I couldn't not do a Christmas Story related to THE Christmas story, so that's what this is. It's really only very loosely related but yes. Also called "How many Loud House Characters can I fit into just over 1.8 thousand words?" I hope you enjoy it.
It's Christmas Eve, so I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas Eve! Thanks for reading!
Story 18: The First Christmas
Prompt/ Premise: A poor orphaned shepherd girl is visited by an angel and follows a famous star
A poor orphaned shepherd girl named Mollie was laying in the field in the cool evening. She was watching her sheep. That's when it happened, she saw distinctive star in the sky. It was noticeable to her as it seemed to have a brighter glow and seemed to call to her. She made sure her sheep were in their barn, as she figured maybe the star was warning her of an impending storm. Then, there was a loud boom.
"Do not be afraid," a voice said.
"Uh, yeah that sounds like a reason no to have a fear," Mollie replied.
She saw an angel girl. She had short hair and was adorned in purple. The light made it look like day had come in the night.
"Who…are…. you?" Mollie asked.
"I'm Luna, here to tell you a message," Luna said.
"A message for me, a poor orphaned shepard girl?" Mollie questioned.
The angel grabbed a guitar and started to sing.
"The star, the star, you see in the distance, I bring you good news. For in the town of Bethlehem there is a child born. This child is the one who was promised to be born. A Savior is born," Luna sang.
"Can I ask, what do you want of me?" Mollie asked.
"Dude just go visit baby," Luna said.
"But my sheep, I live by myself, and nobody else is around to take of them," Mollie said.
"Then, you will be helped, worry not," Luna said.
Mollie packed up some belongings and asked the angel one more question.
"Which way to do I go?" she asked.
"Just follow the star," Luna said.
On her journey, she saw other shepherds. There was a group of six of riding donkeys and following the star. She walked to them.
"Hey girl, are you following yonder star?" a red-haired shepherd asked.
That's confusing since half of them had red hair, but this one was named Liam.
"Uh, yes I am," she said.
"Are you planning to walk there, it's a long journey?" Liam asked.
"Oh, I don't any beast of burden to ride upon, because I'm only a poor orphaned shepherd girl " Mollie replied.
"That's fine, you can ride with one of us," said Clyde.
"Let us introduce ourselves, we mustn't be rude," Lincoln said.
"This is Rusty, Liam, Zach, Clyde, I'm Lincoln and this is my wife Stella," he said.
"You're married, aren't you like eleven?" she asked.
"You mean you aren't married, wow, what's wrong with you?" Zach asked.
"If your looking, I'm free," Rusty said.
"I can see why, I'll ride with Clyde, he seems the least creepy of you four," she said.
They continued their journey to the town of Bethlehem. The journey took days, as they had to drive by night to the star. In one of the towns on the way they stopped during the day. There were people selling wares to folks. A short boy, with long brown hair, wearing green was running around to get attention of folks.
"I'm telling you that the night's star has arrived and that means the savior is born," he said.
"Not this again, stop acting so smart, you really annoying," a man said.
Mollie had found the boy sitting down, crestfallen that not one body listened to him. She wondered was wrong with the child, and she tapped his shoulder. She had asked him, what was the problem? His answered amazed her; he was talking of the star she was following, so far.
"That's the star, I've been following," she said.
"Really, you are heading towards Bethlehem?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Allow me to make a proposal, wait, you are married?" he asked.
"Why do people around her keep trying to have an eleven-year-old girl married?" she questioned in anger.
"My apologizes, I was only asking as, I'm a male and don't want intrude if you were married," he said.
"Oh, well go on then," she said.
"Might, I come with thee?" he asked.
"I don't know, I don't have my own donkey to ride upon," she replied.
"I shall provide transportation," he said.
"Well, that sounds good," Mollie said.
"Great! I shall board you in my home and you shall get some rest before our night's journey," the boy said.
"Thank you, kind sir," she replied.
"And yes, my name is Levi, what is yours?" he asked.
"It's Mollie," she answered.
She went to sleep in one of his rooms. Time ticked on as it does, and she woke up. She didn't know what she was to do. She sat waiting, maybe for Levi to see her. 30 minutes time passed.
"You've awoken, that's great!" Levi said.
"Yeah, you look like you've been sleeping as well," she said.
"This is true, hurry up, I've got something to show you," he replied.
Levi showed Mollie the stuff he prepared for the journey. They ate together and started off for the night, following the star. Levi had made a cart that held them as it was pulled by oxen. Days and Nights continued.
"We three kings of orient are, following yonder star."
Mollie saw three men riding camels. They were kings from the east, Levi told her by looking at their clothing. They had set up camp for the day. Mollie and Levi set up their camp nearby. Levi thought it was a good idea to go and visit the kings.
"Why are a shepherd girl and some short fellow coming over here?" asked one of the kings.
"Be nice, Chandler; we are quite interesting to approach," Lance said.
"Hello, Shepard Girl and Nymph, why do you approach us?" Trent asked.
"Nymph, this is not a fantasy world," Levi said.
"Are you guys following the star?" Mollie asked.
"Why, yes, we are, the legendary tale of a birth of a king," Chandler said.
"That's what we are doing," Mollie sad.
"How did you find out about the babe?" Chandler asked.
"It came out in my studies of history," Levi replied.
"Ah, a scholar, you might be interested in our works, then," Trent said.
"An angel told me," Mollie said.
They looked at the girl with a strange look. Was she crazy? An angel? Lance was interested in this story.
"Mind telling me more?" he asked.
Levi and Trent went over to his scholars to look over their maps and charts. Mollie talked with Lance about the angel. He had a deep interest in figures like angels and wished he could have met one. Chandler asked both Levi and Mollie to join him in a feast.
"This is my wife, Ronnie Anne, she makes great food," he said.
"Nice to meet you," Mollie said.
"Yes, salutations," Levi replied.
During the day, Mollie and Levi slept to gain their rest for the night ride. After some time, they had gotten used to sleeping in the day, and wandering at night. During the night rides, Levi took notes of the events and people he saw. They saw a couple who were following the star.
"Hello, my name is Jordan, and this my brother Jordan, and we were wondering if you two liked music?" Jordan asked.
"Wait, you both are brother and sister, but have the same name?" Mollie asked.
"In this story we do," Boy Jordan said.
"Our father wasn't a well man," Girl Jordan said.
"Is this music for money?" Levi asked.
"'Tis that, sir, we gained a lot from this trip, it's truly a miracle, like the birth," Girl Jordan said.
"I'm just a poor, orphaned, hopefully still have sheep, shepherd girl," Mollie said.
"Does that mean, you aren't bringing a gift to the babe?" Boy Jordan asked.
Mollie didn't realize she was to bring a gift. She did hear the kings talking about bringing a gift. What could she bring?
"No worries, we have both gifts to bring," Levi said.
"What really?" she whispered.
"I thought to bring gifts," he replied.
"You really are a genius," Mollie replied.
After the Jordans sang their song, Levi paid them, and they went their way. They made it to the town of Bethlehem. Mollie had never seen such a place before. It was sunrise when they had made it, so they couldn't follow the star anymore.
"Levi, maybe we should ask someone," Mollie said.
"I guess we could, I'd rather wait for the star, but we might beat the crowd" Levi said.
"Hey, look over there, maybe they'll know," Mollie said.
There four who looked like quadruplets. Two girls one was in a blue dress the other was in a pink dress, and two boys who were wearing red and a darker shade of blue robes.
"Excuse us, we have a question for you," Levi said.
"Yes?" asked the pink girl.
"We were wondering if you knew where the newborn baby was," Mollie replied.
"You're in luck, we're on our way now," said the blue boy.
"This isn't a trick is it?" Levi asked.
"Nah, we're going to do it for free; it'd seem wrong to ask for money to visit the special child," the red boy asked.
"I'm Lola, by the way, these are my brothers and sister, Lexx, Leif, and Lana," the pink girl said.
"I'm a drummer boy," said Leif.
Levi and Mollie followed the four to the spot where the baby was said to be with his parents.
"They moved him out of a stable a couple weeks ago, they're staying in our uncle's house," Lexx said.
"Aunt Leni, there's visitors for the baby again," Leif said.
"It's nighttime already? It's so bright still," Leni said.
"No, Aunt Leni, they want to see him in the daytime," Lola said.
"That's different, but alright, have them come in," she said.
Mollie and Levi walked inside the home. Leni asked them to sit down around a table for some lunch.
"I'll be back, to ask the family if they are prepared for visitors," she said.
Another girl walked into the room holding a tray.
"Hello, would you like a cookie?" she asked.
"What's a cookie?" Levi asked.
"It's a new treat, I think, they're good with dates," she said.
"Are you related to them?" Mollie asked.
"Nah, miss, I'm a servant here," she replied.
"What's your name?" Mollie asked.
"Well they call me Cookie, that's why I call these things cookies," she replied.
Eventually, Leni came back and told Mollie and Levi they could see the newborn baby. They followed Leif and Lana to the room where the new family was staying. They're names were Mary and Joseph. Mollie and Levi kneeled before the child. They were quiet, as to not cause him any discomfort.
"I bring the gift of the knowledge I have collected," Levi said.
He put a bundle of scrolls in front of the basanite.
"I bring a gift of some silver, thanks to Levi, for I am a poor, orphaned, shepherd girl, who hopes her sheep are still there, and I didn't have a gift at first, but I hope this gift is good," Mollie said.
The baby smiled. Levi did want comment on how the baby must be special as most babies don't smile until much later living, but he chose not to in respect. And thus, they saw what became known as the tradition and holiday of Christmas, a history that lives on to this day.