As part of my tradition of writing holiday stories every year, I decided to go a bit different this year. Rather than just focusing on Christmas like the previous stories, I'll actually be covering the entire holiday trilogy: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Not just because I want to give more light to the other holidays other than Christmas, but to also give more insight to the characters that celebrate said holidays. So without further ado, let's get started.
Christmas
Takes place: During Project Scipio
In the Hermitage, Calvin and his friends were already settled in after meeting with the rest of the Belpois family. As Calvin was watching TV with his friends and sisters, Aelita began to call her daughter from upstairs.
"Antea, are you almost ready?"
"Just about, Mother." Antea said getting up and heading upstairs. "Just have to grab our scene."
"Well hurry." Aelita said. "Your dad's already out warming up the car and we're already late as it is."
"Sorry." Antea said.
"What's going on now?" Calvin asked.
"Would you like to see?" Antea asked. Calvin just nodded.
Calvin and Antea went upstairs into her room. She then went under her bed and pulled out a large object and placed it on her desk. Calvin looked and saw it was a beautifully decorated wooden structure with detailed figurines of people and animals and in the center was a figurine of a baby inside a small wooden box with straw: It was a nativity scene.
"What do you think?" She asked.
"I don't know what to say." Calvin said.
"You almost ready, Antea?" Aelita asked walking into the room. "We're just about…"
She then eyed the nativity scene on the desk.
"Oh, Sweetie." She said in awe. "This is wonderful. You made this yourself?"
"I asked you if I could this year and you said yes, remember?" Antea said. "Well, this is it."
"I don't understand." Calvin said.
"Every year on Christmas Eve, our church holds an annual feast for the homeless." Aelita explained. "And every year, I make a nativity scene to put in the center."
Calvin couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed it before after knowing Antea for so long: She and her family were Christians.
"Are you okay?" Antea asked noticing Calvin seemed rather distant.
"Yeah." Calvin said. "I just never realized you were Christian."
"Roman Catholic to be exact." Antea said. "Why? Does it bother you?"
"Not at all." Calvin said. "I just never took you as the type of person who believes in that kind of stuff."
"Well no offense, Cal, but out of all the ridiculous creation theories, the most ridiculous one is the one that says that we were created out of nothing for no reason." Antea said. "Surely even you must believe that there's more to it than that."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Calvin said blushing. "It's just that I just don't see the evidence."
"You know, Calvin, if you want you can come with us to the church." Antea said. "Is it okay with you, Mom?"
"It's fine with me." She said. "I think it would be a great learning experience for Calvin; get to know a bit more about our traditions and beliefs."
"Sure I guess." Calvin said. "I'll have to ask my parents though."
He then went to the edge of the stairs.
"Mom, Dad." Calvin shouted. "Is it okay if I go with Antea to drop off her nativity scene?"
"Will you be back in time for dinner?" Yumi asked.
Calvin turned to Antea and Aelita. Aelita just nodded.
"Yeah." Calvin said.
"Well, as long as it's okay with them." Yumi said.
"Looks like I'm going." Calvin said turning back to Aelita and Antea.
After getting his stuff on, Calvin walked outside with the two of them and got inside the car. There he found Jeremie in the drivers seat.
"Hi, Mr. Belpois." Calvin said.
"Calvin?" Jeremie asked. "What brings you here?"
"Calvin wants a better understanding of Christianity." Antea said
"No, I…"
"Well, I suppose you can come with us." Jeremie said. "Now buckle up and we'll be on our way."
After a short drive, the family plus Calvin reached a large church in the middle of the city. They then got out and went over to the side door. They went inside and placed their coats and hats on the hangers. They then walked over to the dining area, which was packed with several people.
"Ah, the Belpois family." One of the volunteers said walking up to them. "It's so good that you could make it once again."
"Same as every year." Jeremie said.
"Well come on, have a seat." He said. "You can set the nativity scene over on the table where the cookies are. We'll reveal it after the feast."
"Thank you." Antea said as she walked over to said table.
"Your family seems to be well-liked here." Calvin said to her.
"I volunteer at the soup kitchen every Sunday after the sermon." Jeremie said. "That alone is more than enough to show you really care."
"That's absolutely right." Aelita said. "Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest impact, especially if it's helping those who have nowhere else to turn to."
"That's why they turn to religion." Calvin said.
"Absolutely." Jeremie said. "Like the soup kitchen serves those who come to it, God gives hope to all to those who seek His guidance. Whether they can feel it or not, He is there watching over us."
"Why don't you sit down with the rest?" Antea asked. "I'm sure the volunteers will be happy to serve you something."
"Okay." Calvin said.
He then walked over to one of the long tables next to across from Jeremie, Aelita and Antea. Once everyone was seated, one of the volunteers quieted everyone down.
"Good evening, people." She said. "Today we come together as one to honor this holiest of days: The day in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born. To honor this, we have prepared a feast for those who have accepted His warm embrace in even the coldest of times, in times when all seems lost and we have little to hope for. We as the church of God have kept this tradition going for many decades never losing the hope that those with little on them would accept salvation in times of trouble. And as you all sit here and listen to our words, you've shown that that hope has yet to be lost in the eyes of the less fortunate."
Everyone just applauded.
"Before we begin, I'd like to thank the Belpois family for their extraordinary charity work for our church since they had first come, and this year, I'd love to give extra thanks to their daughter, Antea Maya Belpois, for the fabulous work she did on our annual nativity scene that we have on display. Ms. Belpois, would you be so kind as to lead us saying grace?"
Antea just folded her hands in prayer and everyone, including Calvin, just lowered their heads and closed their eyes.
"God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this day. We are grateful each of those who are gathered around this table. We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today. In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are without enough to eat. We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live. We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world. We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life the Christmas Day and forever. Amen."
"Amen." Everyone else repeated.
The volunteers then served up the meals to the visitors. As Calvin was eating, he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Calvin just turned and saw a large man in ragged clothing.
"Haven't seen you around here before." He said to him. "You a runaway or something?"
"No, I'm not homeless. I'm just a friend of one of the volunteers." Calvin said. "If you want me to leave, I can."
"No, you can stay." He said. "Everyone is welcome in the house of the Lord. That's how we do things around here. Name's Bruce by the way."
"Well, no offense Bruce, but I'm not really a man of religion." Calvin said. "Not that I'm against it, I just don't see the point of trying to understand it."
"Well, I can't make you think differently, but I can at least help in giving you some insight."
Bruce then pulled out something from his pocket and passed it to Calvin. Calvin looked and saw that it was a medium-sized book with a black leather cover. On the cover was only a pair of words engraved in gold print: HOLY BIBLE.
"Well, thanks." Calvin said. "But just don't expect me to be converted in one day."
"Don't think of it as me trying to convert you." Bruce said. "Think of it as more of a guideline."
"I'll be sure to check it out." Calvin said.
"You know Kid, you remind me a lot like me." Bruce said. "Like you, I was young and confused; didn't give much thought of religion. Then the economy took a turn for the worse and my parents and me lost everything. A church not unlike this one eventually took us in. They provided for us until we were able to get back on our feet. In the meantime, I had become taken in by God's words. How He loves all of us and He is everywhere, watching over us all, making sure we all do our part in loving one another and ourselves. Once I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I took my first step in"
"I see." Calvin said. "Oh, my name's Calvin, by the way."
"Well, Calvin, it was nice meeting you." Bruce said. "And I hope to see you again soon."
"Yeah." Calvin said. "Well, see you."
Calvin then sat down at a nearby chair and opened up the Bible. He flipped through various pages and found himself more and more entranced. As he read each verse, he seemed to have more of an understanding of the things he couldn't.
"Hey, Calvin. Ready to go?" Antea asked walking up to him.
"I think I get it now." Calvin said.
"Hmm?" Antea asked. She then noticed the Bible in Calvin's hands. "Oh, I see you found one of the Bibles. Yes, it is a good read."
"It's more than that." Calvin said. "I tried distancing myself from my spiritual side because I thought not doing so would mean trying desperately to understand what I thought I wasn't ready to understand, but now I see the truth: It's not just about believing who or what wrote the words, it's about believing in the words themselves and the meaning they hold."
Jeremie and Aelita walked in as Calvin was beginning to explain.
"Antea, maybe I can't understand the concept of God, and maybe I never will, but I can certainly understand His words. For the first time in a while, I feel like I've found the person or thing that understands me just as much as I understand it. It's not about trying to believe or convincing others to believe, it's about trying to help people in the worst of times, to come together as a community to give hope when all is lost to them. And until now, I never realized that that was all that I needed: Hope at a time when I need it at most, and I realize that I have that already: In the form of my friends and family who I turn to in such sad times."
"Now you understand." Aelita said walking up to him.
"As said in Proverbs 18:24, A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Antea said. "The number of friends one has pales in comparison to what strong bond that even only one friend can have with another."
"That's right." Calvin said. "I especially like Romans 3:3, What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness?"
"I like that one too." Jeremie said. "You know what it means?"
"It means that even though there are those who choose not to believe, He still looks out for them with the same hope that He entrusts upon his followers, right?"
"Exactly." Jeremie said. "Come on. We still have to get home and prepare our Christmas dinner. I can tell you more on the way home."
"Just a second." Calvin said. He then ran back to the dining hall and found Bruce.
"Bruce!" He shouted. Bruce turned around. "I just wanted to give this back to you."
"You keep it." He said politely. "Consider it a Christmas gift from someone who cares."
"It certainly helped me." Calvin said. "Thank you and have a merry Christmas."
"You too, Calvin." He said. Calvin then walked out the door and to the car. They then drove home.
When Calvin got back to the Hermitage, his friends and sisters were waiting for him on the couch.
"So how was the church feast?" Dennis asked
"I definitely leaned more than I thought." Calvin said.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked.
Calvin just held out the Bible he was given.
"So you're saying you found religion?" Dennis asked.
"Umm, since when do you care about Christianity or any religion for that matter?" Rumiko asked.
"Since I understood the meaning behind it and how it relates to me." Calvin said.
"Well, I'm just glad you found the good side in something that can be so judgmental." Ami said.
"I don't know." Rumiko said. "I still think it's ludicrous for someone, let alone you, to go from not believing in God to embracing the Bible."
"I never said I didn't believe in Him, I only said I've never seen any evidence." Calvin said.
"Well, whatever." Rumiko said. "I still don't believe in it. Too much suffering in the world for there to be such a benevolent being."
"Rumiko, let me ask you something." Calvin said. "Do you believe in barbers?"
"Of course." Rumiko said. "You see them all the time."
"But according to your logic, barbers can't exist because we still have people with long hair." Calvin said. "People like you."
"That's ridiculous." Rumiko said. "People have long hair not because barbers don't exist, but because people don't go to barbers."
"And what makes you think the same can't apply to people seeking or not seeking God?" Calvin said. "I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying your reasoning is."
Rumiko said nothing.
"Well, let's see what's on TV." Dennis said.
"Alright." Calvin said.
With that, they just sat back and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
Merry Christmas, my friends. Please don't kill me for this; it's my first time writing a story like this.