Subj: Christmas At The Old House pt. 5
Date: 11/15/99 10:23:23 AM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks
Nov. 15, 1999
by: Donna E.
part 5 of 12 CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOUSE
The next morning, Julia worked furiously to finish her baking, while Barnabas finished wrapping gifts. While Julia was baking, she turned on the radio. The local radio station was playing the most lovely Christmas carols. I have to get these gingerbread men baked and decorated for David and Amy, she thought as she worked. They will be expecting these. Julia baked the gingerbread men each year for the children. Finally the holiday baking was finished, and so was the wrapping. A tired Julia sat in front of the fire to relax, while Barnabas prepared lunch. "Frankly, Barnabas, I'm glad to be out of the kitchen for a while." Julia said.
"That's perfectly alright, Dr. Hoffman," he teased her. "I am perfectly capable of preparing tuna sandwiches, and salad." Barnabas said with a chuckle.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it." Julia said. She opened the door to find three friendly faces, Victoria Winters, Maggie Evans, and Willie Loomis.
"Well, hello there, you three are a happy sight to see!" Come out of the cold." She told them.
Just then, Barnabas returned with a plate of sandwiches. "Well, welcome friends!" What brings you to the Old House today?" He asked them.
Vicki answered, "Well, Barnabas, Maggie and I were shopping and we met Willie in town. We mentioned we were going to visit you and Julia, and Willie wanted to visit you too."
"How nice of you to come." Barnabas said graciously.
Maggie said, "You know, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. People are genuinely kind and caring at this time of the year!" I wish people could be kind all year long. Also, I love the decorations, the lights and the music." Maggie said.
"Now she won't be quiet." Willie complained, with a laugh.
"Oh, Willie, be quiet." She joked with him.
Julia said, "We were about to have lunch, would you like to join us?"
'Yes, they decided to have lunch with them. They had a lot to talk about, all five of them.
"What do you want for Christmas?" Vicki wanted to know.
"What were their plans?" Maggie wished to know, for the holidays?"
Willie wanted to know if Barnabas wanted to go ice fishing soon.
Barnabas asked if Vicki and Maggie were going away for the holidays.
"We brought you some Christmas cheer!" Announced Vicki. She handed Barnabas a fine bottle of wine.
"Why, thank you!" Said Barnabas.
"That is very nice of you, said Julia, thank you very much." "Would you all like some cookies and cranberry bread?" Julia asked. "I've been baking for days." She said.
"Yes, Julia," they said. Julia wrapped the cookies and breads and gave it to them.
'Wow, she's a doctor, and she bakes!" Willie said. "Thanks, Julia." He said.
"We're going to stop at Collinwood before we go home." Maggie said.
Julia asked them, "Would you do me a favor, and bring these cookies to Collinwood for David and Amy?"
"Sure, Julia, why not?" Said Vicki.
"I'm happy with the gifts I found this year." Maggie stated. I hope everyone else is happy with them, too." Maggie said.
Vicki replied, "I am quite pleased with the gifts I bought, too."
"Ditto here!" Quipped Willie.
"Well, we'd better be going now, the weatherman is forecasting snow later this afternoon." Said Maggie.
"We don't want to get caught in a snowstorm." Vicki announced.
They all said their good-byes an wished one another, "Merry Christmas", and "A Happy New Year". Barnabas and Julia watched the trio drive up the hill to Collinwood.
That evening, while Julia was taking a long, relaxing bath, Barnabas sat in his favorite chair to relax. He picked up his book, and read briefly. His mind kept wandering to his own past Christmas's, when he was a boy.
One Christmas, Barnabas wanted a pony very badly, it was all he wanted that year. His father thought it "an extremely bad idea", for such a young boy to own a horse, why, he would surely fall from his horse and break his neck! " His father had told him. On that Christmas morning, in the back yard, Barnabas saw that he did indeed get his pony, after all ! What a happy Christmas it was
Another year, little Sarah had wanted their father to build her a doll house. Father had scoffed at the idea, stating Sarah had no room in the playroom for a large dollhouse, while, all the the time he was secretly building it in the cellar. Sarah was thrilled on Christmas morning to see her doll house!
Yet another year, his dear mother had wanted a ceratin lovely brooch for Christmas, but father had complained bitterly. "Naomi, he said, you have too much jewelry already!" You don't need another brooch!" When Christmas Eve came, father presented her with a beautiful, red velvet jewelry box, containing the beautful brooch she had wished for.
Barnabas took a long, deep breath and sighed. Father, what a wonderful man you were. I wish I were more like you. He thought.
He remembered another Christmas past. Sarah had no money for gifts. On Christmas morning, she took some of her own gifts, wrapped them again, and gave them to their father and mother.
to be continued.....