~ooOoo~
Everyone helped to clear the table after end meal and then gathered in the family room to watch some of their favorite Christmas movies.
Robert had been talking with Spock, the two of them catching up with one another, then Robert inquired, "Where can Pat, Bobby and I do some Christmas shopping for Richard's family?"
"I can show you tomorrow morning where to shop if you like or on line if you prefer. I need to purchase gifts for them, also."
"I think we would rather go shopping to see what Vulcan shops are like and what they have to offer."
"Very well. There are also intergalactic shops where one can purchase items from all over the member planets of the Federation."
"That is a good idea and I'm sure Pat will be excited about that. Would tomorrow after first meal be a good time?"
"That would be acceptable." Spock's attention was drawn to the view screen. "Ah, I see that 'It's a Wonderful Life' is to be first."
~ooOoo~
As Spock, Robert, Pat and Bobby were about to leave for last-minute Christmas shopping, Amanda said, "Have fun shopping. Since Christmas isn't celebrated by Vulcans, shopping will be a more relaxing experience."
"That sounds wonderful, Amanda," answered Robert. "I don't much care for going shopping as it is, and sometimes our people can be very rude at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve day. See you later."
Pat added, "We should be back in plenty of time for me to make my famous Mason-Dixon Line pecan pie."
"I LOVE your pecan pie! The raw pie crust will be ready for you when you get back. Good luck in your shopping."
"Luck will have nothing to do with it," Spock responded. "It will be my expert guidance that will make the shopping excursion a success."
"Did you all Hear what he said? Really, Spock, of all the days to be naughty," joked Amanda.
Spock raised an eyebrow in mock offense. "I see no reason to stand here and be insulted." He looked at Robert and his family and continued, "Lets go shopping."
Amanda grinned and the Treeport family chuckled as they left the house.
~ooOoo~
T'Lara left the Garden of Thought and headed for the Academy parking facility. She had been meditating in preparation of meeting Amanda's family. When she had first known that Amanda would become her daughter-by-marriage, she had disapproved of her. She had assumed that Sarek's bondmate would be Vulcan. Her husband Skon, on the other hand, had approved, whole heartedly. He logically debated the value of a Vulcan-Terran marriage that would help create a greater bond of trust between Earth and Vulcan. She could find no fault in Skon's logic and finally, with reluctance, accepted it.
Down through the years she gradually came to admire and accept Amanda through her hard work to learn The Way and to comport herself in an acceptable manner. The Way was not easy, not even for Vulcans, and Amanda had made very few mistakes. She could not help but admire her daughter-through-marriage, especially since she did not have the advantage of being raised in The Way since childhood. She hoped meeting Amanda's all too Human family would not be too stressful. The meditation helped her to strengthen her mental shields against emotional mental thoughts that might accidentally bombard her mind.
If Amanda's family were anything like Amanda, herself, it would be an enjoyable experience, indeed. She was not ignorant of the fact that meeting them now was probably easier that it would have been all those years ago when Sarek and Amanda were Wed. She rejoiced in her own obvious maturation in The Way and specifically in the doctrine of IDIC.
She was intrigued with the Terran celebration of Christmas and in some of the similarities between Jesus and Surak that Skon had shared with her. Skon had written the book 'The Way' and was contemplating writing a theological paper about the differences and similarities between Surak of Vulcan and Jesus of Earth. She was sure he would do it and it would be a fascinating paper to read. There was always the possibility that he would be asked to teach a class on the subject at the Academy. She entered the Academy parking facility, got into her flitter and headed for home. She would have plenty of time to make the fruit custard pies she would bring for the celebration.
~ooOoo~
The kitchen staff was busy preparing mid meal, comprising various Vulcan and Terran soups, salads, salad dressings, and banana-cherry-walnut jell-O salad. They would have plenty of coffee, iced and hot tea to drink, as well as some Terran milk
The shoppers were home and Pat joined the other female members of the family in the kitchen to make home made pies. There would be chocolate, lemon marang, coconut cream, pumpkin, boysenberry, pecan, banana cream, plomeek, and several kinds of Vulcan fruit custard pies.
The males were busy setting up the large parlor for the blended family recital with chairs, music stands and various musical instruments near the grand piano. Everyone would receive a souvenir' program of the recital and Skon picked one up to examine it. Everything was as it should be.
~ooOoo~
The family members all took their places and the recital was about to begin when the door chime sounded.
"I wonder who that could be," Amanda said. "Were you expecting anyone, Sarek?"
"No, my wife, I am not expecting anyone."
Amanda went to the front door and opening it was very surprised to see T'Pau. The Matriarch entered the house and asked, "Is it too late to accept your invitation to the Christmas Eve recital?"
"Not at all, T'Pau, we are honored by your presence. Please come into the parlor and make yourself comfortable."
"You are most kind."
Everyone was surprised to see the Matriarch and the Humans hushed their conversations out of respect and awe. Who would have believed that the great and powerful T'Pau would come to a blended family celebration of a Human holiday? After she was seated comfortably and given a program, the rest of the family took their places.
Instruments
Piano...................................................................Spock
Vulcan Lyrette Quartet....T'Pree, Steban, Skon, Sarek
Choir
Sopranos.........................Amanda, Elizabeth, Victoria
Altos.......................................Patricia, Amanda Marie
Tenors................................................Richard, Charlie
Bass.......................................................Robert, Bobby
1. Christmas medley: Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Here Comes Santa Claus, Up on the House Top, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Caroling, Caroling, and The Christmas Song.
2. The truth About Santa Claus.....................Amanda
"I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma Grayson. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my hover-bike to visit her on the day my cousin Jan dropped the bomb: There is no Santa Claus, she jeered. Even dummies know that! My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me."
"I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a lot easier when swallowed with one of her 'world-famous' cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me."
"No Santa Claus? She snorted... Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad! Now, put on your coat, and let's go. Go? Go where, Grandma? I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun."
"Where turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten credits. That was a bundle for kids in those days. Take this money, she said, and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the flitter. Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's."
"I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten credits, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my
church."
"I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Robby Decker. He was a new kid in school with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Woodberry's grade-two class. Robby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Robby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten credits with growing excitement. I would buy Robby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked really warm, and he would like that."
"Is this a Christmas present for someone? the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten credits down. Yes, ma'am, I replied shyly. It's for Robby. The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Robby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas."
"That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, To Robby, From Santa Claus on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Robby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's Helpers. Grandma parked her flitter down the street from Robby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. All
right, Santa Claus, she whispered, get going."
"I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded on his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Robby."
"Sixty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Robby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: Ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95."
"And now we come to the real reason for the season. Without the birth of the Christ child there would be no celebration and no gift giving."
3. The reading of the birth of Jesus from the Bible in St. Luke chapter two............Robert Treeport
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city."
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child,"
"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, Lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them: and they were sore afraid!"
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had see it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
4. Christmas medley: O little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, The First Noel, Hark the Herold Angles Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and Joy to the World.
5. Poem: Our Christmas Gift..........recited by Amanda Marie
"Magi came across the desert, They journeyed from afar, They had no map or compass, They simply followed the star. May that same star still bring us, to celebrate at His side,
To cherish Him within us, each year at Christmastide."
6. Solo: O Holy Night....................................................Amanda
Accompanied by the blended family orchestra
7. A special presentation.....................................................Sarek
"You are all familiar with the Vulcan Christmas carols that Bobby Treeport and my son Spock wrote as children. There is one carol that they wrote that was totally serious. I and my family are honored by this carol because it truthfully represents our hopes for peace in our galaxy. I and my Father, Uncle Steban, and Spock will sing it, in four part harmony, at this time. The song title is I Heard the Gongs of Gol Today." Skon, Steban and Spock took their places beside Sarek and began to sing.
"I heard the gongs of Gol today, Their old familiar message play, Logical and sweet, The words repeat of peace in our whole galaxy. I thought how as this day had come, The gongs of Gol and Vulcandom, Had tolled along the unbroken song of peace in our whole galaxy. To meditate I bowed my head, There is no perfect peace I said, Romulan hate is strong, Klingons mock the song of peace in our whole galaxy. Then rang the gongs more loud and deep, Though the path to peace is rough and steep, The wrong shall fail! The right prevail! With peace in our whole galaxy!"
Amanda and her family applauded enthusiastically. Then Amanda announced, "This is the conclusion of the recital. I thank you all for participating in it. We will be gathering in the dinning room for dinner in one hour." She turned to T'Pau and continued, "We would be honored if you would join us for dinner, Grandmother."
"I accept your invitation. I wish to have a private discussion with Bobby and Spock about their song."
"Would you like to use my private study?" asked Sarek.
"That would be acceptable."
~ooOoo~
The family recital was a complete success. Afterward, Charlie was taking a closer look at the tenor lyrette when Skon approached him.
"Would you like to examine the tenor lyrette more closely?" asked Skon.
"Would I?! I mean, yes I would, Great-Uncle Skon."
The corners of Skon's mouth quirked upward slightly at the boy's enthusiasm. "Come sit with me and I will instruct you in the basics of playing it. I am sure that you will learn quickly. You are a very talented young musician."
"Thank you, Great-Uncle Skon. I will do my best to learn what you teach me. This is so totally galactic! Oh! I hope I'm not getting on your nerves, or anything like that, but this is really exciting to me."
"Not at all, Charles, I am very pleased with your enthusiasm."
~ooOoo~
After end meal, Pat and Vicky were helping Amanda in getting a few last minute preparations finished in the kitchen for the Christmas dinner the next day.
Patricia turned to Amanda and asked, "I wonder what T'Pau said to Bobby and Spock?"
"I am sure that she was impressed with their song."
"Do you really think so?"
"Yes, I do."
"Whew! That is good. I just hope Bobby didn't feel too intimidated by the Matriarch."
Vicky changed the subject. "Remember Christmas morning when Bobby was seven years old and tried to make breakfast for everyone by himself?"
Amanda laughed and answered, "I'm not likely to forget it. He was trying to make omlettes and put all the ingredients in the blender. Unfortunately, he turned the blender on, forgetting to put on the lid! There was omlette mixture everywhere!" The three ladies laughed.
"I was absolutely flabbergasted," Pat added, "and Bobby was horrified and turned off the blender. I told him that he was too young to prepare a meal by himself and that I would help him clean up the mess."
"That was when Amanda and I walked in," added Vicky, "and I told him that, with the lid on he wouldn't get omlette mixture on the floor. He said oops!"
"He wouldn't get any on the ceiling either," added Amanda. "Then Sarek walked in and before we could warn him, he looked up and the omlette on the ceiling dripped all over his face!"
"We all clapped our hands over our mouths in horror and Bobby eyes got really big and he said ah-oh! I thought, for sure, that Sarek would be very upset with my son but he just calmly picked up a kitchen towel and wiped his face off, then grabbed the disposable towels and said, 'It will only take twenty minutes to clean this up if we all work together.' That was when I first realized what a truly kind man your husband is, Amanda, and that he would be a good father."
Unknown to the ladies, Sarek had just walked into the kitchen behind them then said, "Thank you, Patricia, you are most kind."
"You're welcome, Sarek and unlike that time, you won't get egg on your face today."
"That is good to know and I assure you, ladies, that was the only time I have had egg on my face."
The ladies laughed then Vicky added, "I bet that is true in more ways than one."
Amanda looked at the kitchen chronometer, "Goodness! It's getting late. We had better get the kids to bed so Santa Claus can come." With that said, they left the kitchen.
