This chapter is not finished yet, but it will be soon. I do not think that
it would hurt to go ahead and read what I have so far. So please, read and
review!
Chapter 2
Weeks passed and as the doctor had said, slowly, Charity began to gain back her strength back, but her thoughts remained with that night.
Christmas came and the house smelled of all winter wonders. The house was decorated, inside and out, the Christmas tree was covered with lights and ornaments with presents underneath, cookies had been baked, and the best ham in the state was cooking in the oven, along with all the other delicious foods waiting to be eaten.
As the day would go on event would happen, visitors would come, food would be served, and Charity would be greatly influenced by all of these.
The mistletoe was hung and the decorations were all around the small country home, the spirit of Christmas was in the air.
"Mother, may I help you bake the Birthday cake?" Charity asked.
"'Yes, but later, Chary, right now we must get ready for presents, your grandmother and grandfather will arriving soon, and I'm sure that they will have plenty of presents, and we mustn't forget, Percy, Joseph, and Joseph's parents, they all are going to be spending Christmas day with us," she reminded.
Neighbors and family of Charity and her mother had always known each other well and through the process of time had come to think of tradition as one of the most important things to be started and kept. They began to get together every Christmas at Sarah's home and every guest was always anxious to take a bite of her delicious cake which was also part of tradition in celebrating the birth of Jesus. Each family would bring something to eat, like a pot luck, but of coarse, Sarah was always the one to bring and bake the ham. Carols would be sung around the tree and the traditional kiss under the mistletoe would be performed. To the Coeys and their guests each minute counted.
"Chary, would you water the tree and make sure it looks nice?" Mrs. Coey asked.
"Yes, mother," she answered.
"Is everything ready? The guests should be here soon," Sarah said.
"Percy," Charity called, "would you help me get the ham started?"
"Yes, Charity, what is needed?" Percy replied.
"The ham, of coarse, and a pan to put it in," she answered.
Percy started for the kitchen but stopped after his first couple of steps and turned around towards Mrs. Coey.
"Mrs. Coey," he said, "You are partial to tradition, aren't you?"
"Yes," was her simple reply.
"Would you be partial to a new tradition?" he asked.
"It depends," she answered.
"Well, you ask each person to bring something to eat. I have come up with a great recipe for a sauce that can be put on the ham and it will make your ham taste twice as good as it ever tasted before. Please, I'm sure this recipe will make your taste buds drool," he finished.
"Percy, how did you come upon this recipe?" she paused, "I suppose that new traditions are always good but not if they interrupt my personal preferences to tradition..."
"I helped him with it, mother!" Charity interrupted, knowing that if something interrupted her mothers person it was not good.
"Then..." Sarah paused, "I am partial. Go and make this sauce of yours, Percy. We shall see how mouth watering it is."
"Come on, Percy, lets go make our traditional sauce," Charity said.
She took his hand and walked into the kitchen.
"So, what do we do first?" she asked.
"Why did you do that?" Percy questioned.
"I know my mother, Percy, she would have never given into your recipe, especially since you are just a servant that she pays to do the work in the barnyard. I can tell you right now that she never liked the fact that your clothing is always dirty and that you barely ever wash them." she finished.
"Thank you," he said.
Percy took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. Charity looked at it with curious eyes and slowly read what was written on it. The title is what caught her eye.
"Peter Leece's Sauce Recipe"
"Why is the title of another person's name on this paper?" Charity asked.
"That is my full name, Percy is just what your mother decided to call me when I started to work for her when I was 10," he replied.
"Peter, I have always known you as, Percy, the good servant boy who is my age and has worked for my mother since childhood," she said.
"I know. By the way, thank you again, if she likes this recipe I may be accepted more in the traditions of your family," he said.
"Peter, would you be my partner for the mistletoe tradition today?" Charity asked.
"I guess that would be nice, I've never participated in that tradition before." he answered.
"Charity," Sarah called from the other room, "the guests are arriving, come and help me greet them."
"Yes, mother," Charity called back, "Peter, would you get the ham started?"
"Yes, Charity, oh, and please call me Percy in front of your mother," he asked.
"all right, Percy," she replied.
Charity went to the door to greet the guests with her mother and as they came in she shook hands and told them how wonderful it was to see them. Her grandparents were the first to arrive.
"Ah, there is my beautiful granddaughter," her grandma said.
"Right this way grandma, the tree is in its usual corner decorated and all," she directed her grandparents.
"Mother, how wonderful to see you again," Sarah said as the three came into the living room were she was setting a few new presents under the tree.
"You look as pretty as ever, Sarah. Let us sit down and have a talk, I would like to get caught up on a few things while Chary and her grandpa go and catch up on a few things as well," Grandma Perry suggested.
"This way grandpa," Charity said, showing him to the kitchen.
"She has grown since last Christmas, hasn't she?" Grandma Perry commented.
"Yes, I'm rather proud of her," Sarah replied.
"As you should be. She also seems to be a little bit less childish than last year. Would you have anything to do with that?" she asked.
"She is almost 17, you know. Time for her to let go of her childhood. Ever since she was a 2 year old she has thought of Peter Pan as her little friend that she wants to be with forever. That is not what a normal 16 year old should be thinking, she still thinks he is real!" she finished.
"What is so wrong with having a want to be loved, you had that need when you were her age and I eventually gave into it. Wait and see, this may be a good thing," grandma replied.
"Never the less, I will continue to push her, not in a hard way, but still, she needs to grow up," Mrs. Coey told her.
"All right then. But I think that this may lead into something that will be far more serious than you think. Meanwhile she has her grandfather to help her continue in belief," Grandma Perry said.
"Tell me what has been happening with you and dad lately?" Sarah asked.
"He had a heart failure a while back, but is doing much better now. How is Richard, your husband?" she stated.
"Away again. He visited for a little while when Charity was hurt a month ago, but I suspect that he is off in China again," Sarah answered.
"Mother," Charity interrupted, she had been listening the entire time, "I didn't know that he visited me."
"You were asleep and he did not want to wake you up, dear," her mother replied.
"Oh," Charity sighed.
"Charity, I think I heard the doorbell ring, it is probably the other guests. Dad, would you get that? Charity, why don't you go check on the ham?" Sarah suggested.
"Yes, mother," Charity replied, "Grandpa, I think I'll go out to the fields after I check on the ham, would you come with me?" she asked.
"Charity, we have guests arriving that we must keep entertained. Why don't you come sit down for presents after you check the ham?" Mrs. Coey implied.
"All right," she replied.
Grandpa went and greeted the guests while Charity saw to the ham and once all this was done everyone met at the Christmas tree to open presents.
"Percy, why don't you go first?" Charity questioned.
"Let Joseph go," he replied.
"Here, Charity, this is for you," Joseph said, handing a gift wrapped in fairy tale wrapping to her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it, you'll see," he replied.
Charity did open the gift, only to find a porcelain figurine of Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinker Bell. It was very shiny, covered with sparkles and on top of a box. Inside the box was a small necklace. What hung on the necklace was a container with sparkles in it and a picture of a fairy on the outside of it. It was beautiful.
"What's this?" she asked.
"My present to you," he answered.
"Thank you," she mentioned before taking out another gift from the pile and handing it to Percy.
"Well, open it," she told Percy.
"I'm not sure if I can accept it. You open my gift first," he said, handing her a small, light box that was not wrapped.
"It's so small," Sarah mentioned, interrupting the moment.
"But it's just perfect," Charity said aloud.
She slowly untied the ribbon that held it together and lifted the top of the box off of it. Inside was a small ring which was gold plated and had an image of Peter Pan on it. There was a small jewel on the hat of Peter.
"Percy, its darling. Why don't you help me put it on?" she commented.
Mrs. Coey had a strange, stern look on her face as she saw him place it on her left pinkie.
"Now, it is my turn," she said, stopping the moment.
"Here is my gift for you mother," Charity said.
"Why don't we all exchange gifts now," Grandma Perry suggested, and they all grabbed different gifts from under the tree giving them to whoever they had gotten them for.
After the gift exchange was finished they decided to do the first mistletoe kiss of the day. This honor belonged to grandma and grandpa. It was a joy to see how their love had lasted so long and they hardly ever argued.
That is what I have so far. I am sorry if I am keeping you hanging. I will update soon. I like to keep my readers happy. So now that you have read what I have so far, follow the routine and review, review, review!
review!
Chapter 2
Weeks passed and as the doctor had said, slowly, Charity began to gain back her strength back, but her thoughts remained with that night.
Christmas came and the house smelled of all winter wonders. The house was decorated, inside and out, the Christmas tree was covered with lights and ornaments with presents underneath, cookies had been baked, and the best ham in the state was cooking in the oven, along with all the other delicious foods waiting to be eaten.
As the day would go on event would happen, visitors would come, food would be served, and Charity would be greatly influenced by all of these.
The mistletoe was hung and the decorations were all around the small country home, the spirit of Christmas was in the air.
"Mother, may I help you bake the Birthday cake?" Charity asked.
"'Yes, but later, Chary, right now we must get ready for presents, your grandmother and grandfather will arriving soon, and I'm sure that they will have plenty of presents, and we mustn't forget, Percy, Joseph, and Joseph's parents, they all are going to be spending Christmas day with us," she reminded.
Neighbors and family of Charity and her mother had always known each other well and through the process of time had come to think of tradition as one of the most important things to be started and kept. They began to get together every Christmas at Sarah's home and every guest was always anxious to take a bite of her delicious cake which was also part of tradition in celebrating the birth of Jesus. Each family would bring something to eat, like a pot luck, but of coarse, Sarah was always the one to bring and bake the ham. Carols would be sung around the tree and the traditional kiss under the mistletoe would be performed. To the Coeys and their guests each minute counted.
"Chary, would you water the tree and make sure it looks nice?" Mrs. Coey asked.
"Yes, mother," she answered.
"Is everything ready? The guests should be here soon," Sarah said.
"Percy," Charity called, "would you help me get the ham started?"
"Yes, Charity, what is needed?" Percy replied.
"The ham, of coarse, and a pan to put it in," she answered.
Percy started for the kitchen but stopped after his first couple of steps and turned around towards Mrs. Coey.
"Mrs. Coey," he said, "You are partial to tradition, aren't you?"
"Yes," was her simple reply.
"Would you be partial to a new tradition?" he asked.
"It depends," she answered.
"Well, you ask each person to bring something to eat. I have come up with a great recipe for a sauce that can be put on the ham and it will make your ham taste twice as good as it ever tasted before. Please, I'm sure this recipe will make your taste buds drool," he finished.
"Percy, how did you come upon this recipe?" she paused, "I suppose that new traditions are always good but not if they interrupt my personal preferences to tradition..."
"I helped him with it, mother!" Charity interrupted, knowing that if something interrupted her mothers person it was not good.
"Then..." Sarah paused, "I am partial. Go and make this sauce of yours, Percy. We shall see how mouth watering it is."
"Come on, Percy, lets go make our traditional sauce," Charity said.
She took his hand and walked into the kitchen.
"So, what do we do first?" she asked.
"Why did you do that?" Percy questioned.
"I know my mother, Percy, she would have never given into your recipe, especially since you are just a servant that she pays to do the work in the barnyard. I can tell you right now that she never liked the fact that your clothing is always dirty and that you barely ever wash them." she finished.
"Thank you," he said.
Percy took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. Charity looked at it with curious eyes and slowly read what was written on it. The title is what caught her eye.
"Peter Leece's Sauce Recipe"
"Why is the title of another person's name on this paper?" Charity asked.
"That is my full name, Percy is just what your mother decided to call me when I started to work for her when I was 10," he replied.
"Peter, I have always known you as, Percy, the good servant boy who is my age and has worked for my mother since childhood," she said.
"I know. By the way, thank you again, if she likes this recipe I may be accepted more in the traditions of your family," he said.
"Peter, would you be my partner for the mistletoe tradition today?" Charity asked.
"I guess that would be nice, I've never participated in that tradition before." he answered.
"Charity," Sarah called from the other room, "the guests are arriving, come and help me greet them."
"Yes, mother," Charity called back, "Peter, would you get the ham started?"
"Yes, Charity, oh, and please call me Percy in front of your mother," he asked.
"all right, Percy," she replied.
Charity went to the door to greet the guests with her mother and as they came in she shook hands and told them how wonderful it was to see them. Her grandparents were the first to arrive.
"Ah, there is my beautiful granddaughter," her grandma said.
"Right this way grandma, the tree is in its usual corner decorated and all," she directed her grandparents.
"Mother, how wonderful to see you again," Sarah said as the three came into the living room were she was setting a few new presents under the tree.
"You look as pretty as ever, Sarah. Let us sit down and have a talk, I would like to get caught up on a few things while Chary and her grandpa go and catch up on a few things as well," Grandma Perry suggested.
"This way grandpa," Charity said, showing him to the kitchen.
"She has grown since last Christmas, hasn't she?" Grandma Perry commented.
"Yes, I'm rather proud of her," Sarah replied.
"As you should be. She also seems to be a little bit less childish than last year. Would you have anything to do with that?" she asked.
"She is almost 17, you know. Time for her to let go of her childhood. Ever since she was a 2 year old she has thought of Peter Pan as her little friend that she wants to be with forever. That is not what a normal 16 year old should be thinking, she still thinks he is real!" she finished.
"What is so wrong with having a want to be loved, you had that need when you were her age and I eventually gave into it. Wait and see, this may be a good thing," grandma replied.
"Never the less, I will continue to push her, not in a hard way, but still, she needs to grow up," Mrs. Coey told her.
"All right then. But I think that this may lead into something that will be far more serious than you think. Meanwhile she has her grandfather to help her continue in belief," Grandma Perry said.
"Tell me what has been happening with you and dad lately?" Sarah asked.
"He had a heart failure a while back, but is doing much better now. How is Richard, your husband?" she stated.
"Away again. He visited for a little while when Charity was hurt a month ago, but I suspect that he is off in China again," Sarah answered.
"Mother," Charity interrupted, she had been listening the entire time, "I didn't know that he visited me."
"You were asleep and he did not want to wake you up, dear," her mother replied.
"Oh," Charity sighed.
"Charity, I think I heard the doorbell ring, it is probably the other guests. Dad, would you get that? Charity, why don't you go check on the ham?" Sarah suggested.
"Yes, mother," Charity replied, "Grandpa, I think I'll go out to the fields after I check on the ham, would you come with me?" she asked.
"Charity, we have guests arriving that we must keep entertained. Why don't you come sit down for presents after you check the ham?" Mrs. Coey implied.
"All right," she replied.
Grandpa went and greeted the guests while Charity saw to the ham and once all this was done everyone met at the Christmas tree to open presents.
"Percy, why don't you go first?" Charity questioned.
"Let Joseph go," he replied.
"Here, Charity, this is for you," Joseph said, handing a gift wrapped in fairy tale wrapping to her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it, you'll see," he replied.
Charity did open the gift, only to find a porcelain figurine of Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinker Bell. It was very shiny, covered with sparkles and on top of a box. Inside the box was a small necklace. What hung on the necklace was a container with sparkles in it and a picture of a fairy on the outside of it. It was beautiful.
"What's this?" she asked.
"My present to you," he answered.
"Thank you," she mentioned before taking out another gift from the pile and handing it to Percy.
"Well, open it," she told Percy.
"I'm not sure if I can accept it. You open my gift first," he said, handing her a small, light box that was not wrapped.
"It's so small," Sarah mentioned, interrupting the moment.
"But it's just perfect," Charity said aloud.
She slowly untied the ribbon that held it together and lifted the top of the box off of it. Inside was a small ring which was gold plated and had an image of Peter Pan on it. There was a small jewel on the hat of Peter.
"Percy, its darling. Why don't you help me put it on?" she commented.
Mrs. Coey had a strange, stern look on her face as she saw him place it on her left pinkie.
"Now, it is my turn," she said, stopping the moment.
"Here is my gift for you mother," Charity said.
"Why don't we all exchange gifts now," Grandma Perry suggested, and they all grabbed different gifts from under the tree giving them to whoever they had gotten them for.
After the gift exchange was finished they decided to do the first mistletoe kiss of the day. This honor belonged to grandma and grandpa. It was a joy to see how their love had lasted so long and they hardly ever argued.
That is what I have so far. I am sorry if I am keeping you hanging. I will update soon. I like to keep my readers happy. So now that you have read what I have so far, follow the routine and review, review, review!
