Happy Holidays VI
The Festivers
by Jill (franollie)
“No, you can’t reach that!”
“Uh-huh, I can.”
“Come down from there!”
“All I hafsta do is just stretch some and…”
CRASH! CRASH! Roll. Roll. Snap. Tinkle.
Silence fell.
“MOMS!” A chorus of voices shouted.
Then the voices overlapped into a cacophony of sounds: “It was Bobby’s fault…” “That’s the fourth one today…” “I mentioned that the height of my youngest sibling, plus the height of the stepladder did not equal the desired height of the festoonation…” “I just wanted to put Brian’s kindergarten hand nexted to mine…”
Helen Belden sighed and looked over the rim of her mug at her husband, and then she smiled. “’Let’s let the kids decorate the tree this year,’ you said. “’Come on Helen, they can handle it,’” you said. Well now listen to me, Peter, I’m saying, ‘You go and deal with this,” she continued as the roar from the living room subsided after another loud crash, “And if we’re short a child this Christmas, I’m taking their gifts back.”
“Can we use the money to go on a cruise?” Peter asked.
“I hear that Aruba is nice this time of year,” Helen replied as she took another sip of her coffee.
“Moms? Where’s the dustpan?”
“Duty calls!” Peter rose and picked up the dustpan and broom and walked out of the kitchen. He was not prepared for the sight that met his eyes when he entered the living room. Three of his children were sprawled on the floor gathering up ornaments, rolls of wrapping paper and pieces of what he could only assume were what used to be the train set for under the tree. His youngest son, Bobby, smiled at him from under the tree and giggled, “Look Daddy, Christmas EXPLODED!”
“It certainly did, Bobby,” he sighed, “Is everyone all right?”
Brian looked up and said, “Yes, Dad, we’re all fine. Though, I think Reddy might not want to be anywhere near us for a while. Bobby ended up vaulting over him when the ladder collapsed. Dad, you can just hand Mart the broom and we’ll clean up and finish the tree. We’re almost done.”
“Hey, how come I get the broom?” Mart sputtered.
“Because Brian said so, you nincompoop!” Trixie replied tartly.
“Dad! Did you hear that?” Mart shouted. It was too late. Peter was on his way back to the kitchen.
“Remember kids,” he called through the doorway, “Our guests are arriving at six. You agreed to have the decorations up and the surprise ready by then, so that your mother and I could focus on the food.”
Bobby scrambled up next to the tree. “I see an empty spot right there.” He pointed to the topmost branch.
Brian looked at Trixie and Mart. “You know what, sport? I think that you should be in charge of making sure that everything is ready for the surprise tonight. It’s the first time that we’ll have non-family guests for our Christmas Eve celebration. How about you go upstairs and make sure the stuff is where it needs to be? If it’s out of order, it just won’t work.”
Bobby looked doubtful, then he took a deep breath and puffed out his little chest. “Yep, Brian, you’re right. It’s awful ‘portant for this to be good. An’ this year I know how to count, too.” With a serious look on his face, he marched out of the living room and up the stairs.
Mart laughed, “I remember when that stratagem worked on you, Beatrix. In fact, I recall that this little event was created simply to keep you out of the way when we more mature Beldens decorated the house.”
“Hmph,” said Trixie, “I seem to recall you being with me while I was working…”
“Kids, kids, kids,” Brian laughed, “Let’s just get this done. I want some time to relax before the party.”
Trixie looked into her mirror and frowned. She pulled the sides of her hair up. She frowned again. She let them go. More frowning. Finally, she reached into the top drawer of her dresser, pulled out a Santa hat and plopped it onto her head. “Hey,” she thought, “that actually looks pretty good. I’m good saint Trix.” She giggled to herself.
Trixie looked into the dresser drawer again and pulled out the package that she had ready for tonight. The Bob Whites had decided that they buy only one present and give the rest of the money they would have spent on presents to a children’s home in White Plains. Trixie had pulled Mart’s name from the hat. She would have much preferred to get Jim’s name…a blush crept up her cheeks, and she moved her attention back to Mart’s gift. She had checked every bookshop in the area and was able to find Mart a copy of Schott’s Food and Drink Miscellany. It had EVERYTHING in it. There were weird facts about what some guy fed his dog, recipes for holiday foods, everything. Trixie had done a little research and written a note to Mart on the inside cover, “To my brother the gastronome, I hope you eat this up.” She thought she’d used the new word correctly, but if she hadn’t Mart would be sure to tell her all about it.
“Trix!” Mart banged on her door, “Let’s go! They’ll be here soon.”
“Coming!” Trixie picked up Mart’s gift, opened the door and met her brother in the hall. “You look sharp,” she said, surprised. It was true. Mart looked nice. He was wearing jeans, a light blue turtleneck sweater, and a Santa hat. There was a knock at the door. They looked at each other and raced downstairs.
Bobby had beaten them to it. He was holding the door open with a solemn look on his face. “Welcome to the Beldens’,” he intoned as the guests filed in. As Terry and Larry Lynch walked by he whispered, “Watch out for the mistledtoe. Every time I get near it Moms kisses me.” The Lynch boys wrinkled their noses and looked carefully at the doorway above them. Mrs. Belden was directing everyone where to place their coats and motioning that presents should go under the tree in the living room.
Before long, Crabapple Farm was filled to capacity with Bob Whites, Bob White families and Bob White friends. Even Mr. Maypenny and Mr. Lytell had been convinced to join in the festivities.
Trixie rushed to hug Honey and Diana and wished them a Merry Christmas. Suddenly, the three girls looked at the male Bob Whites. There was something different about them. A lightbulb went off in Trixie’s brain. “You guys are dressed alike!” She shouted. It was true. All four boys were wearing Santa hats, jeans and turtleneck sweaters in different colors. Mart’s was light blue, Jim’s a dark green, Brian’s a soft gray and Dan’s a deep red.
“We decided that since you girls always dress alike, we’d see what made it so fun!” Jim joked.
Mr. Belden came into the living room and announced, “Soup’s on!”
Bobby groaned in despair, “SOUP! I thought we was having turkey and stuff!”
Laughing Mr. Belden said, “Only you get to have turkey and stuffing, Bobby. Everyone else gets soup.”
“Um…Dad?” Bobby asked, “Do you think it’s ok if I share my turkey and stuff with everyone? Santa might be watchin’.”
Mart ruffled Bobby’s hair and said, “That’s a great idea, Bobby. I’m sure Santa will be extremely heartened to visualize you sharing your Christmas bird and “stuff” with your friends and family who are, no doubt on the brink of starvation.”
“Mart,” said Bobby, “You’d never starve here. Even if it was just soup.”
The group laughed and made their way into the dining room where Mrs. Belden and Mrs. Lynch were finishing the arrangement of the buffet. There was turkey and stuffing; cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes; casseroles of yams; a huge salad and vegetables that were so tasty that even the younger ones didn’t complain. (Of course the fact that Santa was brought into conversation every now and again didn’t hurt either.) Just when the guests thought they’d never eat again, Brian, Mart and Trixie came into the room, each carrying a gigantic dessert. “Since Moms, and Dad, did so much work for this party,” Trixie stated, “We thought that each of us should try a dessert and have a little contest. The person with the dessert with the least amount left gets their bed made for them, and any other beds that they have to make,” she looked slyly at her brothers, “for the entire month of January!”
Brian stepped forward with his offering. “What I have here, friends and family, is an apple pie: traditional and wholesome. Baked with care from apples from our own orchard. The crust was hand-rolled and the design on the top is a Brian Belden original. It is seasoned to perfection with cinnamon, nutmeg and a secret spice.” Brian paused. “I’ll reveal the secret ingredient to the person who eats the last slice.” The guests applauded politely as Brian placed the pie plate on the table.
“Here I give you, most esteemed guests, is a confection guaranteed to make you forget any dessert you have ever eaten. Chocolate, caramel and cashews blended in precise and perfect proportions, mingling magnificently into a melee of delicious delectability. Once you taste this tantamount treat, you will want for nothing else!” Mart finished his oration with a flourish and a bow. The crowd “oohed” and “aahed” as the scent of the chocolate wafted over the gathering.
Finally, Trixie stepped forward. “This is called banoffi pie. Uncle Andrew brought the recipe back from Scotland. I think I’ll let it speak for itself.” Next to Brian’s and Mart’s desserts, the pie Trixie had created looked simple and unimpressive.
“All right folks,” announced Mr. Belden. “Desserts all around.” The next few minutes were rushing chaos with everyone grabbing forks and plates and vying for slices of the sweets. Suddenly, a shout went up!
“All right!” exclaimed Trixie. “My pie is gone!” Mart looked up, his fork, filled with Trixie’s dessert, was halfway to his mouth.
“Aw man! We have to make Trixie’s bed for a month!” He groaned.
Brian shrugged philosophically and smiled, “Bobby’s too.”
Trixie, Honey and Diana began dancing around chanting, “They’re making beds! They’re making beds!”
“Girls, girls,” Mrs. Belden chided laughingly, “Don’t rub their noses in it. Their desserts were good, too. You know, I think it’s time for our guests to move into the living room for gifts and the Belden surprise!”
Everyone gathered around the tree and Bobby, Larry and Terry showed off their reading skills by handing the gifts to the appropriate people. Mart adored the book from Trixie. He opened it up and starting reading little factoids to anyone who would listen. After the gift opening was finished and the wrapping paper and boxes put aside, Mr. Belden stood. “Back before the days of television and video games, people had to find ways to amuse themselves. And as long as Beldens have been living here, they’ve been amusing people. When I was child visiting Crabapple Farm, I remember singing Christmas carols and staging little plays with my cousins. Well, in the great Belden tradition, my children have found joy in amusing themselves on Christmas Eve, too. With no further ado, I present the Belden Family….um….Festivers!”
Bobby stood in front of the tree. “Christmas is a time of joy and love. People around the world help others less fortynate, and baby Jesus was born. Oh, and Santa gives us presents if we don’t make our sisters mad. This is our gift to you. Hit it, Mart!”
Out of the stereo came the opening notes of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The living room became a whirlwind of the four Belden children singing and making an interpretive dance of the traditional carol. Bobby was the partridge and sat on the pear tree’s (Brian’s) shoulders, Trixie and Mart “flew” around the room as turtledoves and French hens. Milking pails and drums were tossed from Belden to Belden. They leapt around the living room, danced from end to end and finally collapsed, shouting with everyone else, “AND A PATRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE!”
When the crowd had calmed down, Mrs. Belden looked at the clock. “Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed, “it’s after eleven. If the children don’t get to bed soon, Santa will have to skip the houses!” The Bob Whites hurriedly moved into the kitchen to load the dishwasher (an early Christmas present for the Beldens) while the younger children whined that they weren’t tired and that Santa could make a personal appearance. After the dishwasher was filled and starting to run, the guests began slowly making their way to their coats and out the doors.
“I’ll walk up in a minute, Dad,” said Jim.
“All right, son, just don’t be too long.” Matthew Wheeler replied.
The front door of the house closed and the older Beldens exchanged glances. “Trixie, don’t be too long saying good night, all right?” Said Mrs. Belden, “and unplug the tree when you come up.”
“Yes, Moms,” Trixie said, and she watched as the family she loved so much slowly walked up the stairs, her father carrying her youngest brother who had somehow fallen asleep.
“What a Christmas Eve! I never knew you were such a singer,” smiled Jim.
“Yeah, well, we all have hidden gifts,” Trixie sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’ll walk you out to the porch, Jim.”
They walked through the front door and leaned on the porch railing. The air was crisp and the full moon illuminated the snow. The sky shone with myriad stars. The stillness was complete. Trixie scarcely breathed for fear of breaking the spell.
“Trix?”
“Yes, Jim?”
“I know we said that we wouldn’t give presents to anyone whose name we didn’t draw, but I saw this and couldn’t resist getting it for you.” Jim pulled a small package from the pocket of his BWG jacket. “Open it.”
Trixie’s eyes grew wide as she lifted the lid of the tiny box. Nestled inside was a necklace with a tiny magnifying glass charm.
“The glass is made of quartz crystal. The woman I bought it from said something about quartz crystals giving clear sight, but you see pretty clearly all ready.”
“Oh Jim,” Trixie breathed. “It’s perfectly perfect. Thank you.” Her face fell. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“But you did, Trix. You are the one who has given me my family, my friends and a chance to start my life again. That’s the best present ever. So thank you.” He looked down at her fondly and smiled. Slowly he leaned over and brushed his lips against her forehead. “Merry Christmas, Shamus.”
“Merry Christmas, Jim,” Trixie whispered.
“I’ll see you soon.” Jim said. He walked slowly from the porch and up the path toward the Manor House. Trixie watched until he disappeared from her view.
“Merry Christmas to all,” she thought, “and to all a good night.”
The End
This is a submission for Holiday GWP VI. The elements are a holiday (Christmas), a gift (the book, the dishwasher, the necklace, Jim’s second chance), a song (Twelve Days of Christmas), food associated with the holiday (turkey and all the stuff at the dinner), a decoration (Bobby’s and Brian’s kindergarten hands), a tradition (the little pageant thing), and a holiday animal (the Christmas turkey.)
All characters are the property of Random House. I’m making no money, and don’t want to. J
Schott’s Food and Drink Miscellany is a real book filled with real factoids about food and drink. Look it up, it’s neat.
The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a traditional Christmas carol. If you want to know all the words, you’ll have to look it up, because I don’t know the order.
Banoffi pie does exist and it’s fabulous. One of my best friends brought the recipe back from her honeymoon in Scotland, and we’re all addicted! The other desserts are just desserts, but they still sound yummy!
Many super thanks to my kind editors (in alphabetical order): Amber, Chelsea and Niki.
You are the BEST!