boxes of healthy cereal to put under the company Christmas tree that was already hung with brightly coloured hats, gloves, socks, and scarves that people had brought in for the mission. Sean watched from the balcony above the lobby. He'd heard from his sister that Kim would make a great parent. He smiled. Maybe they'd make him a godfather. He'd like that.

Within days the tree sheltered boxes and boxes of cereal. One night, near Christmas, Penny and Kim stayed to load up the cereal to take to the breakfast program. Penny reached out and pulled Kim into a big hug.

"This is where it all started. You helped me pack up the gifts on our mitten tree and you kissed me. That kiss will always be the best gift I will ever receive."

Kim held Penny close. "Until next year, Special One, when my gift will be our child."

A Mission Beach Christmas

It is good to be home. I've been on an assignment for the last two months and I am sick of living out of a suitcase. While I made my morning brew, I reflect back on my first impressions of Mission Beach. The first time I saw Mission Beach, California, was at night six years ago.

/ was an animal prowling. The scents of booze, drugs, and sex excited me. Here one lived on the edge. The hunt was dangerous.

Light had been reduced to strips, neon messages from the All Consumer — the God of cities. They gathered round the bar doors waiting to be called. "We are here, Lord, your chosen ones. Ready to party." The man in white slacks, open shirt and gold chain; the woman in red, tight breasted and heavy thighed; the black pimp carrying success like a shield against poverty; the child-woman, cool and scared; they waited. The hunt was all about waiting.

The bartender had seen it all and carried within his heart the answers to the universe. If you asked him he'd hold up a mirror so you could see yourself. No one asked. Truth was painful. The old guy in the corner invited young girls to stay at his place. He can't get it up, not even with pills and voyeurism. His dick was pickled years ago on cheap whiskey and rum. The woman worked. She's an "executive assistant". She met them each night and helped them out. On a good night she could afford her habit. On a bad one she drank to forget what she saw in the mirror.