Subj: A Christmas Story- A Parallel Christmas ch 2
Date: 12/11/00 10:46:26 PM Central Standard Time
From: Melissa
Barnabas walked into Collinwood; the delicious smells from the kitchen greeted him. He set down a bag full of festively wrapped gifts hung up his Inverness coat. Taking the bag he went to the drawing room door, and looked at the scene before him.
Carolyn and David were hanging decorations, as Elizabeth handed the ornaments to them. Roger was standing back directing. Vicki was playing the Christmas carols on the piano. He turned his head and saw Julia sitting by the fireplace by herself.
How lovely she looked, he thought. How could he have been so blind?
"Merry Christmas everyone," he said walking into the drawing room.
The family turned and greeted him with Merry Christmas' and Happy Holidays. "Merry Christmas Julia," he said.
"Merry Christmas Barnabas," she said. Barnabas sensed something was wrong.
"Julia I got this for you," he said handing her the box.
"You shouldn't have Barnabas," she said.
"I wanted to Julia," he said. "Aren't you going to open it?"
"No I think it would be better if I waited to open it with the family," Julia said.
"All right," he said. "Why are you sitting here all by yourself?"
"Oh I don't know, I was enjoying myself watching them all," she said. Barnabas knew she was lying.
"Come on," Barnabas said taking her by the hands and led her to the tree and the Collins.
Elizabeth smiled as Julia entered their circle. "Good Julia your joining us. Where do you think we should hang this one," Roger asked smiling, holding up a cracked ornament, "I personally think we should just get rid of it."
"We can't do that Roger. It was the first ornament we gave mother. It means a lot to this family," Elizabeth said.
Barnabas watched as Julia took the chipped ornament carefully from Roger and hung it on the tree just in the right angel, and a rainbow of light and colors shot out onto the wall.
"It's beautiful," Vicki said smiling as she touched the rainbow on the wall.
Mrs. Johnson announced that dinner was ready.
Barnabas took Julia's arm and walked with her into the dinning room. He sensed the change in her; he smiled when he saw her smiling at him.
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"Thank you for the lovely dinner," Julia said as the family got up from the table.
"Your welcome," Mrs. Johnson said as she began to stack the dishes.
"I'm so happy that you could share it with us," Elizabeth said helping her with the dishes, "You can go home, we'll take care of everything."
"Thank you Mrs. Stoddard," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Have a good time," Vicki said as Mrs. Johnson put on her coat.
"I will," she said waving good-bye.
"Are we going to open presents now," David asked when they were all in the drawing room.
"Soon David," Roger said. "You know that we always wait until midnight to open our gifts."
"Why don't we sing some Christmas carols," Elizabeth suggested.
Vicki went to the piano and began to sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Barnabas sat down beside Julia, who was sitting on the sofa. He took her hand in his; she looked at him with surprise. "Merry Christmas Julia," he whispered.
To be continued. . .