Christmas Surprises: A Collection of Christmas Stories for Families

By N. Beetham Stark

The first of two books of original Christmas stories set in the United States.

1. Granny Fox – The humorous story of an old lady confined against her will to an old folks home. She designs havoc for her captors.
2. Christmas Ship – The story of a lonely boy at sea who finds Christmas when his captain finds himself.
3. A Logger’s Christmas – Men stuck in the forest in the early days are lost from their families until they set out to find their men. One lady has a baby in a cave and brings memories of a birth long ago.
4. More Blessed – Two children have more toys than any ten children could play with. Their wealthy father decides to teach them a lesson in charity.
5. Collie – A dog faces loneliness and desertion at Christmas. His people come to see him in a different way.
6. Frying Pan – A young girl parading as a boy brightens the lives of two hateful old brothers.
7. Christmas Package – A little boy seeks his mother by wrapping himself up as a big package and finds a friend instead.
8. Christmas on the Run – A man who has escaped from prison and who was wrongly imprisoned finds a friend who asks no questions.
9. Lost Christmas – Two brothers are skating. One drowns and the other is frightened of his father and fears going home to tell his parents what has happened. He goes it on his own.
10. Mouldier Bread – A young man who is a baker’s son cannot get the hang of making good bread, but one failure after another spurs him into becoming a fine musician.
11. Christmas Mystery – A series of strange presents appear at the house of a man who does not keep Christmas. Read and find out what really happens.
12. A Dog’s Christmas – A family of animals is abandoned at Christmas but their humans do have a conscience and do return.

• Language: English
• Publisher: N. Beetham Stark
• Release date: Jun 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458163714

N. Beetham Stark

Nellie Beetham Stark was born November 20, 1933, in Norwich, Connecticut to Theodore and Dorothy Pendleton Beetham. She attended the Norwich Free Academy and later Connecticut College in New London, CT before graduating with a MA and a Ph.D. degree in Botany (Ecology) from Duke University.Stark worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a botanist for six years and then joined the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada where she worked on desert and forest ecology and later tropical nutrient cycling. She has consulted in many countries, working for some time in Russia, Australia and South America. She developed the theory that explains why tropical white sand soils cannot grow good food crops and described the decline processes of soils. She has also developed a science of surethology, or survival behavior which describes how humans must adapt to their environments if they hope to survive long term. She has 96 professional publications and has published in four languages.Her life long hobby has been English history, with emphasis on naval history. Her family came originally from Tristan Da Cunha in the South Atlantic in the early 1900’s. Her grandfather was a whale ship captain for a time which spurred her interest in naval history. She also paints pictures of sailing ships which she has used as covers for her historical novels. She has built several scale models of sailing ships and does extensive research on ships and naval history, traveling to England once yearly.Stark was awarded the Connecticut Medal by Connecticut College in 1986 and the Distinguished Native Daughter Award for South Eastern Connecticut in 1985. She was named outstanding Forestry Professor three times by the students of the University of Montana, School of Forestry.Today she writes historical novels, mostly set in England. She has published some 21 novels in the past twenty years, mostly on the internet. She lives on a farm in Oregon and raises hay and cows.Stark's two most popular book series are:Early Irish-English History1. The Twins of Torsh, 44 A.D. to 90 A.D.1. Rolf "The Red" MacCanna, 796-8462. An Irishman's Revenge, 1066-11124. Brothers 4, 1180-12165. Edward's Right Hand, 1272-13076. We Three Kings, 1377-1422The Napoleonic Wars at Sea (Benjamin Rundel)1. Humble Launching - A Story of a Little Boy Growing Up at Sea, 17872. Midshipman Rundel - The Wandering Midshipman, 17953. Mediterranean Madness - The Luckless Leftenant Rundel, 17974. The Adventures of Leftenant Rundel, 1797-17995. Forever Leftenant Rundel, 1800-18036. Captain Rundel I – Trafalgar and Beyond, 1803-18067. Captain Rundel II – Give Me a Fair Wind, 1806-18098. Captain Rundel III – Bend Me a Sail, 1810-18139. Admiral Rundel – 1814-1846

Book preview

Christmas Surprises

A Collection of Christmas Stories for Families

by

N. Beetham Stark

* * * * *

Discover other titles by N. Beetham Stark at

Smashwords.com or at NBeethamStark.com.

Christmas Surprises: A Collection of Christmas Stories for Families

Written by N. Beetham Stark

Copyright 2010 by N. Beetham Stark

Cover art by N. Beetham Stark

Published by Smashwords, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-4581-6371-4

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form

without the written permission of the author or trust agents.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * * *

This book is dedicated to Tintagon, Tarsie and Picotso and their mutual friend, PP.

Looking critically at our past is the best and shortest route to a happy future. Celebrate Christmas with the spirit and not the credit card.

N. Beetham Stark

Acknowledgements

The stories in this book are original stories from the pen of the author. Any resemblance to other stories is coincidental. The book is meant to provide encouragement to persons who are dealing with problems at Christmas and to remind them of the spirit of Christmas, which is that love, forgiveness and hope can conquer many problems.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Granny Fox Makes Christmas

Chapter 2 – The Christmas Ship

Chapter 3 – A Logger’s Christmas

Chapter 4 – ‘Tis More Blessed

Chapter 5 – Collie

Chapter 6 – From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

Chapter 7 – The Christmas Package

Chapter 8 – Christmas On The Run

Chapter 9 – Lost Christmas

Chapter 10 – Mouldier Bread

Chapter 11 – The Christmas Mystery

Chapter 12 – A Dog’s Christmas

About the Author

About the Book

Chapter 1 – Granny Fox Makes Christmas

You’ll be much happier here, said Larry Fox as he led his mother through the front door of Shady Nook rest home for the old and tired. She gave him a look that would kill a goose and wrenched her arm away from him. But son Harry was close behind and youngest son Barry was flanking him. There is no way to escape! Granny’s eyes, ever alert and bright as two green gherkins, looked about her for some avenue of escape. The door was guarded by two big mastiff in hospital clothes who were clearly guards posing as interns. She shook her curly, white head of hair defiantly. They’ll not keep me here for long!

Larry Fox said to the attendant at the desk, I believe that we spoke on the phone the other day. My mother is, well, a bit too active for her age. She’s 86, you know. We caught her out with a chain saw cutting down Christmas trees last week and the week before, she was splitting firewood with an axe. We are afraid that she will do herself some real mischief if there is no one to look after her. That’s why we are asking you to take her and give her a home here.

The man looked at his records. Yes, I did talk with a Mr. Fox last week. I can understand your concern and I assure you that your mother will be completely safe here. I’ll get your records here and then we can take her to room 12.

The man went on to get the names of the three sons and their promise to pay $3,000 per month for the care of their mother. Meanwhile, Granny had wandered near the door. They had brought one of the trucks from the construction site to carry her things. After all, I am not a poor woman. I am someone to be reckoned with. She motioned to the two men who lounged near the truck to start to bring in her things. Soon her trunk with her tools and her clothes came through the door. Then they brought in her exercise machine, a complete gym in one bundle.

The desk attendant passed a disapproving eye over the pile of personal belongings that Granny was bringing into the rest home, but dared not say anything because her family was rich and healthy, rich healthy people were good business. To look at Granny, you might wonder that she had ever had a sick day in her life. She stood all of five feet tall in her sockies and was slender and supple. The wrinkles on her round face were all that said that she might be a bit long in the tooth. She scampered after the truck crew like a youngster. She figured the sooner in, the sooner she could find a way out. She was leaving her farm in the country and would miss it dearly. Her sons would not get away with this. No, not Larry, Harry or Barry! She would disinherit the lot if she could not go back to her home! That’s what she would do. Sure it was lonely there, but she loved the hills covered with firs and the lake with its’ covey of wild mallards. She looked out the window of her new room. Nothing here but stuff from the tree nursery. Not a wild animal or even a bird! Just beyond the screen of shrubbery was a high brick wall. This place is more like a prison than a rest home, she thought.

Her sons interrupted her thoughts as each came to give her a hug, a kiss and a ‘Merry Christmas.’ They were fine tall boys, all of them. They all worked in the construction business and were doing mighty well, but it didn’t matter. No matter how much they might know about putting up million dollar buildings, they knew nothing about the needs of their old mother!

She worked quickly and efficiently, opening the boxes with things that she would need for the next few days and leaving the rest unopened. She took out her best gown to wear that night to dinner. She needed to size up the situation and one could never look too good when doing reconnaissance. At quarter to six, a mastiff came to her door with a wheel chair.

I will take you to your dinner and to meet the other guests, my lady, he said. Granny kicked the wheel chair aside and said, I have no need of that contraption. Put it where the sun don’t shine. She strode confidently down the corridor, her head held high, the orderly scampering along behind her with the wheel chair. But, madam. I am supposed to transport you to dinner! he protested.

She walked into the living room and let out a sigh of pain. There sat about forty old men and women, some asleep, some fumbling with their hands or whatever nervously, some sipping tea and exchanging gossip. So this is what my life has come to. There isn’t one person here who could get up from his or her chair and let out a whooping bellow, not a one that isn’t sitting on grease awaiting for death to push them into the grave! I’ll have to do something about this!

In one corner sat a lone Christmas tree, a few decorations slapped haphazardly on it by the attendants and a few presents shoved in one corner. Christmas was still over three weeks off, but it was not too early to celebrate. She knew how to enjoy Christmas, and this did not fit the definition at all. No one looked up when she came into the room. Several coughed terrible rheumy coughs, but that was all the life that she could discern in this bunch. Their eyes say clearly, ‘I am here waiting to die,’ when they should say, ‘I am here wanting to have the time of my life before it is too late!’

The big bruiser that had brought her to the living room took her around and introduced her to the ‘guests,’ but she saw them one and all as ‘inmates.’ She shook clammy hands and felt weak pulses, arteries clogged from too much sitting and waiting. They need to be out ‘doing,’ she thought.

Dinner that night was cardboard pork chops with fake potatoes, watery gravy and rock brownies for dessert. She hardly ate. For three grand a month, they are going to have to treat me better than this, she thought.

Granny bid her time for three days, but that was all that she could take. Old nurse Whoops came on at ten and she was the meanest old bat that ever walked without a broomstick. Granny took an instant disliking to her. She was brash, crude and unfeeling. When old Mrs. Wickins took sick at night, it was Granny who heard her and went to her aid. The nurse didn’t come until it was all over. Much good she is!

So Granny figured that she had to make her escape before Whoopsie came on duty at ten at night. That would be tough because all of the interns were still there at that hour and they would surely see her if she tried to scamper out the front door. Granny had decided to put on high heels to make her look taller and dress in jeans with a baseball cap like some delivery man. If she worked it right, she might be able to skip out the back door without being seen. After dinner, she put on her disguise and took a cart from the cart room. That way she would look like she was making a delivery and returning to her van. What she could not know was that there were no vans in the back at that hour of night. By nine o’clock, all of the delivery trucks had left. She made it through the door and out the front gate. Breathing heavily, Granny pulled her baseball cap down over her eyes and steamed down the sidewalk towards town. If she could only reach a cab before they missed her, she could be home in her own bed by midnight.

But luck was not with her. She hadn’t eaten much in the past three days and the smell of freshly baked bread came to her nostrils. She paused for a fateful second to determine where it was coming from. That’s where she was going! But half way to town, the biggest mastiff, as she called them, came panting up behind her, his white coat flapping in the breeze, and grabbed her by the seat of her jeans. Where are you off to, Granny? You know that residents are not supposed to leave without permission from the desk. Now be a good girl and come back with me.

There wasn’t any ‘good girl’ to worry about. The man had such a firm grip on her derriere that she could do nothing but walk where he pushed her. Back at the home, she was faced with a Mrs. Whoops who was livid with anger. She had just come on duty.

I’ll have you confined to your room for three days. You’ll be served your meals there with no visitors allowed. Do you understand? I want you to memorize the rules book while you are confined there. I will test you on it in three day’s time!" She handed Granny a book about an inch thick, titled, ‘Rules For Shady Nook – Heed Them or Be Forever Chastised.’

Granny had seen the book before and was not about to memorize any rules, let alone abide by them. Might as well use this time to good advantage. I am not going to get out of here by running, not unless I can increase my speed. If it had not been for that dratted bread, I might have had a chance! She sat in her room for three days, scowling and scheming. She decided to try to increase her running speed. When she was finally let out of the room, she cut loose at a great speed, sprinting around the halls at a speed that would have tired a teenager. The residents raised their eyebrows at her bizarre behavior. My! This is most irregular! said Mrs. Coots to Mrs. Trowe. But some of the men looked at her with a bit of admiration. She is surely a live wire, said Tim Rumple to Harry Hard. Yep, Sure is. I’d like to find out what makes her tick. There’s got to be some mighty powerful medicine in that there woman!

But the attendants were beside themselves. Rest homes were not places to practice for marathon running. They caught her and confined her once again. Old Whoops made sure that she stayed in for another three days.

Now Granny Fox was not a quitter. She worked out on her fancy gym and took her daily allotment of herbals and vitamins and was feeling better every day. One night when old nurse Whoopsie was sleeping in her chair, Tim and Harry came to Granny’s room. They asked to be admitted.

We come to see how you are doing, Tim said.

Yeah, we want to know how you keep so spry and chipper. What’s your secret dearie? said Harry.

There’s nothing to it. I exercise on this here machine and I take some essential vitamins and minerals every day. It keeps me fit, lads. That’s all there is to it.

Could we try your machine?

Be my guest, said Granny. Then a devilish thought occurred to her. Make it cost a little and they’ll appreciate it more. I usually rent the machine out at $2 per hour, she added.

Tim put his hand into his pajama pockets and pulled out a fiver. Here, will this do?

Just fine, lads. Here’s how it works. She stood back and watched the two men work out, a broad smile on her mischievous face. When their hour was up, they crawled back to their rooms, hands on backs, aching all over, but with a feeling that they might have gained a bit of muscle. I never even had muscles there where it hurts now, complained Tim." Granny had given them both some pep pills. That made the pain go away quickly and by morning, they were feeling like supermen. They began to talk to the other men at the home and before long, Granny had a waiting list of men signed up to use her miraculous machine, nearly twenty hours a day! She did not get much sleep, but it was paying off. The men were looking and feeling much better. She had to manage to smuggle the men into her room when the attendants were looking the other way, and that was a problem.

She slipped the women some vitamin pills and a little H.G.H. on the side and they were perking up too. Every one looked up to her because she had not a hint of ‘waiting to die’ about her. She was a breath of fresh air for anyone who would stop long enough to look at her. It was not long before some of the women wanted to have a go at the machine too. The men were parading about the living room, showing off their biceps. The attendants were mystified by their behavior and did not know quite what to make of it.

But Old Whoops was still a problem. She was within seconds of catching them each night. Something had to be done about her! Now to say that Granny was an, ‘operator,’ would be an understatement. She had already made friends with Mr. Crooks who drove the van to take the residents on outings. In fact, she had him wound around her little finger like a nice, tight ring. He could not get enough of Granny Fox and her escapades.

One night, just before Crooks went off duty, she approached him with some pep pills and asked if he would sneak her off to town.

‘I’d not try to run again Granny, if I were you. No telling’ what they’ll do to you this time. Old Whoops hasn’t much patience, you know."

Oh, I’m not going to run, Mr. Crooks, I’m going to a book store, that’s all.

Hmmm. Well, I guess I could, if you promise to come right back and not get me in any trouble.

Cross my heart, said Granny.

Once at the book store, Granny went straight to the clerk and asked for, a book on hypnotism, a good one, mind you.

The clerk handed her a book about an inch thick and asked for ten dollars.

Then she had Crooks take her to the local pound. She went in and selected fifteen kittens, all they had. Then she went to the grocery store for some kitten food and a few kitten toys. With this medicine in hand, a box full of bouncing, meowing kittens, she returned to the home. Smuggling the little whoopers into the home was not going to be easy. Whoopsie would surely spot her and put a whammy on the whole plan. But no matter. If she had to, she would let the little fellows out by her window and feed them from there. She managed to sneak in behind Crooks, mimicking his walk and sticking as close to him as his white coat would allow. She walked very carefully past Nurse Whoops’ desk. The old grouch was busy reading a raunchy magazine and did not hear her as she stealth-footed by. Once in her room, she let the kittens out and the place exploded into activity. The kittens were full of energy and would be great medicine for her friends. She fed them and then let them out the door one by one. They knew their work and would do it well. She was sure. She smuggled a litter box into the living area, behind the couch.

The next morning, she spotted a kitten on almost every bed on the first floor. The residents were having a ball playing with them. When the attendants came to shoo the kittens away and catch them to throw them outside, the residents set up such a wailing that the attendants decided to leave the little beasts alone. Besides, not one of the attendants had been able to catch a kitten! The little fellows knew who their friends were and would run and hide if they felt threatened by a woof in a white coat.

That night, Granny stayed up late listening to the men grunt as they worked out on the exercise machine and reading her book on hypnotism. Two days later, she thought that she had mastered the concepts. She tried looking in the mirror and wiggling her nose in a special manner and twirling her hair around her finger. She found that she could not take her eyes off the finger. I think it will work, by Jove, she exclaimed to herself with a beaming smile. It was early afternoon. She waltzed down to the kitchen and found little Luigi, the cook.

Little Luigi, she said as she twirled her hair seductively. I want a thick juicy steak tonight, smothered with mushrooms and real mashed potatoes with real gravy and carrots with lemon butter. All this time she wiggled her nose in that strange fashion and twirled her hair. Luigi looked most uneasy. He slid around to the other side of the table, slipped this way and that, but in the end, he agreed to give her what she wanted.

Granny had told no one of her plan. But she could hardly wait until dinner. She sat in her usual place, all a tingle with anticipation. If this only works! she thought.

The serving girl appeared at their table and ladled out the usual gruel. But when she came to Granny, she stopped and said, I believe that the chef has something special for you. He will bring it out in a moment.

Sure enough. Within three minutes, Little Luigi came strutting out into the dining area with a platter. On the plate was a large, juicy steak smothered with mushrooms and fluffy, white, real mashed potatoes with carrots in lemon butter! Granny let out a war whoop that brought the attendants running. They thought that someone had died at dinner, but she only smiled, showing her false teeth as she bit into the feast. Tom Deelite sat at her right and she whispered to him, We’ll all have a fine dinner tomorrow night. It’s a promise, Tom.

The others looked on with awe and some misgivings, but all of that resentment melted like butter in the August sun when the next night they all received a good plate of food, juicy fried chicken with gravy, real potatoes dripping with butter, peas with mushrooms and a fine chocolate cake with ice cream. Now it is only fair to say that when Granny first came to the home, there were many people who were refusing to eat, or who had to be hand fed. The attendants could not figure it out, but now everyone was able to feed themselves, most ate with gusto and they even cleaned their plates! Something was going on here, but no one seemed to know what it was. And they really didn’t want to know. The changed eating habits made a lot less work for the attendants, so who was to complain?