Stave the First
'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the gathering included Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and In-Laws and extended Stepfamilies.
Little ones were excited awaiting the "Jolly Old Elf ", while the adults were exhausted from their attempt at gratification of the changing wants of their offspring.
"I changed my mind. Get me a .... instead," was the name of the maddening song played over and over in the house as the day neared.
"Look at the cute mice in the 'Nutcracker'," Aunt Louisa exclaimed, "We were just so proud Samantha was Clara this year, and danced the entire part in pointe shoes!"
It was with syrup on her tongue that she spoke of her sweet hard working daughter, showing an album of pictures of her curly haired darling dressed in Victorian splendor, surrounded by bowing dancers in mouse costumes, dolls, and in ball gowns.
The Stockings Were hung By The Chimney With Care, but Aunt Louisa hit the last nerve of her brother, not in the Christmas Spirit. Having had some spirits, he entered with muscles tensed, smoke rising, red faced.
"So only your little Samantha is so special. Well, I am tired of this, seeing her photo Album shoved in our face, her performances talked about for hours. I brought Lucy and Dee's trophies and team photos. They won their soccer division this year. Let's talk turkey."
Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Samantha's head, while Dee and Lucy clattered and sprang into action.
"Let's go out in the yard and have a snowball fight."
"Like the Mouse King and the soldiers. Mano a Mano."
"Soccer against the Clara character, let's see what happens."
Mom in her kerchief, and I in my cap, arose to run out to the lawn.
Stave the Second
The Moon on The Breast of The New Fallen Snow
Gave the Lustre Of Midday to the children and adults in Christmas attire, making and stacking snowballs. The soccer team was gathering snow behind the side of the house, while Clara and the Nutcracker soldiers were out in the open dancing around.
"It's so lovely out here, I can just hear "Serenade for Strings" in my head playing!", and she did jetes across the yard.
"There is a beautiful dance of snowflakes in "The Nutcracker". Does anyone have music? I need music!!"
The soccer team snickered, and piled high their snowball supply, eager to get it on, and muscle their way into a new "special" Christmas story, and wipe Clara and that Nutcracker fame right out of the topic of conversation, for the present, and the future. In the future, the ONLY story would be: "How the Soccer Team Took Over The Nutcracker".
The Adults became children, making snowballs, piling them high, and getting garbage can lids to hold up as shields. Samantha was finally coerced into helping her side prepare, and the fight began with the muscle team throwing a surprise ambush.
Volleys of Snow , screams, crazy attacks with battery of bashing snow, running screaming retreats. Wild chases around the house, the wind blowing drifts of snow, the soldiers chased the soccer players. When their arms were depleted, they were chased by the Nutcracker soldiers. Back and forth flurries of action and then it was over. A little one pelted in the face was running crying to Mother.
Stave The Third
He Spoke Not a Word, but Went Straight To His Work. Laughter filled the yard, and someone called out,
"Hot cocoa, in the kitchen!"
"I'm freezing!"
"Is Abby all right?"
And as quickly as it all began, the animosity of the night became the past, and all we could think of was the joy of the fight. It was a new story, and it would stick to our bones, as we recalled the disaster of that Christmas Eve. Conflict resolution, sort of, but more than that, the ghost of our past sibling grudges come out at family gatherings. They come out to haunt us, and our children have not a clue what this is all about.
"I thought I danced so well," cries little Samantha. Her mother tries to comfort her, since it is so hard to explain that the dance she performed is not what caused the melay. It was years of unresolved issues between brother and sister. It may have been the fact that he had a hard day at work.
And we can now laugh, saying,
"God Bless Us, Everyone!"
And as they drive out of sight I can hear them say,
"Merry Christmas To All, And To All A Goodnight!"
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