"There's someone coming toward us!" the front-line sentry cried.

All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side.

His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright.

As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night.

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land

With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand

We shared some secret brandy, and we wished each other well.

And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell

We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home.

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own

Young Sanders played his squeezebox, and they had a violin.

This curious and unlikely band of men"

The mood between the two trenches remained light and celebratory throughout the night. Tobin still stood watch under the revolving sky, a disciplined soldier through and through! Peering through the periscope, he scanned up and down the lines, taking note of all the Germans who had seemingly forgotten about the threat of snipers. Yet what perplexed him was no one on his side was taking the opportunity to wipe out the enemy! Cowards! Traitors! What, did they think the whole male population of Britain decided to go on a French Holiday? This was war, dammit!

And yet, the celebrations continued around him, military discipline relaxing more and more. Just then, a flash of white caught his eye. On the other side of the field, a brave young German hoisted a white cloth on the end of a stick high above his head. Johann noticed this and immediately pleaded with the young cat to turn back.

"What are you doing? Get down, boy, you're going to get yourself shot!"

The soldier turned and looked at him, hesitating for a moment. But it was decided already by his squad to at least give peace a chance. Standing up straight, he walked into no-man's land, slipping past the frozen bodies of friend and foe alike.

"There's someone coming across!" Tobin shouted to the Sergeant, who responded with the same order as two hours before. "To your stations men!"

Just like last time, Bobby grabbed his rifle and stood at the step, gun leveled and ready to turn back a possible attack. Breathing heavily, he climbed up onto the next highest step, exposing his head to any enemy sniper in the area. Others soon followed and before long there were 200 rifles aimed at the same German soldier. The German stopped in his tracks and raised his truce flag as high as possible. Bobby took aim and chambered a round from the magazine, drawing out a long breath to steady his nerves.

"Woah, did the German soldier get shot?" Ivy asked, completely immersed in the tale as she sipped from hot chocolate near the fire, nestled in a love seat with Freckle.

"Shhh! She was just getting to that part!" Riley turned around to hush Ivy, much to my amusement.

Stifling a laugh, I inadvertently drew attention to myself. "What? Watching you two get so entranced is adorable, and Elsa isn't even to the good part."

Abelard passed his sister a mug of hot chocolate, who took the opportunity to rest her vocal chords for a moment. "I wonder what's taking Bobby and Johan so long?" She wondered.

"Knowing your husband, dear sister, he is probably looking for the most perfect tree on the property. We'll be lucky if it doesn't take them all night."

"Could you go make sure they are alright? They ought to be back by now."

"I'm hardly going to be of help with my back being the way it is."

"Perhaps you can hold a lantern for them then or say a prayer that they won't be hurt?"

Rolling his eyes, Abelard began to put his coat on. "Very well. Those wayward men need all the help they can get. But on one condition!"

Abelard then walked close to me and bent his tall frame down so that his face was right in mine. "Make sure some of that hot chocolate remains for your minister."

"I'll… set some aside for you, Reverend."

"Excellent!" He declared, throwing a scarf around his neck before lighting a lantern and venturing out into the night. For a moment I could swear I actually saw the slightest hint of a smile on his face. Nah, it was probably the candlelight! As I got up, Elsa stretched her neck before settling back down to continue the story. "Anyways…"

A Flag of Peace

One man stood against two companies of English, all sights were settled on his head or heart. The moment seemed to stretch for an eternity before the order was finally given.

"Hold your fire, lads!" The Sergeant declared. Bobby did as ordered, opening the bolt of his rifle before allowing the sights to fall away. Johann kept motioning for his younger comrade to get back in the trench, yet the cat pressed onward, coming to a point about halfway. Turning around, Johann looked with pleading eyes toward his superiors. No one had been shot yet, but there was no guarantee that would last forever.

Nervously, the Leutnant straightened his hat and climbed up the ladder, stepping out into the void with hands raised. At the same time, the English sergeant called up his own first lieutenant and together they looked at the situation.

"What's going on, Martin?" The slender, young officer asked the Sergeant.

"It appears the Germans would like to discuss a truce… or surrender."

"Hah, that would be the best Christmas gift of all, wouldn't it? Truce? Perhaps we can work with that. Has this ever happened in your time?" He asked the older Sergeant.

"No, it has not. I suspect this will be a night we won't soon forget."

"Right, well… we better not leave them waiting."

Now halfway across, the Leutnant tore into the private. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You may get us both shot!"

"We don't want to fight on this Christmas, sir. Please, we just want a night of peace."

"I understand the sentiment, but this is foolish—" The Leutnant looked up and noticed two Englishmen approach their position. At least they weren't going to gun him and his soldier down under a white flag. As the two officers approached them, the Leutnant gently grabbed the white flag and sent the private back to safety. "Stay in the trench, don't leave unless I say otherwise, is that understood?!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Good, now go and make sure others don't get themselves killed. I don't want the English to think we are attacking."

Straightening himself up, the German jammed the stick into the snow so that it would not fall over and proceeded to salute his enemy colleague out of respect, which was reciprocated followed by the English Lieutenant's offer of a handshake. Trying to speak in English, the German began negotiations. "Good evening. Forgive my soldier, he is young."

Martin chuckled lightly. "Not to worry, sir. I would not give the order to shoot someone holding up a white flag."

The Lieutenant looked over at his sergeant before returning to the subject at hand. "I don't suppose you're here to surrender?"

The German smiled and looked down, amused at the thought. No, but my man did have a good idea. How would you like a Truce for Christmas Eve?

"My lads aren't in the mood for a fight right now, I'm sure they'd respect whatever we decide here."

"Then for one night, we will lay down our guns and celebrate."

"Glad someone in Europe is starting to make sense. Shall we toast on it?"

Both officers shrugged their shoulders. They technically outranked him, but Martin had more experience than both combined. Pulling a bottle of brandy out of his coat, Martin pulled the cork on the bottle before giving it a good sniff, followed by a heavy gulp from the container. Next, he handed it to the German who, held it in toast so that everyone on both sides could see. "To the birth of our savior!" He exclaimed before taking his share of the drink. Handing it to his English counterpart, the Lieutenant took it in hand. "To peace, and may it come back to us soon."

Cheers erupted from both trenches as their commanders shook hands under the white flag. One by one, soldiers climbed out of their trenches and walked into the disputed land. Both English and Germans arranged themselves in a jagged, disorganized line. Bobby was one of the last to leave the safety of the trench, but soon found himself staring at a German cat with black fur and blue eyes. They were about the same age.

Johann noticed an English soldier looking at him and their eyes locked for a brief moment. The cat was heavyset but looked strong. A farmer just like him! As men on either side began to greet each other, Johann stepped forward and extended a hand to his counterpart. "Merry Christmas" he said in his best English.

"And a happy new year to you, sir." Bobby replied. As they stood around awkwardly, Johann pulled out some of the chocolate he had been given earlier with his rations. Opening up the wrapper, he bit off a piece before offering it to his new English friend. Bobby sniffed it and carefully took a bite, immediately noting the richness of the candy. It was far superior to anything he had tasted from candy shops in Bristol. "Mmm… Quite good." He said before pulling out a few spare cigarettes he kept stashed away.

Two Soldiers and a Pastor Walk Into a Forest…

Abelard walked through the woods with his lantern held high, attempting to locate his brother-in-law and their guest. While he could not see them, he could hear the sound of a saw and an axe in the distance. Walking along through the cold night air, he noticed some snowflakes falling through the trees. Though storms were rare, his rural sense of weather told him that the sooner the tree was up, the better. Using his ears more than his eyes, Abelard slowly made his way into a stand of spruce trees. The chopping got louder and louder before finally a light reached out to the pastor. He trudged through fallen leaves and sticks, crossing through the last row of trees.

Bobby looked behind him to see the face of his brother-in-law illuminated by a lantern. Though never really happy, Abelard looked quite annoyed. "There you two are!" He said. "What satanic spirit compelled you to locate a tree all the way back here, Robert?"

"Oh come now, Abelard. I wasn't going to cut one down in Ethan's front yard and there was a lot of oak between here and there. But this one is the right shape and size, she'll do nicely. But I'm surprised you decided to join our little party out here in the woods."

"It was not my idea. Your wife and my sister wanted to make sure you were alright."

Using his lantern to light up the canopy, Abelard inspected the spruce tree. It was indeed filled-out and could pass as a textbook example of a Christmas tree. Even so the thing must have been close to 20 feet tall. The sound of the saw under the tree gave way to a series of loud popping noises, which cued Johann to back out of the way. In one smooth motion the whole tree fell down, it's branches softening the fall to the point that it gently settled with the trunk at waist height.

"So how do you propose to move this tree? I'm hardly going to be of use with my back knackered."

"Quite right, Abelard. What we really could use is that old farm truck, so why don't you go retrieve it along with some rope."

"You can't be serious, Robert. I just walked all the way out here."

"Well, consider it part of your ministry duties. We promised them a tree and by God, they shall have it!"

With a huff, Abelard shook his head and began his trek back to the farm house. "The things that man thinks of! The whole of feline kind is falling apart yet instead of true worship, a member of my own flock has taken to cutting down trees as proof of faith!"

Johann finished cleaning up stray branches before making sure that his host was out of ear shot. "Bobby, Elsa's brother. He seems…"

"Wound tighter than a clock? Yes, but that's just how he is. He has good qualities too, if you look closely… and squint. How he and Elsa came from the same womb is beyond my comprehension. Now, let's get this thing out to the trail, shall we?"

"Indeed, on your count Bobby."

"Right then. Ready, steady… heave!" The pair each grabbed a sturdy limb and lunged forward through the grass and other trees.

Two of a Kind

Johann drew a long breath from his cigarette while Bobby had one of his own. They watched and cheered on the sidelines as an impromptu football game was playing out before them. Currently the Germans were in the lead, though rules were being modified to suit the field. As the Germans scored another point, Johann rose to his feet to clap for his comrades while Bobby shook his head.

Songs continued across the field as both English and Germans formed their own caroling choir and a ragtag band of instruments from all across Europe. There was a German violin, a French squeezebox, a mouth-harp that was given to one of the lads by an American, a Scottish chanter, and an Irish tin whistle. Though a most unusual orchestra, the melodies and harmonies were there.

"They are rather good, aren't they?" Bobby commented.

"Yes, though the altos are a bit weak. It is for the best though; this is no place for women or children."

"I agree, though some of the lads may as well be kids. Which brings me to a question."

"What is it?"

"This war. Do you ever wonder why we are fighting it?"

"Ah, yes. I ask myself that a lot. I volunteered two years ago. Wanted to be an officer, but I was not smart enough. Father was disappointed."

"Well, you're English is impeccable. Far better than my German, that is."

"Ha! Anyway, this war was supposed to be over by now. We would invade, take land, and make peace with the French. The French had other ideas, and when you English showed up it became clear we would continue fighting for a long time. Why do we continue to fight now? I do not know."

Bobby shook his head again, pulling the cigarette from his mouth. "I was looking for adventure, instead I found out France is not as beautiful as they make it sound. It's cold, wet, and nothing grows here. I'd like to be home with mum and dad, be there with my cousins. All of us together sharing this holiday."

"I do as well." Johann replied. "You know, we are not so different."

"Indeed. Say, why do you Germans have trees in your trenches?"

"The evergreens? They are an ancient thing. The trees promise new life in the spring. But tonight, they represent peace for us all. Life will return here one day when we go home and our guns rest."

"I see. It's too bad we don't have something a bit… bigger. Those trees look lovely, but if we had one everyone could see, then there would be a tree that we could all enjoy until the ceasefire has expired."

"Hmm. There is a forest only a half mile that way." Johann said as he pointed behind his own lines at a dark stand of trees in the distance. "We could find one in there."

"Oh, I couldn't. What would our officers say if we got caught?"

Johann winked at his new friend. "I think tonight will not be spoken of by our commanders."

Bobby's eyes lit up at the prospect. "I know where we can get an axe. I'll be back soon."

Fifteen minutes later, Bobby was running behind Johann through the enemy trench. Fueled by cigarettes, a bit of alcohol, and holiday spirit, they made their way over to the small forest behind the lines. As they passed other units, a pattern started to emerge. Their companies weren't the only ones agreeing to a ceasefire. Germans up and down the line were sporadically interacting with English. Men were meeting each other, hand-to-hand, but with gestures of peace and goodwill.

Back in the English trench, one soldier was busy recording the events on paper. Tobin was furious that his own commander would consider such lazy and friendly interactions with the enemy. One way or another headquarters were going to need to hear this. If nothing else these writings would save his neck when the hammer inevitably came down on these undisciplined traitors.