1992

One Snowy Night in Manhattan

December 1st 1992

24 Days Till Christmas

"Man I am freezing my ass off!" Eighteen year old Danny grumbled as he huddled together with his siblings under the large umbrella his seventeen year old sister was holding. They had been waiting at Rockefeller Centre for nearly an hour to watch the Christmas tree lights being switched on. As their father was NYPD they were able to stand right at the front of the stage. Tiny white flakes started to meander down upon them. Danny groaned and zipped his jacket up further, "Great it's snowing!"

"Well it is winter," Fifteen year old Joe retorted. He nudged his nine year old brother, "You okay Jamie?"

"Yep," Jamie answered, his teeth chattering.

"Don't lie!" Danny chided, placing his hand on his brother's trembling shoulder, "You're shivering!" He pulled Jamie closer in an attempt to keep him warm. "How long is Dad gonna be?"

"He's with Commissioner Lewis and the Mayor," Erin answered.

"We already took our publicity pictures with the guys, why do Ma and Dad need to hang back with them? What else could they have to talk about?" Danny asked in frustration.

"Adult conversation? I don't know!" Joe replied in annoyance.

"We go through this B.S. every year!" Danny complained. "At first it was kinda cool, sure, but now it's just annoying. We queue up to see a bunch of B-Listers turn on the lights of a Christmas tree! If I wanted to see Christmas lights I can just go home and stare at our Christmas tree! At least it'll be warmer!"

"It's tradition Danny," Erin huffed. "You know that."

"Yeah I know that but I have a lot of work to catch up on for next semester." Danny muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "College sure isn't what I thought it would be."

"One big party," Joe responded.

"Exactly!" Danny praised, completely missing the subtle sarcasm. "It's all work and no play."

"No kidding." Erin mumbled with an eye roll.

"I'm hungry!" Jamie moaned. "Can I get a hot dog or something?"

"Or something…" Danny rooted around in his pocket and found some tic-tacs, "Here you go kid, suck on that. It'll keep you going."

Erin watched with disgust, "Danny!"

"What?" He retorted defensively, "It's teaching him basic life survival skills."

Erin snorted, "Please…."

"Oh here you are!" Mary stated with delight as she waded her way through the crowd, her arms filled with wrapped hot-dogs. "I've got you some food, I figured you might be starving."

"You figured right, you are a life saver Ma!" Joe hailed, as he helped pass the hot-dogs around.

"Yeah thanks Ma." Jamie bit into his with relish. "Mmmmm. This beats tic-tacs." Danny thumped Jamie around the head without looking up from his hot-dog."

"So where's Dad?" Erin asked.

"He's still with Commissioner Lewis and the Mayor," Mary answered with disapproval written all over her face.

"You don't like the Mayor very much do you Ma?" Jamie commented with a small smirk.

"It's not that I don't like him," Mary said slowly, "It's just - I find him to be very…. You'll find out when you're older."

Erin and Danny grinned at each other. Jamie just shrugged and continued to eat his hot-dog.

"Okay I'm officially done for tonight!" Frank announced as he crept up behind Erin and took the umbrella off her, giving his daughter a welcoming kiss on the cheek. "I can now enjoy the tree lighting ceremony with my family."

"Finally!" Danny sighed in relief. "What were you doing back there?"

"Well Commissioner Lewis had an idea that we should circulate and talk to the tourists, it's our most important season." Frank replied simply. "Were you kids waiting long?"

"No," Erin answered politely.

"Yes!" Danny answered loudly.

"Umm guys…" Jamie said hesitantly pointing in front of him.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting but I had to do something important," Frank said placidly.

"Danny…" Jamie pressed, still pointing in front of him.

"Not now Jamie – I have to go home early, I have - work to do!"

"Do or catch up on?" Fran retorted smartly.

"Dad, Ma…" Jamie hissed frantically.

"What different does that make?" Danny replied hotly.

"If you had spent most of your time working instead of going out to bars during your first important months of college, then maybe you wouldn't be so behind!" Mary scolded.

"Guys!" Jamie yelled through gritted teeth.

"What?" Danny snapped, turning around and froze.

Jamie, Joe and Erin pointed in unison to the large camera now hovering directly over them, which read NBC.

"We're on TV," Erin whispered, tucking her hair behind her ears. Danny swallowed. "Millions are watching you argue right now."

Danny, Frank and Mary plastered on a grimace.

"Here we are at the 1992 Christmas Tree Ceremony at Rockefeller's Centre - Say Merry Christmas to New York!" The host called out jovially to them.

The Reagans waved stoically at the camera.

"Merry Christmas New York!" They chirped in embarrassment.

Happy New Year: 1993