Chasing Christmas

by Steven Hunt

  Turning toward the other direction, he saw Jane’s SUV. What did the dealer call it? A crossover or something like that? Part truck, part SUV, part car. Under the cold, white fluff, he wondered if snow catcher wouldn’t be a more suitable name.

  Parked next to Jane’s vehicle sat his 1967 Chevy Camaro. The snow blanketed the car he’d labored night and day for years to refurbish.

  He blinked as he grabbed the window sill with both hands. He gawked in disbelief at the mound of white as his breath caught in his throat. What was his car doing here? The last he’d seen the Camaro it had been soaring over the side of the mountain like a La Quebrada cliff diver in Acapulco. No! It couldn’t be! He clamped his eyes closed as his heart pounded against his chest. His mind buzzed, searching for anything that would explain how it came to be in his driveway. It was impossible! It had been annihilated. Destroyed beyond repair. Burned.

  Teddy peeked open his left eye. Then his right.

  He’d seen the destruction of his car with his own eyes. His depression-laced, fog-induced eyes.

  He needed a closer look.

  Teddy bolted to the bed and jabbed Jane awake before descending the stairs—barefoot—leaping two at a time. He flung open the door, his face catching a blast of freezing air. He scurried across the porch, bounding down the stairs as Mandy had done the night before. Slipping and sliding along the frozen sidewalk and leapfrogging drifts of snow, he kept his eyes frozen on the snow-shaped Camaro. His foot slipped as he neared the car, sprawling him onto the frigid hood.

  “How can this be?” he said aloud as his arms and chest lay on the gelid hood.

  Like a man possessed, Teddy hastily wiped, scraped, and chipped the frozen mixture from the car, revealing a sea of metallic blue underneath.

  He gasped.

  What was going on? Could this be someone’s idea of a cruel prank? No way this could be his car! Where was the damage? Where was the scorched paint? The crumpled frame?

  There had to be a clue for him to determine if this was the same car. A sign only he would know. His body shook as he remembered slight damage on the rear bumper from a previous collision with a metal shopping cart at Stop and Go Grocery. The cart had marred a deep scratch in the chrome bumper. The only way to repair the gouge had been to replace the entire bumper, something he couldn’t afford because of his financial woes. Now its very presence would either prove or disprove whether he was experiencing a mental breakdown—again.

  He shuffled through a knee-high snow drift to the rear bumper. He measured the area with his hand—perpendicular to the bottom edge of the taillight and sixteen inches toward the center of the car. He inhaled a deep breath. Fear gripped him. This mark would determine his sanity. His hand juddered as if affected by Parkinson’s Disease as he wiped and pried the cold, ice-crested snow away to reveal…

  Teddy’s eyes snapped wide. He tumbled backward, creating distance from the ghost car. Staring back at him was an abrasion in the shape of the eastern coastline of Florida, exactly like the one that had been on his car.

  No question. This was his car.

  “H-how can this be?” His voice trembled.

  “Teddy?” A faint voice called from direction of the porch.

  If he could somehow find Christy or Ezi or Yebo or Love, they would be able to explain this. They would have answers. He rolled onto his hands and knees, searching the tree line in the distance.

  “Teddy?” The voice called again, louder this time.

  Using the rear bumper of Jane’s SUV to pull himself to his feet, he stared at the evil scratch. Could this be another of Flagg’s tricks? No, Christy said Flagg lost all claim to him when he accepted the Truth. Still, anticipation built in him, waiting for the bumper to take on an animated life of its own, catapulting itself off the car to devour him.

  “Teddy, what are you doing out there?” Jane’s voice. She’d think he was nuts.

  He poked his head around the SUV and saw Jane standing on the front porch wearing a jade parka while holding a wool blanket. “What are you doing, Teddy?” A worrisome frown clouded her face.

  The world spun around him. He glanced from Jane to his car and back. Didn’t she see the car? How could she be acting so calm? Was he the only one able to see it?

  The biting cold wind blew through him as a chill of hysteria worked its way up from his feet. He looked down at his frostbitten feet, realizing that he’d run out of the house without a coat or shoes. The nail that would seal his commitment to the crazy farm.

  “Jane?” His voice sounded weak and confused, even to him.

  With careful steps, he weaved his way to the porch. She wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and rubbed his back, trying to warm him.

  He toddled into the house, leaving a trail of melting snow on the wooden floor.

  “What were you doing out there without a coat or shoes? You’ll catch a cold, for sure.”

  Astonished that she hadn’t mentioned his car in the driveway, he asked, “Didn’t you see the car?” His voice sounded more defensive than he intended.

  “What car?”

  “My car! The car I smashed seven days ago. You didn’t see it? It’s in the driveway!”

  Jane opened her mouth to reply as Mandy clomped down the stairs. Around her wrist shined her new bracelet.

  Teddy pointed. He grabbed Jane’s arm, pulling her toward the stairs and Mandy. He nabbed Mandy’s wrist. “See? I’m not crazy! That’s the bracelet I gave Mandy last night. The one Love gave me.”

  Jane answered, “Of course it is, honey.”

  Mandy, at the same time, said, “Who said you’re crazy?”

  Teddy collapsed on the bottom stair. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Then, what’s happening?”

  “Teddy, you’re frightening me.”

  “Daddy, are you OK?”

  “I’m wondering that myself, Mandy. I thought I was going bananas.” He stood and wrapped his arms around his daughter. “Then my wonderful daughter came bouncing down the stairs, wearing the bracelet I gave her, and the world has righted once again.”

  “Why did you think you’d gone crazy, Daddy?”

  He released Mandy and pointed toward the driveway. “Because my car—the car I trashed—is parked in the driveway. Without any damage.”

  “What? How can that be?” Jane hurried to the window. She pulled back the drapes. “Oh my goodness! How did that get here?” She covered her gaping mouth with her hand.

  “I don’t know.” He moved to the brick platform that housed the wood-burning stove. The wonderful smell of smoky fir filled the room as the heat warmed his back.

  “I can’t tell because it’s covered with snow…” she said still looking out the window, “…but it doesn’t look damaged at all.”

  “It’s not. I checked.”

  Jane spun toward him. Her frown added to the concern showing in her eyes. “Teddy, what’s going on?”

  He shook his head. “Honey, I don’t know. But if anyone is going insane, we all are.”

  He heard the sound of stomping feet on the porch before the ding dong of the doorbell chimed throughout the house. He looked at Jane, who shrugged. Mandy, still in her pajamas, ran up the stairs.

  Teddy strode to the door, wondering who could be calling on Christmas Day. Jane stood behind him, gripping his elbow, as he opened the door.

  Hunched at the waist, trying to block the frigid north wind and dressed in a navy parka with a Russian Federation-style wool cap covering his ears, Pastor Joseph grinned. His gloved hands hugged his chest. “Merry Christmas, Whitakers.” His voice quivered.

  “Merry Christmas, Pastor,” Jane replied. “Won’t you come in and warm yourself?”

  “Oh, thank you very much. I admit that I’m a tad cold.”

  “What brings you out this way, Pastor?” Teddy cut off the cold as he closed the door. He remembered meeting Joseph on several occasions at the local café.

  “I just stopped by to invite your family to our Christmas Eve ser
vice this evening.” Joseph said, shedding his coat.

  “You mean the Christmas Day service, don’t you?” asked Teddy.

  Joseph’s face contorted. “Uh…no. Today is Christmas Eve. We usually don’t have services on Christmas Day so families can spend the holiday together.” A smile replaced his frown. “Tonight’s potluck will be in celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?”

  “But, today isn’t—” Teddy started. He caught Jane’s glare.

  “Thank you, Pastor,” she said. “We would love to be there. You didn’t drive all the way out here just to invite us, did you? You could have called.”

  Joseph waved her question away. “It’s what I do. I’m trying to start a new tradition of personally inviting members of our congregation to our holiday services. To let people know I’m approachable while maintaining a small country church atmosphere. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get my yearly fill of hot chocolate in one day!” He chuckled.

  “Speaking of that, would you like a cup of coffee or hot tea to warm you now?” Jane asked. Teddy stood amazed at his wife’s calm demeanor when a gigantic mystery happened to be parked outside.

  “No, thank you. I was only teasing. Please forgive the briefness of this visit.” He shrugged into his parka. “I wish there was more time to spend with your wonderful family, but I still have many other stops to make if I’m going to get back to the church in time for the service.” He chuckled as he crammed his hat onto his head. “Christmas waits for no man. See you tonight, then.”

  “What’s going on, Teddy? Why did Pastor Joseph think today is Christmas Eve?” Jane asked after Joseph left.

  “I don’t know,” he said as he walked to the television. “Everything is too confusing. Let’s see what day the news claims today to be.” He pressed the power button on the remote. The television flickered to life.

  Mandy bounded down the stairs, her damp hair gathered in clumps along her shoulders sans purple streak. “Who was at the door?” The charm bracelet tinkled on her wrist.

  “Pastor Joseph,” Jane answered, her gaze on the television.

  “What’d he want?”

  “Look at this,” Teddy said, pointing to the top of the screen. Not finding the date among the announcements, Teddy had pushed the information button on their remote. He now pointed to the date in the upper left corner. December 24.

  “How can that be?” Jane asked.

  “It’s as if yesterday never happened.” Mandy stopped beside her mother to stare at the television.

  If yesterday hadn’t happened, had his journey also not happened? Had Ezi, Yebo, and Love only been a dream? Did he really crash his Camaro? Did Christy exist?

  The charm bracelet on Mandy’s arm contradicted his thoughts. He’d just defeated the fog of confusion, and he wasn’t about to allow it to return. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I know someone who does.” He walked to the alcove where the family’s coats hung on pegs. He slid his arm into the sleeve.

  “Where’re you going, Daddy?” Mandy’s lip quivered. Her eyes grew round and worried.

  “To find Christy. She’ll know why we’re reliving today.”

  “No!” Mandy screamed. “You can’t leave!” She pushed her face into Jane’s shoulder. Jane wrapped her arms around their daughter. Her muffled voice cried, “Mom, tell him he can’t go.”

  Teddy stopped with one arm in the coat. His heart dropped.

  “Teddy, do you have to go?” Jane’s eyes begged him to stay. “Now?” She glanced at Mandy.

  He nodded. “If we want to know why.”

  Jane turned Mandy’s face where she could wipe her tears. “Then, you can’t go out there like that. You’re still in your lounging pants and you’re not wearing any shoes.”

  Teddy looked his feet. She was right.

  Once dressed to weather the freezing temperature, he hurried down the stairs. Jane and Mandy hadn’t moved. Teddy kissed the top of Mandy’s head. “Sweet pea, I have to go if we want answers. I won’t be gone more than a couple of hours.” He cupped Mandy’s face in his hands. “I will be coming back. Don’t worry.”

  Mandy lifted her puffy eyes to him. “Promise?”

  He smiled. “Scout’s honor.” He held up three fingers.

  “Can I go with you?”

  “I don’t think so, honey. Flagg is no longer a threat—Christy saw to that. But there are other bad men like Flagg out there just waiting for their chance. I can’t risk anything happening to you.”

  “Then why are you going?”

  “Honey, because I have to. My days of not protecting you and Mom are over. My days of running are over. Because of my unconditional love for you”—he touched the golden charm on her bracelet—“sometimes I’ll have to do things neither of us like in order to protect you.”

  “But who’ll protect you?”

  He smiled. “God won’t allow Flagg to hurt me. And like He does for the birds and deer, the Truth will watch over me.”

  “Two hours?” Jane asked.

  He nodded. “No more.”

  ****

  Teddy walked to the edge of the woods before turning to face his home. His heart writhed with love for his wife and daughter. He could just make out their shapes on the porch. The Christmas lights blinked in rhythm with “Jingle Bells.”

  Jin-gle bells, jin-gle bells, jin-gle all the waay…

  He turned to the forest, stepping into the thick underbrush. Back to where he’d come.

  34

  Teddy walked several hundred yards into the light-deprived woods before coming upon an area void of trees and foliage. “Where did this clearing come from?” he asked aloud turning around in a tight circle. He’d previously hiked through this section of woods and didn’t recall an open area ever being here.

  He tramped to the farthest edge before turning around. “Christy? Christy, are you here? Christy, I need you!”

  Teddy stopped, listening. The only sound came from the north wind blowing through the tops of the trees, rustling the branches.

  He sat on the ground, folding his legs under him. He examined the ground in front of him. Did he really expect to find her? A tiny angel in a huge forest? She could be standing within fifty yards, and he’d not be able to see her.

  A scent of peaches and lilacs flittered by his nose. His head shot up.

  “Is there a problem, Teddy?” Christy stood on the far edge of the clearing wearing the same white and pink dress.

  “Sort of.” He stood. “Well, less of a problem and more of a question.”

  “Teddy, while it is true that I was sent to help you, you now have the Truth within you. You have access to Someone more powerful than me. I am nothing compared to Him. You should have called Father.”

  “But you said if I needed you again—”

  “This is true. I said that. Now I am saying that you should call Father first. He loves His children and seeks relationships with them. He will direct you. If He needs me to intervene, He will instruct me.”

  Teddy nodded. A sheepish grin crossed his lips.

  “But here I am, so what is your question?”

  “Am I going crazy?”

  “What do you mean?” She tilted her head.

  “Last night—Christmas Eve—I returned home. I know that’s true ‘cause you were with me. I had a wonderful reunion with my wife and daughter. I gave them the gifts.” Christy smiled. “This morning I wake up and I’m thinking it’s Christmas Day—like it should be. But when Pastor Joseph stopped by to invite us to a Christmas Eve service, I thought either he was wrong about the date or I must be going crazy. Yesterday was Christmas Eve, wasn’t it? But even the television claims that today is Christmas Eve—one day before I returned home.” His brows shot up.

  “Also my car—the one I wrecked—is parked in my driveway…without any damage! How can that be?” Teddy paced back and forth in front of her, twisting his hands.

  “Did last week happen? I mean, did I actually
meet Ezi, Yebo, and Love? Did they really teach me about faith, hope, and love? Did I see the Truth’s love at work in a field by Ezi’s house? Or hope in the eyes of a self-confessed killer? Did a warrior of this world in fact teach me about unconditional love?” He knelt on one knee in front of her and allowed his head to drop. “Or was it all just a dream?” He took a hesitant look up to her face.

  Christy smile broadened. “Teddy, if you are not sure you met your teachers, why did you come looking for me? Would I also not exist? Would you have also only dreamt of me?” She stepped closer to him. “You, Jane, and Mandy are not insane. Last week happened. The Truth lives in you.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “But your family and you are the only ones who will remember it—hold this gift close to your hearts. The Truth has blessed each of you with the ability to recall everything so you can remember your lessons. As far as everyone else, they know nothing of this. To them today is Christmas Eve.”

  “But it seems as if time stood still. How is that possible?”

  “This is not the first time Father has chosen to stop time. Everything is possible with the Truth including stopping the sun.”

  “What about my car? I crashed it almost a week ago. I saw it! It was demolished.”

  She shook her head. “Teddy, I realize these things are difficult to comprehend. It is not our place to understand everything the Truth decides to do. Nothing is impossible for Him. So, if everyone is unaware of your accident, your time away from Jubilee, and of the things you saw and learned, how would you explain the condition of your car if no one knows of your journey? You must trust that the Truth’s choices are for your best.”

  Teddy lifted his head. “You’re right. It would be confusing trying to explain a crashed car when no one knows of the…um, accident.” He rubbed his chin.