Rose Jackson sat comfortably in the corner of the sectional couch in the living room of the Jackson farmhouse. Her two grandchildren nestled in beside her, four-year-old Allison on her right and little Andy on her left, waiting impatiently for her to open the book she held in her hands.
“Are we ready?” said Rose.
“Yes,” said Allison. “Please read!”
Rose turned her attention to the book. “’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse!” she began.
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“Wait!” Allison jumped off of the couch and raced towards the kitchen. “I’ll be right back!” A moment later she reappeared with her Auntie Jennifer in tow. “Auntie Jennifer wants to listen,” she said, jumping back onto the couch and pulling on Jennifer’s hand to get her to sit down as well.
“But Allie!” Jennifer protested. “I have to help in the kitchen! I’m supposed to be grating the cheese for the vegetable casserole. If I don’t do it we won’t have any vegetables.”
“That’s OK,” said Allison. “I don’t like vegetables.”
“But I like vegetables, darling” said Rose. “I would be disappointed if there were no veggies to go with the turkey and the potatoes.”
Allison looked up at her grandma. “But I want Auntie Jenn to hear the story,” she said. “And then she can go grate the cheese.”
Rose looked at Jennifer who smiled. “It’s not a long story,” said Jennifer. “I can stay.”
“Well all right then,” said Rose. She turned her attention back to the book. “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,” she read.
“St. Nicholas is the same as Santa Claus!” said Allison. “Did you know that?” she asked looking up at Jennifer.
“I did,” said Jennifer. “Grandma used to read this story to me when I was little.”
“It’s my favourite story!” said Allison. “Well, my favourite Christmas story. The rest of the time my favourite story is Stella Luna.”
“Really?” said Jennifer. “I don’t know that story. Did you just get it? What’s it about?”
“I got it from my other grandma for my birthday,” said Allison. “It’s about a bat. Her name is Stella Luna and she gets lost and can’t find her mommy but she finds some baby birds in a nest so she stays with them and tries to be a bird. It’s funny!”
“It sounds funny,” said Jennifer. “Maybe we can read it later.”
“We’d better finish this one,” said Rose, “so Auntie Jenn can get back to the kitchen.”
Allison snuggled up against Jennifer. “OK,” she said.
“The children were snuggled all safe in their beds,” Rose continued, “while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.”
“What are sugar plums?” asked Allison.
“I’m not sure,” said Rose. “Some kind of candy, I suppose.”
“Do you know, Auntie Jenn?” said Allison.
Jennifer shook her head.
“You could Google it,” said Allison. “Mommy Googles everything.”
“Later then,” said Jennifer. “We should finish the book.”
“OK.” Allison turned back to the book. “Keep going,” she said, and so Rose continued.
“And Mama in her ‘kerchief,’ and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,” Rose read on. She had hardly finished the next line when Allison again jumped off of the couch.
“Wait!” she said again. “I think Uncle Brady is here!” and she dashed off to the kitchen again.
Rose put the book down. “I think we may have to finish this later,” she said.
Jennifer got to her feet. “The cheese isn’t going to grate itself,” she said.
Rose got up as well and picked up Andy. “Let’s go see what’s happening in the kitchen, shall we?” she said.
Allison, was right. Brady and Amanda were just arriving and Jackie was putting the dessert they had brought into the fridge. Brady had already picked up Allison who pulled the tuque off of his head and flung it into the open closet. Brady saw Rose.
“Hi Mom,” he said. “Sure smells good in here,” he added.
“Everybody sit down at the table,” said Jackie. “By the time you’re sitting the veggies will be ready and we can eat.”
Andrew and Randy appeared from the family room as if by magic.
“Did somebody say we can eat?” said Andrew.
“I did,” said Jackie.
There was a general bustle and sliding of chairs and a few minutes later they were all seated. There was a moment of silence.
“Who wants to say a few words before we eat?” asked Randy.
Allison held her fork up high in the air. “Merry Christmas to all!” she said. “And to all a good night!”
“Amen,” said Randy. “Let’s eat!”
Visit Rollin Penner’s online blog at rollinon.me/blog.
