Ugly
The term ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ was tossed around a lot this time of year but Venom was apparently taking the ugly part very literally. Eddie stood in front of the mirror and gazed upon the red and green monstrosity- it looked like Christmas itself had vomited all over him. An inky black reindeer with Venom’s face and fangs with Christmas tree ornaments of every color hanging from its antlers stared back at him. The collar and sleeve cuffs were fuzzy gold garland that was just a little scratchy- much like all the rest of the sweater.
“It is perfect.”
Eddie tugged at the bottom of the garment a little. It was comically a little too small which added to the ugly part.
The kids were having fun with this concept too, the whole thing started with Mary and Scott staying in town a few extra days after the birthday party. Scott saw a truly atrocious Christmas sweater in a thrift store and simply couldn’t help himself. After buying one for himself he took it upon himself to buy one for each of the children including Sleeper (whom Mary still loves to dress up which didn’t help spare him).
Only Eddie was left unscathed until Venom demanded to be an ugly sweater for him and when could Eddie deny Venom anything?
Scott brought his glorious sweater haul to the house only a half hour ago and the kids seemed to be completely missing the ugly part. Each of them had a genuine fondness for the horrid garments as they excitedly donned them without even the slightest coaxing from the adults. Carnage was very proud of theirs which bluntly stated “Naughty List Champion” in shiny black sequin letters against the red yarn knitting. Lasher and Phage’s green sweaters were covered in kitschy little Christmas lights that actually blinked. Agony’s sweater looked liked Santa’s suit and had jingle bells stitched all over it. Scream’s blue sweater was covered in cookies and milk bottles (for Santa) and Sleeper’s made him look like a gratuitously festive little elf also with jingle bells on the sleeves that he got endless enjoyment out of jingling violently.
“Okay, little guy. We get it, you like the bells.” Scott laughed, picked Sleeper up to stop his erratic arm flailing.
“Sca!” Sleeper replied with his best attempt at his Uncle Scott’s name.
“Uncle Scott! Look! I can make jingle bells too!” Agony jumped up and down to make the bells on her sweater shake and jingle.
Somewhere deep in his eyes Eddie thought he might be able to glimpse Scott’s regret about including the bells.
“Come on guys, let’s get this picture taken.” Mary waved them all over.
Eddie felt that a Christmas photo with ten people/aliens/hybrids in it was a tad ambitious but his sister was not taking no for an answer. They all squeezed in uncomfortably close to make sure everyone was in the frame.
“No faces, Carnage.” Venom policed Carnage’s glare and stuck out tongue and Carnage looked shocked and confused that their father could see it from behind them like that.
It took a few tries but Mary did eventually get her dream Christmas card photo of the whole Brock family in ugly Christmas sweaters.