Help...Christmas!

By Clayton Rather

On Christmas Eve Josh prays, "Please God, make Christmas forever." A sudden flash of light fills his room, then blinks out. But next day the wonder of Christmas erases all memories of the previous night. Everyone goes to bed happy and tired.
The following morning Josh wakes, again, at six a.m.; he never rises early on a holiday! But since he was awake he might as well go through the living room to the kitchen. When he sees the living room, however, he freezes! What_ happened? he gasps.
Designed to entertain as well as educate and provoke thought, this story provides a resource for not only children, but for parents, teachers, or adults wishing to impart a similar message.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 20, 2007
• ISBN: 9781465326416

Clayton Rather

The daughter of an Air Force Officer, SANDRA-SHARP ZUCKERMAN has traveled to many states; worked in Europe several years; and speaks three languages. Sandra has poetry published by the "International Library of Poetry"; and was one of 24 commissioned to write a Post 9-11 song for the 2003 CD "Land That I Loye^" When she and husband Harry returned to the U.S. she became an officer with the Oceanside Police Department Reserves for 8h years. She loves kids, and earned the title "The Bird Lady" by teaching care for America's birds. They live in Boise, Idaho, and volunteer in the Foster-Dog Rescue Program with the Idaho Humane Society.

Book preview

HELP . . . CHRISTMAS!

A perfect Christmas day . . . to last forever; that’s what Josh had wished for; forever Christmas and a perfect holiday for himself, his younger siblings Brendon and Emily—and of course for Mom and Dad, for all time.

It would be great . . . No one would have to work; everything already done and in place and perfect. That wasn’t so bad, was it? A day for everyone when everything was wonderful and nothing went wrong.

If only Josh and his friend a few houses down hadn’t prayed so hard on Christmas Eve . . .

CHAPTER ONE

Josh clasped his hands tightly together and screwed up his eyes in fervent prayer. He was kneeling on his bed, ready to try to get to sleep, which would be difficult. For though it was dark it was only 7:30 p.m. It was 7:30 p.m. and it was Christmas Eve. He and his younger brother Brendon were in a euphoria of anticipation, and Josh was wishing with all his heart. "Please God, please make Christmas every day. Oh I love it so much!"

He opened his eyes and looked happily around the room at the little decorations he and Brendon had put up over the past few days. There were the red-and-green paper chains with silly faces drawn on them and which were now looped over their headboards. And on the bureau was Josh’s pride and joy: Santa’s Snap-Together Christmas Sleigh Set featuring all eight reindeer that clicked into place in pairs of two. The names of the reindeer were stitched in tiny lettering on the multi-colored blankets draped across their backs. He remembered having to check the directions to find out why one pair didn’t fit behind any of the others. It was the Donder and Blitzen pair, which were larger than the others . . . and the reason they didn’t snap-together was because, according to the pamphlet, they were biggest and the leaders of the team of eight, and went in the very front.

"Josh . . . Josh, did you read this part? asked Brendon excitedly. He was holding the Donder and Blitzen pair in his hand and continued reading the instructions that were spread out on his bed along with the box they came in. It says here, and he used a finger of his other hand to follow the words as he slowly read out loud: . . . not only are Donder and Blitzen the largest and leaders of the mighty and magical team of eight, their names are magical too. They mean ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lightning!’ ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lightning’ Josh! He raised an excited face to his brother, then looked down at the pair still in his hand. Wow, he whispered, that is magical! Don’t ya’ think?"

Huh? Oh, yeah . . . I guess. Josh was immersed in putting the final touches to the set. He reached over and grabbed the last pair out of Brendon’s hand and slowly . . . slooowly . . . careful now . . . PLICK! The leaders snapped into place, and the set was complete.

The boys stood back and looked at the finished product. The dark eyes of the reindeer glittered in the light, and the golden sleigh packed with presents and a red velvet-clad Santa proved a handsome adornment to their room.

Yeah. said Josh looking over at Brendon, who was smiling broadly. "Yeah, it is magical, Bren. It surely is." Armed with this kind and other wonderful knowledge immersed Josh even deeper into the Christmas spirit!

Most exciting, however, under his bed Josh had stashed his own gifts for Mom, Dad, Brendon, and little sister Emily—all heavily wrapped, scotch-taped, and ribboned—which he would bring out tomorrow when the family was together opening their presents around the lifelike family-heirloom tree; brought out each year and decorated with ornaments, garlands, tinsel, twinkling lights, and topped with a lighted plastic angel. It stood quietly now, glittering in the darkened living room. A matching plastic wreath entwined with the same decorations as the tree welcomed friends and neighbors at the front door. And tonight . . . oh tonight! . . . Santa Claus will cover the floor under the tree with colorful wrapped surprises bedecked with ribbons and bows.

He lightly licked his lips with his tongue and was rewarded with the heavenly aftertaste of creamy eggnog, which the family had after dinner in what they called the ceremony of the nog. With great pomp Dad would bring their best glass bowl decorated with sprigs of plastic holly and swirled to the brim with creamy, rich eggnog, and set it on the lacey vinyl placemat on the dining room table. Then he ladled some into the matching glass cups (plastic for Emily), at which time they all clinked their cups together and wished everyone a wonderful family Christmas.

Loony-Tunes, their small fuzzy pure-bred mutt, had been bouncing on his hind legs ever since Dad began filling the cups. Now Dad ladled a portion into a saucer which Brendon set down onto the floor. Loony started lapping before the saucer hit the ground, then plunged his entire snout into the drink and slurped it like a water-buffalo. Droplets went rocketing from each side of the saucer while the family stood and watched with amazement. When he finally raised his head—after trying to lick the finish off the saucer—they saw he had a white circle surrounding his shiny black nose, and droplets dripped off his whiskers. He appeared