Christmas joy is a matter of perspective. For some, it’s the happiest time of the year. For others, not so much. Twenty-nine-year-old Mick, the son of crack addicts, isn’t exactly a dyed-in-the-wool Scrooge. Mick’s been on his own from childhood. As a teen, he even lived in a shelter, where for a short time he had a boyfriend. After the boyfriend left, Mick squatted in the historic Orpheum Theater. While living there as its self-appointed custodian, Mick has watched others celebrate the holidays from a distance, never able to share in their merriment. Only his Technicolor dreams enliven his dull, clandestine life until one day the world around him begins to change. Mick is surprised when a man named Jim buys the Orpheum and plans to restore it. Something about Jim rekindles Mick’s longing for a better life and a little holiday magic for himself. Can Jim give Mick the hope he needs to accept his happily ever after?

The Orpheum Miracle

Shit. He knew I was sleeping at the Orpheum? Fuck. Was this the “it’s been nice to know you, now get out” meal? Crap.


It was frigid outside, and I had nowhere to go except stand in line for a cot. Dammit. I’d blown it. He knew.


Now I clutched the bills in my pocket and regretted saying yes to this invitation to eat. Shit. What was I supposed to do? What could I tell him? He’d called it my theater.


If I said I wasn’t living there, I’d be lying, and he’d know it. Dammit to hell. I was really screwed this time.


The server showed us to a table and handed us menus as I stewed at my dilemma.


“How’re you doing, Mick? We haven’t seen you in here lately.” She moved the place settings around so there were only two of them. “Decaf tonight?”


She was a friend of sorts, somebody I could chat with who didn’t demand anything from me. I knew all about her, her boyfriend, and her family.


Chapter 6