Chapter 4 – Delilah
Ziva examined the two small red mesh bags of coal as Delilah explained the rules she remembered from her childhood, "Only people five or older can get the coal in their Christmas stocking. One female and one male per year unless someone has been terribly naughty that year. No one can get the coal in consecutive years, again, unless the person has been really naughty. Each bag has an accompanying letter that has the names of the prior recipients. The person who got it the previous year decides who gets it next."
"I do not understand this," Ziva shrugged. "Coal is a good thing as it can be used to generate heat. How did coal get associated with being naughty?"
Dee did a search on her phone, "In Scotland, as early as the ninth century, tradition was that the first visitor of the new year should be bearing gifts of salt, shortbread, whiskey, and coal in order to bring good fortune and luck for the coming year. A gift of coal would ensure that your hearth would always be lit and your house would be warm."
Ziva nodded, "All good things. I would bet that Ducky would have had quite the tale to tell with this…"
"Oh, yes!" Dee continued reading, "The association with being naughty has several possible origins, including sixteenth century Holland. Sinterklaas would slip a lump of coal into the wooden shoes left by the fireplace if a child had been misbehaving. In Italian lore, La Befana leaves coal, a bundle of sticks, garlic, onions, or bags of salt for naughty children. The legend became associated with Santa Claus in the United States in the nineteenth century.
"Coal was convenient to use as it was a source of heat in those times, and many homes had coal near the fireplace. It was easy to grab a lump and place in the naughty child's stocking."
"That does make sense," Ziva fingered the two small bags as she thought about who the recipient of the gag gift might be this year. "I can understand the rule for aged five or older as the little ones might not comprehend the humor that is intended."
Dee nodded, "I remember the year my sister was four and she got the coal. She was so upset that it nearly ruined our family Christmas. That's the year my parents made the rule about age-appropriateness. It was fun as we got older to see who would be pranked with the coal."
The two women grinned at each other and spoke at the same time, "TONY!"
"What about me?" the man appeared in the doorway to Delilah's home office.
"Nothing important, neshama," Ziva tried to suppress a grin and avoid eye contact with her co-conspirator.
Tony frowned and gave Ziva his best 'stink-eye,' "Yeah, right… anyhow, Tim said to tell you that dinner will be served in fifteen. We guys are good! And you will be surprised… in a good way…"
Dee smiled, "I would hope that dinner is not a bad surprise…" She glanced at Ziva, "But…" and nodded in the direction of the two small bags of coal.
"Oh, yes!" Ziva grinned as she moved her hands to hide the coal.
"Why am I not liking this? What are you two up to?" Tony stared at his wife.
Ziva swatted his belly as she moved past, "Let us go eat this good surprise dinner!" Dee rolled behind her, leaving a puzzled Tony to follow the two women to the dining room.
Anthony and John were placing the last of the beverages at each person's place at the table; the other kids were putting plates, eating utensils, and condiments on the table. Ziva immediately noticed that there were no serving dishes of food on the table.
"Beverages and condiments? That is your surprise dinner?" she ribbed Tony.
"No, actually, the food is in the kitchen to help yourself," Tim appeared in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. "We decided to go with a baked potato bar with all the fixings."
Anthony rubbed his tummy, "I'm ready. Let's eat!"
Everyone followed Tim to the counter where the potatoes and toppings were laid out. The potatoes were huge, and the toppings included chili, bacon, sour cream, diced tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, sautéed mushrooms, shredded chicken, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, chopped chives, and black and green olives.
As the two families ate, the kids talked about Christmas traditions and family traditions. Tali mentioned the tradition of coal in the stocking for naughty children and that her class had learned about some of the origins of the tradition.
"And none of us are naughty, so no one here gets coal," Katie declared. "Well, none of the kids anyway. Daddy and Uncle Tony…"
Ziva and Dee smirked at each other and quickly looked away from the other. Little did any of them know what plans the two women had schemed…
Tony noticed the two sharing a smirk, "Tim, do we need to be concerned?"
"I don't know!" Tim shrugged.