Murdock's Christmas Dozen
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
4. Christmas Tree
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. Larry Wilde
The youth center door opened. Murdock and Katie glanced up from their garland project but all either could see was a quivering tree with legs under it filling the opening. He nudged the five-year-old and grinned. "I think I know who's b'hind yonder foliage."
"That's a really big tree!" the little girl gasped. The pilot wondered what kind of tree Katie's mother had at her home if what Face had in his arms was 'big.'
Sure, it's a'most big 's Faceman but it ain' filled out like some o' those trees I seen. It's a li'l on th' scrawny side actually.
B. A. scowled and made his way past a quartet of teen boys poring over months-old car magazines, donated by a clinic changing out its choice of reception area reading material.
"'Bout time ya got here, Faceman. I ain' even gonna ask what kept ya . . . " The Sergeant effortlessly grabbed the pine in one hand and carried it over to the stand waiting by one of the tables.
"Well, sure. You're welcome, B. A. I just brought one of the most important decorations, got pine pitch all over the upholstery of my 'Vette, not to mention what it did to my suit jacket . . . " The con man grimaced at a few pine needles clinging to his lapel and then, realizing how he sounded, smiled at the blonde clinging to his right arm. His voice became less strident, more charming. ". . . But what's a little pitch if it brings someone a merry Christmas?"
The Captain smirked.
That's th' spirit, oh buddy o' mine.
"That'd be Felicity decoratin' th' arm o' my best buddy, darlin'." Murdock murmured the information to the little girl sitting by his side with a bowl of popcorn in her lap.
"She looks like a nice lady," Katie whispered back. "You think she'll help us string popcorn and cranberries, Murdock?" The pilot had convinced the small child he didn't need to have any formal title like 'Mister' to be her friend.
Murdock tried to keep himself from laughing.
Outta th' mouths o' babes. Not Face's kind o' babe either.
The Captain eyed the pretty blonde up and down, noting the clinging short sweater dress and gold earrings and necklace she wore. He had to admit, Felicity knew how to accentuate her best features.
Not my type o' gal but she is real cute in a Brigette Bardot kind o' way.
He paused in poking a cranberry with a needle and raised his eyebrows in thought, then looked down at the child. "Don' know, Katie. Face's special woman friends ain' usually real talented when it comes t' needle 'n' thread type o' stuff."
"What're they good at?"
Now how do I answer that?
Murdock noticed the little girl seemed to suddenly become very shy. She slid closer to him and clutched his arm, spilling a few pieces of popcorn out of the bowl as she did.
When he returned his gaze to the con man and the model he saw the reason. As Face and Felicity strolled over to the couch where the pilot and child sat with their bowls, needles and thread and homemade garland, Katie shrank into the couch cushions and pressed closer to Murdock's ribs.
The pilot dropped his needle and thread into his lap and instinctively wrapped his arm around the child's shoulders. He couldn't figure out why she would react the way she was but if she was just shy . . .
. . . she needs time t' get used t' new folks she don' know.
He understood that. There was a time when he was a kid, before he came to grips with being different from everyone else, when he was painfully shy.
He tried unsuccessfully to get Face's attention before they made it all the way to the couch.
"So this is where you're hiding. I guess Hannibal got everything you needed?" Face flashed his trademark smile at his friend and swung his arm over Felicity's shoulder. "You didn't ask him for pickles and maraschino cherries like you asked me last Christmas, did you? It took the better part of a month to get the cherry stains off the drapes and the smell out of the living room."
Murdock could feel Katie's arms creep around his waist as she tried to avoid attention. "Well . . . "
Felicity's gaze wandered to the half-finished garland in Katie's lap. Her eyes widened.
"You aren't doing what I think you're doing, are you?" She left Face's half-embrace and knelt in front of the child's feet. Looking up at her, she added, "You know, back in Nebraska, my Mom used to do this with me and my sisters every Christmas."
"Well, how 'bout that? My Gramma always got me t' help her. Said I needed t' thread th' needle for 'er." Murdock smiled.
Her gaze intent on the blonde model, Katie pressed closer to the pilot. He absently patted her shoulder as the memory tugged at his heart.
Face frowned behind Felicity's back and mouthed the word "Nebraska?"
Not seeing his expression, Felicity looked around and grabbed the packet of needles, then glanced at Murdock with an apology on her face. "You wouldn't mind me helping, would you? I haven't done this for so long."
The question surprised Murdock and brought him back to the present.
Who would o' thought?
Face shot the pilot a bleak look that could have meant just about anything.
I bet he figured it'd be a quick in 'n' out visit. Jus' drop off th' tree 'n' then skedaddle.
"I don' mind if Katie here don' mind. She's kind o' the boss o' this project." His comment brought a shy smile to the little girl's face. He hoped his helper would allow the model to stay if just to prevent his best buddy from leaving so soon. They could use his assistance later when it came to decorating the tree if he was willing to give it.
But if she ain' comf'table with anyone but me 'n' th' Big Guy . . .
"I'm okay with it if Murdock's okay with it," Katie murmured, focusing on a piece of popcorn she was trying to pierce with the needle. She stayed close beside him, relaxing a little when the pilot squeezed her shoulder in thanks.
"Felicity, sweetheart, we were going to go Christmas shopping . . . " Face started.
"Oh, but we can go shopping anytime, Temp. We already decorated my place and I'm still in the mood." The model pushed her lips together in a pretty pout. Murdock took a deep breath to avoid the snicker that wanted so badly to come out.
Ain' th' kind o' mood my buddy'd like her t' be in, lookin' at his face.
"Here. Let me get a needle threaded for you." Felicity removed a needle from the packet. Katie offered her a spool of thread. The pilot forced himself to focus on a cranberry in his fingers.
This should be interestin'.
The con man put his hands up chest-level, palms out, and backed away two steps. "Needles and me don't go well together."
"Yeah, over in Nam, every time my buddy needed a seam mended 'r a button sewn, he got some mama-san t' do it." Murdock darted a mischievous glance at Face and received a black look in reply.
"Then what are you going to do to make sure these kids have a nice Christmas?" Felicity narrowed her eyes at him.
The pilot glanced at the blonde model, then at his buddy and held his breath.
Wrong answer's gonna make Faceman's Christmas not so bright.
"Well . . . " The con man's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as his eyes scanned the room for something that he could do that wouldn't involve getting dirty or losing his dignity. He spotted the upright piano against one wall.
"What if I provide some special live music?"
Strolling over to the piano, he ran his fingers up and down its dusty off-white keys.
"Ya gonna play that thing or make noise?" B. A. growled from his place near the Christmas tree. He was still sorting out ornaments from the storage boxes. "Here. Lemme turn off the record player."
Before Face could say 'yes' or 'no,' the Sergeant removed the record from the turntable and turned off the machine. "All yours, Faceman." As he passed by the Lieutenant to finish what he was doing, he muttered, "Make it good.
Katie nudged Murdock. "Does your friend know how to play? Really?"
The pilot noticed Felicity had turned to him, waiting for his answer. "Uh . . . yeah . . . he knows how t' play," he mumbled.
At the same time, he hoped, for Face's sake, he knew something besides 'You Are My Sunshine.'
Hope ya know what yer doin', buddy.
Face drew the bench back from its recess under the keyboard and brushed the surface off with an immaculate white handkerchief he took from his jacket pocket. Sitting down, he thought for a moment.
Quickly playing a few arpeggios and clearing his throat, he settled into playing a jazzy version of a familiar song.
Murdock tilted his head to listen, then grinned. "You know this one, don'tcha, Katie?" He peered down at the garland draped across their laps and hummed along for a few seconds. Thinking about the loblolly pines of home, he wondered how Gramma and Grampa always somehow managed to find a nice tree for their living room each Christmas.
Felicity finished stringing a piece of popcorn and nodded in approval. "Good choice."
As Face played and Katie and the model completed the garland, the pilot added the words.
"O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
Your branches green d'light us.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
Your branches green d'light us.
They're green when summer days're bright;
They're green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas tree . . . "
Felicity smiled at the two of them and stood up. Walking over to the con man, she bent to give him a kiss on the cheek, then stood behind him with her hands massaging his shoulders.
The youth center door opened. Hannibal entered, several bags clutched in each hand. Nearing the couch where Murdock sat, he carefully set all the bags on the floor and motioned toward the piano.
"I see Face is getting into the Christmas spirit."
"Well, he took a li'l proddin' . . . " The pilot was already peeking in one of the bags. He pulled out several small cardboard boxes, each one the same size but from different stores.
Glancing up at the Colonel, Murdock gave him a puzzled frown.
"Open one of them." Hannibal grinned as he lit a new cigar and waited.
The pilot handed a box to Katie and took one for himself. Gently prying open the lid and brushing aside the cotton wool lining, Murdock's eyes widened as he removed the contents.
Katie murmured a small surprised "Look, Murdock" as she held up the ornament from her own box.
"I . . . I can't b'lieve ya did this. How . . . how many didya get, Colonel?" Murdock hugged the child as they gazed at identical green glass pickles topped with gold-cord hangers.
"Enough for every child and worker who comes to this center over the Christmas season. Took some time to find them but . . . " Hannibal shrugged. "Now we have to get those extra presents." Scrutinizing the tree, he added, "Do you think there's enough room for all of these?"
Katie called over to B. A. "Mister B. Look!" She held up the glass pickle in her hand and giggled when he shook his head in disbelief.
"We'll find a spot for every one." Murdock carefully placed the ornament back in its box. His eyes slightly misty, he gave the Colonel a warm smile. "Thanks, Hann'bal."
"Don't thank me. It was your idea. I just helped it along." The Colonel grinned down at the pilot and little girl beside him. "Merry Christmas, Captain. Merry Christmas, Katie."
