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On Christmas Day, Nathan and Rachel were both playing with the toys they received from Santa. It was another busy and wondrous December, filled with all the traditions they looked forward to every year.
Their parents were getting ready for the big holiday dinner. Nathan's father brought in extra tables and chairs from the garage, while his mother basted the turkey roasting in the electric roaster in the mud room. Their mother always put the roaster outside the kitchen so there was more room for cooking and people.
Nathan's mother made the turkey, potatoes, dressing, gravy, dinner rolls, and the relish trays. Everyone coming to the dinner brought something they cooked for the meal, which their mother referred to as a potluck.
As the arrival time neared, the family turned on all the Christmas lights and dressed up in their best holiday clothes. Nathan and Rachel both received new clothes as a Christmas present from their parents. Rachel put on her new dress while Nathan dressed up in his new red pants and green sweater. It had started to snow, and the new sweater would keep him warm.
Grandpa Joe and Mr. Edwards were the first to arrive at the house. Nathan and Rachel stood aside as Grandpa followed the wheel chair into the house. Rachel remembered she wasn't supposed to stare, but she couldn't help it. She had never seen anyone in a wheel chair before and was curious about the chair and how Mr. Edwards made it go.
Mr. Edwards was very kind and patient with Rachel, showing her everything she wanted to know. Soon all the aunts, uncles, and cousins arrived, and Nathan and Rachel ran off to play and examine the new toys everyone received from Santa.
Nathan's mother called everyone into dinner. The family members stood in a circle holding hands, while Nathan's father said the dinner thanks. Nathan told the kids to follow him to the small tables while the adults sat at the big table.
As they were sitting down, Nathan's cousin Brian loudly blurted out, "What about that wheel chair guy. Where's he going to go? He can't sit at the big table if he can't sit in a chair."
Nathan stared at Brian in paralyzed shock; he didn't know what to do. Thinking about the situation, he realized Brian didn't know about kindness and consideration. Nathan looked over at his parents for a clue of what comes next, while Rachel blurted out her own slipup.
"He doesn't have legs, so he can't sit in a big chair," she shouted at Brian, as she attempted to explain what she had been told by her parents.
"I know that, Rachel. I can see he doesn't have legs," Brian said, exasperated.
Nathan's parents took control of the situation by explaining that Mr. Edwards could sit at the big table in his wheel chair. "In fact, we have already cleared a space for him," he explained.
Mr. Edwards thanked Nathan's father and wheeled himself to the appointed spot. With Mr. Edwards comfortably situated at the big table, the remaining adults joined him and began chatting about the wonderful smells of the various dishes on the table.
With the big Christmas blunder deflected, everyone enjoyed the holiday dinner and the warm company of their family. It was truly a very Merry Christmas.
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Copyright 2013 Sandra L. Portman
Illustrations by Sandra L. Portman
Character Images Iryna Novytsky (123rf.com)
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Nathan & Rachel - The BIG Christmas Blunder Page 3