Subj: Christmas At The Old House
Date: 11/13/99 9:55:35 PM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks Eubanks
Nov. 13,l999
by: Donna E.
CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOUSE
Part 1 of ?
The days are quiet short this time of year, at Collinwood.Evening comes too soon. The days are very cold of late.It is snowing at the Old House and Collinwood. Dr. Julia Hoffman is at the Old House; she glances at the calender. She says to Barnabas Collins, "It's December 15th, Barnabas. Don't you think you should get your Christmas tree?" She looked at him with curiousity.
"Why yes, Julia, I guess I should do that very soon, shouldn't I?" He said with a smile. "I didn't realize that Christmas was coming so soon." He remarked.
Julia said, "You've been very busy lately, I'm not at all surprised." "Maybe Willie Loomis could help you with the Christmas tree." "I'm sure he will pick out a very nice tree." Julia continued, "Barnabas, you should see the Christmas tree at Collinwood." "It is so beautiful, why, it must be ten feet high!"
"Is it really?" Barnabas exclaimed, his eyebrows raised. "Yes, they always do display the most spectacular of Christmas trees." He said as he placed a hand on Julia's shoulder. She was sitting in Barnabas' favorite chair.
"Barnabas, what do you want for Christmas this year?" She looked at him adoringly. "I asked you a week ago, but you've not told me." She remarked. She sounded a little disapointed.
'What I want for Christmas, my dear Julia, no one can give to me." He said. His tone was so sad, as was his expression.
"What IS it , Barnabas, tell me what you want." Julia
questioned him. "Is it a new car?" She asked.
"No, Julia." He replied.
"Is it a vacation to some exotic island?" She asked.
"No." He simply stated as he looked out his window at the new-fallen snow.
"Why, Barnabas, you seem so sad; what is it?" She asked him. She rose from the chair to be by his side.
"What I want for Christmas is impossible to receive." His voice was low, and sad.
"What is it, Barnabas?" Please tell me." Julia asked again.
"I wish to see my mother and my sister Sarah this Christmas." He replied. "Do you think it is possible, Julia?" He turned from the window to look at her.
Julia gasped at his request. "Why Barnabas, darling,
I had no idea." She replied to the distinguished man beside her. He was a very
lonely man at this moment.
"I would dearly love to see my father, too." He told her.
"I don't think that would be possible." She informed him.
"They have been gone for over two hundred years, Julia." I have spent two hundred Christmas's without them." "Christmas was little Sarah's favorite holiday." He remarked.
"Oh, Barnabas, I know how you must feel." She said to him with pity and understanding.
"Do you, Julia, do you really?" I have been forced to go on and to exist in this limbo of life without them." I want to see my mother's beautiful face. I want to hear my father give me his advice. I want to hear little Sarah's lovely laughter."
Julia embraced him tightly, and said, "Oh, my dear Barnabas, how I wish I could make it happen for you!" If I could, I would do it for you!" She vowed.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Willie Loomis. "Hello, Wille, won't you come in?"
"Barnabas! Willie is here!" Julia announced.
Barnabas walked over to meet him. "Hello, Willie."
He said. 'Hi, Barnabas." "Boy, it's snowin like crazy outside!" He reported, as he wiped away snow from his coat, boots and his head.
"You have no hat on your head, Willie. "You'll catch your death of cold dressed that way." Julia told him.
"Aw, you know me, Julia, I never did like hats." Willie stated.
'Come in, Willie, and sit down." Barnabas offered.
"Sure, Barnabas, I was freezin out there!" Willie glanced at the window as he spoke.
"Have you done your Christmas shopping, Willie?" Asked Julia.
"No way, you know me, I wait 'til the last minute to go shoppin."
"You'll be shopping on Christmas Eve, I'm sure." Barnabas stated.
"Yeah, Barnabas, I probably will." Willie agreed.
"Willie"..." Barnabas asked. "I wonder if you might find the time this week, to get a Christmas tree for the Old House?" Julia thinks I should have one.
"Sure, Barnabas." "I'm not doin nothin tommorrow."
"I'll get you one, a real nice one!" "Nick Pagery has some nice ones in the
village, for only twenty dollars."
"Thank you, Willie." Barnabas and Julia thanked Willie together.
"I'm goin to the company Christmas party tommorrow night." Willie announced. Willie worked at the local hardware store in the village.
'That sounds nice, Willie. "I'm sure you'll have a good time." Barnabas assured him. Julia stood by, smiling at the two men.
to be continued......