Chansons de Noel (Prompt: Carols)
Booth and Brennan had decided to enroll Christine and Hank in an experimental multi-language immersion program being offered at the local public school each Saturday for the fall semester. The first language the children would experience was to be French, followed by Spanish during the spring semester if the parents were favorably impressed with the first results they observed in their children. The teachers encouraged children in the same family to practice at home, and it didn't take long before the siblings realized they could communicate with each other in a sort of secret code for fun. Both their parents had had taken French during high school and college, and each had used it in their work to a limited extent over the years; Brennan during her digs, Booth while he was on deployments. Upon hearing their children conversing in French, they decided not to share this fact with the kids and eavesdrop on their little exchanges. The pair chuckled nightly over the comments made by their offspring, once the kids were in bed. As Thanksgiving approached, Hank and Christine began singing in French as well. While the adults didn't recognize most of the words, they could certainly identify the melodies without much trouble. The kids were preparing for a program which would be the culmination of their semester's study, performing Chants de Noel for their parents. Hearing the traditional tunes made Douce Nuit, Vive le Vent, Mon Beau Sapin, Minuit Chretien, easy to recognize; Silent Night, Jingle Bells, O Christmas Tree, O Holy Night, others unfamiliar to Booth and Brennan were well-known and beloved French carols: il est né le Divin enfant, Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes, and Petit Papa Noel orIt is the Holy Child, and Angels in the Heavens, Little Father Christmas. It seemed to Brennan that singing made the words easier to remember, even for her and Booth, who frequently hummed them in the shower during early December.
One morning Christine overheard her father's morning serenade and reproached her mother, "You guys aren't supposed to be listening to us practicing, Mommy, you'll spoil our surprise."
Brennan smiled fondly at her daughter, "Honey, we'd have to be deaf not to notice your singing. Even Grandpa Max enjoyed your songs after dinner last Saturday. We promise to keep your secret. We won't tell any other parents."
On the last Saturday before Christmas right after lunch, the Booth children were dressed in their Sunday best clothes before their parents even mentioned it. The little concert was scheduled for 2 p.m. and Hank was vibrating with excitement. Christine's cheeks were flushed pink in anticipation. The program went off without a hitch, and all the families in attendance agreed that the semester's study had been a success. Booth swung Christine around and hugged her tight. Then he solemnly shook his son's hand, and hoisted Hank up onto his shoulders. To the children's surprise and delight, Parker came striding down the aisle of the auditorium, a huge smile on his face, Rebecca right behind him.
"Mom told me you were performing when we landed, so we came straight from the airport. You guys sang really well! Can you teach me those songs while I'm home, you think?"
"Christine, Hank, your songs were lovely; well done!" Rebecca complimented them. "Seeley, Temperance, Merry Christmas to all of you; I'll see Parker on New Year's Eve, if he needs a car; he can certainly use mine some of the time."
"We've got it covered, Becs, but thanks, and Merry Christmas to you and your folks. Simon wasn't able to come over this time?"
"He's flying in on Christmas Eve," Rebecca told him. "Well, I've got to get going; be good, honey, tell Pops hello for me, okay?" She stood on tiptoe to kiss her tall son good-bye. "Merry Christmas to all of you!"
"Who wants pie at the diner to celebrate our choristers?" Booth asked. Receiving a chorus of affirmative replies, he suggested, "We could go caroling tomorrow afternoon, if you two can lead us; what'cha think?"
"We can do that!" Hank and Christine agreed. "That'll be fun! And then we can have hot chocolate and cookies afterwards."
AA/N: Many thanks to the French reader who took the time to correct my title on "il est né le Divin enfant"; I so appreciate the information! Merci beaucoup.