A/N: Hello! This story (at the time of posting) was published within the 12 Days of Xmas.
It began with the idea, "What if the Forger Family learned how to knit?" And answers some questions about Yor's iconic sweater dress. Lots of fuzzy family fluff, perfect for the holidays. Or anytime you want a cosy story.
Timeline: December 1967 (my head-canon) before the first term final exams, likely in January.
Merry Xmas! Happy New Year! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Festivus!
Happy whatever you celebrate, and O Happy Day if you're reading this outside of December.
~Peace.
-Chapter 1 be read as a stand-alone story, read the rest if you're curious to see how the Forgers' first Christmas will unfold.
"What did you find in your shoes?"
"Oranges, candies, and chocolate coins. What about you?"
All of Professor Henderson's first year class was abuzz about their St. Nicholas's day gifts that the children had found in their boots or shoes that morning.
"Big deal," Becky said with a toss of her pigtails. "I got ten chocolate coins covered in real gold leaf, and a bag of candied almonds covered in real silver."
"Wow, Milady. Can you even eat those?"
"Why, yes. What about you, Anya?"
Anya recalled the wonderful presents in her clean, fuzzy boots and grinned. "Peanuts. Everything peanuts. Peanut brittle, peanut cookies, salted peanuts...and chocolate peanuts."
"Not typical. But I'm sure you were thrilled."
"Yup. Try this peanut brittle, Becky."
"Anya, hurry. Put it away, Professor Henderson's coming."
"Done."
Treats were squirreled away into schoolbags and Professor Henderson greeted a class of students with hands quietly folded at their desks. "Good morning, children. Thank you for the elegant greeting"
Uh oh. There was a glint in his eye...he was about to announce something.
"Class, I am sure you are all thrilled with your St. Nicholas's Day gifts. But do, please, keep them all tucked away for after school." He raised a warning brow and then smiled as only he could.
"As you may know, children, every Eden Academy student hall participates in a project over the Christmas holiday break. I personally have chosen the project for all Cecile Hall Students this year."
Another glint flashed in his eye. What's that behind his back?
"Behold, children. We are going to learn how to knit."
He produced a ball of yarn and a pair of wooden knitting needles.
This was met with groans and curious stares.
Anya cocked her head. Knitting? Was that hard or easy? Second Son was wondering if it would earn him a Stella Star. Becky just wanted to make something cute.
"Children, Stellas are not handed out for the winter project project, as you can expect for your first term finals exams this coming January—"
Damian and Anya groaned.
"But you will get the satisfaction of learning a skill that is timeless, elegant and always useful."
Professor Henderson explained the project. Every child was to knit—or crochet, with teacher permission—an item over the break and present it to class. Projects would be graded on things like execution and other factors, including of course, elegance.
"Elegance need not be fancy, for at its heart is simplicity."
Then he droned on about benefits of knitting. Anya's eyes glazed over. So what if it helped you with math and focus and pattern recognizy stuff? What about fun? This was school work.
Which meant study. Christmas vacation was gonna be boring, and no fun at all. Her first Christmas with Mama and Papa.
Anya's heart sank.
. . .
During the last hour of class they would have a knitting lesson, two times a week, for two weeks until they were dismissed for the holiday break. Professor Henderson himself taught them, standing straight and tall as he demonstrated "casting on" and "garter stitch" and "purling".
Garter snake stitch? Pearl-ing?
Anya's fingers were in knots over casting on. Some kids got it quickly, like Becky. Others, like Second Son and his two buddies, were clumsy, but were helping each other to figure it out.
Even Anya's yarn was in knots. "This is so not cool, Becky."
"Here, I'll show you, Anya."
With Becky's aid, she got a loose, wobbly row of cast-on stitches.
"And now, children, I will teach you the garter stitch."
This garter snake stitch was tough. What way did you wrap it? Toward or away? What hole did you put the stick through? Anya glanced this way and that, her hands tight on the wooden needles.
Reading minds didn't help, 'cause even if a kid understood the directions, it didn't help Anya' hands know what to do. Even the older Eden kids tutoring them couldn't show her fingers what to do.
Anya glowered and gritted her teeth. "This is bad. So bad. I don't wanna do it at all."
A red-headed girl patted her shoulder. "Hi there. Could you use some help?"
Anya hung back her head and sighed. "Fine."
Becky already had knitted five rows. By the time class was done, Anya had managed two. She eyed her uneven, hole-y work, with a look like it was rotten carrots.
Becky glanced over her shoulder. "Practice makes perfect."
"And Papa is going to make me practice and practice and practice...no way."
"Quit worrying, Anya. It'll be fun when you get it. And besides, you can make adorable things—that tutor showed me the pink hat and mittens she knit herself. So stylish."
"Good for you Becky, but speak for yourself."
Not even Becky's cheer could lift Anya's gloom.
. . .
On the bus ride home, Anya hatched a plan.
So the project wouldn't earn you a Stella Star or a Tonitrus Bolt. Good.
But you could still fail it with a bad grade. Bad
Papa was upset at her last bad test grade—she had tried so hard not read any kids' minds—and his Boss Lady was working all her spies hard with extra misshuns, including Papa, along with him dealing with his feelings doctor job. No. She didn't want to worry Papa more.
Mama would be encouraging no matter what...but she was scary strong and might bend the needles. What if the only needles strong enough for her were her stabby things? Nah. Mama didn't want Papa to see those. Or for Anya to touch them. She did that one time on the cruise ship. But that was to help Mama fight the bad guys.
The best thing would be to do it all at school and maybe at Becky's house if she needed more time. Becky's servant lady, Mrs. Martha could help. Old ladies knew how to knit, right?
Then again, maybe Papa and Mama knew how. Professor Henderson said they taught all the boys and girls in school during the war how to knit since it was "patriotic" and the soldiers needed warm stuff.
Maybe not. She didn't want to waste her time knitting when there were going to be so many fun things to do. Like making cookies with Papa and ice skating with Mama, and the Winter Christmas Market.
All the holiday fun. And the fun of Christmas Eve. Mama told her all about it. That day, everybody would take the afternoon off. Then find a tree and decorate it, then go to the special Nativity play for kids at church, and then family time at home eating yummy things and cookies, and opening presents which the Christkind would've left under the tree while they were out.
No way she was gonna let some boring old knitting steal her special times this Christmas. Or her extra time with Mama and Papa. This was going to be their first Christmas. All together.
Mama was even taking two weeks off of work so she could be together with Anya during the break. Papa was going to try, too. Did spies and assassins get Christmas off? They were sure gonna try.
The bus rounded the corner to Anya's street. Anya pressed her nose to the cold glass.
Her first real Christmas with a family.
At the orphanage, they did do presents and had a meal, and had a scrawny Christmas tree, but otherwise it was the same, sad boring place. She'd blocked out what they had done at the lab, the scary place. They probably didn't believe in celebrating anything. She would've been too little to remember what she did before that. Did she have a family Christmas when she was a baby?
Anya wiped her eye. Christmas had to be fun. She would make sure of it. Now it might be choked by a ball of yarn and two wood stabby thingies.
. . .
Mama picked up Anya at the bus stop. "Hi, Anya. Why the glum face?"
"This." Anya handed Mama the information packet.
"Oh, a school project? Let's look at it inside. I'll even make you hot cocoa if you like."
"Uh, okay." Anya dragged her feet behind Mama.
The ball of mad building inside her threatened to burst. She held it in while they walked into the apartment building. She held it in while they climbed the stairs. She held it in extra tight as Mama put the key in the door and they went in, getting a warm greeting from Bond.
But when Mama looked it over , and she heard Mama's thoughts—
Knitting, huh? Looks like fun! I used to knit things for Yuri and me. Ooh, I want to do it again.
—Anya burst.
"It's not fun. It's dumb and I can't do it...," she yelled. She threw her schoolbag on the floor and a ball of white yarn skittered out, followed by two clattering needles.
Mama jolted. "Anya, what's wrong?"
"Everything will be bad, and Christmas will be ruined."
Bond poked Anya with the yarn ball in his mouth."No, Bond, no playtime." The dog's thoughts zipped and she saw an image of her on the couch with Mama—knitting.
"No, Bond, no. I don't wanna, Bond. Not at all."
"Anya?" Mama put a hand to her hip. "I have no idea what's gotten into you, but please, pick that up. And go to your room for ten minutes. We'll talk after.
"Y-yes, Mama." Anya scurried to get her yarn and needles. She stuffed them into her bag, dumped it by the couch and hurried to her room. Bond padded after Anya. Mama could mean business when she needed to. But Mama would keep her promise. There would be hot cocoa waiting...and Mama might understand.
. . .
Mama did understand. After the cocoa, they got to work. "And that's the easy way to do a cast on. Now you try, Anya."
Anya concentrated, her tongue sticking out, walking herself through the steps. She brightened.
"Heh. I'm getting it, Mama."
"See? I can't sew without a machine since I'm always bending or breaking that little needle, but I can knit." She spun the free needle on her finger. "I learned as a girl. I made us all kinds of things."
"Like what?"
Mama explained. It was the usual things, like scarves and hats, but her and Yuri's favorite was the blanket with knitted squares. Unfortunately Yuri accidentally felted it in the wash, but he did turn it into a pillow. Mama even knit them matching cardigans, tan for her, and green for Yuri. Since he was away at the university, she knit his sleeves too long, by mistake. He wore it anyway. When Mama visited him at school, she almost died of embarrassment when she heard some students laughing at him.
So embarrassed, she almost quit knitting. "I was convinced I was no good," Mama said. "But you know who helped me start again?" Mama smiled.
"Uncle Yuri?"
"Yes. He felt terrible, and bought me a whole of lot red yarn for my birthday and begged me to knit something just for me. I had no idea what. Then, I had the perfect idea!"
"Oh, I think I know what you made, Mama!"
"Do you? Well, I'll show you after we try garter stitch. It's the foundation of all knitting. Once you know this, you can make almost anything."
Garter snake stitch? "But I don't know what to make."
"All you need is inspiration. Oh, I'll show you now. Hang on." Mama zipped to her room. She had something red.
Anya knew what Mama held, but was still amazed. "Your favorite dress, Mama? All by yourself?"
"Almost. But I knit every stitch. The tailor's knitting whiz friend made me the pattern and the tailor sewed the pieces up, but yeah, all by myself." Mama beamed with pride. "It only took me a year."
Anya smoothed Mama's dress, and squinted at the knit red fabric, with row after row of interlocking red V's. Neat and tidy, and nice. So Mama had a hidden superpower.
Anya looked at Mama with new eyes. "I'm ready."
Mama pulled out something golden and narrow from her side.
"Oh no, Mama!" Anya covered her eyes.
"Anya? These are my knitting needles."
"Oh. Uh. Sorry. But they look sharp."
"Not really." Mama gave her a funny look. "You sure are jumpy, Anya. But they can poke your eyes out. Maybe you've been watching too many cartoons."
"No more than usual." Yeah. That was silly.
Mama showed her the two ways to make and pull through the loops, the wrap-turny way, and the poky-through way. Which was easier? Anya concentrated and made three rows.
"Mama...I'm sorry I got mad earlier. I just wanted to have a fun Christmas."
Mama put down her knitting and patted Anya's knee. "I understand, sweetie, and I forgive you. I bet you and Loid were lonely."
"I was." Anya looked down and twiddled her thumbs.
"I'm excited about Christmas too. It's been so long since Yuri and I had a Christmas when it wasn't just the two of us."
"Mama? I'm glad we can share Christmas." Anya noticed the knitting in her lap. It was uneven..but it was okay. An inspiration hit Anya. "Can we knit together? You, me and maybe Papa?"
"We could make presents!"
"And there's the cutest yarn shop down the street. Mrs. Authen says it's one of the best in Berlint."
Anya sat alert. "Ooh, can we go Mama? Can we? Papa, too?"
"Let's ask Loid when he gets home."
Anya toyed with her knitting. So she could make anything once she learned this stitch and had insperrashun? And permisshun from her teachers? Mama is a good, patient teacher even if my knitting is weird. Hrmm...Bond nosed Anya and worfed, his eyes filled with an "I-told-you-so" light.
Anya pouted. "Ok, doggy. You're right. But I still haven't decided if this is fun."
Starlight Anya can do anything she puts her mind to. Starlight Anya can do this. Until she dropped a stitch. An ugly ladder of a hole ran through her work.
"Mama, oh, no." Anya cried.
Mama blanched. "Knitting mistakes...my nemesis!"
. . .
Papa came home to a weeping Anya and a flustered Mama. A ball of yarn went flying and hit his foot. "I'm back—what's wrong?"
"I've messed up, Loid." Mama said. She held up Anya's knitting, part shredded and mangled from her trying to fix the mistake.
"Mama ruined it." Anya bawled, her nose runny. "Now I'm gonna do bad on the winter project and get a bad gr-aade. I'm s-sorry I threw the yarn..."
"Calm down, Anya, let me get my things off. Yor, can you explain what's going on?"
Mama explained to Papa. "...And it was all hunky-dory until I tried to fix her mistake."
Papa shot his eyes from Anya to Mama. Anya wiped her runny nose on her white Eden Academy uniform shirtsleeve. She had forgotten her hanky. Good thing Papa didn't see her do that. He was fretting too much how this would affect Operation Strix. Now he was worrying how to tell Boss Lady how Anya got a Tonitrus for bad knitting.
"Papa, it's not that bad," Anya tugged at his leg. "I just need help."
"Huh?" Papa sighed and his face softened. "Okay. We can unravel it together."
"You just made a pun, Loid." Mama laughed. "I'll put this down and grab us more cocoa"
"Oh, did I?" Papa came to the couch, the ball of white yarn in his hand. "All right, Anya. Show me what this is about."
"Here's the packet..." Anya handed it to Papa. Ugh. Please don't read the grades part first.
"Want to sit in my lap? Let's look it over, together."
Even when she climbed into his lap, Papa held the yarn ball. One hand on her and the other on the yarn, while he read her the packet. What was Papa thinking?
Instead of a barrage of words, she got a picture. There was a living room...pretty regular, but there were tape X's on the window glass and open black curtains by the windows—blackout curtains? A big radio was on. Papa, as boy, sat by a blonde lady who's face she couldn't make out. She was knitting a green sock. Boy-Papa, next to her knit a red sock. He held up his knitting and the lady smiled. A sandy-haired man sitting in an armchair, his back to Anya, a blanket on his legs, looked up from his newspaper, and said something that made the boy smile bigger. The lady patted his head.
That lady must be Papa's Mama. And the man, Papa's Papa.
"Hey, Papa," Anya said. "Did you knit as a kid, too?"
Papa snapped awake. "I did. With my mother, during the war. We enjoyed it."
"Do you still do it?"
"Ermm.." Papa paused. "It's been years. I've probably forgotten." He still held the yarn ball.
Papa. You big liar. You've already calk-kyoo-lated how to fix my garter snake stitch mistake and you're itching to do it.
Anya crossed her arms. "Nope. I don't believe you."
"Arrgh. Anya. Let's go back to the packet."
"No. Mama is a good knitter, but she's bad at fixing mistakes."
"Fine. Let me see. That's an important skill to know. We wouldn't want you to get a bad grade."
Papa set down the yarn ball and took Anya's knitting on the wooden needles. He noticed Mama's red knitting, with her shiny gold needles. "Yor can knit. Quite decently. As for you, Anya...you've got a ways to go, but I think you're getting the basics down. Don't give me that look—I mean you're doing fine."
"So how do we fix it?"
"Like this." Papa maneuvered around the shreddy part and showed Anya how to pick up the dropped stitch loop and weave it through, like a ladder. It looked hard, but Papa explained it good. Then he started to knit. His hands were like lighting, flick, flick, flick. When Mama came back with their cocoa, Papa had done ten rows.
"Wow, Loid. You can knit? You're good."
"Oh, I've dabbled." Papa glanced at Mama, and back to his knitting, a quiet smile on his face. Anya knew that, the look of someone having fun.
"Mama, Papa knit with his mama, too. And he's super fast."
"I see that." Mama clasped her hands. "Anya, tell Loid about your great idea."
Anya told Papa all about it.
"Go to the knit shop? Knit together? Anya, isn't this your and Mama's thing? I don't want to interrupt."
"Come on, Papa." Anya patted his knee. "It'll be way more fun with you."
Papa looked at Mama.
"Anya's right." Mama sipped some cocoa, her knitting and her sweater dress beside her on the couch. "You did help Anya fix her mistake. Please, join us?"
"All right." Papa made a mock-serious smile. "This Christmas, the Forger Family will learn knitting, together." He pumped his fist in the air. "To bring peace and goodwill to all this holiday season."
"Tee-hee. You're so intense, Loid."
"Papa and Uncle Yuri need more peace." Anya said.
"Anya, what—"
"You're right about that, Anya. We're all going to the yarn shop tomorrow." Mama clapped.
"The shop on Wolle Street? I've been meaning to check them out..as a favor. To someone."
Anya gave Papa the side eye. You mean, you?
She jumped out of Papa's lap and took Mama and Papa's hands. "You know what? I think everything is going to go A-OK with my knitting project because Mama and Papa are going to help me. And Christmas will be good, too, because you can help."
Papa smiled. "That's right. Our family's first Christmas."
"We're going to have real fun this Christmas," Mama said. "I just know it. I can't wait to see what we all make. Especially, you, Anya."
Anya squeezed Mama's and Papa's hands. He said, "Our family."
"Me too, Anya." Papa eyed Mama's sweater dress on the couch. "Yor, did you make that?"
Mama held it up against her and nodded.
"Could you—?"
"—Could I put on? You were totally about to ask me that, Loid."
"What? No, I was going to ask, 'Could you hand it over?' I wanted to admire your workmanship."
Heh. With Mama in it.
"Were you trying to read my mind, Yor?"
Mama shrugged. "Just a gut feeling. And no, I don't mind wearing it, because I was going to change out of my work clothes anyway. And yes, I did knit this, every stitch. With help. Whaddya think?"
Mama held it out for Papa.
Oh boy. Mama and Papa were acting all flirty-flirty, and not admitting it.
"Nice work, Yor. Impressive." He kept touching the soft yarn.
"Uh, Papa? Mama wants the dress back."
"Oh. Here."
"Thank you." Mama took it and went to her room.
Yeah Papa. That's your favorite dress of Mama's too.
Papa watched Mama go a moment. Then he looked at Anya. "Hey, Anya? Were you that worried about me getting mad at you if you got a bad grade?"
Huh? How did Papa see right through her?
"Well..." Anya touched her fingertips together, and twisted her toe. "When Professor Henderson started to tell us about the project in class, I did get worried...because I know how much you want me to get good grades."
"Oh, Anya...I do. But I also care about you keeping your curiosity and that desire to keep on learning and that's the best place to start.. Grades, well. We'll keep working on that. And wipe your sleeve. It's crusty."
"Oops, thanks." Anya took his offered hanky. "Really Papa?"
"Really. Our Christmas together...you were pretty lonely, before weren't you?"
"Papa too."
Papa sighed. "Yes."
Anya poked him. "You never forgot how to knit. Never, ever."
"You had me there." Papa smiled. "You know, Anya...I think it will be fun, knitting with you."
"All together." Anya reached on her toes and hugged Papa. He hugged her back.
They were gonna have a good Christmas. Together.
A/N: Thanks! Hope you enjoyed this, dear reader~
Does this make you want to knit, tee-hee? Or crochet? If you do already, you know what a cool hobby it is.
