The story was written for the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 11<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0 An unfortunate rite of passage.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,790 words)<\/p>\n
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,<\/strong> The Real Hero<\/strong> \u201cNo! It ain\u2019t true– it ain\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n Tears streamed out of the youngest Cartwright\u2019s eyes as he backed against the wall reproachfully.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re lyin\u2019, I just know you are!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCalm down, Joe. You know we don\u2019t like this any more than you do,\u201d Ben chided softly,\u00a0and chanced a step forward.<\/p>\n Little Joe only backed away further, sniffing loudly. \u201cPa, it just ain\u2019t true! I don\u2019t know why Adam and Hoss keep insistin\u2019 it is, but I know it ain\u2019t! They\u2019re lyin\u2019. Just tryin\u2019 to scare me, right, Pa? Say it ain\u2019t true– say it!\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe telling Joe that Santa Claus, the hero he worshiped and adored for the past ten years, wasn\u2019t\u00a0real\u00a0hadn\u2019t been such a good idea, Ben reflected. The boy was getting to be hysterical at the prospect of it, refusing to listen to a word they said.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, it\u2019s time for you to know the truth,\u201d Adam said,\u00a0folding his arms. \u201cSanta isn\u2019t real.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked over at Ben, clearly exasperated. \u201cPa, he\u2019s your son. Tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n But Ben could feel himself hesitating. Was it really right to take Santa Claus away from Little Joe? As long as he could remember, the boy loved Christmas because Santa Claus would visit him. The boy even forced himself to be extra obedient as the holiday approached, in high hopes that he would be rewarded with extra presents that year for his good behavior. So maybe Ben could let it slide for another year. Maybe-<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I know what you\u2019re thinking, and the answer is no,\u201d Adam repeated, eyeing his father in disbelief. \u201cHe\u2019s ten years old- he shouldn\u2019t go around believing this foolishness any longer than he already has. I never believed in Santa Claus, and I turned out fine!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned from beside him. \u201cShucks, Adam, why do ya gotta be so mean to \u2018em? He\u2019s barely ten.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam returned the question with one of his own. \u201cHoss, just when did you stop believing in Santa Claus?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust answer the question.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c Well, oh, I reckon\u2026 hmm\u2026 when I was about eight or so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee? Right there, Pa- you heard what Hoss said! Little Joe\u2019s old enough!\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stifled a sob. \u201cAdam, stop lyin\u2019 to me! Why are you always lyin\u2019 to me? Santa is real- stop saying he ain\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grimaced. \u201cJoe, I…\u201d But he faltered, unable to go on as Little Joe\u2019s tears continued to rain down pitifully. Never before had he seen his son more emotionally distraught than this, other than at Marie\u2019s death.<\/p>\n The sudden thought of his late wife drew a sharp breath from his lungs. Marie had always loved Christmas, reciting the Bible aloud to her boys by the fire while helping Ben and Hop Sing with the Christmas preparations. Her untimely death shook the Cartwright household to its core, most of all the Christmas season.<\/p>\n \u201cY-you too, Pa?\u201d Joe stammered, wiping\u00a0his wet eyes. \u201cI thought\u2026 I thought you promised to never lie to me! And that\u2019s what you\u2019re doing right now- lyin\u2019! \u2018Cause Santa is real, and I dunno why you\u2019re sayin\u2019 otherwise!\u201d With that, the ten-year-old burst out from his spot beside the wall and bounded up the stairs. The sound of his bedroom door slamming behind him echoed throughout the house.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s stone expression wavered. \u201cPa, you know I didn\u2019t mean to upset him like that. I didn\u2019t know he\u2019d take the news so bad. Like a\u2026 a\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA child?\u201d Ben sighed, pressing his thumb and index finger to his temple. \u201cBecause that\u2019s what he is, Adam. A child. I know you never had the opportunity to be one, and I apologize for that, but with Joe\u2026 he\u2019s different. He has more childish beliefs than you did, such as Santa Claus. And now that we\u2019ve taken it away from him, he feels lost.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss kicked at the floor. \u201cDadburnit… look what we did. We ruined Christmas Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t ruin anything,\u201d Ben argued. \u201cJoe was going to find out sooner or later that Santa Claus wasn\u2019t real. We just came to that bend in the road tonight. I suppose since Marie always loved Christmas, Santa was a special thing to Joe. He lost that special thing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI-I didn\u2019t mean to, Pa,\u201d Adam apologized, suddenly feeling remorseful. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it meant so much to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe neither, Pa,\u201d Hoss moaned. \u201cHow\u2019re we gonna make it up to him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe could always say we were just joshing,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n Ben held up a hand. \u201cNo, what you both said earlier was true. He\u2019s old enough now, and he deserves to know the truth.\u201d And, giving a tight smile, he set toward the stairs.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe? I know you\u2019re in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cG…go away, Pa. I don\u2019t want to hear any more about S-Santa Claus\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know you don\u2019t, son. But it\u2019s something we need to address.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cF-fine\u2026 come in.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t hesitate to twist open the knob and open the door, immediately spying Little Joe hunched over on his bed. His eyes were puffy and rimmed red; it was obvious the child had been crying.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben said softly, coming over. \u201cI want to speak to you about your tone with us earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. \u201cI’m sorry, Pa, but\u2026 but it just can’t be true. You always told me that Santa Claus was real, and now that you’re saying he ain’t, I just don\u2019t know what to believe.\u201d He looked up at Ben with sad, heavy green eyes. \u201cIs what Adam said true? Is Santa Claus really not real?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. \u201cCome here, son.\u201d<\/p>\n After a slight pause, Joe scooted over to his father\u2019s side. \u201cPa…?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know you want me to tell you straight out what’s true and what’s not, but let me answer your question with one of my own.\u201d Ben let a few moments pass to see Joe\u2019s reaction; the boy was listening closely. Satisfied, he continued. \u201cDo you remember what it said in the Bible about the night Jesus was born?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cMhmm. He was born in a manger \u2018cause there weren’t\u00a0no\u00a0more room in the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And three shepherds nearby were told by an angel to go and find him, which they did. Tell me, Joe, what do shepherds do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShepherds, they\u2026 they\u2026\u201d Joe furrowed his brow in concentration before his eyes lit up. \u201cThey watch over their flock by night and day, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, son. Shepherds protect their sheep, or their own, just like it says in the Bible.\u201d He cupped Little Joe\u2019s chin. \u201cThat\u2019s what I have to do with you\u00a0threeboys. Protect you. And sometimes that means not telling the entire truth so that something can last a little while longer.\u201d He hesitated. \u201cYou see, Joe, Santa Claus has been a legend around the world for many, many years, told by many parents to their children to make Christmas a little brighter. Little Joe, didn\u2019t the holidays always seem a bit more magical to you because of Santa Claus?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI-I reckon so, Pa…\u201d<\/p>\n “Then you can begin to understand why I told you he was real.”<\/p>\n “I guess. But…” Joe wiped his nose again. \u201cBut why did you lie to me about it? And… why tell me about Santa, but not Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam… grew up differently than you. He had to grow up fast, and didn\u2019t have time for Santa Claus like you and Hoss did.\u201d A smile played across Ben’s lips. \u201cBut for you, son, I wanted to give you that special belief, as well as Hoss. I knew one day you both would find out that Santa wasn\u2019t real, but for the time\u00a0being, you did love him so much. It was one final gift from me to you for Christmas. It was something your mother would\u2019ve wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe blinked slowly, his green eyes swirling with confusion. \u201cSo, Santa ain’t real?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, son. He\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cO-oh.\u201d Joe looked away for a few moments, before he turned back to Ben with a sharp breath. \u201cWell, I reckon…I reckon I always kind of knew that. After all, ain\u2019t God the only one who has magic?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t help but laugh aloud. \u201cNot magic, son, but yes, you\u2019re on the right track. Christmas is celebrating baby Jesus\u2019 birthday. It\u2019s not about the presents, or the candy, or even about Santa Claus.\u201d He touched the place on Joe\u2019s chest where his heart was. \u201cIt\u2019s about Jesus, your real hero.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy real hero?\u201d Joe seemed to think this over, and then slowly allowed a nod. \u201cYeah. When it comes down to it, I guess Jesus really is a whole lot better than Santa. He forgave everyone for their sins, puts others before Him, and always loves us, even if we’ve been bad.\u00a0I-I don\u2019t think I could do that, Pa, even with Adam and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right, son. And God knows that, so that’s why He does all of that for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was relieved that his talk had seemed to work. Maybe this Christmas Eve his family could enjoy the true meaning of Christmas- Jesus- without Santa Claus stealing the glory.<\/p>\n He smiled, rubbing the boy\u2019s arm. \u201cAre you going to be all right, son?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe paused. \u201cYeah. But\u2026 but, Pa\u2026\u201d His emerald eyes locked with Ben\u2019s chocolate ones. \u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0never\u00a0lie to me again about anything like that. In a way, it\u2019s almost as bad as Hoss\u2019s snoring!\u201d<\/p>\n Unable to help himself, Ben laughed loudly. \u201cAll right, all right, I promise. No more lies. And no more teasing your older brother about his snoring, either!\u201d Ruffling Joe\u2019s unkempt curls, he grinned.\u00a0\u201cNow\u00a0can we go celebrate Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait. Christmas?\u201d Joe seemed as if he was noticing the word for the first time. \u201cChristmas? Like Jesus Christ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, son,\u201d Ben agreed, thoughtful. \u201cExactly like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded slowly to himself. \u201cHuh. So that\u2019s what Christmas is supposed to be about, then. Jesus.\u201d He scrunched up his nose with distaste. \u201cNow I feel sort of silly for believing in Santa Claus. He ain\u2019t even real!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he\u2019s not,\u201d Ben conceded,\u00a0before he smiled. \u201cBut he was buried deep inside your heart. And, son\u2026\u201d He met the boy\u2019s eyes. \u201cNow it\u2019s time for Jesus to be there, too.\u201d<\/p>\n He offered Little Joe his hand.<\/p>\n And, smiling, the child took it.<\/p>\n
\nkeeping\u00a0watch over their flock by night.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n~~by thepurplewriter333<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n