Since tonight (depending on when you are reading this) is the first night Hanukkah, here's a detour in the Christmas tales with Hanukkah. Enjoy!
Story 16: Eight Nights
Prompt/Premise: Lola learns about Hanukkah
It was the end of the Little Miss holiday pageant; Lola was dressed like a Christmas tree with green garland and sparkling lights. In her hands she was holding a trophy, a new Crown on her head, and a gold sash.
"Congratulations on your win," said her rival and runner up, Lindsay Sweetwater.
"Thank you, I know I was good, but you put on a good show, I guess," Lola in her usual prideful way, "What was with that candle thing? "
"That was my menorah." Lindsey said.
"your what? "Lola asked.
"Menorah, it's for Hanukkah," Lindsey explained.
"I've heard of that, it's like eight days of presents right?" Lola questioned.
"It's not really about that…" Lindsey said.
Then Lindsey thought up an idea.
"You should come over to my house tomorrow night, for the first night of Hanukkah," she said.
"This isn't some trick, is it?" Lola asked.
"No, who invites someone over to trick them?" Lindsey asked.
"Uhh, do I have to bring anything?" Lola asked.
"Just yourself," Lindsey said.
Rita and Lindsey's mother talked about their daughters getting together the next night and everything was a go.
The next evening rang Lola on Lindsey's doorbell. Lindsey answered the door, Lola was surprised by Lindsey's appearance. The girl was wearing pink t-shirt and red sweatpants, no makeup, and her hair wasn't done in any special way.
"Hey Lola," Lindsey said, "You, didn't have to get so dressed up, you know?"
"Dressed up, this his how I normally…" Lola started to say.
"You mean, you always wear makeup, gowns, gloves, and tiara?"
"I always like to look my best."
"Once I get home, the pageant wear can't be off soon enough, anyway, come in."
Lola looked around the Sweetwater home, it looked like a normal house. A couch, TV, stereo, stuff like that. She did notice that there was a white Christmas tree in the corner by the window, all lit up with pink and white lights.
"I thought you didn't celebrate Christmas or something," Lola replied.
"We do, I'm part Jewish, my Dad's side celebrates Christmas," Lindsey explained.
The smell of fried food was spread through the house. Lindsey's father was watching TV in the living room.
"Hey Dad, Lola's here," Lindsey said.
"Hello there, nice to see my Lindsey's pageant buddy, here," he said.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Sweetwater," Lola said.
An older woman was reading a book in a chair.
"Grandma Roselyn," Lindsey called.
"Yes, my dear," the woman said.
"This is Lola Loud; she's visiting to learn more about Hanukkah," Lindsey replied.
"Nice to meet you, not sure why she hides her face behind so much make up," she said.
"Grandma don't hurt her feelings," Lindsey said.
"So, you want to learn about Hanukkah, you aren't of the faith, I take it?" Roselyn said.
"No," Lola replied.
"Then, I think we time, sit girls, Infront of my chair, I shall tell you the story of Hanukkah," Roselyn said.
Lindsey sat crossed legged and Lola folded her legs at the knees and sat up.
"It was a long time, long before even I was born. The Jewish people were scattered under the Greeks, they were still allowed to practice their faith and go to the temple. Then a new different king came in and he decided that they should worship his god, instead. Of course, many didn't take that laying down." The woman told.
She sniffed the air.
"You should flip those over now, dear!" she yelled.
"I'm on my third batch, mother!" a voice yelled from the kitchen.
"Just don't want you to burn them; do you need my help?"
"No, just continue what you are doing."
She continued with her story, interrupting every while to comment on something.
"…After they won, they had to cleanse the temple from the Greek gods. They also needed oil, oil was used for lighting, because they didn't have fancy electricity and the sort. They needed the right kind of oil, took a long time to make, and they had enough for one day, but somehow, it lasted eight days. We remember this miracle with these eight days," the woman said.
Lindsey's mother came out of the kitchen with a couple bowls and set them on the dining room table.
"Lindsey, could you get the sour cream and cheese out of the fridge, for me?" she asked.
"Sure, Mom," Lindsey said.
"Hello, Lola, I'm glad you are joining us tonight," Lindsey's mother said.
"Nice seeing you too, Mrs. Sweetwater," Lola replied.
Roselyn got up from the chair and looked over the food on the table. She had a big smile on her face.
"Fancy girl, come here," she called for Lola.
"Good, this is traditional Hanukkah food, latkes, they are made from potatoes, and fried in oil, to remember the miracle," she explained.
Lola looked on at the food.
"We also have a lot of dairy, because of Judith, you know that story, do you?" Roselyn replied.
"I think she's too young for that story," Mr. Sweetwater replied.
"Oh, she's seen more in her fairy tales and network television, than that story, they're old enough to hear about it," Roselyn said.
The family and Lola sat down and ate dinner. Next up, was to light the menorah.
"But First, we bless those who aren't with us; both those who aren't on this world anymore, or not in this house. To my dear husband, I still miss you, to my dear son, hope you are having a good Hanukkah," Roselyn said.
"To my, brother, and my in-laws, may they be safe," Lindsey's mother replied.
"You have anyone, you want blessed, Fancy Girl?" Roselyn asked.
"I guess my sisters, my brother, my parents, my pop-pop, and great-aunt," Lola replied.
"Now, I hold this candle and light it," Lindsey's mother replied.
"Then, we light this first candle," Roselyn said.
"Alright, everyone holds hands as we give the blessing," Lindsey's mother said.
Lola held Lindsey's hand on her right, and Lindsey's father on her left. While Roselyn gave the blessing. The menorah had two candles lit with one being in the center and one on the far right. Roselyn grabbed her purse and took out her wallet.
"Lindsey, dear," she called.
She gave her granddaughter some Hanukkah money. Then she gave a little bit to her daughter and son-in-law.
"Fancy Girl, here you go, Happy Hanukkah," she said.
She even gave Lola some money.
"I'm glad you were wiling to learn about traditions, and so respectful too, I'm glad to have you, though, you look pretty enough; and don't need all that make up on your face."
They played with the dreidel, where Lindsey won the most candy.
"Maybe we should play with money," Roselyn joked.
"Oh, mom," Lindsey's mother said.
"It's that time!" Roselyn said.
"Yep, I'll be right back as well," Lindsey's father said.
"Me three," Lindsey's mother said.
"What are they doing, now?" Lola asked.
"They're getting the gifts," Lindsey explained.
"So, there were presents, after all," Lola said.
"They aren't major or anything, I get anything really good on Christmas," Lindsey said.
"Do you get one each night?" Lola asked.
"Yep, my parents usually exchange a gift only on the first night, because they'll give each other something else on Christmas," Lindsey said.
Lindsey's mother gave her gifts to her husband, mother, and daughter first. Then she smiled at Lola and handed her a gift as well.
"I thought, I'd get you one too, since Lindsey was so happy to have you come over," she said.
"Thanks, Mrs. Sweetwater," Lola said.
Lindsey opened her gifts: a scarf from her parents, and a locket from her grandmother. Lola opened hers, which was a bright pink scarf.
"Thanks, this is such a great scarf!" Lola said.
"You're welcome," Mr. Sweetwater said.
"Hey Lola, your father is on his way to pick you up," Lindsey's mother said.
"So, you guys do this for eight nights?" Lola asked.
"Yep, though we play different games and eat slightly different food; you're invited to come around tomorrow," Lindsey's mother answered.
"Really, uh, could I bring someone?" Lola asked.
"Sure."
"Fancy Girl, seems you enjoyed our company, will be nice to see you on my final day," Roselyn said.
"Grandma's going to visit my uncle, for the rest of Hanukkah," Lindsey explained.
"Anything to get a break from cold Michigan," the woman quipped.
Lola got ready for bed, which was a longer process than most. Her twin sister, Lana, was already in bed waiting for their turn to have a story read to them.
"So, you actually had a good time with Lindsey Sweetwater?" Lana asked.
"Yeah, it's strange, I didn't think I would," Lola replied.
"Maybe, it's because you put your attention on the competition, you thought of her as your enemy," Lana explained.
"That reminds me; would you like to come with me tomorrow? I'm going back," She asked.
"Do, I have to bring anything? Lana asked.
"Maybe, we should bring some small gifts," Lola said.
Lola and Lana arrived at the Sweetwater house and were welcomed in by Lindsey. Lindsey's father was watching a game show, there was the smell of fried food going through the house.
"You remember me, right?" Lana asked Lindsey.
"Oh yeah, you're that girl that won the pageant wearing overalls and making fart noises with your arm pits," Lindsey answered.
"Yep that's me, and I'm surprised to see you aren't all dressed up," Lana said.
"I don't wear that stuff all the time," she answered.
"We brought you some gifts, too," Lana said.
"Well, I'll open them later," Lindsey said.
Roselyn was also watching the game show and answering the questions along with the contestants.
"Lana, you should meet my family," Lindsey said.
She grabbed Lana's arm and walked over to her father first.
"Hey Dad, Lola's back, and she brought her twin sister, Lana," she replied.
"Oh hey, Lana, are you the older twin or the younger twin?" he asked.
"Older, sir," she said.
"Nice to meet you, welcome to our home," he replied.
Next, they walked over to Roselyn.
"Grandma Roselyn, I want you to…" She was cut off
"Hmm, you changed your clothes, and washed off that makeup, Fancy Girl, nice to see you again," Roselyn replied.
"Grandma, this is Lana, Lola's twin sister," Lindsey said.
"Oh, she has a twin, sorry about the confusion," Roselyn said.
"It's alright, Ma`am," Lana said.
"Have you heard the Hanukkah story?" Roselyn asked.
"I think I've seen a special on TV," Lana said.
"Oh, you've not heard it the way I tell it, come with me, to the chair," Roselyn said.
While, Roselyn was telling Lana the story, Lindsey took Lola on a tour of the house. Lindsey's room was different from the room Lola and Lana shared. She had a large bed, a TV, and a bookshelf. There was also her collection of stuffed animals.
"You collect stuffed animals, too?" Lola asked.
"Not really, they're here as gifts from the past few birthdays, holidays, and stuff. I do have my favorite though, over there," Lindsey said.
"Oh," Lola replied.
She saw Lindsey's closet, which had a mixture of her pageant wear and normal day to day wear.
"You don't have to share your room, do you?" Lola asked.
"I'm an only child, kind of wonder how it would be like to have a sister," Lindsey said.
"You can borrow any of mine, or even my brother," Lola joked.
"You know, you kind of scared me; but you don't seem as scary," Lindsey said.
Lola rubbed the back of her head.
"I guess, I let my competitive side get to me; sorry about that," Lola said.
"You are really good at what you do, I'm always impressed," Lindsey said.
"There you guys are, um, it's dinner time," Lana replied.
"How was the story?" Lindsey asked.
"Your grandma is cool, she also told me about this lady named Judith who…" Lana started to say.
"Uh, let's hurry," Lola said.
After the second night was over, Lola and Lana went home. The two sisters got ready for bed.
"That was a fun evening," Lana replied.
"Yeah, thanks for coming with me," Lola said.
"So, are you and Lindsey friends now, or something, you two seemed to be getting along?" Lana asked.
"Yeah, I think we are, it was nice getting to know her," Lola said.
"That's kind of funny," Lana replied.
"What's funny?" Lola asked.
"It's like a Hanukkah Miracle, that you ended up making nice with Lindsey Sweetwater," Lana said with a laugh.
"Very funny, Lana."