| The Creative Expressions of... Bill Vivrett |
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| Updated 12.24.04 |
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| THE CHRISTMAS OF '39 Page 7 of 9 �Look, Lady, ya want me to unload these toys here or not?� he said over his shoulder as he proceeded to unload the boxes on the gravel drive. Then he thrust out a clipboard of paperwork with hers on top. �Sign at the bottom by the X to show you received them.� Feeling frustrated and somewhat speechless, Margaret took the pen and signed. She couldn�t help but notice his bold diagonal writing scrawled over the top--Paid in Full--Mike Kelly. Without another word, he got into his truck and backed out of the drive. But as he pulled slowly away, Mike Kelly rolled down the window and just to her said, �Merry Christmas, Marg.� The he flashed that trademark Irish smile and yelled �Merry Christmas to all,� as he drove away, whistling. While the older four children ate inside, Billy insisted on sitting in his rocker by the porch, so mother covered him and he sat and rocked. Only his face was uncovered wearing a snicker of a smile as if he alone knew a secret about their immediate future. Just then the four kids cam pouring out of the house, Jack leading the way. �It�s real hot in ther�,� he said, envying little Will�s outdoor seat of command. �Children, you see that church steeple over there? That�s the First Baptist Church I grew up in and you will too,� Mom stated emphatically. Jack, always sensitive to her deepest feelings, responded, �Sure, why not!� Just then her brother Will drove up. �I�m taking you all out to our farm for Christmas. Follow me,� he said, without leaving his car. Margaret loaded the gifts into Uncle Pat�s car and rode with them. After the family was on the way in their faltering Buick, Jack interrupted the unusual silence. �I�m glad, cause Grandma didn�t even have a tree.� Then Vee, still smarting from her recent lecture on good manners added, �Yeah, and no Christmas decorations of any kind.� Mother quickly changed the subject. �Everyone, let�s think of all this traveling like the time at the first Christmas when Mary and Joseph were on the road to Bethlehem and when they arrived God came down.� �This is our family�s journey of hope.� At that, Buck broke his long term of silence. �Good, Mag. You just keep on doin� the thinkin� for us and we�re gonna be just fine.� All five children basked contentedly in their parents� mutual love and respect. �Oh, I am sure there will be new days filled with sorrow, but for our family in this place, let us praise God for His greatest gift of all,� she said softly. |
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