by Patricia Fry
“Oh?”
“Yes, it will be another magical Christmas. Last year, I got Angel kitty and a forever home with my grandparents. This year, I’m getting the final surgery on my legs. I’m going to the hospital Monday.”
“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful. So you’re excited?”
“Yes, who wouldn’t want to run and play like the other children do? I know it won’t be fun, having more surgery and waiting for more healing, but I just keep thinking about what comes next—healthy legs that actually work.” She paused. “Savannah, that means no more wheelchair, no more sitting out when my friends are playing kickball, no more clumsy me.”
“I’m so happy for you, honey. I’ll be praying for a fast recovery.”
“Thank you,” Marissa said. She added, “It sounds noisy there. Are you home? What’s all that noise?”
“We’re celebrating Lily’s birthday today. She’s two. Oh, by the way,” Savannah said, “she sure loves the card you sent her on her actual birthday. She still carries it around. When I ask her who sent it to her she goes to your picture in our bedroom, points at it, and says, ‘Risa’”
“How cute.”
“How’s Erin, honey?”
“Oh, my sister? She’s great. She’s going to college, you know and working. Did you know we each have our own beds…even our own rooms? Remember when we used to share a bed?”
“Sure do. You are two very lucky girls, aren’t you?”
“I thank God every single day,” Marissa said. She paused. “So today is Lily’s birthday party?”
“Yes. We’re celebrating her birthday a little late this year. All of your friends are here—Detective Craig and Iris, Aunt Maggie, Adam…”
“Adam’s there? Can I talk to him?” Marissa asked.
“Sure can. Let me go find him. Before I let you go, I just want to say I’m so happy to hear from you. Thank you for staying in touch. I love your letters and emails. And I will be praying as you have the surgery.”
“I wish you could be here with me like you were last Christmas when I got myself in such a mess. Oh! Oh! I don’t want to forget to ask, how’s my hero? I sure miss him.”
“Rags? He’s fine. He misses you, too.” Savannah paused. “Oh, there’s Adam. Let me give him the phone. I love you, honey. Hug Erin for me and you take care, okay? Have your grandparents call me after the surgery, will you do that?”
“Yes. We’ve already talked about that. Love you, too.”
Savannah handed Adam the phone. “It’s a good friend of yours,” she said, smiling.
“Hello,” he answered hesitantly into the phone. Then he shouted, “Marissa, hi!” He looked around. “Hey, I’m going to go where it’s quiet so we can talk. We’re having a big party here. What are you doing?” he asked as he trotted toward his room.
“I think we’re ready for cake,” Michael said cheerfully as he approached Savannah. When he noticed her demeanor, he asked, “What’s the matter, hon? Is Marissa okay?”
She nodded and dabbed at one eye. “Yeah. I just miss her, that’s all. Michael, she’s going in for the final surgery Monday. Gosh, I hope it’s successful.”
“Come on, you’ve talked to her family. They said the doctor has high hopes for her. He practically promised Marissa will be walking normally to accept her sixth-grade diploma in the spring.”
“Yeah, and dance at her wedding and…”
“Her wedding?” Michael said. “She’s only ten.”
“Eleven,” Savannah corrected. “I’m just saying Marissa has such a bright future ahead of her.”
“And all because of your cat,” Craig said, approaching the couple. He choked up a little. “That was some miracle. That little girl is a miracle.” He carefully removed something from his shirt pocket. “Look what she sent me this week.”
“What?” Savannah asked, taking the folded piece of paper. She opened it and smiled. “Is this you, Craig?”
“Yes, she drew me surrounded by all three of my cats.”
“Very nice. I’m glad you’re still in touch with her.”
“Oh yes, she sends us something either in the mail or in an email just about every week. You, too?” he asked.
“Yes, and she never forgets to include a note to Rags in her letters. She’s always begging for pictures of him and stories about him.”
Craig chuckled. “You have stories to tell this month.”
Savannah nodded, then she glanced around the room. “Where’s our birthday girl? Let’s cut the cake and sing the happy birthday song.”
“Last time I saw her,” Gladys said, “she was holding baby Charlie.”
Savannah smiled. “She sure loves that little boy.” She looked concerned. “But isn’t he getting a little big for her to manage on her lap?”
“Leah and Harrison are right there with her,” Gladys said. She laughed. “Charlie kept trying to pull the ribbon out of Lily’s hair.”
“I hope someone got a picture of that,” Rob said.
Savannah grinned at him. “Always looking for the shot, aren’t you?”
“Who’s looking for the shot?” Shelly asked when she joined the group.
“Hi, girlfriend,” Savannah said, pulling her close by the shoulders. “This is Rob, our videographer for the documentary. Rob and Cheryl, this is my friend, Shelly, a wonderful photographer.”
“Nice to meet you. What do you shoot?” Rob asked.
“Will you excuse me?” Savannah said, “I’d better help get the cake ready to serve.” Before walking away, she added, “Tune your voices, we’ll be singing the birthday song in a few minutes.”
****
By four that afternoon, most of the guests had left. Those remaining sat in the living room amidst a mound of new toys and a pile of size-two clothes.
Savannah sighed. “I should have asked for no gifts. Where are we going to put all this stuff?”
“How about in Lily’s room?” Adam suggested as he sat on the floor with the toddler playing with a couple of her toys.
“Then where would she sleep?” Michael quipped.
Adam was quiet for a moment, then peered up at his dad and asked, “Do you think all those people would like to come to my birthday party?”
Michael smirked playfully at his son.
“This was really nice,” Gladys said. “I always enjoy catching up with family and your friends. Harrison’s and Leah’s little boy sure is cute. He doesn’t look like he has Downs.” She hesitated, then added, “Well, not as much as some children I’ve seen.”
“So far, he seems rather advanced for a Downs child,” Colbi said. “Isn’t he a cutie? I can’t wait for the day when Charlie and Rosemary can play together—two little cousins playing together. Don’t you love it?”
Savannah smiled at the thought. Then, with a hint of urgency, she said, “Oh, listen up, guys. Pastor Sheila wants me to get a head count.”
“For what this time?” Craig grumbled. “I can’t eat any more cake today.”
“No, silly,” Savannah said. “To feed the homeless.”
“Again?” Craig complained. “Been there, done that. Stick a fork in me ’cause I’m done.”
Iris fawned over her husband. “Yeah, it didn’t end very well for you last time.”
“But that didn’t actually have anything to do with feeding the homeless, did it?” Michael asked.
“Yeah, it did. Those knuckleheads were there. They laid in wait for me to leave. Yeah, it stemmed from that, all right,” Craig groused. After thinking about it, however, he added, “But I guess it wasn’t the time and place that was the problem. They were out to get me and it could have happened anywhere.”
Savannah stared at Craig for a minute, then said, “Well, Michael and I and Adam are going to help on Christmas.” She turned to Gladys. “I think Mom’s joining us, aren’t you?”
She nodded.
“I’d like to do it,” Max said. He nudged his wife. “What about you
, Maggie?”
Margaret looked at Colbi, then Brianna. “Only if I can be playground monitor again with those two.”
“That’s a good girl. So you’ve gotten over your fear of the homeless, have you?” Savannah asked.
“Well, I can’t say that. But I had fun in the little kids’ playground. Yeah, I’d do that again.”
“What does it mean ‘feeding the homeless?’” Adam asked. “Can’t they feed themselves?”
Savannah started to respond, when Margaret interrupted. “Of course, they can feed themselves,” she said, laughing. “You don’t have to spoon-feed them. It’s just that some of them are too lazy to go out and work for money to buy food, so the community has to cook for them.”
“Oh, Auntie, that’s harsh. Most of them are sick, don’t you think so or they’ve hit on hard times…had some bad luck and need temporary help.”
“Yeah,” Margaret said, “sick with alcoholism and a drug habit or they’re mental,” she said, tapping herself on the head.
Michael addressed his son. “Adam, these people, for whatever reason, need our help. Some of them have children who won’t have Christmas dinner or even get any presents if someone doesn’t step forward to help them.”
“We’re going to give them presents?”
“Sure we are. Hey, maybe you can help with that,” Savannah suggested.
Adam’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, I’d like to do that.” He frowned. “Would I have to dress up like an elf? Marissa said she took presents to some poor kids and she wore an elf costume.” He then asked, “Hey, I won’t have to give away my presents, will I?” When Michael looked puzzled, Adam continued, “Marissa said she gave those kids some of her Christmas presents.”
“What?” Savannah questioned. “Those she didn’t like?”
“No,” Adam said, wide-eyed. “Her grandparents gave her permission to choose any presents from under their tree with her name on them for unfortunate kids.”
“Less fortunate,” Michael corrected.
“Yeah, that’s what I said, unfortunate.”
Savannah smiled. “That’s our Marissa. I sometimes wonder how God managed to fit such a big heart into such a tiny body.”
“Adam, I’ll contact Pastor Sheila,” Michael said, “and tell her you’d like to help with the gifts. I’ll make sure you get on the morning shift, since your mom’s picking you up around noon.”
“Cool,” Adam said.
Michael continued telling Adam, “Now, I can’t promise anything. If that doesn’t work out, we’d like you to help serve the food, okay? Or you can work with me in the veterinary clinic.”
The boy nodded.
“Well, I’ll be there,” Iris said, “even if old Grumpy Pants doesn’t want to help this time.”
“Me, too,” Brianna said. “I already told Pastor Sheila I’d help in the little tots’ playground again with Aunt Maggie and Colbi.” She looked at Colbi. “Will you be able to find a babysitter?”
Colbi glanced at Craig. “Maybe Grumpy-Pants Grandpa will watch over Rosemary—walk her when she cries, feed her, change her diapers…”
“Hold on there,” Craig complained. “I think I’d rather do the homeless thing.”
“What?” Damon asked, appearing insulted. “You’d rather be with the homeless than with our daughter?”
“Well…” Craig looked sheepish. “I sure do love that little girl when she’s all cleaned up, fed, happy, and snuggling in my arms. But all the work to get her that way—yeah, I’m not sure I could handle that on my own. Thanks anyway.”
By then everyone was laughing.
“We’d better get our little one home,” Colbi said.
Iris patted Craig on the knee. “Yeah, I’d better take Grumpy Pants home too.”
“Can you quit saying that?” Craig carped. “I said I’d help.”
Margaret stood and looked across the room at Brianna, then at Gladys and Savannah. “Are we going to lunch tomorrow?”
“Sure are,” Brianna said. “After church—right gang?”
“Oh, that’s right. Tomorrow is Sunday,” Savannah said. “Okay, see you all at church.”
****
“So is everyone tucked in?” Michael asked later that evening.
“Yup. Mom said she wanted to read a little before lights out.” Savannah swooned. “What a nice day.”
“It sure was.” He looked at her. “How are you feeling? It was a long day, too.”
“Wonderful,” she said. “I love, love, love having these gatherings and I’m so glad we have room here to entertain.”
“And all the help from Helena and her family.”
“Yes. Aren’t they great?” She looked at him. “I hope they didn’t feel as much like help today as they did family. They’ve become family, you know. I mean, they’ve been with us since before Lily was born and with my aunt for years before that.”
“Family is really important to you, isn’t it? Do you think that’s because of your condition?”
“My condition?”
“Because you’re pregnant. Is it typical for a woman to feel such a need for family when she’s expecting?” he asked.
She mulled over his comment. “Michael, in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve always appreciated family and close friends. It’s not something new, as if I just woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, I think I’ll start loving my family.’”
“Awww, hon, I didn’t mean…”
“Then what did you mean?” she insisted.
He started to explain, then changed his mind. “I guess nothing. It was just a comment. I didn’t mean anything by it.” When she didn’t respond, he took her hand in his. “I know you’ve always valued family. I think it’s wonderful. I’m grateful for our family, too. You, our children, your mom, aunt, sister…you all mean the world to me.”
Savannah sat quietly for several minutes petting Buffy, who was curled up next to her on the sofa. After a while, she said, “Michael, why won’t you tell me anything about your family?”
He stiffened. “I have nothing to tell, Savannah. My parents and my grandparents are gone. I have no aunts or uncles to my knowledge. There’s no one. Your family is my family now. Can’t we just leave it at that?”
She smiled at him in anticipation. “Tell me about your childhood. What was your childhood like?”
He let out a sigh. “I liked riding my bicycle. I had a dog. Well, I had several dogs over the years. I’ve always loved animals—mine and those in the neighborhood.”
She put her head on his shoulder and asked quietly, “Who were your playmates?”
“Oh, let’s see, Jimmy, April, Ronnie.”
More interested now, she asked, “What did you like to do together with your friends?”
“We rode our bikes, played football and baseball.” He chuckled. “April made us play dress-up sometimes.”
“Dress-up?” she asked. “Like kings, queens, superheroes…?”
“Cowboys. The only costume I’d wear was my cowboy hat.”
“Did you go on family vacations to theme parks and zoos?”
He smiled. “I loved going to the zoo. My grandfather took me a couple of times.”
“What about your parents? Where did they take you?”
“Oh, to a movie now and then. We went out for pizza sometimes. We took a few road trips.”
Savannah smiled down at Buffy, who was purring contentedly, then said, “Tell me about your parents, Michael. Would I have liked them? Would they like me?”
“Oh, well, they were plain folks. Didn’t have much. I imagine my father really scrimped and saved in order to buy me that secondhand bicycle. Mom was pretty. She worked at a local hotel, first in housekeeping. When I was in junior high, she advanced into concierge. She died young. Dad was a hard worker—a nine-to-five guy—a company man. He didn’t live to earn that gold watch, but he was loyal. Didn’t have much going on in his world outside of work.”
; “Why do you think it was that you had no siblings?” she asked. When he didn’t respond, she pulled back and looked at him. “Michael?”
“You know, I’m kind of tired. Let’s go to bed, shall we?”
“Yeah, I guess. Okay.” Savannah picked Buffy up and snuggled with her. “Night-night, sweet girl.” She looked around the room. “Where are Rags and Walter?”
“You know where Walter is,” Michael said. “He’s always on his chair.”
She peered toward the plum-colored chair. “No, he’s not there. He must be getting a snack or a sip of water.” She placed Buffy on the sofa and headed for the kitchen. “There you two are,” she said. “And Lexie.” She lowered her brow. “What are you all doing?”
Michael walked up behind her and flipped on the kitchen light. “A mouse!” he exclaimed. “It just ran into the pantry.”
“Oh no!” She watched as the two cats raced toward the pantry and laughed when she saw Lexie slip and slide, trying to get traction on the tile floor. “Get the net!” she shouted.
But when Michael opened the pantry door and reached for the small net, the two cats and the dog all lunged into the pantry at once.
“Look out!” Savannah said, when Lexie skidded into Walter and knocked him off his feet. When she saw the cat hiss and spit at the dog, who had backed out of the pantry with her tail between her legs, Savannah cooed, “Oh, Walter, she didn’t mean it.” She petted him. “You’re okay, old boy.”
Rags, meanwhile, frantically pushed his way between several boxes of cereal on a low shelf in the pantry, knocking over a tall container of oatmeal in the process.
“Rags,” Savannah said, moving toward him, “just leave that poor little mouse alone. Dad will catch him and put him outside.”
“I will?” Michael said. “He’ll just come back in, Savannah.” He paused. “…and bring his family.”
“Oh, well, I don’t want Rags to hurt him,” she said, picking up the cat.
What happened next surprised everyone—human and animal alike. “As Rags struggled to get out of Savannah’s grip, Michael held Lexie back, and Walter sat outside the pantry door staring anxiously for another glimpse of the rodent, Buffy ambled into the room. She sat down near Walter and peered into the pantry for a few seconds, then without warning, leaped into the air and dove at something on the floor. She spun around a couple of times, pounced, then calmly sat back and stared at the others, a stunned mouse dangling from her mouth.