A Christmas Miracle
Chapter 1: A Story Told
A/N: I don't own anything.
Nov 28th, 2011
The snow fell down as people greeted one another on the many streets of Atlanta. The snow had come early this year. While the kids were over joyed and excited to play in the lovely white blanket the adults however were not. It was going to be a hassle to get to and from work.
Nevertheless this didn't stop people from telling one another to have a Merry Christmas and to have a Happy New Year. Children watched with amazement as they pressed their little faces up against the cold window of a nearby toy store. The look of astonishment filled their wondering eyes as the train began to go around the track making noises. While a new arrival of baby dolls sat just to the left of it. Waiting for little girls to come and take them home to be there's forever and ever.
The children tugged and pulled on their parents over coats and begged for one of them for Christmas...or perhaps they wanted them now. Some children on the other hand sat quietly on their fathers shoulders admiring the toy store front.
"Mom I want a baby doll for Christmas." A little girl wined as she interrupted her mother. Who was talking to one of her old time friends?
"Just a moment dear," the black haired middle aged woman said. Not listening, the little girl still kept at her mother. Turing around she spoke yet again. "Maybe for Christmas dear,"
"No! I want her now. She's mine." The little girl kicked at the snow as she began sulking in front of her mother and friend.
"If you keep at this Santa will not bring you anything except a lump of coal," The little girl's eyes got wide. The mother could see that she had her daughter. "Why don't you go put this in the Salvation Army can?" Handing the little girl some change she obeyed her mother and dropped it into the bucket.
"Merry Christmas little girl." The older man said with a smile. Smiling at the man the little girl went back to her mother. Maybe this would get her that doll.
However, not too far from the Hustle and bustle of down town Atlanta on a corner surrounded by tree's sat the library. The library was decorated out for the Holidays. A grand Christmas tree which had all the trimmings from garland, different sizes of ornaments to the big star that sat at the top, sat in the middle of the main room. While people were greeted by warm air and the smell of something sweet, perhaps it was cookies that was so inviting.
Chatting quietly the woman's council for the local hospital sat in one of the upstairs meeting rooms discussing plans for the big Gala Dinner. That was being held at a local banquet hall on Christmas day.
"The menu has been picked out for this year ladies. Fried Chicken or ham with mashed potato's, carrots, rolls, noodles, gravy and pie for Deseret." The ladies thought that was a good menu and if anything needed to be changed it could be.
Getting out her notes Aunt Pittypat stood up ready to make her announcement on the decorations. "Since last years decorations were such a hit, thank you to Mrs. Meade. I decided this year should be a winter wonderland. The table clothes can be a dark or an ice blue while the chairs had white fabric wrapped around them with a big blue bow wrapped around the back. With little snow flake center pieces. Big snow flakes can hang from the ceiling and then have a streamers set in front of the door. While men and tuxes wait at the door to take peoples hats, gloves and coats..."People sat quietly for several moments before doing or saying anything. When Aunt Pittypat thought of something she sure did put her mind to it. The look of confusion and un-sureness lingered on the ladies faces. "What's wrong?" Aunt Pittypat asked as she looked at everyone.
The ladies began clapping for that was a great idea. This idea would be an easy set up and easy to take down as well. Some of the past ideas fell short of a good idea. "What are we going to do about the children? They will need something to do of course." one of the ladies in the back row said as she stood up.
"It would be wonderful if we could get some one to dress up as Santa and surprise the children. The children would love that." Mrs. Merryweather said as she knew this would go in nicely.
"Why Dolly Merryweather, you know perfectly well that doing the Santa thing was my idea." Caroline Meade stood up as she began defending her answer. She knew it was her idea and n one else.
"No it wasn't dear, I thought about it just a few moments ago." Dolly said as she knew she was right.
"Now ladies this is no time to get into it. We don't need a ladies smack down right at the moment. Whoever thoguht of it is not important. All that matters is we need to find someone to play Santa for a little while. Caroline, do you think your husband would like to do it?"
"I can ask him, but you know he is a very busy doctor. But I will see what I can do." Caroline said sitting back down. For as long as Caroline and Dolly could remember they were always battling it out for who had the best everything. From the best Christmas cookies and pies, the best vegetables for the fall festival all the way to who had the best house! The battle was never ending.
"Well ladies I think that is enough for today. I think some people need to take a break before it becomes an all out battle. We mustn't forget last year. That was a terrible meeting...I still haven't gotten that fruit cake out of my red Christmas jacket."
Meanwhile nestled back into the corner of the library away from all of the busy adults and busy meetings sat the children's room. It too was also decked out for the Christmas season. A grand Christmas tree over looked the children who ran to different books and picked them up to be read or just to look at the grand pictures that awaited them inside. Some children waited for the story of the month to begin.
Sitting next to the tree all snug and warm a young woman began reading to a group of many exited children. The young woman's dark lovely eyes looked kindly upon the children. What an age that was. To be innocent and not to have a care in the world, what a great time that was. Or at least it was for some children.
"Start the story start the story." A little girl said with happiness. She just loved to hear Christmas stories. Her mother would tell her them every year right before she laid her head down to go to sleep.
"Alright, alright," the young woman said with a laugh. Tucking a piece of her long raven hair behind her ear she put her cup of hot chocolate down. The young woman then proceeded to pick up the book and began. "A very long time ago-"
"You take that back you...you fake pie crust maker."
the children looked at each other as a big loud thud and the sound of yelling could be heard coming from up above them. Looking up at the sealing the lady just shook her head. Mrs. Meade and Mrs. Marryweather were at it again. Those two could never get along.
"What happened to the story?" a little boys voice came.
Looking down the lady smiled at the children. "Now where were we? Aw yes. Once there lived a little girl no older than four years old. She lived with her mother, father along with two siblings in the best part of Atlanta…..
"Miz Ella, Miz Bonnie and Mr. Wade it time to come in now." Mammy yelled from the back porch of the Butler's mansion.
The children were playing happily with one another when they heard the lady calling for them. "Can't we play for a little longer?" Wade asked as she bounced the ball. It was still light out and they wanted to stay for as long as they were able to. After all it would start to get darker sooner and that meant going inside rather early. What child wanted that?
"No, dinner will be ready soon. Now go wash up for dear old Mammy." Mammy wasn't getting any younger and telling the children what to do sure seemed as if she were telling Scarlett and her sisters what do a very long time ago.
Mammy was a kind hearted soul. But no one could argue with her not even Scarlett O'Hara Butler herself. Pouting a little the three children went inside to get ready for dinner. Running down the hall the children raced one another to the dinner table. "No runnin,"
"Ha I beat you." Bonnie said as she stuck her tongue out at her older siblings. Going to stop at the table she hit her left arm against her chair. "Ow," she spoke out as she rubbed her arm.
"That's not fair you got a head start Bonnie," Ella said as she pushed her ginger colored hair out of her face. Grabbing her little pink hair clip she penned it back for dinner.
"No, I didn't. I won fair." Bonnie protested against her half-sister. "Daddy, they said I cheated."
"Bonnie, no, tattling on Wade and Ella." Rhett scolded Bonnie as him and Scarlett came into the dining room.
"Sorry Daddy." Bonnie said as her lower lip stuck out. She was such a daddy's girl. There was very little that she didn't get away with, but when she could get away with something she more than likely would.
A little over halfway through their meal Scarlett looked over at her youngest daughter and noticed a big dark bruise on Bonnie's arm. "Bonnie, how did you get that?" Even if she wasn't a very good mother she was obliged to ask her daughter that.
Looking down Bonnie saw it and drew her arm under the table and rolled her royal blue sleeve down over top of it. "I-I don't know." She answered her mother in a scared voice.
"Bonnie?" Rhett said as he looked at his youngest daughter. "Where did you get it?" He had never seen his daughter lie before. Why start now if she had never done it to start with?
"I don't know honest I don't." Bonnie answered as she shook her head. Looking down at her plate she tried to avoid her parents eyes.
"Yes you do liar." Wade said tattling on his half sister. "You just don't want to tell mother and Uncle Rhett." as he waved his fork around then pointing it at her.
Both Scarlett and Rhett were now looking at Bonnie. "Bonnie, what happened?" They were not going to let this matter pass they wanted an answer and an answer was what they were going to get.
Bonnie took a moment to answer as she looked up from her plate and then back and forth from Rhett to Scarlett. "We were playing in the yard and I fell off of my bike." But this however wasn't the case.
"You must be more careful." Rhett answers. Nodding her head yes Bonnie went back and ate the rest of her dinner.
Scarlett and Rhett just looked at each other before continuing eating their dinner. Rhett shook his head at Scarlett. Why that sli daughter of his.
Later that night….
The characters of the TV show flashed before the children's eyes as the sound of the big old grandfather clock could be heard striking nine. Mesmerized by the show the children didn't even hear their parents come into the living room.
"Time for bed," Rhett replies as he picks up the remote and turned off the TV as the credits began rolling through.
"But Uncle Rhett, it's the best of SpongeBob," Ella commented as she turned and faced her stepdad.
"It will be on the in the morning. Right now it's off to bed." Scarlett agreeing with Rhett as the children were seen to bed by Mammy.
Yawning a little Scarlett knew it was past her bed time as well. Being down to the Mill a little over half of the day had really taken a toll on her. "My pet, I do believe you are as tired as the children are."
Scarlett laughed a little. Rhett was right she was very tired and was getting worse as they walked up the stairs. "Rhett, do you think Bonnie was telling the truth earlier at dinner?" Scarlett asked as she went and got her red velvet nightgown.
"No I don't dear. I think something else happened. The only thing we can do is have Bonnie come to the truth on her own. We can't make her feel guilty she has to find it on her own." as he came over and kissed his wife on the cheek as she sat at her big vanity that sat next to the bedroom door. Before long the kiss drifted down and lasted longer.
"Rhett, not now I'm tried and I'm sure the children aren't asleep yet. Imagine what they would say if they heard us."
"Fine, but you owe me Mrs. Butler," with that said Rhett left to go check on the children. Scarlett would have went with him, but she was far to tired. If she was to tired and didn't want to make love to Rhett tonight then she was to tried to go with him and check on the children. Besides if Scarlett remembered right it was Rhett's night not hers.
Going over to the big king size bed Scarlett pulled back the sheets and laid down. Getting all warm within the covers and feeling safe Scarlett shut her eyes Never knowing that something amiss lay just around the corner...
"Scarlett!' Rhett said in an alarmed voice. Opening her eyes Scarlett found herself looking into Rhett's face.
"What is it? You look as if you have seen a ghost or something."
"It's Bonnie,"
A/N: Okay so I know it's a little dry right now, but don't worry it will get better. Please just give it a chance. Thanks:)