An image of his mother's face filled the panel. Her face was wrinkled and round. Her hair was full gray and pulled back into a bun. She was wearing her favorite holiday red and green apron. Her brown eyes twinkled. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She was stooped over the display panel on her end. She smiled brightly. "Hello, honey." His heart melted as he stood motionless in front of the display. In the background, he could see the entire family was present. They were busy preparing the long dining room table. Occasionally, as one of his cousins passed behind Mom, they would make faces at the panel. His cousin Jake, tall and lean, was the nuttiest one of them all. He would go into gyrations with his arms and legs with his tongue touching his nose. His mother turned around to scold Jake. "I saw you, young man!" She waved a wrinkled finger at him. He stopped, almost looking guilty, with a smile. "Git... go on, now. Help your brother set the table."
"Yes, Aunt Beth," he said, half moping. Even though Jake was twenty-five, he could act twelve in a heartbeat. He gave one more face, then took off for the kitchen.
His mom turned back to the display. "Your doctor told me all about your injury. I was beside myself for days. Just ask your father." She turned her head and reached out for something off screen. "Come here and say hello to your son, Jim."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Beth," his father's voice scolded. His dad poked his head into viewing range. He didn't look like he was sixty-three. His hair was still mostly strawberry blonde, his face round like the rest of him. Obviously, Mom kept him well fed. "Your mother was a nervous wreck." He said flatly. "Can I go now? These plates are heavy."
"Fine," she said disgustedly. She turned back to the screen. "Anyway, when Doctor Rass told me you had come through and would be alright, I nearly went through the roof." She waved her finger at the screen. "Don't you go getting shot again." She was half-joking. "I like that doctor of yours. He sounds real intelligent."
Stephen rolled his eyes. "Just ask him... he'll tell you," Kirk replied to himself.
"If they shot his mouth off, I'll thank 'em!" He heard the voice of his sister off-screen. She poked her head in front of the screen and waved with a big smile.
"Kathrine Lynn!" His mom yelled.
"Gotta go!" Kathy smiled as her face darted back off the screen. Stephen couldn't help but laugh.
His mom shook her head. "Anyway, we miss you something fierce now." Her expression became solemn. "It's just not the same without you here." She shook her head and started smiling again. "Well, we're keeping your presents for you. When you get back you can open them." She started looking around her. "Come on, everyone... wish Steve a merry Christmas." She motioned with her hands. "Gather 'round!" She then turned her attention to the screen in front of her as his family began gathering behind her. "How do I zoom this thing out? Ever since you people put this new display in, I can't find a blessed control on it." As she started fiddling with controls, the screen suddenly went black. "Oops!" her voice exclaimed.
"Hang on, Mom..." Stephen recognized his David, his brother-in-law's voice. The video came back on to reveal David's face. "Hi, Steve." He rolled his eyes. "Mom, all you need to do is press the center button. Don't even touch the ones on the side."
"Oh, I see," she exclaimed. Stephen could tell by her expression she still didn't get it. Slowly, the image on his screen grew to encompass the entire living room. Even the ranch hands and their families were there. Everyone stood next to each other. "Okay... smaller people in the front, taller in the back." Jake sat down in front and sucked his thumb. Mom shot him a glance. "Jake, Jr. get your butt in the back!" As everyone laughed, he hopped up and slithered to the back row. Off to the right was yet another huge, overly decorated Christmas tree. "Everyone in place?" She asked. "Okay on three... one, two three!"
"Merry Christmas!" Everyone yelled.
Mom walked back up to the screen. "I love you, son. Come home soon." She waved. Her hand moved off to the side of the screen. It went black. He could still hear the sounds of people talking. "I didn't turn it off, did I?" her voice asked.
"No, Mom... you didn't." David's voice replied. "The button's over here." His wall display went to blue.
Stephen smiled as a single tear streamed down his face.