Christmas Past

This Quantum Leap™ story utilizes characters that are copyright © by Bellasarius Productions and Universal Studios. No infringement on their respective copyrights is intended by the author in any way, shape or form. This fan fiction story is written solely for the entertainment of the readers and is not for profit. All fiction, plots, and original characters are the sole creations of the author.

A special thank you to Al's "brunette in Delaware" for her permission to publish this story. It was written as a Christmas gift and therefore truly belongs to her.

Christmas Past

Unless the Writing Be Erased

In a few verses of big brother Al's sweet lullaby, Trudy was asleep, her thumb back in her mouth. Al sat next to her with his arm around her, protecting her from whatever demons might come through the door. A few more minutes later, his eyes shut and he too found some respite.

Deuce leaned down and picked up the satchel Al left by the counter. "This belong to them?"

"Al was carrying it when Halsey brought them to me." She held out her hand. "I don't like going into people's things, but I think I have to. Here, let me see it." Deuce handed over the small case. Mona opened the buckle and peered inside. She rifled through it carefully. "Everything here belongs to Trudy. He only packed things for her." Mona's hand finally hit something hard. "What's this?" She dug out the book and looked at the cover. "A Christmas Carol, pretty advanced reading for a seven-year-old, isn't it, Mrs. Zimmer?"

"Very advanced. That's more for seventh grade rather than seven years. He might not be able to read it. It just might be something he took as a keepsake."

Mona knew better. "No, he reads this." Examining the tattered volume, she added, "And he reads it often. I wonder who he relates to in the story."

Thinking for a few seconds Deuce said, "He looks like Tiny Tim, but I bet he sees himself as Scrooge."

"But," Mrs. Zimmer educated, "Scrooge has redemption and turns his life around. Maybe Al still believes his life can get better."

Going toward the sleeping children with the satchel in her hand Mona thought aloud, "If he doesn't, then we have to show him it can." She placed the satchel on the floor next to Al, placing the book on the table in front of an angelic pair of children needing to be loved by someone who cared.

An hour passed and the snow fell faster and thicker obscuring the city, keeping the trio of adults from leaving the warm diner. In fact, as the weather worsened, more people came in to find a simple meal, a hot cup of coffee and a place to get warm before continuing home for Christmas. By the time Al woke up, another ten people had found their way into Mona's Diner and he was nervous. He didn't like strangers and more importantly, strangers usually didn't like Trudy.

He never apologized for his sister. He never hid her face. He never treated her as if she didn't have a brain. His heart had so much love for her that he fought off bullies time after time. Then there was that time he fought off his mother's boyfriend. The man wanted to use Trudy for bad things, but the little boy didn't let the villain near their bedroom. Slamming the door with Trudy on the safe side, he stood between the door and the abuser. Trudy remained safe and never knew how close she came to being a horrifying statistic, but Al was now counted among those who knew the darkest side of childhood. This boy with an Arthurian soul would do anything to keep his little sister safe and happy. Now this room full of people scared him. There was only so much he could do.

Mrs. Zimmer saw him looking startled and biting his lip in fear. She took her cup of coffee over to the booth. "You had a nice long nap. Feel better?"

He wasn't ready to feel better. "There are too many people here I don't know."

"Oh, they're all regulars here like me and Deuce. They're all nice people." Al looked at her with untrusting eyes. "I promise you, you're safe. Mona, Deuce and I will look out for you. I promise."

"Yeah? Do you keep promises like most adults or do you mean things when you say them?"

"I mean things." She spied the book on the table. Tapping it, she asked him, "Can you read this?"

Another one who didn't want to believe a tough kid could be bright. "I'm not stupid."

"I can tell that, but this is pretty advanced for a boy your age. It doesn't seem possible."

He hated when people doubted his abilities. "You, and all the other teachers I know, think what I can do is impossible. You're in a big club."

"Would you read to me?"

"You looking for proof?" Mrs. Zimmer shrugged pretty much acknowledging that he pegged it. "Okay, you pick the passage so you don't think I got it memorized or anything."

The schoolteacher thought for a second and opened to a particularly mysterious section, "Here, this is a very important part of the book."

Al rolled his eyes and looked at the teacher's choice. He remembered the section and it was creepy. Without hesitation he read, "They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meager, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread." She chose this part on purpose. Al knew that. It wasn't nice of her to remind him that he was an orphan of humanity. "'Spirit! are they yours?' Scrooge could say no more. 'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers." At least Dickens was willing to say the children belonged to someone. Unless he could find his father, he and Trudy didn't have anyone at all. The story continued. "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy," beware the boy, yeah, he'd heard that before, "for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.'"

The patrons sipping coffee stopped talking and began to listen to the boy reading with incredible feeling and conviction. Al didn't seem to notice, but he finally stopped and looked at the astonished teacher saying, "You want more?"

From across the room, a blind man holding his white cane said, "I do. Read, child. Read more."

Most times Al appeared self-assured, cocky even and bold, but in truth, he had a shy streak in him and the request was surprising. Someone liked hearing him read, but he closed the book. "That's enough. I only read for Trudy." Then making his point again, he said as he stared into Mrs. Zimmer's eyes. "And for teachers who keep making me prove that I know stuff."

He wished Mona wasn't so busy taking care of other people. He wanted her to come sit by him again and make him feel like he had a mother, but just like his real mother, she didn't have the time to care for him, so he got passed off onto someone else. Why wasn't he used to that yet?

Mrs. Zimmer stared in astonishment at Al. "I've never heard a little boy read that well before. You are very smart."

"Big deal. I don't need to be so smart. Trudy needs it more than me." He looked over at the Christmas tree. It was different now. Lots of colorful glass ornaments dangled from the fragrant branches. He pointed at it not quite believing the beautiful transformation. "Who brought the ornaments?"

Looking toward the tree, she put her hands palms up. "I don't know. I haven't seen anyone by the tree all afternoon."

He barely heard her. The tree beckoned him. Big brown eyes got wider and wider as he approached the little tree that was now much bigger. His hand reached out to touch the pine needles. "Wow. This is the best Christmas tree I've ever seen." He gazed up and down and couldn't believe that the shiny globes just appeared out of nowhere. Mona saw him at the end of the counter looking. She went to his side. "Miss Mona, who brought the ornaments?"

Ornaments? On her tree? "I don't know. They weren't here a minute ago."

It was snowing outside and Al knew he was getting a snow job inside the diner. "Right, I was asleep, not living in a mental hospital."

"I swear, Al. I don't know where they came from." She opened her voice big to ask the diners, "Hey, any of you bring in these ornaments for my tree?" The only responses she got were mumbles with no one coming forth. "Al, I can't tell you how they got there, because I don't know."

He heard Trudy waking from her nap. She would be scared, so the tree would have to wait. Getting to the booth just in time, he gently said, "You had a good nap, Trudy. I'm very proud of you." Her little fists rubbed the sleep from her eyes. However, all the new people that made Al concerned were just new friends in Trudy's eyes. She quickly got up with all the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. All these people were presents for her. Her little legs jumped up and down and she laughed completely unable to hide her joy. Before Al had a chance to grab her, she ran to a man sitting at a booth near the door. As soon as Al saw the man, he understood why.

This older man was a little too fat, but he had a special smile. His unshaven face presented a white beard, white hair and a red nose. Trudy put her arms out and gleefully shrieked, "Santa Claus!" When the man smiled, even Al had to admit he was the best store Santa he'd ever seen. The boy caught up with his sister and told the man, "You be Santa for her."

"It would be an honor." He scooped up the little girl and plopped her down on his knee. "So tell me, what's your name?"

"Trudy."

"That is a delightful name. It sounds so happy. Are you happy, Trudy?"

The little girl wrapped her arms around her Santa. "Trudy love Santa."

"Now that makes Santa very happy." Al's little sister was thrilled to be hugging Santa. It's not that he ever brought her anything, but he was always good to children. Not every grownup was good to her so she reveled in this audience with Santa.

Without his noticing it, Mona ended up standing right behind Al. "Come on, Al. Let Trudy visit with Santa. I can make you some more hot chocolate. Would you like that?"

He debated, but somehow, he knew this man was safe. In fact, he was getting the feeling that everything inside Mona's Diner was safe. She took his hand and he sat at the counter. "We got busy while you were asleep. Glad they didn't wake you up." She put some milk on the stove to heat.

From behind him, Al heard the diner door open again. He turned to see who else was seeking refuge from the barrage of winter. A young woman shook the snow from her curly red hair. She carried a beat up guitar and a small suitcase. She meant for everyone to hear when she proclaimed, "This is the night, people! This is the night for miracles and I am yours!" The guitar and suitcase were deposited on the floor and her coat was whipped off and thrown on the floor near the hooks Mona had there just for coats. "Give me a few minutes to warm up and then we'll get to singing!" Spotting Mona, the young woman shouted, "Mone, I need a cup of joe and a piece of pumpkin pie!"

"Coming up, Gracie." Al's mouth had dropped open. Mona smiled. "Gracie's a little loud, but she's always entertaining."

"Do you know everyone in here?"

"They're my regulars." She balanced Gracie's order and told Al, "I'll be right back." Mona served Gracie her coffee and pie and returned to Al. "Everyone here is looking for a place where they can belong. So, Mona's Diner gives them that place."

Al thought about it. "Yeah, but why did you bring me and Trudy here? Our dad loves us. We belong with him."

"Where is your father?"

"Somewhere in Ohio. I think in Cleveland."

"Cleveland's awfully big. Did you think you'd be able to find him?"

"He's a construction worker. There can't be too many places being built right now."

Al found a way around every stumbling block ahead of him - even if his way was a bit errant. "You are a smart one." She checked the milk she had heating.

He had something to ask this nice lady who fed him and held him just like a mother should. It's not that he was ungrateful, but he was a pragmatist and some questions just had to be asked. "Miss Mona, what's going to happen to me and Trudy?"

The question was bound to be asked and she didn't know if she had the answer he wanted to hear. "I guess, Al, we'll go to the state police as soon as the weather lets up. You and Trudy will be taken care of. I promise."

"They'll take her away from me."

Mona poured out the hot chocolate. "Al, you're a smart boy and I know you love Trudy. You've been the best big brother I've ever seen, but you're too young to be raising a child."

His heart hovered between anger and deep sorrow. "She'll never be happy if I'm not with her."

They was no denying his words. "I think you're right, but she will be safe and have a place to sleep and people who will care for her. So will you."

He lifted the big cup to his lips and took a sip of hot chocolate savoring the smell and the silky taste. "But our father will want us to be with him."

This little boy and his littler sister were on the road searching for a father somewhere in Ohio. Their mother was who knows where. It didn't look like anyone cared where these children were or what happened to them. Mona touched his hand. "Sweetie, we don't know where your father is. Are you even sure he's in Ohio?"

Al was pretty sure, but every so often he thought it might be Iowa. "I think so."

She got even closer to his tragic little face. "See? We have to get you a home, someplace where you'll be safe."

There was a potential solution, but he wasn't sure he should ask. On the other hand, if he didn't then he'd forever wonder about it. "Can we stay with you?"

The plea was poignant and earnest, but clearly, she could not take the children. "Oh, I am so honored that you want to stay here, but this isn't a place for kids to live and you need a full time mother."

"I had one." He closed up, bringing his arms into his chest, protecting what was left of his heart. "She didn't do me much good."

"She gave you Trudy."

That thought never occurred to him. If nothing else, his mother had given him the greatest gift he'd ever get. She gave him a little sister who loved him with a soul so full of joy that he'd never be able to understand the depth of her affection though there were times when he felt it. "She's a good kid."

"So are you. You keep forgetting that."

From the other side of the room Gracie addressed her captive audience. "Okay ladies and gentlemen I have a song to sing for you, a traditional Christmas song from England long ago." She tuned the guitar as she told her story. "In England, people go caroling all through the season and this is one of the prettiest tunes ever." Her fingers danced over the steel strings and warmly filled the room with a sense of the past. "In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan. Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;" No one in the room made a sound. Her rich alto was strong, but tender and she continued singing. "Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago."

Gracie put her guitar down. "Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign." She reached down and touched Trudy's smiling face. "In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the lord God almighty, Jesus Christ."

By the end of the verse, she was standing by Al. "What can I give him, poor as I am?" She took his hand and he walked with her. They stopped by Deuce. "If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;" Mrs. Zimmer listened from the booth "If I were a wise man, I would do my part;" Gracie got down on her knees and sang to Al, "Yet, what I can I give him: give my heart."

There was no applause, just a silence that was more eloquent than any ovation could ever be. Gracie leaned down and kissed Al's cheek. "What can I give you, Al?"

With the honesty of a child and the despondency of a wizened old man he said, "Give me a home where Trudy and I can grow up together and be happy."

She kissed him again and sang, "Yet what I can I give you: give my heart."

"A heart is nice, but I want to find my dad and go home with him." He was close to tears again and it was hard work to keep them from falling.

"I'm afraid all I can do is sing for you. I hope that's enough." Her arms curled around him and held so tightly that Al thought he would burst. "But I will always sing for you. All you need to do is ask and I'll sing anything you want, whenever you want, no matter where you are."

"I like singing. Thank you." He pulled away and then took his sister from Santa's lap. "Trudy, let's go back to the booth. Miss Mona made more hot chocolate."

Trudy grasped Al's hand and began jumping again. "Look! Look, Allie! Tree!" She pointed to the evergreen that now had lights glistening in the branches.

Al whispered, "How did that happen? No one went near it."

Mona brought two hot chocolates to the children's booth. "It's Christmas Eve, Al. Sometimes miracles can happen."

In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens