A Glimpse of Christmas Future

by Bernadette

 

A week before Christmas.

The twenty- foot Christmas tree stood in the window in the formal living room. All around it where children of all ages, trimming the tree. Trixie sat in a comfortable couch and looked around her. There was her beloved Jim helping the youngest of the children hang decorations. Brian was handing out decorations and Mart was supervising the hanging of the piñata. Honey, her best friend for the last thirty years, sat next to her.

‘I’m so glad that we decided to make a piñata a Christmas tradition to celebrate our first Christmas together," Honey commented.

"If I remember correctly it was your idea," Trixie said. "Do you remember the first one we made. It was the silliest thing we’ve ever put together."

Honey smiled gently. "I know. Remember we wanted to surprise the guys and Diana, so we did it ourselves. It was suppose to be a reindeer. It ended up looking like something crossed between a giraffe and a cow."

"True, but Diana loved it," Trixie said. "Even though the guys wouldn’t admit it, but they liked it too. But we’ve improved over the years."

Both of the women looked at the piñata that was formed in the shape of a star. Diana came over to them, holding her youngest grandchild; a three-month-old baby boy dressed up in a Santa suit.

"Gracious, can you remember when it was Jason and Joshua I was holding? Where has the time gone?" Diana asked as she sat down.

"Actually, I believe it was you holding Jason and Mart holding Joshua," Honey said with a twinkle in her eye.

Diana laughed. "Probably. One thing we don’t have to remember too hard is who was holding Crystal her first Christmas."

Honey shook her head ruefully. "When Brian was home, I hardly ever got to hold her. She’s been a daddy’s girl ever since."

"We’ve had some wonderful Christmas memories don’t we?" Trixie said. "We’re all so lucky to still be together. I wish Dan could have made it, but who knows where he is at this time."

"Yes, it is a shame that he lost his wife. It took him so long after Sirene to find someone," Diana said sadly. "But he does spoil our children and will probably spoil the grandchildren as well."

"Just a minute there, you’re the only grandmother around. I hope it will be many years before I become a grandmother," Trixie said.

"True, but you have your hands full with Katy," Diana laughed. "I think Brian just pulled her out of the box of decorations."

Trixie looked over to where her three-year-old daughter was being held by her uncle. Trixie smiled lovingly as Brian laughingly hand Katy over to her older cousin Crystal. They had given up on having a girl, after three boys, Jim had decided that it was enough. Then unexpectedly little Katy had arrived, with red ringlets and blue eyes. Needless to say she was spoiled and adored by her father and older brothers.

Trixie looked over at the other children. There was Mart and Diana’s oldest son, Eric, twenty-three, married and his son was the one Diana was holding. The first and only grandchild at this time. Then there were the twins, Joshua and Jason, nineteen, going to college. Then came Lissa, who looked identical to Diana, when she was fifteen. The boys looked like Mart, except for the black hair. Then came Grant, Brian and Honey’s oldest son, who was seventeen, looking just like his father but with his mothers eyes. Then came Crystal, who at fourteen looked like Honey except with Brian’s eyes. Trixie looked over at her own three sons, Matt, Win, and Rory, seventeen, fourteen and eleven. All with red hair and built like their father, Matt and Rory had Jim’s green eyes. Then her baby, Crystal, who came late in her life, bringing joy and completion to the family.

"Oh, great here’s the food! About time we ate!" commented Jason and Joshua and started singing:

(Tune is Oh Christmas Tree)

"Oh Christmas food, Oh Christmas food

How good are you?

You feel my tummy up and taste so good

Oh Christmas food, oh Christmas food"

Their sister threw a couch pillow at them laughing.

Trixie laughed. Jason and Joshua were just like Mart.

Celia rolled out in the server cart loaded down with eggnog, Christmas cookies, brownies and finger sandwiches made out of ham.

Peter and Helen came in with Matt and Madeleine followed by Regan and Tansy and their children. Eighteen year old Noah and sixteen year old Storm, who had inherited her mother’s abilities.

"Look who we found on the doorstep," Regan said as they came in. Behind him was a tall, lean, muscular man, with dark hair and chocolate brown eyes.

"Dan!" Trixie exclaimed as she jumped up from the couch and rushed over to him. After getting hugs from Diana, Honey and shaking hands with Brian, Jim and Mart. He told them that he had a surprise for them. He went back out and when he came back he had a toddler in his arms, followed…

"Trixie!" Jim said, giving her a small shake. Trixie jerked her head up to him, then looked around with a dazed look. Everyone was looking at her with concern. They were in the living room of Crabapple Farm. There were no babies or children. Trixie eyes widen as she looked and saw that Sirene was there.

Sirene took Trixie’s hand. "You had a vision didn’t you? Where were you?"

"I was in the future, surround by family, but we were at the Manor House and Dan was just walking in," Trixie said, trembling. "It’s fading, but it seemed so real. What happened?"

"The guys were teasing us about the piñata and you just zoned out," Honey said. "It was like you were in a trance and we couldn’t shake you out of it."

"Yeah, probably too much of watching "A Christmas Carol", you must have seen that movie a dozen times already," Mart commented.

Ignoring Mart, Trixie looked at the piñata and smiled a mysterious smile. "Honey, some day we’ll laugh at this. Just think this could be the beginning of a tradition."

"Well, if your sure your okay," Brian said worriedly.

"I’m fine. So put the Angle on and let’s get this Christmas party going," Trixie said. "Don’t forget to put Bobby’s new decoration that he made at school on the bottom, where he can see it."

"Well, I for one, think your and Honey’s gift of the piñata to the Bob-Whites is a terrific ideal and I think we should make it a tradition to remind us all of our first Christmas together as Bob-Whites," Diana said.

"You’re right. I think we should make one for our Christmas party but if for some reason one of us can’t make it then I think that person should make one as a remembrance. They’re not that hard to make," Dan said.

The Bob-Whites agreed as Helen and Peter Belden brought in a Christmas scene made out of gingerbread and candy canes. There was a house of gingerbread, with a row of candy canes marking the walkway. There also was candy cane people that looked like they were playing in the snow. The Bob-Whites laughed when they saw that there were eight people canes. There was a miniature Santa Claus in his sled, with reindeers, and a small sign that flashed "Santa comes but once a year".

"I just hope that Bobby’s cold will get better in the next two days. Or he’s going to have a miserable Christmas day," Honey said to Trixie as they finished up decorating the living room. "So what did you see?"

"Just all of us in the future. We all were together, with our husbands and children," Trixie said thoughtfully. "Strange but when it happen it was so clear but now it’s fuzzy. I can’t even tell you who our husbands were or how many kids we had."

"Well, it’s probably best not to know to much. But I’m happy to know that we’ll all be together in the future," Honey said.

Trixie looked over to where Sirene was standing and watched Dan snatched a kiss from her, then laughing as he pointed at the mistletoe.

"I don’t think all of us will be there. I don’t think Sirene will be around. I’m not sure what happens but I get the feeling that she’s not in our future," Trixie said, sadly.

Then shaking off the sad feeling, she suggested that now that the decorations were done, it was time to take turns swiping at the piñata. Mr. Belden blinded the first person to try, which was Honey; he spun her around three times. The rules where that each person got three tries before the next person tried. Jim and Brian were the closest to hitting it but they did not break it. Sirene had been laughing at the Bob-Whites as she watched them. Honey had hit Mart on the head once, Diana had just missed Mr. Belden, Trixie, on her third try, knocked over a lamp, Mart and Dan just missed everything.

"Okay, since you think this is so funny, you try it," Trixie challenged Sirene.

Sirene smiled. "You sure you want me to because I guarantee that I’ll get it the first time."

"You have to do it now after that remark," Diana said, grabbing Sirene’s hand and pulling her to the center of the room.

Mr. Belden blindfolded Sirene, spun her around and moved a way. Sirene stood still for a minute. Then calmly turned around walked a few steps, stopped, waited a few minutes then lifted up the stick and whacked the piñata hard. The presents and candy fell out. Sirene pulled off the blindfold and just smiled at everyone.

"Wow, it was like you knew exactly were it was," Diana exclaimed.

"I did, with the help of certain spirits," Sirene said, grinning.

The Bob-Whites was surprised, because this was the first time Sirene had mentioned spirits in front of other people besides them.

"Which spirits might that be?" Helen asked.

Sirene looked at Mrs. Belden. "I believe it was your mother and mother-in-law. The two men with them bet that on of the guys would get it. When they didn’t, the two women decide that it was going to take some girl power. So they told me where to go."

"Now that sounds like something my mother would do," Helen said, calmly. " And my father and Peter’s father were always making bets. It’s nice to know that they check in with us at times."

"Well, at least their quiet about their visits now-a-days, " Peter grumbled.

The Bob-Whites looked at Mr. and Mrs. Belden in surprise.

"Dad, that almost sounds like you believe in ghost," Brian said cautiously.

Peter smiled at his oldest son. "You were to young to remember but a couple months after your grand-parents had died we started hearing strange sounds. Plus we would get glimpse of some movement but nothing solid. Your mother decide that our house was haunted, especially when we removed my parents picture from the wall and it kept being hung back up. That’s why that picture had never been moved. After we left the picture alone, the noise stopped."

"Gleeps! How come you never told us this before," Trixie said.

"Dear, it’s been so long since we’ve seen any sign of them and we’ve been busy raising all of you. It just never came up," Helen told her. "When Mrs. Hartman told me about Sirene I wondered if she had contact with your grandparents. But I didn’t feel right asking her."

"This is the first time they’ve spoken to me but I’ve seen them. They were at Brian’s birthday party and here at Thanksgiving," Sirene offered somewhat shyly.

"Well, then they must be happy because if they had any complaints I’m sure they would have told you about it," Peter said. "Okay, enough about ghost. I think it’s time for Christmas carols."

Helen walked over to the fireplace, where a fire was burning, lit the candles. The scent of mulberry filled the air, adding to the holiday mood. Helen turned down the lights so a soft glow warmed the room.

They sang as many Christmas carols as they could remember, sometimes humming the tune if they couldn’t remember the words. After singing an energetic "I wish you a Merry Christmas", Dan asked Sirene to sing for them. The rest of the Bob-Whites had never heard her sing before tonight, but Dan had listen to her often when it was just the two of them. At first Sirene was shy about singing a solo, but after a lot of teasing and double dares, she consented to sing one song.

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from orient land
The king of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise his holy name.

 

Her voice was pure and beautiful. The notes coming effortlessly, the words clear. As she sang with deep emotion, many of the listeners felt tears come to their eyes, while others felt a deep emotion move in them.

Everyone was silent after she had song the last note. Then Honey walked up to her.

"That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard."

"Why didn’t you tell us you could sing?" Diana asked. "You could be singing professionally."

Sirene laughed, pleased that they all liked her singing. "No thank you. I like to sing for myself, family and close friends and maybe in church but other people make me nervous and I end up hitting the wrong notes."

"Well, you can sing for us anytime," Jim said. Brian and Mart nodded their agreement.

It was decided that it was time to call it a night. Mart walked Diana home, holding her hand.

"Oh look, Mart, a shooting star, hurry make a wish," Diana exclaimed point to the sky. Mart looked quickly up and saw the shooting star. His hand squeezed Diana’s hand as he made his wish.

Trixie and Jim said goodnight on the patio.

"Oh, Jim look, a shooting star," Trixie exclaimed as the star caught her eye when she was looking up at Jim. Jim just smiled.

"I don’t need to wish on a star. As long as I have you, I don’t need anything else," he whispered to her bending his head to kiss her. Trixie sighed with contentment.

Brian had started walking Honey home, he knew Jim would catch up to them before they got to far, but Brian wanted every minute he could have with her.

She had been gazing at the stars, when she exclaimed. "Oh, how wonderful, a shooting star."

Brian didn’t even look up. He was more fascinated with her eyes, shining with excitement.

"Don’t go there, Belden. Remember you have a long ways to go before you can start thinking about things like that," Brian reminded himself when he started thinking about how she would look if desire was shining in her eyes.

"It was a wonderful night. Even if Trixie did zone out. It was weird. I don’t think anything like that has happened to her before," Brian said breaking the silence.

"I know that she’ll be thinking about it. Sirene didn’t seem to think that she was psychic. I don’t know what to make of it," Honey said. "Every since Sirene arrived more and more strange things are happening. She must be a catalyst for the paranormal."

"Mmm… or as Mart said, Trixie’s been watching too much of "A Christmas Carol" and had a vivid daydream," Brian said.

Honey smiled at him. "You and Jim just refuse to give into the ideal that there are more to this earth then we know."

"Well, let’s just say that I like scientific explanations first," Brian said, grinning at her.

Honey just smiled at him, shaking her head. Jim approached them and Brian said good-nigh to both of them and walked back to the house.

Honey watched him go for a second, then turned and caught up with Jim.

Dan had seen Sirene home. He had also seen the shooting star. He looked at the beautiful girl next to him and made a wish.

Sirene was so happy to have friends and spend such a wonderful time during this special time of year. She has always loved Christmas. She was please that her singing had given her friends some pleasure. She did wish that she could figure out what Dan wanted from her. She also was thinking about Trixie’s vision. Sirene knew that Trixie wasn’t psychic, so why did she have the vision? Of course Trixie was sensitive to any form of disturbed energy, so maybe there was a warp in the time line and she picked it up. Sirene wished that Shayla was here, precognitive visions were her area of expertise.

Soon everyone was in their beds sleeping. As snow fell down softly and blanket the ground, a female stood looking over the bluffs, alone, wondering when he, who would bring danger, would come. She felt that it was soon and time was running out.

The End

Happy Holidays V