Christmas conversations

It was a silver brightness through the skylight that prodded me awake this morning. For 30 minutes or so I tried to fight it, but this was why I'd left the blind open. Today we were taking the train to visit Willem's sister, J, and I didn't want to set an alarm. In his sleep, Willem was humming. Sometimes he does that all night. He is musical to his core and although he cannot hold an instrument any more, the music seeps and drips out of him.
Yesterday Willem went to his home to do cleaning and I went shopping for Christmas gifts for his nieces and nephews. They don't have visits from Santa Claus here but I figure Santa will visit me since I'm American, regardless of where I live. I visited a Christmas market just down the street from me. So many people; bright lights, and a man in a bright red suit and white beard. I skyped my mom and dad while I walked through the market. Mom says that Corinne is coming for Christmas and that they will have a Christmas dinner with my brother tonight. She said she would visit me in Februrary. She said they planned to visit me for Christmas next year. I bought Willem a hand-knit wool sweater for Christmas. And I bought myself a hot handful of little pancakes with powdered sugar and butter.
I wrapped the presents on the living-room floor last night, and Willem smoked his e-cigarette, vapor billowing out of him like "Everyone knows what a dragon looks like" and asked me questions about my childhood. By the time I was finished, he was a bit physically wrecked from his day's labors. So we showered and went to bed. We'd meant to watch a movie or do something more. But this is fine, too. If it wasn't for Willem it would be a very difficult season for me. We do what we do.
We have a small tree which Willem collected on his bicycle because I asked him to. We have to trim the tree still. We'll do it tonight.
Now we're on the train. Outside there are clouds. A thick grey layer propped above us. The fields are a lush green and the trees are bare and crooked and bare. I see yellow uses and church steeples and the cozy gabled roofs of the villages.