Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2023 09:06:51 +0000
From: Jonah
Subject: Christmas in New England   chapter 10

Christmas in New England
by  Jonah

This is a work of fiction so be aware that every character herein is also
fictitious.  If you think you recognise yourself, or somebody else in here
- you don't. Some places, and some institutions in here are real, but the
people attached to those institutions in the story are not.  Most
characters are my own creations, but some are the creations of another
author.  I want to thank Jacob Lion, in the USA, for his permission to use
his characters in my stories.

This story is brought to you, at no charge, by Nifty.  Nifty does not
charge either me or you to publish this story, but if does cost money to
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Chapter 10

Boxing Day, or the day that would have been Boxing Day if we were still in
the UK.  Cold!  Not in the house of course.  In the house we were all snug
as bugs in rugs - or even in the same rug.  Just because the bug has become
plural doesn't mean the rug has to.  Sorry! Was I rambling?

Anyway, it was the Feast-Day of Saint Stephen (or don't they recognise that
in the USA either?) and we were all grateful to be in a nice warm house
where there was not eight inches of snow.  Certainly Sam and Silas should
have been grateful for it.  Their trailer probably wasn't as snug.

In point of fact, I'm not sure that Silas was particularly grateful to be
indoors while the snow was outdoors.  That wasn't because Silas was a
particularly ungrateful child.  Rather, it was because he had been
influenced by our three boys.  Eight inches of snow could not, in their
view, be allowed to remain unmolested.

A hearty cooked breakfast had to be partaken of - a must if you're going to
be out in the snow - and lots of warm clothing had to be applied.

I did not apply warm clothing.  I had no intention of going anywhere
remotely cold.  The boys - both Garret and I agreed - were welcome to it.

"Good!" said a coated and woolly-hatted Yori.  "You cook dinner."

That was us told.  While Garret and I commenced the manufacture of a
makeshift turkey stew, a snowman was created, and at least four snow
angels.  Then a snowball fight ensued, in which Yori and Sam took on the
four musketeers.  It was midday by the time the stew was ready, and we had
even found bananas and oranges for dessert.  Not one of our comrades
complained that dinner had been too long in coming.  In fact I didn't hear
a single complaint of any kind.

After dinner, Sam and Silas, and their Christmas presents were loaded into
the car and driven back to their trailer by Yori, while we saw to the
washing up.  By "we", I don't mean Garret and I.  We began the job but were
relieved of it by the three amigos.

"You cooked," said Barry.  "We're washing up."

After the washing up there was the small matter of packing.  Our flight in
the morning was an early one.  We would have to leave at around seven to
get to Boston on time, so the packing had to be done today.  When Yori
returned we were all upstairs attending to that, so he settled down for a
nap.

It was about an hour later that we found him thus and I produced a cup of
tea to revive him.  The boys, of course, had juice.

Lloyd's Christmas Quiz book was produced to pass the time till teatime.

Which Christmas song includes the words, "Hang a shining star upon the
highest bough?"

(Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas)

The writings of which prophet told the wise men that Jesus would be born in
Bethlehem?

(Micah)

In which modern-day country did St. Nicholas live?

(Turkey)

What was the name of the spider in the first "Home Alone" movie?

(Axl)

Which book of the Bible tells us that Jesus was born in a stable?

(None of them - it isn't in there and He most likely wasn't)

It's true that Lloyd was better at asking questions than answering them,
but everybody was too good-natured to point that out.  Besides, we enjoyed
it.

 Our evening meal was, once more, leftovers followed by relaxing in the
music room.

Barry didn't get out the OBC this time.  He obviously thought we'd heard
enough of it.  In fact it was Garret who sat himself at the piano.

Now Garret plays by ear - which Barry didn't - but hadn't touched a
keyboard for many years.  Self-consciously he began picking out the melody
of The Carol of the Drum.  As the only one who knew the words, I sang it
for him.  Soon Garret was playing the left-hand as well.

Having got the feel of the instrument, Garret led us through "White
Christmas", "Sleigh Ride", "Winter Wonderland", and "Stop the Cavalry".

Barry was back in the driving seat for his party piece.  He had found a
piano arrangment of Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite" and decided that he
was game for it.

"When Garret took over again it was to play through "The Wassail Song",
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" , "Joy to the World", "We Wish you a Merry
Christmas", finally finishing up with "Auld Lang's Syne".

Yori would certainly remember this Christmas.  It was hard to think of Yori
being a lonely old man - he wouldn't let that happen - but certainly he
would remember the company that he had this Christmas with fondness.

Hot chocolate and an early night!  After all, tomorrow is a busy day.