Summary:\u00a0 This story was written for the 2016 Advent Collection.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,350 words)<\/p>\n
St. Nicholas Day by Cheaux<\/strong><\/p>\n Hoss stamped his feet on the boardwalk to knock off the slush on his boots, then opened the mercantile door and shut it quickly before too much snow swirled inside. \u00a0\u201cHi, Cal,\u201d he called out robustly. \u00a0\u201cPa\u2019s tobacco come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in back, I\u2019ll get it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Hoss said, then added in a whisper, \u00a0\u201cYou seen Jamie Hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was looking at marbles a moment ago,\u201d the shopkeeper responded in kind.<\/p>\n Hoss turned and spied the red head, but made no move toward him. \u00a0Instead, he winked at Cal and pushed a piece of paper across the counter.<\/p>\n The shopkeeper tilted his head back so his spectacles slid off his forehead onto his nose. \u00a0\u201cHmm, I\u2019ve got just the thing,\u201d he whispered. \u00a0Two bits should cover it.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0He returned a moment later with the tobacco and a small box which Hoss pocketed after leaving two coins on the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cJamie! \u00a0Time\u2019s a wastin\u2019 boy. \u00a0Let\u2019s get going or my Pa\u2019ll have our heads for being late.<\/p>\n \u201cAh shucks, Hoss, I was just lookin\u2019. \u00a0How come we gotta get home so early? \u00a0I was hopin\u2019 we could stop at the bakery.\u201d<\/p>\n The thought of hot cinnamon buns made Hoss salivate, but he shook off temptation. \u00a0\u201cNope. \u00a0Plenty of food at home just waitin\u2019 for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, Hoss. \u00a0You\u2019re no fun. \u00a0What\u2019s so important about today anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s December 6.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie grumbled under his breath. \u00a0That makes Christmas three whole weeks away. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n ~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s about time you two got here,\u201d Ben smiled as he opened the door. \u00a0\u201cJoe and I were about to send out a search party.\u201d<\/p>\n The front room, from mantel to side board to stairway was adorned with sprays of evergreen boughs, wired with pine cones and holly, and tied with red ribbons. \u00a0Seasoned oak burned hot in the fireplace and from the mantel hung five empty socks.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave it to you to get home when the work is already done big brother. \u00a0Is that cinnamon on your chin?\u201d \u00a0Joe accused.<\/p>\n Without thinking, Hoss started to swipe at his mouth, then stopped as a high pitched giggle filled the room. \u00a0\u201cAw, shucks. \u00a0We didn\u2019t stop at the bakery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh huh. \u00a0Sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a fact, Joseph, and I\u2019m feeling plum puny. \u00a0\u00a0When\u2019s supper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy the sound of pots banging in the kitchen, I would say it\u2019s been ready and you\u2019re late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two get washed up,\u201d Ben said. \u00a0Joe and I will light the hurricanes and we can begin the celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat celebration?\u201d asked a bewildered Jamie.<\/p>\n ~~~<\/p>\n Dinner was sumptuous and no one, not even Hoss, could force another bite by the time Hop Sing cleared the dishes.<\/p>\n If this were some sort of family celebration, Jamie thought it best he head upstairs, but he didn\u2019t dare leave the table without permission. \u00a0As old as Hoss and Joe were, they still deferred to their father when it came to dinner etiquette. \u00a0Well, mostly. \u00a0According to Hoss, Joe had been known to bolt from time to time. \u00a0Still, Jamie didn\u2019t think he\u2019d better try it.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what today is, Jamie?\u201d asked Ben when Hop Sing set the coffee pot on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cAh . . . December 6?\u201d he answered, remembering what Hoss had said earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but do you know whose life we celebrate this day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSt. Nicholas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSanta Claus?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot exactly. The Santa Claus myth is based partly on the life of St. Nicholas who was born in the third century in Asia Minor near the city of Myra. \u00a0His parents were good people and taught Nicholas to love God and everyone. \u00a0When they died, Nicholas inherited a lot of money which he used to help others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Hoss said. \u00a0\u201cOnce he heard about a poor family and tossed three bags of gold through their window. \u00a0Each bag landed in a sock hung over the fire to dry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what a pawn shop is, Jamie?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, it\u2019s where you can get money for stuff you own. \u00a0My Pa used to pawn Ma\u2019s wedding ring from time to time when money ran short and we didn\u2019t have enough to eat. \u00a0He always got it back though as soon as he got paid for rainmakin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you were in a strange city, how would you find a pawn shop, especially if you couldn\u2019t read?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s easy, there\u2019s three gold balls hanging over the door,\u201d Jamie answered. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cOh! \u00a0The three bags of gold!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Ben smiled. \u00a0\u201cSt. Nicholas is the patron saint of those in need and the poor and the hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother was Catholic,\u201d Joe said. \u00a0\u201cShe used to tell stories and sing songs about St. Nicholas when I was little. \u00a0The one I remember most is how he saved three children from an evil butcher and became the patron saint of children.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben added, \u201cI\u2019m not Catholic, but I was a sailor and my son Adam is at sea right now. \u00a0I have experienced the terror of an angry sea. Once a ship was sailing to Myra and a terrible storm arose. \u00a0The waves were so high that the ship took on a lot of water, the sails were torn to shreds and the mast was swept away. \u00a0The sailors were afraid. Suddenly, a stranger appeared at the helm and the seas calmed. \u00a0When the ship made port, the sailors rushed to the Cathedral where Nicholas was celebrating mass. \u00a0When the sailors arrived to give thanks, they recognized the bishop as the helmsman who had saved them. \u00a0They fell on their knees and called it a miracle. \u00a0Nicholas blessed them and spoke to them and from that day on sailors have remembered his words and have claimed Nicholas as their patron saint.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is also the patron saint of prisoners and the wrongly condemned. \u00a0When I was mistaken for an Army deserter and wound up facing a firing squad, it was St. Nicholas to whom I prayed.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie\u2019s eyes widened. \u00a0He hadn\u2019t heard that story before and would have to ask about it later. \u201cSo tonight is about remembering all these stories about St. Nicholas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPartly. \u00a0Although our faiths were different, Marie and I shared a belief in God, in our love of our children, and in the desire to follow St. Nicholas\u2019s example.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich includes the presents St. Nicholas leaves for good little girls and boys,\u201d Joe added. \u00a0\u201cShall we go and see what St. Nicholas brought?\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie had been following along so intently, he almost didn\u2019t hear Joe. \u00a0\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe socks,\u201d Hoss said, pointing to the fireplace.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019re empty,\u201d Jamie said.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d asked Ben. \u00a0He nodded giving permission for Jamie to leave the table and have a look. \u00a0Everyone followed and gathered around the fireplace. \u00a0Jamie stared at the socks which were now filled with what appeared to be small gifts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did this happen?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIn France, children wash and hang their socks to dry by the fire hoping that St. Nicholas will leave them a small gift on December 6. \u00a0Marie and I embraced this tradition when we were married. \u00a0There is a sock for each of our children. \u00a0Adam my first born, who although he is not here, is always a part of us. \u00a0\u00a0Hoss, Joe, and we added Clay some years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother\u2019s first born,\u201d Joe said. \u201cMy brother, and always a part of us,\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes were moist but he was smiling. \u00a0\u201cRemind me to tell you about him someday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s only four. \u00a0There\u2019s one more,\u201d Jamie said.<\/p>\n \u201cA bit slow, ain\u2019t he, Pa,\u201d Hoss winked.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you recognize that sock, Jamie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt . . . it\u2019s mine!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Ben said. \u00a0\u201cWe all thought today was a perfect day to ask you to become a Cartwright . . . to be a part of our family, share our bounty, and help care for others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is,\u201d Joe added, \u201cif you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, boy! \u00a0Do I!\u201d \u00a0Jamie sobbed, throwing himself into Ben\u2019s arms, nearly knocking him down.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing! \u00a0What\u2019s for dessert?\u201d Hoss roared. \u00a0\u201cA fella could starve around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, brother!\u201d chimed Joe and Jamie together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Link to 2016 Advent Calendar – Day 7 – The Stallion by jfclover<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n