The First Noel
Otter Habitat, 4PM
Marlene pinned up the last string of dark red garland in her home and stepped back to evaluate. Perfect! Now her home reflected the spirit of the season.
"Time for baking cookies," she said to herself with a smile. As she walked to the cupboard, she looked out her front door, or where her front door would be if she had one. Snowflakes were starting to come down in a fast-moving curtain of white glitter. She gave a contented sigh. She loved this time of year.
Before she could even get the flour from the cupboard, however, a certain lemur jumped in.
"Hello, Marlene! It is being freezing outsides today!" Julien shivered. "I was just coming to… eh, what was I just coming to do?" He set a hand to his chin thoughtfully.
"Hey Julien! I'm baking cookies," Marlene remarked, "Would you like to help?"
"Help? The king does not help others, the others help the king!" Julien adjusted his crown. "And they do that mostly this time of year by giving presents to me!"
Marlene sighed. He was hopeless, but she decided to try anyways: "Julien, Christmas is not about getting presents." She set all the ingredients for the cookies on the counter. Julien sidled up to her with a curious expression on his face.
"What are you meaning? Of course it is! It is a holiday where everyone gets gifts! Are you sure you are not confuseding it with Easter, which is more about the candy?"
"No," she replied, rolling her eyes and measuring the flour. "We only give gifts to each other on Christmas because we're remembering the First Christmas, when a gift was given to the whole world."
"Yes, I know the tale! Back in the Madagascar, the First Christmas happened when Christmas Steve battled the Red Night Goblin and won, so he decided to celebrate by giving presents!" The lemur did a dramatic turn at the end of his story, throwing his hands up in the air.
Marlene raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes, that is the tale."
"Well, that's just a Madagascar legend. The real first Christmas—well, it—" Marlene paused. How could she possibly explain this to Julien without going in circles? Maybe it was best if she used a medium with which he was familiar. "Here, there's a song I know that might help." She set down the spoon and walked to her stereo, putting in a cassette. Music began to play.
The First Noel, the Angels did Say, was to Certain poor Shepherds in Fields as they Lay
In Fields where they, lay keeping their Sheep, on a cold Winter's Night that was so Deep
"Eh, shepherds? What do shepherds have to do with Christmas? And why are they laying out in a field if it's so cold out?"
"Sh! Keep listening."
They looked up, and Saw a Star, Shining in the East, Beyond them Far
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel
"King? What king? And why does he not like 'L's?"
"Ugh!" Marlene slapped a hand to her forehead. This was not working. "No, the star is proclaiming the king's arrival to the Shepherds."
"Oooh, how come I do not have a star?" Julien crossed his arms.
"Because—well, that—..."
This Star drew Nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem it took its Rest
And there it did both Pause and Stay, Right o'er the Place where Jesus lay
"In Bethlehem, a baby was born, and this baby was the king, and, well, He was a gift to the world. So to celebrate, we give gifts to each other. That's where the presents come from. So you see?" Marlene hopefully spread out her hands.
"I still am very confused, but I think I am grasping your point," Julien replied. "Perhaps there is more to this super-fun-glittery holiday then I have been seeing." He smiled. "Oh! I remember what it is I was coming in here for. I wanted to give you my Christmas list for when you go shopping." He pulled out a piece of paper that unfolded and rolled twenty feet across the room.
Marlene sighed. "Julien, did you forget everything I just said?"
"Well, I do frequently delete the comments of the lower classes from my brain. It keeps the mind clear, you know." He winked.
"Ugh… well, I'll bring some cookies over later once they're done."
"Goody!" He clapped, then dashed away. "Be seeing you, Marlene!" he called as he was heading out the hypothetical door.
Marlene turned back to her bowl and ingredients with a long sigh. She noticed the song was still playing. It brought a smile back to her face, and she sung along:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel!
When the cookies were done, Marlene ventured outside with a plateful. The snow had stopped falling, now blanketing the zoo in an array of white sparkles. She passed some cookies out to the penguins and the chimps, then headed into the lemur habitat. It was empty, but there was a note sitting on Julien's throne. She picked it up and read:
Marlene, we are out to do some Christmas shopping. I was thinking about what you were saying, and about the giving, so here is something for you. Happy Christmasy Time to you!
Your Wondrous and Kind King,
Julien
Marlene looked next to the throne and saw a present lying on the ground. Opening it, she discovered a bracelet crudely made from bamboo leaves. A smile slowly grew on her face.
Christmas was certainly a time for miracles.
