Part 1: Chapter 53: 1888: Red Deer, Alberta
Christmas Celebrations
After Thomas' birthday, it was very close to being the end of the first semester. Students were excited to be away from Ms. Fletcher for a while. There was still the Christmas pageant being held on Christmas Eve, but the Clarke sisters hadn't joined the school choir that year, and neither had Colleen. All of them felt that they couldn't be that cheery without Kathryn, who was still missing.
It was also the McSweeneys first Canadian winter, and every single one of them was freezing and grouchy most of the time. Poor little Thomas was struggling with walking out of his front door, despite being covered from head to foot in layers and layers of warm clothes. His father had started to be the one taking him to school as it was a lot less back tracking to take a more direct route.
"H…hhhhhhh…..hhoowww mmmmmm…mmm..uch lllllonger till spring?" Thomas stuttered on the last day of school for that semester as they were waiting for Ms. Fletcher.
Nate and Colleen were both bundled up with their mother's wool knitted outfits. Nate was giving a small mischievous glint to Thomas.
"Months, spring doesn't really set in until April, and even then, it can be nasty and cold," Nate answered through his own scarf.
Thomas just went wide eyed in response.
"Hh…hhhh…oooowwww… aarrr….rrrr…are ya not cccc….ccccc…ccccold?" Thomas glared.
"This isn't even cold yet," Colleen stated.
Thomas looked at each Grant in shock, then at their Uncle James sitting on General in his winter uniform. Then he turned his glare to his father.
"I'mmmm…mmmm….mmmm ggg…ggggg…going to die," Thomas said dramatically to his father.
Eoan gave his son a look, "Our other option was Wales."
Thomas gave his father a harder glare back.
"I would rather be here," Thomas huffed.
"I thought ya might," Eon said as he shook his head at his son.
Ms. Fletcher finally came out to ring the bell.
Colleen and Nate walked slowly while Thomas waddled to the school house door.
They were all testing that day. The older years were all cram questioning each other. The younger years were all nervous to have to answer in public.
As Ms. Fletcher got the paper tests started, she soon began to do the oral tests for the younger years. For once, she didn't make Nate go first, but he was called quickly. Thomas gave him an encouraging nod and Nate went forward.
Nate passed each test with flying colors. Colleen and Thomas both did okay, but struggled with math. At the end of the day, the students all carefully dressed in their warm clothes and met their waiting parents in the school yard. Archie and James had General attached to a large wagon. James wasn't in his uniform and had his saw and ax in the back.
"Are we getting a Christmas tree?" Colleen asked, only slightly muffled by her scarf.
"No," Archie teased his daughter.
Colleen looked at the men in confusion.
"We're not getting just one," Archie said as he winked at his daughter.
"Yay!" Colleen smiled in happiness.
"Aunt Edith and I also need some help decorating ours. Do you know of anyone who can help?" James smiled at the children.
"That's me! Definitely me!" Colleen raised her hand in excitement.
Everyone was laughing at her exuberance.
The men put the children on the back bench where Ophelia and Sirius were sitting. Thomas was put near Sirius so that he could warm up in the dog's fur. As James drove the wagon into the woods to find their Christmas tree, Archie and Colleen started singing Christmas carols.
"Come on, sing with us, Thomas, it will warm you up," Colleen said after they finished the first carol.
Thomas gave her a skeptical look but wasn't one to shy away from a challenge and joined in with caroling. When they finally reached the clearing with the best Christmas trees, Thomas was feeling a bit warmer.
James parked the wagon and got down to help Thomas, Colleen, and Nate down while Archie helped Ophelia.
"Come on, Thomas, help us find some trees," Colleen said as she grabbed Nate's and Thomas' hands and pulled them towards some trees. Sirius was following after the kids watching them carefully.
James and Archie grabbed their tools and followed behind them.
"What about this one?" Thomas asked as he pointed to one that was lopsided.
Colleen just gave him a long glare and sigh of frustration.
"This one?" Thomas pointed to one that was too short.
Colleen shook her head and led Nate deeper into the trees.
"This one?" Thomas asked as he pointed to one that was missing a lot of its needles.
Colleen stopped and put her hands on her hips.
"Thomas McSweeney it's like you've never gotten a tree before, and I know that can't be true. There are Christmas trees in Ireland!" Colleen lectured him.
Nate and Thomas both started giggling at her.
"Told you it wouldn't take her that long," Nate said as he looked at his sister.
"Yer right, as usual," Thomas smiled cheekily back.
Colleen looked at both of them.
"Mama, they're ganging up on me," Colleen protested at the unfairness. "I'm out numbered!"
The adults all laughed at her protest.
"That's part of having siblings," James said as they approached the children.
"Ya just have to be smarter than them," Archie winked.
Colleen huffed and pouted once more, but she quickly smiled as soon as she turned around.
"I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT TREES!" she yelled in excitement as she ran towards her find.
Inside the clearing, there were three beautiful and appropriately sized fir trees. Everyone agreed with her find. Archie and James went about cutting them down and storing them in the back of the wagon. They went back to the fort where Edith and James would be decorating their tree and giving Thomas early Christmas presents.
Edith, Molly, Rachel, and Sally were all waving inside the window when the family pulled up. The tree was carefully put inside the cleaning room by Archie and James. They quickly did their washing and then went about putting up the tree.
Ophelia, Thomas, Nate, and Colleen were next in the washing room. Sally helped Thomas get into clothes. And too his surprise they actually fit.
"Nate's clothes should still be too long," Thomas spoke out as he joined the others inside the parlor.
James and Edith were both beaming at him.
"They would be," James agreed.
"These fit real nice," Thomas said as he pointed to the nice warm clothes Sally had put him in.
"Good. Do you like them?" Edith asked.
"Yeah, they're very warm," Thomas said.
"Good, our present to you this year is clothes that you can keep here," Edith said warmly.
Thomas looked up at both of them, knowing that allowing him access to their home, like the Grants, was a huge welcome for this family.
"Are ya sure?" Thomas asked as he looked between James and Edith.
"I hope so, since we've already paid for them," James said with a wink.
Edith nodded in agreement.
Thomas' smile widened even further. Thomas immediately started to go towards Edith to give her a hug, but then stopped himself. Everyone could see that Mildred's teachings were deeply ingrained.
"Thomas, I don't mind hugs. In fact, I much prefer them," Edith said with her arms opening so that Thomas could see her openness. Thomas didn't hesitate and finished the distance into Edith's arms.
"Thanks, Mrs. Normandeau," Thomas said when they pulled away.
"You're very welcome. Now, James and I have a much larger tree than normal, we're going to need some help to decorate," Edith said to everyone present.
They spent an enjoyable afternoon making decorations for the Normandeau tree, and helping Thomas make some presents for his family as well.
Eventually, they made the trek back to the McSweeney's house, and came from the front of the property rather than the farthest end of the farm lands. Eoan and Mildred were both on the front porch when they dropped Thomas off.
"Thomas helped us pick some trees and decorate ours. We decided to bring you one as well," James said as he pulled the wagon up to the front porch. Archie helped get Thomas down and stood next to the McSweeneys' tree in the wagon.
Eoan and Mildred were both surprised and looked at each other. They hadn't gotten a tree yet. They both nodded, accepting the kindness. James and Archie carried in the tree while Eoan led them to where the tree would go. The McSweeney household was smaller than even the Grant's house, but it was lightly furnished. They hadn't taken much time putting things together. Everything there was for function.
James and Archie quickly left the house and said good-bye to Mildred and Thomas. Then they pulled the wagon and left to go to the Grant's house. Once in their yard, the family was starting to wain energy wise. James and Archie quickly got the tree into the stand for the family. Ophelia, Nate, and Colleen were sitting on the couch all blinking with tiredness.
"We'll decorate it tomorrow," Archie said, with a yawn.
The rest agreed.
They said goodbye to James and waved him away as he turned to go home.
On Christmas morning, Colleen and Nate were waking both of their parents up quite early to open the presents from their presents under the tree. Ophelia and Archie were both yawning widely as their eager and bright-eyed children (the one time that Colleen was at this time of day) were waiting impatiently.
They were planning to have a Christmas breakfast here on their own, and then have Christmas dinner with Normandeaus.
"Can we open them now?" Colleen asked sweetly.
"Ya may," Archie agreed while Ophelia nodded.
Colleen grabbed the first present she saw and handed it to the person it was for. She passed around all of the presents for the people who were there. Some left over were for James, Edith, and Thomas.
Colleen opened three presents: a new scarf in her favorite color from Ophelia, a carved music box from Archie, and a new doll from Nate. Colleen was beaming at everything around her.
Nate also had three presents: a new forest green wool hat (courtesy of Ophelia), a carved toy horse from Archie (to replace the Galileo one that had disappeared somewhere), and some fishing lures from Colleen. Nate was also smiling happily at his presents.
Archie then went to his pile and picked up the one from his wife.
"Let me guess, mittens, or a hat to match me scarf?" Archie teased.
Ophelia just gave him a side glare.
"I could just take it back," Ophelia said.
"Take it back? Ya mean ya actually bought something?" Archie asked in genuine surprise.
Ophelia blushed, but nodded.
Archie was stunned silent at her admission.
Then he opened the package and inside was a used violin in a violin case.
"I gave James some money to buy one when he was out and about. I told him that I only had enough to cover a used violin. I'm hoping that playing will help you…" Ophelia said in embarrassed explanation before Archie cut her off with a kiss of thanks and gratitude.
"This is the best present you've ever given me," Archie whispered as he pulled back.
"But I was also kinda looking forward to having matching mittens and hat."
Ophelia sighed at his teasing and gently swatted him.
"Well, you got two from me this year," Ophelia said as she pointed to the one beneath the violin.
Archie looked down and opened the normal Ophelia Grant present. And they were matching his scarf.
"I have the best wife in the world," Archie said with love as he leaned in to kiss her again. He then opened the children's presents and they were handmade Christmas ornaments.
Then Ophelia opened hers. Nate and Colleen were also handmade Christmas ornaments. Archie had made her a jewelry box. The outside was delicately carved with her favorite things.
"What am I going to use this for? I have exactly two pieces of jewelry and Rachel keeps one locked up. The other doesn't come off," Ophelia said.
"Whatever ya feel special about," Archie said.
"It is beautiful work, Archie, thank you," Ophelia said as she leaned in for a kiss.
The Grants then went about their normal Christmas morning, ate breakfast then, loaded up the wagon with the presents and drove into the fort.
"Merry Christmas!" the Normandeaus were all greeting them cheerfully when they arrived.
"Merry Christmas!" was the sound back.
The family all settled into the parlor and were ready to exchange gifts with each other.
Colleen and Nate were allowed to go first. They added more drawing tools, books, and clothes to their items. James and Edith added Colleen's first attempt at a family drawing, and a new military book. Ophelia got a new cookbook. Archie got some sheet music to play for his violin.
Archie then was asked to play some songs on his violin. He went about tuning the instrument and started playing Christmas songs, which Edith, Colleen, and Nate joined him in singing along.
Meanwhile in the McSweeney household, Thomas, Mildred, and Eoan were enjoying some quiet family time together as they opened their own presents. Thomas was quite entertained on most things, but he also enjoyed Christmas just as much as Colleen Grant, although his parents made him have a subtler approach to all things Christmas.
The rest of the family had opened their gifts. The only presents left were the ones for the Grants and Luke's present to Thomas, which had come just in time. Thomas liked opening his mail from Luke in private. So, Eoan and Mildred both let him go into his small room to open the rather heavy package.
Thomas gently, but firmly shut the door, placed his box on his mattress then opened the package. The card was first.
Merry Christmas, Thomas,
I hope it gets to you on time! Mother, Father, and Grandmother took us all out for a drive around the sights of Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral is breathtaking, and so is the Louvre. Grandmother is getting worse, but she insisted on going out 'one last time.' So, that is why they had me come with them. Although, they didn't talk to me much at all. But they did allow me to go present shopping for everyone. Gertrude also helped with buying some of the presents in your box. I got something for Nate's family. You've described them all with such kindness, and they are good to you. I want to be kind to them.
Best Wishes and Merry Christmas!
Luke
Thomas looked inside the box to find small packages with Nate, Nate's sister, Nate's Mother, Nate's Father all in his cousin's cursive flow. Thomas smiled as he dug out the present that was slightly bigger and for him. Thomas opened it and a scrap book with a picture of Luke standing in front of Notre Dame, and the picture was of his back. But you could tell how inspired he was by the long-standing piece of art and history. Next to the picture were the words "missing you, wish you were here to see these with me! – Luke."
The rest of the pages were blank.
Thomas knew that this was made because of Gertrude, neither him nor Luke took up crafting much. But Thomas had to admit that seeing where his cousin was spending his time, helped with the ease of their separation. Their mothers had said that they would grow and travel together…until they weren't.
The morning after Christmas, both Thomas and Colleen and Nate were begging to meet each other at their shared road in order to exchange presents and also share Christmas stories.
"Ya see each other every day," Archie winked as he teased his children.
"Not yesterday," Nate pointed out as he was struggling getting a boot on his foot.
Colleen just raised an eyebrow in agreement.
"How do ya know that Thomas will even be there?" Archie asked as he was pulling on the layers of protection from the snow and cold they would need to meet little Thomas.
Colleen snorted in laughter. Nate looked at his dad as if he were being funny. Even Ophelia gave him a look that Archie should know better.
"He'll be there, and we'll all be waiting for him," Ophelia said as she helped Nate put on his winter boots.
Nate and Colleen both cheered. Sirius barked in happiness and wagged his tail. Archie mumbled under his breath and then went about attaching Galileo to their wagon.
The family soon was strapped into the wagon and making their way down the drive. They had just pulled up to the edge of the McSweeney property as they saw Eoan pulling Thomas behind in a brand-new toboggan. Thomas was beaming happily.
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS!" Thomas shouted at the family as he waved enthusiastically.
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS, THOMAS!" the Grants all repeated. Nate and Colleen were both waving as well.
They exchanged gifts with each other, quickly decimated the paper, and began to play in the snow. There was a lot of laughter and cheer from most of the participants, and it was a good day.
Anyone else wanting this season to end already? Thanks for your patience and positive feedback!