The Christmas Sleigh – Chapter 7

Story posted by Chris Cade | Short Christmas Stories on Dec 7, 2009 in Inspirational Christmas Stories (If known, the original author is listed below)

Special thanks to L. M. McCleland – author and contributor of this story!

It seemed just a moment later that I awoke with Mom shaking my arm. She was saying, “Wake up, honey. We’re all here.” I came to and looked around the table. The whole family was seated and loaded down with piles of bags and boxes. Mom still had hold of my arm.
“Are you okay, Greg? You’re all wet and reek of smoke.”
“There was a big fire near the mall and I went to watch,” I said. It was a lame cover, but the best I could manage on the spot.
Then Dad joined in. “You don’t have any packages. Haven’t you bought anything yet?”
Mom piped in. “Don’t tell me you forgot your money? Oh, Greg.”
“It’s all good. Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of it,” I said. Susan gave me her Mona Lisa smile.
It was Jeff’s turn now. “Where ya got your presents? Out in the sleigh?” He was glancing under the table as he said it. Dad jumped in to the rescue.
“Okay everyone. Just leave him alone. He says it’s all taken care of. Now, what do you want to eat?”
After a good meal, we rode to a grocery store. Dad and Jeff stood guard over the packages while the rest of us went inside to shop. I pushed the cart while Mom and Susan stacked it high with goodies. Somehow a few items that I really like seemed to get into the cart. As we strolled the meat department, Mom asked, “Which should we have, ham or turkey, for Christmas dinner?”
“How about a goose?” I asked.
Mom looked at me skeptically. “Turkey it is. If you squint, it’ll look like a goose!”
“Works for me,” I replied.
We also stopped at a tree lot and bought a great looking tree on the way back to the farm. Jeff joined me in the driver’s seat and did most of the steering once we were out of town. While my heart felt fine, my mind was screaming trying to figure out what to do about presents.
After dinner, Jeff hauled in the box of decorations from the van and we set up the tree. There was a crackling fire and Christmas carols drifting through the scented air. It looked like a game of Twister as Mom and Dad climbed over and around each other to string up the lights, garland, and popcorn. Susan lovingly hung her favorite ornaments, as she does every year. She looked beautiful and serene. Her hair shone around her face, flush with the heat from the fire. Jeff decorated all the lower branches and placed the tree skirt around the base. He scrambled around in his own world, neatly arranging all the packages. There was nothing from me down there yet.
When bedtime came, I retired to the attic. I was hoping Grandpa would reappear and help me out, but it didn’t happen. His words about looking into my heart were still with me though. I went through the trunks, searching for inspiration. I finally just relaxed and pictured each family member. It seemed as if I had new eyes, because I could see them in new ways, and my feelings toward them were clear. It didn’t take long after that for me to find what I needed. An hour later, all my presents were wrapped and I put them under the tree in the quiet of the night.
Christmas morning started in the usual way. Jeff woke before the sun, waited until the rooster crowed, then went from door to door to wake the rest of us up. We all staggered around down toward the kitchen. Mom whipped together a simple breakfast, finished first by Jeff.
We finally made it to the front room and gathered around the magnificent tree. Jeff had already pulled out all the presents, and had them arranged according to recipient. We all sat in a circle and each took a turn, opening one gift at a time. Everyone else would watch and compliment both the giver and recipient. This year we were going from oldest to youngest.
As usual, the biggest presents were opened first, which left all the ones I gave for last. In fact, a couple of them got lost in the wrapping paper, and I had to tell everyone to search for them.
Finally, Mom and Dad got to my present. Mom pulled away the wrapping paper to reveal a silver locket with a chain. She looked at it and said, “Oh honey, it’s beautiful!”
“Open it,” I said.
She found the clasp and the locket opened like a clam. Inside each half was a photograph from my wallet. One was of Mom, and the other of Dad. “Oh!” she said again.
I screwed up my courage and said, “With that locket, you’re always in the kissing position. I know I haven’t said it, or shown it much, but I want you both to know how lucky I feel to have parents who still love us and each other after all these years.” Mom looked at me with tears in her eyes. “We’ll treasure this forever, “ she said, and hugged me.
Dad squeezed my shoulder and blinked. “Thanks, son,” he said with a wavering voice.
Susan was next. She opened her lumpy package from me. Out tumbled an ivory handled brush, a carved bone barrette, and a cameo broach. “Wow, cool!” she said. She held up the broach and carefully studied the white profile on a black background, surrounded with silver filigree.
“Susan,” I said, “I don’t know why, but you’ve had my back all my life. Even when I didn’t deserve it. I owe you a lot more than these little things, but I hope they remind you of how beautiful I think you are.” I don’t know who had a harder time believing I said that, her or me! She leaned over and gave me a big hug and her award-winning smile.
We all looked at Jeff. Your turn,” said Dad.
Jeff looked at me and said, “I don’t have to give you a hug or kiss, do I?”
Everyone laughed. “Just open it, Squirt,” I said. He tore away the paper and showed us all a spark plug wrench. He looked a little puzzled, so I pointed and said, “Look in your wrapping paper.” He dug through it and pulled out a little card.
“Read it,” I said.
He stared intently, and said, “It’s a coupon. ‘Good for one full training session at Greg’s School of Auto Mechanics.’” He looked at me, still puzzled.
I held up my hands. “Well, I can’t give you a gift without you knowing how to use it, right?”
“All right!” he said. “When do we start? You know, I think I heard one of those cylinders in the tractor missing!” We all laughed again.
Later that cold, sunny day, Mom made us a feast for dinner. We were seated around the big farm table, decked out in our best clothes, just like our usual Christmas tradition. Mom was wearing her locket around her neck, and sat close to Dad, almost touching. Susan was radiant in a high-necked black dress. The cameo looked perfect pinned at her throat, and the bone barrette shone in her hair. Jeff’s shirt and tie were slowly acquiring the contents of his dinner plate.
Mom had made a centerpiece that featured the gas station photo of us in the sleigh. Jeff was still eating, while the rest of us were more than satisfied. He looked up and wiped some gravy off his chin. We were all staring at him, but he didn’t seem to notice; he had his eyes on the photo of us in the sleigh. Without missing a beat, he announced, “I think that was the best Christmas ever!”
Susan smiled and said, “I think so, too!”
Right then, I could have sworn I hear an old man’s chuckle echo faintly through the old house. All I could do was smile.

Also read   | Chapter 1  | Chapter 2 |  Chapter 3 |   Chapter 4 |   Chapter 5 |  Chapter 6 |  Chapter 7 |
–by  L. M. McCleland