Disclaimer: I don't own any of it.
Summary: This was originally going to be part of a series but I didn't like the first two chapters so it's stand alone but I might write another chapter.
It's set about 10/11 years into the future and I know most American schools have concerts for all faiths but I went to a catholic school in England so my speciality is nativity play (I was an angel and a soldier), so apologies for any inaccuracies.
Christmas Eve
"Martin, have you collected the mail today?" Sam yelled up the stairs.
"Yeah, it's in the dining room." His voice floated down the stairs.
Sam walked into the dining room and searched under piles of wrapping and tissue paper until she found the stack of mail. She immediately recognised the handwriting on the envelope, as Jack Malone's, her old boss and lover. Inside the cheery Christmas card read:
Dear Martin, Samantha and family,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hope everyone is well and congratulations on the new pregnancy. Life's going pretty well here in Chicago and Hanna started at Yale in the fall.
Best wishes, Jack, Hanna and Kate.
"Mom, Izzy's stolen my chocolate!" Yelled a voice from the living room.
Sam dropped the cards on the table and hurried through where she found 4 year old Grace stood with her hands on her hips frowning at 18 month old Isabelle who sat quite happily munching on a chocolate star, spreading most of it around her mouth.
"MOM!" Grace exclaimed. "She took my chocolate."
"She's only a baby, Gracie. Here have another one." Sam leant over and took a chocolate from the Christmas tree and handed it to her daughter. It was only Christmas Eve but she had already given up denying the children their treats. Suddenly, Martin popped his head around the door.
"Are you ready for the star of the nativity play?" He asked.
"Yes!" Shouted Grace.
In walked 6 year old Gabriel, dressed in one of Martin's beige T-shirts which reached his bare feet, a dressing gown cord tied around his waist and a tea-towel on his head.
"I'm a shepherd," he said, waving a toy sheep in the air.
"You looked great, Gabe." Sam said. "Now, do you remember your line?"
"Let's follow the star to find the king." He replied solemnly.
"That's great, come on now we better get going or we're gonna be late." Sam said.
15 minutes later, everyone was dressed in as many layers as possible and strapped into the car and they made their way to Gabriel's school. Once they'd dropped off Gabriel with his teacher they walked into the packed auditorium. Several rows from the front they saw a familiar face beckoning them.
"Hey you guys, I saved you a couple of seats." Danny Taylor yelled over the noise.
"Thanks." Martin said, after he and Sam had sat down on their seats, each with a little girl on their knee.
"So who is Gabe playing?" Danny asked.
"He's a shepherd."
"He didn't want to be the Angel Gabriel?"
"No, Mrs Andrews wanted him to be but he didn't want to wear the halo, he said it made him look like a girl. Who's Emily playing." Martin asked, Emily was Danny's daughter she was the same age as Gabriel, Danny was raising her alone since her mother had left them several months after Emily was born.
"She's the star." Danny replied, beaming with pride.
Suddenly the lights dimmed and the play began. It was a typical nativity play, one of the three wise men began to cry when he forgot his line, one of the donkey's fell asleep and Joseph spent the entire performance waving to his mother in the audience. When the lights went up Gabriel hurried over to his parents.
"How was I? Did you like it? I didn't forgot my line." He asked energetically.
"You were fantastic, Gabe." Martin replied. "I think Santa will definitely be leaving you something tonight."
"Yay!"
"Me too," Mumbled a sleepy Grace.
The Fitzgeralds packed into their car and wished Danny and his daughter Merry Christmas. They drove home and Martin carried their sleeping children into the house and to bed. They finished wrapping the presents and placed them under the tree. Finally they too went to bed. As Sam lay there she thought to herself, if someone had told her 10 years ago that she would have three children and be expecting her fourth she would never have believed them. However, she loved her life and her kids and she couldn't wait until the next morning when they find their presents under the tree.
Please review and I wonder if anyone could tell me if the Americans have Boxing Day.