Cheaper by the Dozen
Chapter 1: Christmas I 2006
The First Christmas
"I don't understand why we can't see the baby here," Jake complained.
"This is the business trip and we have to go to New York," Kate said to Jake. "There are loads of Christmas sprits in New York."
"It's not that, but I was going to go snowboarding with my friends," Jake complained. "Can't some of us stay?"
"No, we all need to be there, I'd forbid you to miss the birth of your brother."
Jake shook his head in annoyance. He retreated upstairs to his room.
They arrived in New York on Christmas Eve. The problem none of them expected arose when it was too late. Where were they going to stay? They had no family in New York, and their friends moved to California.
"I told you we should've gone to Florida!" Sarah yelled to her dad.
"Calm down everyone," Kate said over the yelling and protesting of her children. "We spent a lot of money to come here, and we're going to enjoy ourselves."
Jake looked around. "Let's look for somewhere to stay."
Kate sighed hurtfully.
"Lay down honey," Tom said concernedly.
"Where, on the floor?" she challenged. "I need… ah!"
"Alright everyone, mom helped us out by getting us here," Sarah announced.
"Yeah, I vote we go out and look for somewhere to stay," Henry said.
"There has to be someone who'd take us, or an inn or somewhere," Mark said.
Jake nodded and ran away, following the road. Nigel, Kyle, Mike, Jessica, Kim, Mark, Sarah, and Henry followed.
Jake led the way until the came to a fork. "Alright, memorize ways so we can get back. Sarah, you and Mike go right. I'll go forward with Mark, Kim and Jessica. Henry, go left with Nigel and Kyle.
They all nodded. Jake was acting leader, but no one was in the mood to complain. They had some work to do and he had a point.
Tom stayed by his wife and set her against the tree. The kids were right. They should've thought of the baby and stayed.
"It's not your fault, Tom," Kate said when Tom expressed his fault. "I should've pointed this out before."
The kids came back in an hour, Mike out of breath completely. "Mom, dad, there's… we found a… oh." Mike fell to the floor. His breath was gone. He it the ground with a thud and stayed motionless.
Kate screamed in terror and pain at the same time. She clutched her stomach. Mark bent down to take care of Mike, "He shouldn't have run so much."
"If we go forward, there's St. Matthew's Inn," Sarah said. "Jake found it, and he hurried over to the fork to tell us, and Mike, he ran for miles looking for something. He ran over first to tell you. He needs treatment."
"Why did he run so much, it's dangerous for a young kid like him," Kate said.
"He's not that young, but yeah," Tom said. He raised his hand, and in seconds a taxi stopped. "I need backup. We're a family of two and eight kids."
The driver took pity and called for backup. They arrived at an inn. Jake woke up by then, still breathless. "I… I found a…"
"We're there," Mark said, helping him up.
"We need a room for ten," Tom said to the innkeeper.
The innkeeper took a look at Kate and said, "Oh… if I knew you were coming, I'd have booked good rooms. Sorry sir, we're full out."
Kate moaned in pain.
"If she's about to give birth, you can use the lobby."
"We couldn't, thanks for your help though," Tom said kindly.
The innkeeper put him down though, "It's the least I can do this Christmas Eve," he smiled. "Using the lobby is free of charge. Make yourself at home the best you can."
"I'll help," a kindly man said from behind them. "Here, use this couch right here. I NEED HELP HERE!" he called. A bunch of people came running over.
"I'll get Father, thank God of Goodness he's staying here for the holidays," a young man said. He ran upstairs.
"This little one is out of breath," the kind man yelled. "If not treated, he won't live. He must've run a long distance."
"Was it that bad?" Kate said fearfully.
Tom put a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be ok," he said, though a little doubtfully.
The Church Father came down, a Bible and cross in his hand. He was dressed in white. "It'll be a boy, I take it?"
Tom nodded.
"This little one is out of breath?"
Tom nodded.
"Everyone out of the way," Father Mark Luke said. He touched the stomach of Kate and said a prayer from the Bible he had opened. He kissed the cross. "Let both children be spared. Let the mother give birth healthily." He looked up at Kate and said, "He will be very healthy. If you named him after one of the four main gospels of Christ, you will be blessed."
"St. Matthew hotel, helped out by Father Mark Luke," Kate said breathlessly. "There's one left, John."
A gust of cold air rushed into St. Matthew's hotel. In rushed a bunch of people. Three golden retrievers walked in behind them.
"No…" the manager began, but he was interrupted.
"They are tame, I assure you," a man said. "Be more joyous this day, especially in the situation."
The manager stayed quiet as the dogs walked quietly up. They licked Mike and laid their heads on him.
"Will he be ok?" Sarah asked.
"I am sure he will survive, the Lord is never that cruel. The Lord, He will make sure your family stays stable with all twelve kids and one more."
"Father Mark, how did you know we're twelve?" Kate asked.
"Cheaper by the Dozen my daughter," Mark laughed.
A great cry was let out. Everyone oohed as the baby was helped out. Mike stirred as baby John started crying. Mark, the kid, helped his head up and supported it.
"Thank Goodness, God is great," Kate prayed as Mike woke up in time. "I'm… a brother again?"
Tom smiled. Mike took John and held him. Everyone cheered and the Retrievers barked and howled.
Yes, Mary and Joseph aka Tom and Kate found an inn, but there was no room. A child is born and given a holy name. People or the shepherds came in with their sheep, or dogs. The father comes as a wise figure and prays for the child.
The
First Noel, the Angels did say They looked up and saw a
star And by the
light of that same star This star drew nigh to the northwest Then entered in those Wise men three Then let us all with one accord
Was to certain poor shepherds in
fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On
a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel,
Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it
gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel,
Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Three Wise men came from country far
To
seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever
it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of
Israel!
O'er Bethlehem
it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right
o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is
the King of Israel!
Full
reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their
gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is
the King of Israel!
Sing
praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of
nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel,
Noel
Born is the King of Israel!