| The Creative Expressions of... Bill Vivrett |
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| Updated 12.24.04 |
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| THE CHRISTMAS OF '39 Page 5 of 9 �Now, don�t you move just rock and watch,� Mother said as she tucked Billy into his white wicker rocking chair in the middle of the front yard. �Billy, sing �Jesus Loves Me� or �Cherry Pie�,� she suggested as she returned loading their car. He was content. He loved that rocker. �Can she bake a cherry pie, charming Billy?� �I like that part,� he thought to himself �Momma, my heart feels better,� was all he said. They were not taking much, only what Dad could tie on top or squeeze into the trunk. �She�s yours,� Dad told their nearest neighbor when he took the cow over there. There was a lot for Billy to watch. He kept singing to himself. �Damn! This here tears it,� Dad shot out. All five children knew he was furious and they must be silent. Billy stopped singing but kept rocking, humming to himself. �What is it, Buck?� their Mother ventured as she hurried out of the house one more time and her five little rabbits hunkered down. None had heard him this angry. �The block froze up last night on our Buick. It�s cracked and I don�t see how we�re gonna make it that sixty one miles.� �We will make it! Jesus wants us to make it,� she resolved. And he immediately became equally resolute. Just then Pastor Couch drove up the hill from the First Baptist Church. He was their pastor and their friend. �A good day for travel,� he said. �Remember, we�re all just pilgrims here, anyway. We are just passing through.� Jack snickered as he pictured himself and bobby wearing those funny black hats. �Everyone, gather round a minute,� Reverend Couch directed in his best pulpit voice. He unloaded a gift basket form the church; more than a gift basket, really, and larger. �Look here,� he said and four children looked. The congregation had sent mostly food; apples, nuts, cookies, canned soup, oranges, even some hard candy and a small toy for each child. Uncharacteristically, Billy hadn�t moved. He felt secure. he was all bundled up so he just kept rocking. He was content. After all, his entire life he had always been the center of their attention and he knew that, very soon all six would share whatever they had. �Let me help load,� suddenly focused, Jack urged Laddie into the preacher�s car with a piece of cookie. The puppy jumped in eagerly and his mother followed. Apparently, Jack had already turned his persuasive powers and abundance of boyish charm loose on Reverend Couch, who had too quickly acquiesced. �There, that�s done,� Jack declared with finality as the pastor drove down the hill. He had kids too and the collies seemed to know it. He was a good man and they knew that someday, they would see him again. ��When we all get to heaven�, let�s all sing,� Mother instructed, as they drove away. With Jack as their tour guide his siblings were all looking for adventure. �Don�t look back,� Mother said. So five pairs of eyes tried to. Then they all sang while their Dad missed some of the lyrics because of his preoccupation with the engine temperature gauge. �Will The Circle Be Unbroken� was his favorite. |
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