Chapter 17: After Dinner Stories]
That was a delicious dinner, Josie. Thank you, Uncle Henry. I could'nt have done it without Harper's help. Is it time to open presents now, Josie? Yes, Lottie. Now its time to open presents. Would you help me pass them out? Sure, Josie. Uncle Henry. Thank you, Josie. Here's yours, Jamie. Would you pass these ones out to the Virginian and the boys? Sure, Josie. Here's yours, Ellie. Give these to your little friends there. Thanks, Josie. Here's yours, Randy. Thank you, Josie. Pass these along to your family. Sure, Josie. And here's your's, Lottie. Thank you, Josie. Here's yours and David's, Betsy. Thank you, Josie. Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you all have a happy New Year. I love it, Josie! Thank you. You're welcome, Lottie. We'll help you with the dishes, Josie. Thank you, Betsy, Glory. Alright now, you kids go and play and later we'll make some popcorn balls. Oh good, Josie! Let's go outside and play in the snow, everyone! You kids be careful, now. Oh we will, Daddy. Come and have a snowball fight with us, Jamie! You too, Daddy! Alright, Ellie. Come on, Jamie! Last one there is a rotten egg, Lottie! Ha-ha-ha! [Door Slams!] Them kids an their antics! They're live wires aren't they, Grandma? That's one way of puttin it, Josie! Do sit down in this rocker, Grandma. Thank you, dear. Your uncle an my menfolk sure are havin a lively conversation, Josie. Yes they are, Grandma. Where's this go, Josie? Right here, Sue Ellen. You can go check on Mary Beth and Joe if you'd like. Thanks, Josie. It's been a wonderful Christmas, Josie. Yes it has, Glory. And before they knew it, the dishes were all washed and put away. I'll help you with the popcorn balls, Josie. What can we do? Glory, you can do the syrup, your ingredients are right there. I'll pop the corn and Sue Ellen and I can roll the balls. And we'd better make some hot cocoa, too. Alright, let's get started. [A While Later] There, last one! I'll go call the children in. Alright, Josie. The popcorn balls are ready, everyone! Hooray! Last one there's a rotten egg! Come on, Ellie, Annie! You too, Lottie! Hi, Josie. Hello, Henry. Hi, Jamie. Did they wear you two out? Oh no, Josie. We enjoyed it. Did'nt we, Randy? We sure did, Josie. Be sure to shake off all that snow, kids. I've got hot cocoa on the stove. Hooray! There they go like a flash, Josie. Come in and I'll pour you a cup, Jamie. Thanks, Josie. I see you found the popcorn balls, everyone. Settle down now, because it's almost time for the Christmas story. And when everyone was settled, the Judge read the Christmas story as he did every year. That was wonderful, Uncle Henry. Thank you, Josie. Now, would you kids like to hear a story from me? Oh yes, Grandma! Well, where I come from there's this legend about how the animals, cattle, sheep an whatnot; about how they kneel down every Christmas Eve to remember the comin' of the Savior. And the legend says that they can talk on that night only. An some say it's bad luck to catch em' talkin to each other. And that's my story for you kids. Is that true, Grandma? Well, I don't rightly know, Ellie. When I was your age, I'd sneak out to our barn, but I never once caught em' at it. An so did your daddy, too. But he never once caught em, either. That's an interesting story, Grandma. I'm glad ya liked it, Lottie. In fact, next Christmas I'm going to try to catch our animals talking. At this everyone laughed good-naturedly. I'll come with you, Lottie! And I might, too! Oh you will, will you? Sure, Lottie. Tell us some more stories, someone. I'll give it a try, kids. Okay, Jamie. And so a time of visiting and storytelling passed and it was evening and time to go home. Thank you for having me and my family, Judge. And Merry Christmas to ya'll. You're more than welcome, Randy. And Merry Christmas to you and your family. Have a safe journey home, all of you. Thank ya, Judge. And you be safe as well. We will, Granpa, Dell. See you later, Ellie. Bye, Granpa. If I don't see ya before I go home, it was a pleasure meetin ya, Josie. It was a pleasure for me too, Grandma. You're a real lady. Aw, shucks, Josie! I'm just me. And you go on being you, Grandma. Come back and visit. I'll sure try, dearie. I've got good news, Josie. What is it, Glory? I'm staying in these parts for good. That's wonderful news, Glory! My family is here now. Randy and Ellie and all of you. I'll be seeing you, Josie. Bye, Lottie. Goodbye, Miss Glory. Thanks for having us, Daddy. And Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you, Betsy. Bye, Granpa. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, kids. Merry Christmas, Henry. Same to you, David. Goodbye, Josie. Bye, Betsy. You take care of Lottie now, Jamie. I sure will, Miss Betsy. Bye, Lottie. Bye, Annie, Virginia. See ya later, Ellie. You too, Lottie. Goodbye, Randy. So long, Josie. See ya, Jamie. Same to you, Randy. Goodbye, thank you for coming! I'm going to head back up to the house, Josie. Alright, Uncle Henry. When you're ready I'll walk you and Lottie back to the house, Josie. Thank you, Jamie. I'll be ready in a moment. Come on, Lottie. Let's fetch your doll. We're ready now, Jamie. It was a wonderful Christmas was'nt it, Jamie? It sure was, Josie. The best ever, in fact. Did you enjoy your Christmas, Lottie? I sure did, Josie. And I got the best present of all, too. What was that, honey? Finding you, Jamie. I love you, Jamie. I love you too, Lottie. Go up and get ready for bed now, honey. It's been a long day. I'll be up in a few minutes. Okay, Josie. Goodnight, Jamie. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight, Josie. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh look, Jamie! Lottie strikes again. Did you know she put the mistletoe out, Jamie? I figured she did that, Josie. You know what mistletoe means, right? Sure I do, Jamie. Come here, honey. I love you, Jamie. I always have. I love you too, Josie. Will you wait for me? Yes, Jamie. Always. I loved you from the moment I first knew you. One day you'll be my husband and I'll be your wife. And Lottie will have a home with both of us, Jamie. Always. Goodnight, Jamie. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Josie. See you in the morning. And all the mornings in the future.
THE END - TO BE CONTINUED