Christmas garland hangs from the balcony railing and wreaths hang from the garage doors. The station is hosting a fireman Santa event. Kids are lined up through the station to sit on fireman Santa's lap, who is actually Bobby dressed up as Santa. Jo, Audrey and May are Santa's helpers while everyone else watches. There is a little boy sitting on Santa's lap.
"Have you been a good boy this year?" Bobby asks.
The little boy shakes his head. "Not really. But I cleaned my room this morning. Will you still bring me presents?"
Bobby smiles. "Of course, as long as you promise me you'll listen better and do your chores. Not just now, but always. Can you do that for Santa?"
The little boy thinks for a moment. "I think so."
The boy's dad takes a picture, then the little boy hops off Santa's lap.
Audrey goes to the next kid in line. "Alright. Who's next?"
Another little boy gets on Santa's lap.
"This is such a great idea," Karen says as she watches from the sidelines. "Kids love Santa and they love firetrucks. This is the best of both worlds."
Hen smiles. "The kids are loving it."
The kid jumps off Santa's lap. Chimney and Maddie bring the twins up and put them on Santa's lap. They immediately start crying. Everyone quickly takes pictures so the parents can pick them up. The little girl behind them comes up to the chair.
"Are you ready to meet Santa?" Jo asks the little girl.
She nods and Jo picks her up to put her on Santa's lap. Her clothes are dirty and torn up. It's obvious her family doesn't have much money.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" Bobby asks.
"Rory."
"Have you been a good girl this year, Rory?"
"I think so," Rory answers, looking down at her lap. "I help my momma clean the house, and I pick up my toys, and I go to bed when my momma tells me to."
"That's very good," Bobby says with a smile. "What would you like for Christmas?"
Rory looks around with her head hanging low. She gets close to Bobby's face so no one can hear her. "I don't want toys. I know we can't pay for them. Maybe you could just bring us some food instead? Mommy gives me her food because we don't have much, and then she doesn't eat. I just want her to eat."
Jo, Audrey and May hear Rory's request. Tears fill their eyes. They look at Bobby who also has the same expression.
Bobby turns back to Rory. "It's very kind of you to think of your mom. Are you sure there isn't a toy you want?"
"No. It's okay. Maybe next year."
"Don't worry, Rory. You're going to have a good Christmas. Santa is going to work his magic," Bobby winks.
"It's okay. I know you're not really Santa."
Bobby's face falls with Rory's confession. He turns his attention back to Rory, and the two of them smile for Rory's mom's picture. She hops down off of Bobby's lap, then she and her mom start to walk away. Jo runs after them.
"You almost forgot to enter our drawing."
"Drawing?" Rory's mom asks.
"Yea. You just write your name and address on this piece of paper, then at the end of the day Santa is going to pick a name out of his hat. If Santa draws your name, you will win a brand new bicycle. How does that sound?"
"I don't have a bike," Rory answers.
"Well then you have to enter. Come here."
Jo finds a piece of paper and a pen, then Rory's mom writes her name, phone number and address on the paper.
"Good luck," Jo smiles.
Rory and her mom turn and leave. Jo hangs onto the piece of paper tightly. She doesn't know yet what she's going to do, but she's determined to give Rory the best Christmas. Buck comes up behind her and puts his arm around her.
"She didn't ask for anything for herself," Jo says solemnly as she watches Rory and her mom leave. "It's not fair."
Buck kisses her head. They turn and go back to the group.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Bobby carries a box of decorations into the living room.
"That's the last one," Bobby says as he puts the box down next to the tree.
"Okay," Athena says, "what should we do first? Lights or garland?"
Both Harry and May stay quiet.
"What's wrong?"
Harry looks at the string of lights sitting on the couch. "Dad always did the lights."
"Baby." Athena pulls Harry into a hug, then grabs May's hand and pulls her in with them.
"I know it's hard, this being the first Christmas without your dad. But he wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to continue on with our traditions and keep them alive. He'll always be here. He's probably here now making sure we're doing everything right."
May chuckles as she wipes a tear from her eyes. "He always went back and fixed the ornaments after we had gone to bed."
"He left a big space to fill, but we have to keep on. That's what he'd want." Athena squeezes the kids again.
Harry picks up the lights and holds them out to Bobby. "Will you help me do the lights, Bobby?"
Bobby smiles. "I'd love to."
Bobby takes the lights, and he and Harry start to string them on the tree, with help from May and Athena.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Jacob Lambert is outside untangling Christmas lights. His wife is hanging lights on the porch railing.
"I'm going to grab another strand of lights," she says. "Don't fall off the ladder."
"I'm not going to fall off the ladder," Jacob retorts. "I'm not a child."
He climbs up on the ladder and goes to the very top and starts hanging lights on the eave spouts. A neighbor comes down the sidewalk walking his dog.
"Hey there, neighbor. How's it going?"
"Great," Jacob replies abruptly, not wanting to strike up a conversation.
"It's a little late to be decorating, don't you think?"
Jacob rolls his eyes. "Better late than never."
"I've had mine up since the first week of November."
"You're one of those people."
"What can I say?" The neighbor replies, rocking back and forth on his feet boastfully. "I love Christmas."
"Well, we've been kind of busy around here."
Jacob aggressively staples the lights into place. The other end of the lights dangles around Jacob's feet.
"We were sorry to hear about your mom."
"Thanks."
Things are quiet for a moment before the neighbor starts back up. "Nancy's getting me a tv for Christmas. A big one."
"That's nice," Jacob replies, clearly annoyed and wanting his neighbor to leave him alone.
"We'll have to start watching the games at my place. Now that my TV will be bigger than yours."
"Sorry my TV isn't big enough for you guys," Jacob scoffs.
"I didn't mean anything by it, Jacob."
"You never do."
Jacob hasn't noticed that the lights have become tangled around his ankle. He keeps stapling them in. The neighbor notices and tries to warn him.
"Jacob, don't-"
Jacob cuts him off. "To be honest, I'm tired of everyone nagging me. I wasn't there when my mom died, that made me a bad son. I haven't decorated for Christmas, that makes me a bad husband and neighbor. Now I don't have a big enough TV?"
Jacob yanks the lights, pulling his foot out from underneath him. The ladder falls to the ground, leaving Jacob hanging by the ankle from the roof. The lights that are stapled into the roof are the only thing keeping him from falling.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Jacob's wife and neighbor are standing below him as he dangles by the ankle from the roof. The 118 pulls up and gets out.
"Buck, Eddie, grab the ladders," Bobby instructs.
Buck and Eddie grab the ladders while Bobby, Chimney and Hen go to Jacob's wife and neighbor.
"Thank goodness you're here," Jacob's wife cries. "Please get him down."
"We'll get him down, don't worry. Can you tell me how this happened?"
"He was up on the ladder hanging lights."
"His foot got tangled up in the lights," the neighbor chimes in. "I tried to tell him, but he was in a bad mood and didn't hear me."
"I'm not in a bad mood!" Jacob snaps. "Can you hurry please? All the blood is rushing to my head."
Buck and Eddie set the ladders up next to Jacob and climb up to him.
"I'm Eddie and this is Buck. We're going to get you down."
"Your name is Buck?"
Buck shrugs. "It's a nickname."
Buck presses on Jacob's ankle to see if it's broken. Jacob's yell says yes.
"Your ankle is probably broken."
Eddie grabs Jacob and pulls him towards him.
"Buck is going to free your foot. I need you to hang onto me, but try not to move. If you move we'll both fall."
Jacob wraps his arms around Eddie's neck. Eddie hangs on tight. Buck starts to unwrap Jacob's foot. He finally frees him. Eddie slings Jacob over his shoulder and climbs down the ladder. Buck climbs down his ladder as well. When Eddie gets to the bottom, he puts Jacob down on the stretcher.
Jacob's wife runs to him. "Are you okay? You had me scared to death!"
"He'll be okay," Eddie reassures." He's getting a cast for Christmas, but he'll be fine."
"Next year, we're hiring a professional to put the lights up."
"You're going to hire someone to do it?" the neighbor cuts in. "I always do it myself. It's a tradition. I'd be happy to do it for you. You won't even have to pay me. I'll even let you watch my giant new tv while I do it."
"Can you guys sedate me?" Jacob moans.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" Chimney asks.
"No. I just want him to stop talking."
Chimney laughs and he and Hen load him into the ambulance. Jacob's wife gets in and the doors close.
"You guys are quick," the neighbor says as he follows the crew around. "Do you work out? I do crossfit. Well, I just started crossfit, but I can already notice a difference."
Everyone walks away from the neighbor, leaving him standing there alone.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Who doesn't love a little Christmas in the summer? I'll admit, I definitely was jamming to Christmas music while I edited! It just makes me so happy!