Monday, December 11, 2017

Christmas Always (poems) & Christmas Treasures (excerpt) & Day 360 CJSM-book IV

 
 
  

Santa’s Sleigh!
(a Christmas play-2012)
 
Setting: Christmas Eve in Santa Claus’ winter snow garden
 
Act I
 
(Knock! Knock! Enter Santa and his Christmas elves pulling a red sleigh full of gifts)
 
Santa (waving): Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!
 
Elves (singing): We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! (All wave)
 
Santa: Well! My little darlings. Ah, er---I mean…elves. (Putting his hand to his forehead) Oh! Me! I seem to get so confused---uh…that is, just at Christmas time!
 
Elf Anna Marie (shaking her head): That’s not what Nanny, uh---I mean…Mrs. Santa says.
 
 (Elves laugh and point at Santa while shaking their heads)
 
Elf Lexi (trying to save Santa): Oh! Cousin Anna, Christmas Eve is his big day.
 
Elf Lauren (nodding): Yes! He’s so busy. No wonder he gets confused. (All the elves nod)
 
Elf Anna Marie (quietly to the audience) When isn’t our ole Santa Claus confused? (Winks)
 
Lauren (sternly): Anna!
 
Santa (feigning embarrassment): Uh---Let’s see if I can redeem myself…somewhat. (Clearing his throat): Elf Annie Rie! What do you want for Christmas?
 
Anna (smiling mischievously): Oh! Dear Old Santa! I don’t know. (She laughs, looking down at her feet, sliding her toe around)
 
Lexi (surprised/eyes wide): Anna? I thought you made a list this year?
 
Lauren: Yes! Dear sister. I saw you working on it. Go ahead. Just show it to Santa.
 
Santa (encouragingly): Yes! Sweetheart! Let old Santa see your wish list.
 
Lauren and Lexi (as Anna hesitates): Go ahead, Anna. Show Santa your list.
 
Anna (giggling as she unrolls long list): You mean this little old list of goodies? (She squeals)
 
Lauren (rolling her eyes): Oh! Anna! Really!
 
Lexi (clapping her hands): Yea! Way to go, Anna! You go, girl!
 
Santa (looking at the long list): Well! Now! I think I can manage this. (Pausing): Just one little question, our little Miss Anna Marie: Have you been a good girl this year?
 
Lauren (her hand flies to her mouth): Don’t answer that, Anna. If you do and tell the truth, it might just jeopardize the entire Christmas season.
 
Lexi: I agree, Anna. My mom says to always take the fifth!
 
Anna: Oh! Guys! Last time I tried to take his fifth, Bapa got really mad. Said something about leave my “Jack” alone. I don’t even know “Jack”. (Laughing): Momma says Rye-Rye does.
 
Lauren (shocked): Anna, that’s not even funny!
 
Anna (laughing): That’s exactly what Bapa said. (Pause): Then, he went to bed.
 
Lexi (shrugs and sadly shakes her head)
 
Santa: Uh---girls…Remember, it’s Christmas. Let’s not tell tales out of school. (He wipes his brow and shakes his head)
 
Lexi: But, Santa. We are out of school; we’re on Christmas break!
 
Lauren/Lexi/Anna (raising their hands, dancing and shouting): Yea! Merry Christmas!
 
Santa (calling for order): Girls! Girls! (Then): But, Miss Anna Marie? Were you a good girl?
 
Anna: Oh! Yes! Santa, dear! (She holds up her right hand in oath): If I’m not telling the truth, the whole truth and anything but the truth, I hope lightning strikes the neighbor’s dog! (Laughs)
 
Lexi/Lauren (in unison): Ba-Boom!
 
Anna/Lauren/Lexi (sadly shaking their heads): Bye-Bye! Bad Doggy!
 
Santa (shrugging): Where did I lose control---again, this year?
 
 
 
Act II
(Elves sing song): Jingle Bells!
 

Santa (pulling out a long list of his own): Let’s just see, here, now. My list tells me that Anna told the truth, the whole truth and nearly all the truth. (He laughs. Then, seriously) It says here that Lexi and Lauren and Z. Tyler all behaved themselves this year and are on Santa’s good little

Camouflaged in leaves is where we’re found


We live in a brown rectangle and don’t make a sound (box)

(Z. Tyler’s box of snakes)
 
Girls, wash your hands and them please ____ (dry)
Dishes are washed in a ____ too high (sink)
The fork goes on the “right” is an awful  lie (left)
(Left drawer of the dry sink)
 
In my wide mouth please pour some cream
Up and down work the plunger; Oh! I could scream
A sweet dessert of yellow gold I dream (butter)
(Butter churn)
 
Put in cold water, then add some heat
That delight in the shower sure is neat
Find us on top, we’re not at your feet
(Water heater)
 
You better be good for Goodness Sake
Believe in Santa ’cause he’s not a fake
Poor Ole Santa’s got another belly ache
(Bapa’s shirt)
 
These Christmas clues could be called a label
I know you’d rather be in a stable
Find these gifts under the dining room _____ (table)
(Dining table)
 
Girls, don’t run in the house to play chase
Bapa’s ready to spank, just in case
You’re getting hot near the brick _________ (fireplace)
(On the fireplace hearth)
 
 
 
 
’Tis better to give than receive, to me
I believe: The best things in life are free
Better look under Nanny’s Christmas ____ (tree)
(Under the tree)
 
To gather all this took a lot of time to shop
Bapa got so tired he thought he’d drop
Something’s hiding there on the counter ____ (top)
 
Peaches, apples, cherries, pears grow in a fruit grove
A single orange for Christmas was my Daddy’s treasure trove
Find these gifts in the old electric ____ (stove)
(Electric range oven)
 
Santa brings gifts in a reindeer ______ (sleigh)
To whatever you want he’ll not say “Nay!”
Look now in Nanny’s glass blanket display
(Blanket cabinet)
 
Z. Tyler wins at River City but does not cheat(He’s Lucky)
Where is all the casino money that he does keep? (I don’t know!)
Don’t bump your head under the ___________(green love seat)
 
Not afraid of monsters? I dare you be bold
Open the door to a dark cairn cold (Basement Pantry)
“Good things come in small packages,” so I’ve been told
(Pantry under the porch)
 
Where else are they hid? Might you assume?
Not openly evident do any loom
Maybe in the closet in Z. Tyler’s ____ (room)
(Z.’s closet)
 
Now, dear children, stand right here near me
Face the audience for all of them to see
My treasures, every day is Christmas with the gift of “Thee”
Merry Christmas! 2012
Amen!
 
Act III
 
Hidden Christmas Presents!
 
Santa says, “Jesus sent me on His birthday to good people bless”
Please un-wrap all the gifts, leave a big ole Christmas paper mess
Simply solve each riddle, if you can,  with a most intelligent guess
 
I’m long and round and make a fine tin can
My favorite? I’m mostly a “yellow” color fan
Anna and Nanny like us on a cheese sandwich plan
(A&P potato chip can)
 
 
 
3.1459265359…Such a long number, what am I? (π)
The umpire called the runner ____ because he could fly (safe)
The old lady lost her _______(underwear). Don’t anyone spy! (drawers)
(Pie safe)
 
We are cold-blooded and slither around (snakes)
Camouflaged in leaves is where we’re found
We live in a brown rectangle and don’t make a sound (box)
(Z. Tyler’s box of snakes)
 
Girls, wash your hands and them please ____ (dry)
Dishes are washed in a ____ too high (sink)
The fork goes on the “right” is an awful  lie (left)
(Left drawer of the dry sink)
 
In my wide mouth please pour some cream
Up and down work the plunger; Oh! I could scream
A sweet dessert of yellow gold I dream (butter)
(Butter churn)
 
Put in cold water, then add some heat
That delight in the shower sure is neat
Find us on top, we’re not at your feet
(Water heater)
 
You better be good for Goodness Sake
Believe in Santa ’cause he’s not a fake
Poor Ole Santa’s got another belly ache
(Bapa’s shirt)
 
These Christmas clues could be called a label
I know you’d rather be in a stable
Find these gifts under the dining room _____ (table)
(Dining table)
 
Girls, don’t run in the house to play chase
Bapa’s ready to spank, just in case
You’re getting hot near the brick _________ (fireplace)
(On the fireplace hearth)
 
 
 
 
’Tis better to give than receive, to me
I believe: The best things in life are free
Better look under Nanny’s Christmas ____ (tree)
(Under the tree)
 
To gather all this took a lot of time to shop
Bapa got so tired he thought he’d drop
Something’s hiding there on the counter ____ (top)
 
Peaches, apples, cherries, pears grow in a fruit grove
A single orange for Christmas was my Daddy’s treasure trove
Find these gifts in the old electric ____ (stove)
(Electric range oven)
 
Santa brings gifts in a reindeer ______ (sleigh)
To whatever you want he’ll not say “Nay!”
Look now in Nanny’s glass blanket display
(Blanket cabinet)
 
Z. Tyler wins at River City but does not cheat(He’s Lucky)
Where is all the casino money that he does keep? (I don’t know!)
Don’t bump your head under the ___________(green love seat)
 
Not afraid of monsters? I dare you be bold
Open the door to a dark cairn cold (Basement Pantry)
“Good things come in small packages,” so I’ve been told
(Pantry under the porch)
 
Where else are they hid? Might you assume?
Not openly evident do any loom
Maybe in the closet in Z. Tyler’s ____ (room)
(Z.’s closet)
 
Now, dear children, stand right here near me
Face the audience for all of them to see
My treasures, every day is Christmas with the gift of “Thee”
Merry Christmas! 2012
Amen!
 
 
 
Act IV
 
(Gifts are handed out by the elves to members of the audience)
 
 
 
Act V
 
Santa: My thespians and I thank all of you for coming tonight. I present your cast of characters:
 
Elf: Miss Lauren Victoria (Our “little Professor”);
Elf: Alexandria Elizabeth (Our “Lexli-Lu”);
Elf: Anna Marie (Our “Annie Rie”);
Handsome Z. Tyler (Our silent strength);
Beautiful Lady Candice Leah (My Angel).
 
And, thank you all for being a part of our loving family each day of the year. You make Nanny and Bapa’s life exciting, worthwhile, complete, perfect. As I look at each of you, I am amazed that such a treasure could have begun with one little innocent kiss; and thankful that God blessed us so with perfect people. I played Santa Claus in our little production tonight; in real life I have always tried to live him, also. Thank you, each of you, from my heart to your own. You all make us extremely proud and happy, all the time. I live: Faith! Family! Freedom! Merry Christmas!
 
And, now: (Elves sing song): Silent Night!... (All shout at end of song): Merry Christmas!
 
The End
 
 
Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
Christmas Alive
 
Absent benefit shelter the wretched old woman did live
By wit, guile and keen eye, her very best she did give
 
Serendipity struck as she searched on cold bleak day
Found a discarded billfold stuffed with green money-pay
 
Blessed-“Good Luck!” Safely secreted in her old canvas bag
None paid attention to such an outcast and useless old hag
 
Unkempt and unclean, surviving on crusts of stale bread
Ragged clothes did she don with a colored scarf on her head
 
An acquaintance grimy beggar who had once done her wrong
Spied the hidden treasure for which he most assuredly longed
 
“Could I have your wallet?” He brazenly asked
Without hesitation she handed it over, quite unabashed
 
The next day being Christmas, the vagabond sought her out
Gave back the money, frowning eyes showed pure doubt
 
“There’s something more valuable from you I should need
That goodness within you to share without hinted greed”
 
Majestic Mountain Commandments foretold
Emulate Jesus! Dare live quite so bold!
 
One snowy Colorado day, I gave a vagrant all the change that I had
Christmas Joy warmed me as a “Thank you!”-smile creased his face sad
 
’Tis better give than receive, sagacious senior folks say
’Tis true! Make it just a fun game that you play today
 
Amen!
 
Merry Christmas!
 
 Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
“Amen!” Escaped a subconscious whisper from his lips.
“Did you say something, Bapa?” inquired the boy.
Blinking, the old man’s blue eyes slowly focused back to reality and on his grandson, as though he were awakening from some place far away; he was smiling.
“Hmmm!” he finally managed.
Then, he offered, “I said, Amen! Son. Just, Amen!”
He lightly patted the boy’s shoulder, almost in a “thankful” touch; Z. Tyler looked a bit confused. He wondered if he had somehow missed something. He shrugged, thinking, “That’s just the way it usually is with Bapa.”
“Let’s split up, boy,” the old man suggested before Z. Tyler could question his reverie.
“You wanted to do some shopping in the hardware store, didn’t you?”
Before Z. Tyler could reply, Bapa continued, “You go ahead. Take your time. I’ll meet you there in about twenty minutes; the girls will hardly be started shopping by then.” He laughed.
The boy nodded and turned toward the Emporium. Bapa held his place, waiting for the boy to go inside the store. Watching him, the old man caught the boy’s furtive glance in his direction  before finally entering the establishment. Then, quickly checking to see that no one observed him, Bapa hurriedly crossed the side street to Gilroy’s Fine Jewelry store on the corner.
A half hour later, the old man sauntered into the hardware store, wearing a smug look on his face. People stared as he appeared just like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. He was good at keeping secrets, but, enthusiasm bubbled in his demeanor like that of a young boy whenever he was up to something, which was often, in Bapa’s case, and his excitement gave him away.
After making a few purchases and ten minutes of searching but still unable to find Z. Tyler, he made a final selection and then went outside. He spied Nanny and the girls coming through the square toward him when the boy suddenly materialized, seemingly out of thin air, like some shadowed-wraith secretly haunting a cold, lonesome midnight cemetery, sliding among the marble tombstones. Z. Tyler smiled; now, he looked just like that darned proverbial cat.
“Where you been, Son?” Bapa inquired, startled by his grandson’s unexpected, mysterious appearance, like a magician’s assistant disappearing from a curtained, mysterious black box, and, then, magically reappearing in the same, just vacated, void box.
Bapa briefly pondered the enigma as Nanny and the girls approached.
“Oh!” intoned the young man, “just…Christmas shopping.” He smiled, like an aloof cat.
Bapa couldn’t shake the strange feeling that more than one surreptitious feline had been worrying that poor canary. He scowled in thoughtful deliberation, shaking his head.
“What is it, Bapa?” asked Lauren, never missing any hint of adult subtleties.
“Yeah?” added Anna and Lexi in unison, sensing the spirit of the game.
“Why! Bapa!” exclaimed Nanny, “you look just like the little boy that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.” She laughed. “What’s going on with you?”
“Umm, nothing!” Chuckled Bapa, knowingly. “But, I’m not the only little boy here about.”
His grin was more mischievous than usual as he gave Z. Tyler a questioning look and then peered at Gilroy’s Fine Jewelry. This situation was shaping up to be one interesting puzzle; Bapa loved a good mystery. He wondered if he could decode this particular Christmas Eve riddle.
Nanny was curious, but decided to ask Bapa later what this was all about; for now, she just gave Z. Tyler a quizzical look to which he merely shrugged as if to say, “You know Bapa.”
And, indeed, she most certainly did; there always seemed to be something interesting going on inside his head. His insatiable curiosity and quick wit normally kept everyone on their toes.
The ride home should have been uneventful; for all intent and purpose, it appeared on the surface to be so. But, quite by accident, Bapa had come to solve the troublesome riddle Z. Tyler had presented. It came to him in a lightning flash, but, he wisely kept the secret safe.
Bapa sat lost in thought as Z. Tyler concentrated on the driving. Each listened politely as the “Little Professor” prattled on about their shopping spree and how Nanny had allowed the girls to choose their own roll of wrapping paper. Lauren had picked one with Santa in his sleigh carrying a bag full of toys being pulled by eight tiny reindeer led by red-nosed Rudolph. Lexi had taken one with the manger scene inside a soft glow like a halo within a background of light blue. Annie had chosen paper with boys and girls in extra colorful adornment in a winter scene ice skating and sled riding. Lauren reported that her little sister had said that the paper reminded her of Bapa and Nanny’s farm and all the exciting fun the children had there; she giggled in excitement.
The child continued breathlessly about the sweets they had bought; chocolates and taffy and jelly beans and hard candy and nuts; also, oranges, apples and bananas, along with raisins and other goodies to be added into Nanny’s famous fruit salad. She spoke of dresses and shoes and hats and how smart they would all look in their new outfits come Christmas Day. On and on she chattered in her excitement until her cheeks were red with effort and her breath finally exhausted.
Catching her second wind and unable to contain herself any longer, she burst out in a voice an octave higher than normal, “Oh! Golly! Bapa. This will just be the most perfect Christmas ever! Don’t you think so, Rye-Rye?”
Bapa’s gloved hand gently patted the little girl’s knee.
“It always is,” he replied, smiling at his eldest granddaughter.
“Yeah,” said her cousin, keeping his eyes on the road. “Every Christmas is the best; each one always better than the last.” He added, absently, “Maybe this will be the very best of all.”
Bapa had been quiet on the drive home. He politely listened with interest to Lauren’s loving account of their adventures, but, also reflected on the events in town when he had errantly lost track of the boy. He was pretty sure Z. Tyler had gone into Gilroy’s after he, himself, had left the store. Still, he could not figure out what the reason for it might be. His grandson had magically re-appeared on the sidewalk as if he had been purposely in clandestine-hiding.
“Perhaps, he had been,” he mused, silently. “But, why?” That question begged an answer.
Z. Tyler, too, had been silent. He seemed reflective; lost somewhere in his own private world.
Bapa could not only forecast an impending snow, he often surmised big events well before they occurred. If his radar was accurate, something besides a blizzard was in the air, but the young man’s uncharacteristic surreptitious behavior had him stymied. This enigma would require some special thought; absentmindedly, he fingered the black velvet box in his coat pocket. He thought of Nanny following in the van and, as he always did at her image in his mind, he smiled.
Glancing toward Lauren as she continued unabated, her unrelenting, excited torrent about a perfect Christmas, he looked past her to Z. Tyler; the young man was smiling, too. It was the unmistakable consummation of a man thinking deeply of the woman he loves.
And, Wham! Just like that, Bapa had finally figured it all out.
Christmas Perfect! Indeed! His smile broadened. The others did not seem to notice.
Interrupting Lauren, he repeated her statement, “Yes, my darling ‘Little Professor’, you are so smart. This will, indeed, be the best Christmas, ever.”
After a brief pause for effect and a furtive peek at Z. Tyler, he added, “Christmas Perfect!”
Something in the tone of the rejoinder caused the boy to glance at his grandfather; then, the old man winked. He did not speak his private thoughts, but, a pleasing laugh escaped his lips as his head nodded, knowingly.
Silently, he promised, “Your secret is safe with me, son. I’ll not spoil your fun.” Then, again to himself, “It will be interesting to see how he plays this most exciting surprise.
“Very interesting, indeed,” he mused, smiling satisfaction at his wit and cunning.
His delighted smile broadened even more; he was so happy for his young man that another tiny laugh unintentionally passed his lips.
“It’s really snowing good! Bapa,” Lauren exclaimed, breaking his contemplation.
“Yes, Dear,” he replied, absently stating the obvious as a foregone conclusion.
“Oh! You already knew. Didn’t you?” she pouted, disappointed that he was not surprised.
As the young man peered at him, he confessed in answer to her question, “Darling, I just seem to have this knack to know about such important things, even before they happen.”
Again, he winked at the boy; Z. Tyler smiled, wondering “what” things.
The rest of the trip passed with each of the two men lost in their own private dreams while Lauren continued her unceasing, excited volley.
Every year the old man wondered how this special family would outdo the previous Christmas festivities, not that he dwelled on it, nor did he ever make plans, that was foreign to his character; he simply enjoyed the drama as it unfolded naturally, evolving into a special event of celebration. With Z. Tyler’s “secret” unraveled, this would be the very best holiday---ever!
Christmas Perfect! Indeed!
Presents were usually opened early Christmas Eve after a supper feast of ham, fried chicken, beef roast, pork chops and all the trimmings. Nanny allowed that “some” people just couldn’t wait. This year, Beth and Becky, the old couples’ daughters, and their spouses, would not arrive at the farmstead until after nine in the evening. The little girls would be fast asleep by then, so it was decided and agreed that Santa Claus should come in the night and gifts could be opened and the celebration delayed until Christmas Day morning. Actually, there were several very mild complaints from the threesome, but, they were polite and co-operative children and had quickly acquiesced to the request in a child’s logical consideration of the possible positive aspects of such a slight postponement. Anyway, they’d all be well-rested in the morning.
“Sure,” said Lauren, “we’re always so tired by the time we get all the presents opened on Christmas Eve that we don’t get to play with them much until the next day, anyway.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lexi. “It’s okay with me to wait until morning.”
“Sure,” chimed in Annie, “that’ll give Santa time to leave more presents.”
Everyone laughed. Anna Marie always had an insight no one else could as readily foresee.
After their arrival home from the afternoon shopping spree, the girls and Nanny had taken to the hills for some serious snow-sledding in the slight valleys facing north where the drifted snows stubbornly clung like mountain glaciers resisting meltdown; the ice skating could wait one more day as the warm spell had thawed the lake surface, slightly, but the bitter cold snap promised a safe thickness for Christmas Day festivities. The foursome refused to let the unexpected winter Chinook, a warming spell called a “snow eater”, a phenomena akin to the infamous January thaw, interfere with their afternoon pleasure. Sometimes one had to deal with adversity though wit, invention, flexibility, adaptation, like seeking out remnant snow in the shaded areas for sledding purposes. Often, the improvising proved as much fun as the event.
While the girls played, Bapa and Rye-Rye dutifully attended to the farm chores. The horses were put in stalls and fed grain and flakes of alfalfa hay; all the cattle were herded into the barnyard which housed a loafing shed, a covered area with a roof attached to the side of the barn; there they were sheltered for the night and were fed ear corn and grass hay; eggs were gathered from nests in the hen house; the myriad array of farm pets, doves, pigeons, sheep, one lone turkey, named “Tilley”, three goats which were pressed into service in nice weather to pull the goat cart and the dogs and cat were, also, seen to. All was battened down snugly by dark as the unrelenting snow laid a thick, fresh white blanket over the winter-frozen land.
Christmas Eve night the family enjoyed playing board games, reading holiday stories and singing carols as the girls took turns at Nanny’s piano. The talents of these children knew no bounds in their multi-faceted endeavors. Z. Tyler did a few card tricks, told several jokes and ended his performance with a couple of magical prestidigitations. For his finale, he made a dollar bill disappear and then with and an exaggerated “Alakazam!” pulled the lost greenback from Lexi’s ear. His little sister looked perplexed and gently and carefully put her hand to the side of her head, not quite sure what had happened, her big brown eyes wide with amazed excitement.
Everyone laughed and applauded.
“What kind of trick can you do, Bapa?” interjected Lauren, playfully.
“Why!” Bapa announced, loudly, while quickly snatching the dollar from Z. Tyler’s hand and shoving it in his own pocket. “I can make money disappear! Just like that!” he laughed.
“Hey!” complained Lexi, “that’s my brother’s dollar!”
As the laughter subsided, Nanny scolded, “Yes! Bapa! That is Rye-Rye’s money, Lexi’s right. Make your own money disappear.” Giggling, she added, “And, if you can’t, I, surely, can!”
That brought another boisterous round of laughter from the little throng.
“I’ll bet I could take this to Gilroy’s Jewelry and make it disappear, pronto,” he laughed.
“You can’t buy much for a dollar at Gilroy’s,” Nanny allowed.
“Oh! I don’t know,” he teased. “What do you think, Rye-Rye?”
“No, not much,” Z. Tyler allowed. “Nanny’s right.” He smiled, wondering at the turn the conversation had suddenly taken. He gave his grandfather an inquisitive look.
“Anna Marie!” Nanny exclaimed. “Get your finger out of poor little Lexi’s ear. There isn’t any more money in there. That was just Rye-Rye’s trick!”
Laughter erupted among the group. Lauren placed her hands on her hips, exasperated, giving her little sister a stern, disapproving stare. Lexi looked bewildered, unsure of what had just happened to her. Annie displayed abject disappointment, then reluctantly removed her hand, gingerly, her skepticism evidenced by her lingering visual search past Lexi’s blonde curls.
Bapa handed the bill to his grandson, slapped the boy on the shoulder, and winked. Z. Tyler gave him another quizzical look, wondering what that had all been about. You never could tell with Bapa; actually, you just could never know anything, for sure.
The girls had a busy day shopping, were well-exercised on the snowy hills, well-fed with Nanny’s feast, and roundly entertained. By eight they had been bathed and dressed for bed. Sitting around the cozy fireplace enjoying the crackling warmth while drinking hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, each held a giant home-made oatmeal-raisin cookie. Lauren and Lexi had managed only a single bite each and were literally falling asleep where they sat; Annie Rie had gotten her second wind. She, too, had taken only one chomp from her treat, but, it was her second helping; Annie always had a voracious appetite but managed to keep it satiated.
“I can’t eat another bite,” the little blonde confessed, laying the huge cookie remains on the coffee table. Annie leaned her head against Lauren, asleep at once.
Bapa, Nanny and Z. Tyler laughed.
Lauren put her arm around her little sister in a sweet, comforting gesture.
Lexi, too, was now, fast asleep, dreaming of a red sleigh filled with toys, driven by Santa Claus and pulled by eight tiny reindeer led by a shining red-nosed Rudolph. She smiled.
Lauren had heard Anna’s comment and thought it funny, but, she was too close to slumber- land to react with anything but a warm smile as she involuntarily succumbed to exhaustion and sleep overtook her, also.
Bapa finished the last small bite of ice cream in his bowl as he scooped it onto the cookie and popped it into his mouth.
“Mm! Mm!” Came a satisfied smile.
Z. Tyler emulated his grandfather’s gesture, emptying his own bowl, then echoing the tone.
“You two!” Nanny admonished. “Worse than the kids.”
Bapa dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
“Taught me everything I know,” Z. Tyler offered, again precisely emulating his grandfather, wiping at his lips with a napkin and laughing. He meant to have the last word.
“Yeah! That’s true, Son,” Bapa replied, that mischievous sparkle in his eye.
“But, let’s just wait and see how much you actually learned from me.”
Z. Tyler and Nanny looked questioningly at one another as the old man laughed at some private joke; each shrugged their shoulders knowing the futility of trying to outfox him.
Perplexed at these events, Nanny arose, quietly.
“Well,” she began, “our big girls will be here in a couple of hours. We best get these little angels to bed. Tomorrow is a big day and tonight will be very busy.
“I’ll go up and turn down the bed,” she continued, picking up Anna Marie who was sleeping soundly, lying against Lauren.
“Bapa, please bring Lexi in a few minutes. Rye-Rye, you carry Lauren,” she whispered.
Five minutes later, Z. Tyler tapped Bapa on the shoulder. That quickly the old man had fallen sound asleep with the aid of the cookies and ice cream; he jerked awake, startled.
“Hey! Big Boy!” he said in a loving manner, “I guess it’s been a long day for all of us.”
Seeing his grandfather’s fatigue, Z. Tyler offered to come back for Lexi.
“No, son. It’s alright. I’ve got her,” he replied, picking up the little girl.
Upstairs, they laid their precious cargo on the huge feather bed on either side of Anna Marie as Nanny had comforted her into the middle spot. Three tiny angels rested in peaceful slumber; the glow of saintly golden halos evident to the proud trio of adults.
They smiled in satisfaction as Nanny secured their wards under a warm goose down comforter. Outside, cold wind moaned in the eaves as the blizzard’s fury howled, fanning snow- sculpted faux ocean-crested waves upon the winter-frozen landscape.
Returning to the warmth of the crackling, cozy fire, the trio talked of Christmas past, laughing and reminiscing as they relived some of the highlight events of previous holiday celebrations.
A little before ten, the grandchildren’s parents arrived, loaded down with gifts; it took four trips to the van to gather all of the loot with Rye-Rye and Bapa lending the two husbands a hand. They had been delayed by icy roads and poor visibility which reduced their progress to a crawl. A warm welcome of hugs all around with kisses for the girls, a short reunion by the comforting fireplace and an offer of a late night snack of Nanny’s holiday fare warmed the assemblage.
They gathered at the dining room table and settled in while the girls went upstairs to peek in on their children.  After updates on the trip over a delectable lunch with plenty of hot tea, they got down to serious business of making plans in preparation for Christmas morning.
Rye-Rye had to tease Aunt Becky and Uncle Alex. He produced a two sheet list chock-full of hand-printed gifts that Anna Marie had written for Santa to bring her. He proceeded to tell how Nanny had tried to lessen the monetary damage of such a long wish list by saying, gently, “Why! Anna, dear. All that stuff might get to be a bit on the expensive side. Maybe you should save some of the bigger gifts for next year.” She had sincerely attempted to be logically persuasive.
Mom Beth and Dad Graig were attentive now, eager to hear Anna’s parent’s reaction to their child’s myriad requests, but, they remained silent as Z. T. continued his narrative, grinning; once more causing Bapa to think, “That darned cat, again.”
The boy was near laughter as he continued the story. “So, our sweet little Annie Rie smiled with her special knowing of ‘all things possible’ and announced with finality that Mom and Dad should bring the little stuff and good ’Ole Santa could bring the big gifts that cost a lot.”
That brought the house down. Anna always had all the answers!
 
 
 
Plus:
 
 
 
Day 360
 
”It’s too hot today! Do not run this horse!”
At the top of the hill, Mom & Dad watch
Beth start kicking Lady into a canter
 
 
Can’t rightly claim that “simple-humble I” might have ever been the “exemplar” son; sure enough ain’t appropriate to expect “perfection” from my progeny---but, they are…I reckon so.
Old Lady was 32, near as we can figure, when she died. She was a 13-hand white Welsh-Pony, our very first horse and she taught all of us to ride. I managed to stay on (most of the time), our girls and grandchildren ride like the very wind. Thanks! “Little”-Lady!
We suggested to our “little” Beth that she take it easy on Lady because the filly was old.
Being polite, and, a Good-girl, Beth would walk old Lady to the top of the hill; as soon as she was “out –of-sight” (we could still see her) our 5-year old would kick the old gal in her sides and begin a wild-canter out of sight! One winter evening, we had cautioned “Darling”-Beth not to canter the horse; when they returned home, Lady was dripping wet from exertion; Beth tied her to the fence and came in to have me help un-tack her; when I got out to Lady, the reins were frozen to her hide! I put a blanket on the old gal and tied it with a yellow nylon rope which she promptly removed; we all weathered that storm and Lady lived many more years.
 
Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Getty-up!” Memories!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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