\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
\n* Day 3*<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
The Letter<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a0thwack<\/i>,\u00a0thwack<\/i>,\u00a0thwack<\/i>\u00a0of an axe striking wood filled the air, mingling with a few errant snowflakes that fell from the iron gray sky. A chill wind blew down from the Sierra Nevadas, ruffling my dark hair and picking at my thick, woolen coat with icy fingers, but that didn\u2019t bother me much. I was used to the harsh winter weather, and though it was cold enough to spit snow, I\u2019d experienced far worse.<\/p>\n Picking up another log, I placed it on the stump, and brought the axe expertly down on the piece of wood, splitting it neatly in half. My blood thrummed through my veins, warming my body with the exercise as I settled into a good rhythm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, if you keep that up we\u2019ll have enough firewood for the rest of this winter and well into the next,\u201d a familiar voice said, and I paused.<\/p>\n Off to one side, pa stood with one arm wrapped around my step-mother\u2019s waist. \u201cWell, there\u2019s no harm in being prepared,\u201d I said, shrugging my shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think we\u2019re prepared all right,\u00a0mon petit fils<\/i>,\u201d Marie said dryly, gesturing to the pile of stacked wood that I had cut over the past few days. It was rather large, come to think of it, but I enjoyed swinging an axe. Chopping wood may have started off as a punishment when I was younger, but now, I found the task oddly comforting.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not\u00a0that<\/i>\u00a0little,\u201d I grumbled halfheartedly. I was sixteen after all and stood head and shoulders over Marie. \u201cI think you may be right about that,\u201d I said louder, cheeks turning pink from more than just the cold breeze as embarrassment set in. \u201cSince it looks like I\u2019m done here, I can take Hoss and Little Joe to pick out a tree if you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Marie\u2019s green eyes glowed with happiness as she nodded. \u201cThat sound\u2019s perfect, Adam. Joseph has been begging to go get our Christmas tree for the past few days.\u201d<\/p>\n It had been more than a few days. More like a few weeks. The little tyke was finally old enough to understand just what Christmas entailed \u2013 toys, treats, and a later bedtime \u2013 and he was suitably excited for it. He babbled to anyone who would listen about how he couldn\u2019t wait for Christmas. He\u2019d been a, relatively, good boy, and was confident that jolly Old Saint Nick was going to bring him a pony. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I thought of the sturdy, little, grey mare that pa and I had secretly been gentling since August. Joe would be over the moon when he saw her.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I guess I\u2019ll ask Hop Sing to make us some sandwiches and round up the boys for the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n I planted the axe into the stump and turned to go, but Marie\u2019s voice stopped me. \u201cAdam, wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Curious, I glanced her way.<\/p>\n Both she and pa eyed each other and shifted nervously.<\/p>\n Butterflies erupted in my stomach. Whatever they wanted to tell me, it couldn\u2019t be good. I scoured my mind, trying to remember if I\u2019d done anything that they would reprimand me for recently, but came up empty.<\/p>\n Pa cleared his throat. \u201cI know Christmas is still a ways away, but your mother and I couldn\u2019t wait that long,\u201d he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a travel-worn letter. \u201cWhen I went to town last week to pick up some groceries, this was waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n He passed the missive to me and I slowly read the name on the return address:<\/p>\n Harvard College*<\/p>\n My mouth went dry. \u201cIs this\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n They nodded. \u201cGo on, son, open it,\u201d pa said.<\/p>\n Slowly, I unsealed the letter and began to read. My hands shook so hard that I could barely make out the words, but one line in particular stood out to me. \u201cI-I got in. Pa, they accepted my application!\u201d I said, hardly daring to believe it.<\/p>\n For so long I\u2019d dreamed of getting a better education and now my dream was becoming a reality. It was…it was\u2026.<\/p>\n Overwhelming. I was equal parts elated and terrified.<\/p>\n \u201cJust think of it, Adam, this time next year you will be a college student! Oh, I\u2019m so proud of you,\u00a0mon petit fils<\/i>, I knew you could do it. I knew!\u201d Marie laughed, embracing me. I peered over he shoulder to see pa standing there, eyes glistening with unshed tears.<\/p>\n \u201cMy son the college student,\u201d he murmured as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Pushing all of my doubts aside, I smiled back at him as he pulled both Marie and I into his strong, capable arms. There was time enough later for fears. For now, I was going to bask in my joy.<\/p>\n As if on cue, the clouds broke and a shaft of sunlight appeared, glinting off of the snow and dazzling my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d I whispered in pa\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n As he let go of me, a single tear slid down his cheek and he looked at me with all the pride in his heart. \u201cMerry Christmas, son.\u201d<\/p>\n ~ Finis<\/p>\n *Harvard College (later dubbed Harvard University) did not have an architectural class until 1874, but I figure if\u00a0Bonanza<\/em>\u00a0got to stretch the truth occasionally, why can\u2019t I?\u00a0 Chosen character: Adam<\/p>\n Activity: chopping wood<\/p>\n Link to Day 4 of the 2021 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar:\u00a0 The Gift of Giving by faust<\/a><\/p>\n![\":biggrin:\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/forums\/uploads\/emoticons\/biggrin.gif?ssl=1\" "\\":biggrin:\\"")
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