Jingled by Evan J. Corbin 💕 New Release Blitz and 5 x $20 Gift Card Giveaway 💕(Holiday Gay Fiction)

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Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity.

Matt Daughtry has always felt like he and his parents live in separate worlds—his shaped by the urbane, Northeastern liberal elite, theirs by Southern conservatism, homespun “common sense,” and talk show-fueled conspiracies. His homosexuality remains an open secret, something they sidestep rather than confront, much less accept. When he and his sister return for Christmas, the wrong sibling brings home a boyfriend for the first time.

What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.

His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.

At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn’t act.

With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.

“They’re calling it Christmas Syndrome,” the clerk said, nodding toward the television.

“Tell me about it,” grumbled the man in line behind Matt. “I had to call the cops last night. Eleven o’clock, and there’s a whole choir outside my house singing Silver Bells. Not kids either—full-grown adults, dressed like they’re headed to some damn Christmas pageant.”

Matt shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the television. The muted newscast showed shaky footage of crowds singing carols outside a shuttered shopping mall, their faces lit with eerie joy as bewildered bystanders looked on. What is happening?

He returned to the rental house, absently chewing on a dry breakfast bar while fumbling for the remote. “The President has been working from the residence and spending time with the first family since Christmas Day,” the press secretary said. “At 9:41 this morning, the White House physician concluded his examination. While the President appears cognizant and otherwise healthy, he insists today is Christmas. And Christmas is for family.”

The briefing room erupted into chaos. Matt sank into the couch, his mind racing to connect the dots: his parents’ behavior, the carolers, gas shortages, the airline shutdowns. It all swirled together into a picture he didn’t want to see.

Grant walked in, coffee in hand. “Morning, boys,” he said. “Flights are still canceled.”

“The vice president is speaking at one o’clock,” Matt said. “They’re invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.”

Elise rubbed her eyes. “Mom and Dad might have an excuse to be crazy for once.”

Grant sighed. “Professionally, I’d never say it. But this is nuts. It’s like mass hysteria. People thought the Salem witch trials were caused by hallucinogens.”

Elise tugged Matt’s arm. “Let’s go see a movie. We’ll be back before the address.”

The Vice President’s solemn voice filled the room hours later. “Many Americans have witnessed friends, family, and neighbors unwilling to return to work, performing holiday rituals at the expense of their health and safety… The syndrome appears to impact those who practice the Christian faith. We estimate seventy-eight million Americans are affected.”

The map behind her glowed in red clusters across the Midwest and South—eerily like an election map. Matt exhaled. “It’s the same states that voted against her.”

Grant shut off the television. “If this is tied to eggnog or fruitcake, the recall should fix it. Once it’s out of their systems, the behavior should fade.”

“I called Mom,” Elise said. “They’re baking more fruitcakes. She said, ‘It’s Christmas. Christmas is for family.’”

“Let them have their delusions,” Matt muttered. “They live in their world, and we live in ours. Not much has changed.”

Grant frowned. “In times like these, we need compassion. That doesn’t mean forgiveness.”

Elise’s phone buzzed. “The internet’s calling them ‘Jingleheads.’ Someone torched the tree in Madison Square Garden.”

Matt leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “Maybe they’re not crazy,” he said quietly. “Maybe they just can’t stand living in the same world with us anymore.”