Chapter 14: Winter Break
"Have you talked to him yet?" I whispered to Veronica as she tried not to watch Timothy pass.
"Hmm?" Veronica asked. "Um....no." she said.
"Are you planning to?" I asked as he went into a class room.
"Of course." Veronica said. "I'll talk to him this week!" she added.
"Veronica, in case you didn't realize, today is the last day before winter break." I said.
"Well, it's not like I'm going anywhere." she said looking annoyed.
"Yeah but he is, he, Erik and Mei-Ling are all flying out tomorrow. We're going to the airport with them....we've been talking about it at lunch every day this week...." I said watching her face transform from annoyance to shock to panic. "You are coming to seem all off aren't you?" I asked.
"Umm...." was her only reply.
The next day, we left from Todd and I's street. Veronica wasn't there. Erik was going back to Virginia to see his mom; Mei-Ling was going back to China to visit her family and Timothy's family had left already for a skiing trip, he was flying out to meet them.
We got to the airport early to get them checked in. Timothy's flight was supposed to leave first, once we were past security, we sat in awkward silence. For Todd and I, the prospect of saying goodbye to our respective significant others was keeping us silence; the same was true for Erik and Mei-Ling of course. Todd broke the silence first. "I thought Veronica said she was coming as well?" he asked. No one else knew about the kiss so no one else recognized the flash of emotion cross Timothy's face.
"She wasn't sure when I talked to her at school yesterday." I said looking out the window, away from Timothy.
The silence returned and Erik put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. No one said much until the call for Timothy's flight came over the speakers.
"Guess that's me." he said standing and picking up his laptop bag. We all stood as well and walked over to the gate with him. Just before he was about to go through the doors, I gave him a big hug. "Be careful on those slopes Timothy." I said with a grin.
He chuckled and lingered a moment looking over my shoulder for someone. I think I know who he was looking for but he covered the sadness on his face as he waved and went through the gate.
Just as he went through the doors, I heard a female voice behind me and turned to see Veronica running towards us. "Wait!" she said weakly and out of breath as she reached us. Erik, Todd and Mei-Ling looked marginally confused but I just looked on her sadly. "Sorry." I said softly.
Veronica slumped in a nearby seat and sighed. After that the wait time seem to speed up. They called for Erik's flight next.
At the gate we lingered in each others arms long enough to annoy the other passengers. "I'll be right back." Erik said with a wink.
I chuckled and gave him another kiss. "You better be." I said. "Have a good time with your mom." I said stepping back so he could board the plane before the flight attendants closed the door on him.
When Todd said good bye to Mei-Ling, there was pain in both their faces. I suspect they both knew what this was foreshadowing. In six months she was supposed to go back to China for good - or at least until the end of high school.
Timothy and Erik's planes were long gone, but the three of us lingered to watch Mei-Ling's take off.
I invited them over to my house for moping and hot chocolate.
"Gah!" Todd said flopping back on my bed. "This sucks Gin, really sucks!"
"I know." I said having no words of wisdom for him.
"And this is just the rehearsal. At some point that flight will be one way." he muttered not really needing my responses anyway.
"Yeah." I said anyway.
Suddenly Veronica stood up. "We need to do something...anything. Sitting around moping is not good for us....er you guys." she quickly corrected. Todd looked at her curiously for a second but let the slip pass. He was still stuck in his own feelings.
Veronica did her best to keep us occupied - although I think she was doing it as much for herself as us. We spent several nights at the Pit, days at the arcade, beach or park. Anything to stay in motion. As Christmas Day approached, she mentioned how her parents were going on a three day retreat so I invited her over for Christmas.
"So where are your parents?" my dad asked and I tried not to grimace.
"They went to a resort a few hours away." she said picking at her turkey.
My dad took note of her stance and dropped the subject.
After dinner we went into the living room where several presents littered the floor under the tree. Normally we opened them up first thing in the morning but I had asked daddy if we could wait for Veronica.
"This one is for you." I said handing a box to Veronica.
"Me?" she asked looking surprised.
"So is this one." my dad said holding out another wrapped box. We grinned at her .
"Well you better open some as well, I don't want to be the only one." she said still looking at the presents in surprised. As a trio, we tore into the presents. There were more for Veronica than I was expecting, apparently my dad had done some last minute shopping when I mentioned she was coming over. A lot of them were gift card or small things since he had no sense of teen fashion but she was genuinely thrilled with each one.
After we were done unwrapping, we lounged in the living room stuffed and happy. "Thank you both." Veronica said. "So much, this was a wonderful Christmas." she said with a smile. We smiled back at her.
Mei-Ling was the first to return. She got home a couple days before New Years and Veronica and I lost Todd to their happy reunion. Veronica had run out of steam for Project: Stay Busy so we spent most days hanging around my house bored. "Were we always this boring?" I asked staring up at my ceiling.
Veronica merely shrugged. "New Year's Eve party at the Pit, you going?"
It was my turn to shrug. "Erik won't be back until the third. Not sure I'm in a party mood. You?"
"Probably." she said.
"Figured out what you're gonna say to him?" I asked looking over at her.
"Not exactly." Veronica said not meeting my gaze. I didn't have the motivation to push her so I just shrugged again.
Somehow she managed to convince me to go to the NYE party at the Pit. I practically ran past the dance floor where Todd and Mei-Ling were happy in each others company to get upstairs to the lounge.
Veronica saw what I saw and followed me upstairs. "They're too happy." she muttered. I laughed.
When I found an empty couch I fell back into it's soft cushions. "Why did you bring me here?" I asked taking up the whole couch, forcing V into a chair.
"Because you need to have fun....WE need to have fun. Granted I haven't been the best company but we can have fun together." she said. "Besides, isn't this partly what your dad is worried about?" she asked with a knowing smile.
"Ugh! You're right!" I said getting to my feet. "Come on, let's go dance." I said grabbing her hand.
I didn't see him approach as I was having a good time on the floor. I didn't see either of them.
Erik put his hands around my waist and whispered in my ear. "Can I cut in?" he said with a smile. I whipped around to see his face and threw my arms around his neck. "You're home early!" I said with a grin.
"I'm home early." he said with a nod. For a second I thought he was troubled by something but it was gone as soon as I detected it so I forgot about it. "Look who I ran into." he said motioning to Timothy.
When we turned to look, Timothy and Veronica were making out in the middle of the dance floor. I grinned; Erik, Todd and Mei-Ling all looked on shocked.
Erik saw my grin and nudged me with his shoulder. "Did you know about this?"
"No, yes....not entirely." I said with a laugh and then started dancing as Timothy and Veronica broke the kiss. The six of us danced together
The music shut off a minute before midnight and from somewhere the countdown started....
10.....9......8......7......6......5.....
Veronica pulled Timothy into a kiss a bit early.
4.....3.....2......
Todd and Mei-Ling gave in as well.
1.....Happy New.....
Erik kissed me, a long lingering kiss.
Year!
End Chapter
Chapter 17: Rough Ride
The drought wore on. Weeks turned to a month and still there was no rain. Wesley fought hard to keep our plot of land alive, as much as he could at any rate. We weren't without options or means but he was determined to ride this out. As we were faring better than many others, I agreed to stay for now. I dug into our stores and had to get a little creative occasionally with dinner depending on what was available but the children didn't notice or mind.
"The rain will come Lizzie." Wesley told me every night after all but little Alex had gone to bed.
"It will." I replied with less certainty. I had no doubt that the rain would return eventually and that the drought would end but I wasn't sure we'd be able to stay here until then.
We had the means to pack up and move, even start over if needed. Highland Park was thriving in England and being rented to a small family. The excess rent was building into a tidy little nest egg along with the rest of the inheritance from my father's death. Nevertheless, Sheardin was home and in Sheardin we stayed. And it wasn't all bad...
But the drought wasn't the only thing threatening our small town. One day while I was in town, I saw my nephew Alan looking distraught. "Alan?" I called to him from across the street. "What's the matter?"
"Oh Aunt Lizzie!" he said rushing into my arms. He'd grown into a handsome young teenager and was very tender. he adored his three little sisters.
"What is it Alan?" I asked stroking his hair.
"It's Pa!" Alan cried. I knew he'd grown very close to John Garrett, his step-father, over the years. "He's sick Aunt! Very sick!"
"With what? Have you fetched the doctor?" I asked looking concerned.
"Ma says he'll be fine and the doc has been by to see him this morning. But I've never seen someone so sick Aunt!" he said distressed.
"Well if your mother and the doctor aren't too concerned, I imagine he'll be alright Alan." I said giving him another comforting hug. "But I want you to come tell me how he is, alright?"
He nodded, still looking distressed.
"Come, I'll take you home." I said squeezing his hand.
A couple days later we had a town meeting at the church. Of course not everyone was there, so many had left because of the drought and according to Tessa, John Garrett wasn't the only one sick.
Doctor Rheyer addressed us first. "There is a sickness here, and it's catchin'. I've seen several patients this week alone. In general, recovery is probable but it's a rough ride. So if anyone in your family starts getting sick, keep them away from others as much as possible, 'specially young children and elder folk. Call for me and I will come as soon as I can but treat the fevers and try to keep your ill comfortable."
The Reverend stood up. "The school will remain closed for the time being so not to spread it amongst the children." he said looking sad. "Little Helen Gallagher passed away last night from this so please remember her family in your prayers." We just gotten a new school teacher and the girls had been eager to go back and be with their friend.
On the way home the girls peppered us with questions about the illness, school being closed, Helen, and so on. We answered what we could and deferred what we couldn't. I got busy with dinner while the girls worked on letters and reading. Wesley went out to tend to the few animals we had left.
We were half way through dinner when Sarah started coughing. I thought she had swallowed her dinner wrong but her racking coughs continued. I exchanged a concerned look with Wesley as he patted her on the back.
Before she stopped coughing, Rachel started coughing as well. I laid my hand gently on her forehead and had to struggle to not look panicked. She had a high fever. Wesley felt Sarah's head and looked at me grimly as he nodded.
We let them finish their dinners and then hurried them up to bed and away from their young siblings. I read them several stories and after they drifted to sleep in their beds, I drifted into a fitful sleep in the chair. Wesley slipped out of the house to consult with the doctor.
End Chapter
Chapter 16: Calm Before the Storm
I had thought and hoped that the drought was ending when Hannah was born. We all did and the rains had returned. Unfortunately, the rain stopped again and Sheardin River got lower and lower. With each passing month, more people left town in search of something better. At home, we did the best we could. The field was struggling but staying alive. We tried to keep things as normal as possible for the girls.
After our school teacher left, I taught the girls at home. They were wonderful students and picked up on things quickly so I was able to give them work and still get work done around the house.
Hannah was about 10 months old when I started feeling ill. I thought it was an illness, I convinced myself I just had a lingering illness that would pass before long.
Meanwhile Wesley kept the crop going as best he could. He carried water if necessary both for us, the animals and the field but soon it became obvious we would have to make some choices.
Most of the animals were gone one way or the other before Hannah's birthday. Some were sold, some were shared with our less fortunate neighbors. We were down to about half the crop we had when she was born and a sense of bleakness had settled over most of the town - those that had stayed at any rate. I decided to only have a family gathering for Hannah's first birthday; I made a small cake for her and we gathered around to celebrate.
By then it was becoming obvious that my lingering illness was something more. It felt like a horrible time to be having another child. I wasn't sure how long we could keep holding on to our lives here and yet leaving was never something I seriously wanted to consider. We tried to find joy in having another baby, even if Hannah was still so young and times looked desperate. When our babe wiggled inside me, I couldn't help but smile and the feeling was infectious.
As the pregnancy progressed, I found myself exhausted more often. School with the girls became less and less and I found myself drifting off while sitting on the couch most afternoons. Sarah and Rachel were wonderful; particularly Rachel, who did what she could to keep Hannah from interrupting my afternoon naps.
As I got closer to the end of my pregnancy, the drought wore on. Wesley left before I woke every morning and came home after I was asleep most nights. We barely seemed to see each other but when I saw him, I knew he was strained. I was determined one night, just a few weeks before Christmas, to wait up for him so we could see each other in waking hours. My determination, however, did not match my body and exhaustion won out as I drifted to sleep.
I dreamed about Christmas, only it wasn't the upcoming Christmas but one that hadn't come to pass...
"He said he would be here." my older self said fretfully looking between Wesley and the girls. I smiled seeing my three daughters grown up. They were all beautiful.
"He will be darling." Wesley said trying to calm my older self. I couldn't figure out who they were talking about until a young man walked in the back door. My older self didn't see or hear him approach. She didn't see him indicate to Wesley and the girls to remain quiet. Wesley was struggling to keep a smile off his face and my older self eyed him curiously. "He will be here, I have no doubt." Wesley said.
Then the young man placed an arm on her shoulder and she nearly jumped out of her skin. When she saw his face she jumped from the chair. "Oh Alex, my dearest boy!" she said rushing to give him a hug even as he rushed to give her one as well.
"Alexander" I whispered to myself watching the reunion. "My son." I added as all the pieces came together. Instinctively, my hand rested on my belly wondering if this babe was the man before me.
I watched the family - my family - sit down to a Christmas dinner and all the tension eased from my body.
I was awoken from the dream by sharp pains that were becoming very familiar to me by now. I stumbled out of the bedroom and into the living area, hoping that Wesley would be home by now. We walked in as I was doubled over by contractions.
Labor was short and intense. Neither of us had the time to prepare any further as the time became evident. I delivered a beautiful baby boy in the early morning hours. We named him Alexander Gabriel; even as I said the name aloud I thought of the handsome blond young man from my dream.
Our joy of having a healthy baby and boy was short lived as the drought continued. Each day it seemed like Christmas would be a desolate affair.
"What are we going to do Wesley?" I asked him one day in the sparse field of dying crops.
"We'll survive Lizzie." he said not looking up from his work. "We'll survive." he repeated softly. I could tell he was beginning to wonder himself.
"Wesley..." I started to say but was cut off as he stood abruptly.
"No Lizzie. I promise, we will survive this and we will survive it here." he said angrily. I knew the anger wasn't at me but at the situation. It still stung a bit to have those pained eyes looking at me.
"Wesley." I said calmly.
"I promised I would take care of you, and I will Lizzie. This. Will. Pass." he said regaining himself, the anger seeping from his face to be replaced by determination.
I nodded. "Okay." I said taking a deep breath and trying not to look around. We weren't in trouble yet, even if all the crop died now, it could be replanted and we would survive the winter at any rate. "I need a turkey for Christmas, will you go hunting for one?" I asked.
Wesley nodded. I could tell he was relieved that I wasn't continuing to push this topic. "I will get you a turkey." he said giving me a kiss.
And he did. Much like the Christmas in my dream, I served my family a wonderful Christmas dinner; never betraying to the girls that anything was wrong.
After dinner we sat around the Christmas tree and the girls played with their toys, many of which we'd already had and only brought out to fill out the tree, while Wesley read The Christmas Carol aloud to us.
In spite of everything, it was a wonderful Christmas.
End Chapter
Disclaimer: The play has be cut and trimmed obviously. But more than that it's coming from my memory so the words are not the original but the concept and intent is the same lol. :)
Chapter 13: A Christmas Carol
"Please." I said simply, looking at my assembled friends. My partner in crime, Timothy, stood mutely. I glared at him then. "We can't do a play without a cast - care to lend me your voice partner?"
"She's right. We need a cast and it's for our theater final....so would you all please assist us?" he asked looking at me mostly.
"Of course" Mei-Ling said at the same time Erik agreed. Todd followed Mei-Ling's lead and nodded. Only one person remained silent - Veronica. Everyone but Timothy turned to look at her. Timothy I noticed looked at his feet. Clearly they hadn't spoken about it yet. "Fine" she said with a sigh.
With Timothy's help, I'd convinced my friends to help us put on a play with a couple of local elementary school. It was part of our theater final, everyone was paired with another student and a pair of kids and they had to do a short 30 minute play together. We could choose any play we wanted and adapt the script as needed to fit within the time slot.
-------
"Marley was dead. Of that there can be no doubt." My voice echoed in the theater as the lights came up on stage. "He died sever years past, this very night. Christmas Eve."
A clock ticks loudly in the silent office. Only the scratch of a quill and the rustle of paper can be heard as Bob Crachit and Mr. Scrooge work into the evening hours. A light snow falls outside the window. As the clock chimes the hour, Crachit stands and gathers his things.
"I suppose you'll be wanting me to pay you for tomorrow. Pay for no work!" Scrooge groused from his desk.
"It comes but once a year sir." Crachit says approaching the desk.
Scrooge grumbles something as he hands Crachit a tiny sum of coins. "I expect you here early the day after to make up for lost time!"
"Yes sir." Crachit replies pulling on his coat. "Merry Christmas sir." he says pretending not to notice the grumbles from Scrooge.
As he leaves, Scrooge calls after him "Bah Humbug!" He resumes his work as the snow thickens outside the window. The clock chimes again and the lights go out save for the flickering lamp on Scrooge's desk. Across from him, bathed in red lighting, Jacob Marley appears from the darkness. Clanking chains fill the office space and Scrooge gasps. "What? What is this?!"
Moaning music accompanies Marley's words. "I bear the chains I built in life. I am doomed to walk this world dragging these chains. But you still have time Ebeneezer!" he waves his arms and chains rattle making Scrooge stagger back. "You will be visited by three spirits this night, hear them Ebeneezer!" he shouts and with a shudder the lights flicker off again. From the darkness, Marley's bodiless voice comes "The first will come when the clock strikes one. Remember."
Scrooge stares at the darkened space where Marley's apparition had stood and visibly shakes the feeling off. He stands and gathers his own things and leaves the office.
-----
Scrooge is unable to shake the image and feeling of Marley as he changes and prepares for bed. His eyes stray to the clock a dozen times as he lays down. He watches the clock for an hour before he drifts off. When the clock strikes one, his eyes flutter open to see an ethereal creature before him. She is bathed in white light as she watches him stumble awake.
"Who are you?" Scrooge asks "What do you want!?" he practically shouts stumbling out of the bed.
She doesn't smile or frown but extends a hand to him. "I am the Spirit of Christmas Past. Your Past. Come Ebeneezer." she says still holding her hand out to him.
"Why are you here?" he asks not taking it.
"Come Ebeneezer." she entreats softly. He stares at her a moment longer and then extends his own hand. He stares at his hand as if it is acting of its own will.
------
The scene changes, a lone boy sits on his bad. A packed suitcase sits at the end of the bed but no one has come for the boy. "This was my school." Scrooge says softly looking around before his eyes fall on the boy.
The Spirit looks at him curiously.
"My father was a busy man..." Scrooge said by way of explanation.
The Spirit extends her hand again and Scrooge's hand again takes hers.
------
"Old Fezziwig! Alive!" Scrooge says taking in the new scene. A lively Christmas party is in swing.
"And Belle." he says with less animation. He smiles fondly but his eyes show pain.
"You were very happy." the Spirit says softly.
"Yes...." Scrooge says sadly. "It was...." he trailed off and looked away from the Spirit's hand, once again held out to him. "No." he says shaking his head. "I don't want to see anymore."
"Come Ebeneezer." the Spirit says sternly. His hand takes hers once again.
-------
A young woman cries alone by the fireplace.
"Belle...." Scrooge says reaching out to her. His hand passes through her shoulder and he looks horrified. "Belle..."
"She released you from the engagement, why should you feel sad?" the Spirit asked.
Scrooge closed his eyes tightly and stumbled back. "No more! No more Spirit!" he shouted.
-------
When he opened his eyes he was back in his bedroom and the spirit was gone. "Just a bad dream." he muttered shaking his head and laying down again on the bed. He stared at the clock as it approached 2 and drifted into a fitful sleep.
The clock struck 2 and Scrooge awoke to find a jolly looking man decked in red and green and gold standing in his room. "No. No....no." Scrooge repeated closing his eyes.
A chuckle from the man made him open his eyes again. "What are you? What do you want from me?!"
"I am the Spirit of Christmas Present. I come to show you the joy." the Spirit said holding out a hand. "Come Ebeneezer." he added.
Feeling resigned, Scrooge took the Spirit's hand.
-------
Scrooge looked around startled. It was clearly the home of a poor family but they were laughing and talking, despite the coughing interruptions from the smallest child. "What is this? Where are we?"
The Spirit pointed to the head of the table.
"Why that's Crachit! This is his home?" he said taking it in.
"Merry Christmas family!" Crachit said raising his glass. "Here's to Tiny Tim's health, may he be better soon!" The others raised their glasses, Tim coughed more. "And to the founder of this feast, we would not have our wonderful dinner without him; Mr. Scrooge." This toast was met with silence from the family.
"Founder indeed" one of the girls muttered. She was about to say more but Tim's coughing got worse. Mrs. Crachit jumped up and went to him.
"What is the matter with the boy?" Scrooge asked the Spirit. "Tell me!"
The coughing got worse and Scrooge looked pained to watch. "Tell me he'll live Spirit!" he pleaded.
"Why should you care Ebeneezer?" the Spirit asked but did not answer the question. Scrooge looked back at the family scene and when he turned back to the Spirit again he found he was gone. "Spirit!! Come back! The boy!" he called to the darkness around him.
A new Spirit appeared before him, dressed all in black, she said nothing to him. Scrooge recoiled from this spirit but turned his questioning to her. "Who are you? Are you the Spirit of the Future? Will the boy live?! Tell me Spirit?"
The blackened arm and hand merely pointed to the family table.
Scrooge turned to look. The scene was the same....except it wasn't. The boy's seat was empty and the family was no longer joyous. They all looked at the empty seat with pain in their eyes. "No!!" he looked frantically back at the Spirit. "Is this the future? Can it be changed?! Tell me Spirit!"
------
The lights went out. Off to the side, Scrooge heard voices and he turned to see two of the Crachit family talking. He looked back where the family table had been but there was only darkness.
"Is it true Mama?" the younger asked.
"It is, the old miser is finally dead." the older woman said. "Can't say I'm sorry, he had no friends."
"Spirit, who is dead?" Scrooge asked but the Spirit remained silent.
From somewhere else, Scrooge heard more such conversations, some whispered and some exclaimed with joy. He searched frantically for the sources but they were disembodied voices all around him. Laughing at the death of an unnamed man. "Who Spirit! Who is it that has died?! Does no one care?" he said looking around in the darkness.
A soft light slowly flickered to life behind him and the Spirit extended the blackened arm again to point. Scrooge followed the arm until he saw a dark graveyard. To one side he saw Bob Crachit crying over a grave but the hand wasn't pointing to young Tiny Tim's grave. Scrooge looked down at the stone and fell back several feet when he saw "Ebeneezer Scrooge" emblazoned upon the stone.
"Spirit! Spirit!" Scrooge called looking around. Crachit's cries echoed across the night but the spirit had vanished as silently as it had appeared. Scrooge heard chains clanking behind him and spun around to see Marley approaching once more. "No! No!!! No! I'll change! No!" he stumbled back over his own gravestone as Marley advanced on him, his hand out.
He closed his eyes tightly and thrashed. "Nooooo!" he called out one more time. When he opened his eyes he was in his own bed and no Spirits were standing there waiting for him. He looked at the clock - 7. He looked out the window and saw a fresh white snow blanketing the ground. People were laughing and a boy was building a snow man on the street. "Boy!" he called out to him. "Tell me the day! Come now boy what day is it!?"
"Tis Christmas Day sir!" the boy called back.
"Christmas? Only one night..." Scrooge muttered to himself in disbelieve. "Thank you! And....Merry Christmas to you!" he called out with a smile. He turned from the window and ran for the hall. "So much to do! Must change!" he said to himself.
He stepped out into the cold snow barefoot but didn't notice. "Come here boy!" he called to the snowman builder. "Take this money and buy the best, biggest goose you can find. Have it delivered to Bob Crachit..." and he gave the boy the Crachit's address. "And Merry Christmas!!" he called again as he hurried back inside to get dressed.
------
At the office the following morning, Scrooge paced nervously. Crachit was late. He burst into the room shaking snow from his shoulders. "Oh Mr. Scrooge, I'm sorry I'm late...." Crachit started mistaking the look on Scrooge's face for anger. "Please sir!" he said.
"No Mr. Crachit." Scrooge said. "No, it is I who am sorry!" Scrooge said with a smile. "But I intend to make it up to you. How is your boy Tim? Doing better I hope?" he asked. Before Crachit could recover his speech he went on. "I am going to raise your salary Mr. Crachit!"
As the curtain fell on the scene Scrooge put his arm around Crachit's shoulders. "How does Scrooge and Crachit sound to you? Or maybe Crachit and Scrooge? What do you say man?" he asked.
-------
The youngster who played Tiny Tim stepped forward and smiled "Merry Christmas to all!" he shouted louder than truly necessary. We fought not to laugh as we took our bows.
End Chapter
