Sunday, December 31, 2006

Christmas Cheer K-Mart Style

My wife and I spent the holidays in Michigan with our families. We were watching TV about 2:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve. The operating hours of the various stores were passing slowly by on the bottom of the screen. All of the stores and malls were closing no later than 7:00 P.M.. All of the stores that is except K-Mart which had decided to stay open until 10:00P.M. I almost couldn't believe that this chain store was such a money grubbing organization that they expected their underpaid employes to spend Christmas Eve at work rather than with their families. Merry Christmas K-Mart , Ho Ho Ho! You will never get another dime of mine!

The Ol' Curmudgeon

Friday, December 15, 2006

Chritmas Time At Last!

I love Christmas and have been known to whistle Christmas melodies even during the summer. My daughter Nancy loves Christmas as much as I do. I have called her three times already today to insure that she is as jacked up as I am. I called her a couple of hours ago and pretended to be out of breath. She asked why I was breathing so hard and I told her that I and two neighbors had just loaded her Christmas present into the trailer because it was to big to be transported by car. Now she knows that this is BS, but it is all part of what we do to each other to insure that everyone is properly excited. My sister Jan and I were the kids that got so wound up about Christmas that there was absolutely no sleeping on Christmas Eve. If it had been true that Santa wouldn't come until we were asleep we would have never gotten any gifts. My parents would not let us get out of bed on Christmas morning until they were up and the coffee pot had been fired up. We would start calling out to our mother and dad about 5:00 A.M. to see if they would get up which they never did. We would continue badgering them until they finally acquiesced about 6:00 A.M. We would open our presents and then would feel like zombies the rest of the day because of lack of sleep.
We will be in Richmond tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with Nancy and her family and then will leave at 5:00 A.M. so that we can be at my sister's house in Michigan by 5:00 P.M. She has invited all of our kids and grandkids to her house for soup. We haven't seen some of our grandkids in a year. We are excited. Pat controls her excitement better than I do. I squeal like a teenaged girl. She just laughs at me.
The Ol' Curmudgeon

Thursday, December 07, 2006

two Christmas stories

I wrote the following two Christmas stories a couple of years ago for my grand children. I try to write them a new story each year all though I haven't written one yet this year.


It was three days before Christmas and Susan still hadn't found a gift for her mother. She had been through all of the stores in
her town. She had looked at gloves, sweaters, shoes, scarves, socks, hats, and candy but she either didn't like the items that she
found or the items that she did like cost more money than she had to spend. She had exactly eleven dollars and sixty five cents.
She had woked very hard for the money. She had shoveled snow from Mrs. Winslow's sidewalk. She had gone to the grocery store
for Mr. Watson who lived down the street, and she had even taken Mr. Humphrey's dog Skittles for a walk every day for a whole week.
In previous years her dad would have just given her the money, but her dad had been laid off from his job, and her brother Bobby had
been very sick. She knew from hearing her parents talk that there just wasn't any money for Christmas this year. She had already
gotten a baseball for Bobby. Mr. Watson had given it to her. It had a famous baseball players name on it and Mr. Watson had
given it to her when he had noticed her looking at it as it lay on the shelf of a bookcase. He had told her," Take that baseball home if
you like." It had been signed by Joe Somebody, Susan didn't know who. Her dad's gift was also ready. She had made a special
Christmas card and had written inside it, " I promise to clean out the garage and the basement two times next year without
complaining." She knew that her dad would be happy with that.
But her mother's gift was becoming a real problem. There was one more place to look. Her church was having a Christmas bazar,
and she thought that she might find something there for her mom. So that's where she was heading now. It was very cold as she
walked down Second Street. The snow was falling gently and she was glad that she had remembered to bring her mittens because it
was a very long walk to the church. Christmas music was playing from the speakers that were hung from the street lamps amid the
large red and green ornaments. She felt a little excited as she always did when Christmas was close at hand. Susan passed
MacGregors clothing store. The windows in the store were filled with gaily wrapped presents, and mechanical elves spun round and
round. Susan thought." It doesn't matter that there is no money for Christmas this year." What did matter was that her family was
together and that they loved one another. It would be a good Christmas.
Susan was about a block from her church. She had taken a shortcut through an alley behind Mr. Gabriels restaurant when she
saw them. There were three people at Mr. Gabriels dumpster. A woman dressed in a worn coat with only tennis shoes on her feet
looked like she may be the mother. She was standing next to a dumpster holding a very small boy. She was holding the boy very
close as if to keep him warm against her body. The other child, a boy about Susan's age, was emerging from the dumpster. He had
some half eaten sandwiches in his hand. His hat was torn and his jacket was so dirty that Susan couldn't tell if it was brown or grey.
None of them were wearing gloves on this very cold day. Susan had heard about homeless people, but she had never actually seen
any. She stopped and stood very still. The family hadn't seen her yet. She watched as the older boy handed the half eaten sandwich
to his mother. The mother examined the both sides of the sandwich and then gave it to the boy that she held in her arms.
The boy began to eat the sandwich very slowly. The older boy also began to eat one of the sandwiches. The mother had tears
running from her eyes. Susan wasn't sure whether she was crying or if the cold was causing the tears to run down her face.
Susan felt terrible. Here was a family actually crawling through a dumpster and eating garbage. " How could something like this
happen?" Susan wondered. She walked up to the family. She wanted to say something, but nothing seemed appropriate. "Here!"
She said and she handed them the money that was supposed to be for her mother's present. She had given them all eleven dollars
and sixty five cents. The older boy just stared at her as she turned and continued her walk toward the church. Susan was crying
now and the tears burned as they froze to her cheeks. "There's still time to earn some more money." Susan said to herself. " I
will talk to the neighbors and see if they need any work done." She thought that she would still go to the church just to see what
was there.
Mrs. Johnson was standing at the door as Susan entered the heavy front door of the church.
"Well hello Susan." Mrs. Johnson said as Susan entered the church.
"Hi Mrs. Johnson." Susan answered.
"Why Susan have you been crying?" Mrs. Johnson asked.
"Oh Mrs. Johnson!" Susan blurted out. " I have just seen the worst thing! There is a family at the dumpster behind Mr Gabriel's
restaurant and they are eating food that the customers have thrown away!" Susan didn't mention that she had given the family her
Christmas money.
"Oh Susan that is awful!" Mrs. Johnson exclaimed. "I have never heard of a homeless family here in our town. Let's go tell Father
Jim what you have seen.
They found Father Jim in the basement of the old church. He was just finishing painting a wagon that had been donated to the
church to give to some child that wouldn't have a Christmas. The wagon was old but looked almost new with the shiny coat of red
paint. The newly painted white wheels really set it off nicely.
"Father Jim," Mrs. Johnson exclaimed. " Susan has seen something terrible and we need to tell you about it!"
Susan told Father Jim what she had seen. She told him how the family was dressed. She told him about the half eaten sandwiches,
and she told him how upset she was that a family had no place to go to get warm on these cold winter days and nights.
"Susan!" Father Jim exclaimed. " Come with me while I get my coat. Mrs. Johnson please go get a couple of the other ladies
from the bazar and meet out back by my car.
"Yes father." Mrs Johnson said and they all left to climb the stairs.
Soon Father Jim , Susan, and the other ladies were in the car driving down the street to Mr Gabriel's Restaurant. No one was sure
what they would find there when they arrived. Father Jim turned the corner into the alley behind the restaurant just as the family
began to walk away. They were heading in the direction of a very old car that was parked in a vacant lot behind some very large
shrubs. Father Jim stopped his card beside the family and everyone got out.
"Hello, and how are you folks today?" Father Jim asked
The mother and the older boy glanced at one another and then at Father Jim, Susan, and the rest of the little group. They didn't
say anything.
"Sure is a cold day!" Father Jim exclaimed. "Where are you folks staying? Perhaps we can give you a lift so you don't have to
walk in this cold weather."
The mother glanced at the old car and then back at the little group.
"Enough of this nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Johnson. "Please ma'am let us help you. Mrs. Smith bring two of those blankets over
here right away!" Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Johnson wrapped the woman and the younger child in one blanket, and the older boy in the
other.
"Please come with us. We will find you a place to stay for a few days until we can figure out what it is that you will need."
"I believe that we can put them up in the basement of the church." Stated Father Jim. " There are some cots there and we can
bring in some food. I think you will be fine there until we can work out the details. Thank you Susan for telling us about this family."
"I am glad that you could help them!" Susan exclaimed, " and now it's getting late and I need to go home."
Susan really was happy. She felt very good inside. She didn't know what had happened to the family that caused them to have
to eat out of dumpsters, and to live in an old car. She wondered if something like that could happen to her family. Just thinking
about it caused a shiver.
Susan arrived home just before the street lights had begun to turn on. Her mother asked her where she had been and said that
they had just begun to worry about her not being home before dark. The warmth of the house felt good as she began to take off her
mittens and coat. She could smell dinner cooking in the kitchen. It smelled like her mother's vegetable soup, which was one of
Susan's favorite meals. She seemed much more aware of the warmth of the house and the smell of the dinner, and she was very
thankful that her family had this warm house, and enough food to eat. She had taken it for granted before she had seen the
homeless family, but she appreciated it now. Her mother told her that dinner would be ready in a half hour as she headed up the
stairs to her room. She took a piece of paper from her notebook and folded it into the shape of a card, and she began to write.
"Merry Christmas mother. I promise to do the dishes and the laundry ten times next year without even being asked. Love, Susan."
Tom Neiger copyright

Bobby's Christmas

I wrote this story a few years ago for my grand children,


It was Christmas Eve. The tree lights had been turned out. Cookies and milk were in place for Santa, and carrots had been laid out
for the reindeer. Bobby's mom, dad, and sister had been asleep for at least an hour, but Bobby wasn't going to sleep tonight
until he had actually seen Santa. Some of the kids at school didn't believe in Santa, and Bobby was beginning to think that the other
kids may be right. He had decided to stay up and see for himself whether Santa was real or not. He was very excited as he tiptoed
into the family room where the Christmas Tree stood. The room lights were turned out, but the moon was bright and
the reflection off of the snow made the room bright enough for Bobby to find his way across the floor. He had planned to hide behind
the small table that was beside the sofa, from this vantage point he would be able to see both the fireplace and the Christmas Tree.
Bobby slid the table out a little way until he could just squeeze behind it. He wasn't very comfortable on the hardwood floor with his
legs drawn up in front of him. He hoped that Santa would arrive soon. Bobby sat in this position for a very long time. His right leg
had gone to sleep and he felt that he needed to change position. He laid down on the floor and found that he could still see out
from under the table. Bobby waited.
There was a noise in the chimney! Bobby's eyes opened wide! He was so excited that he started to breath very rapidly. Surely
Santa would hear him breathing! He tried to calm himself down. Suddenly there he was, Santa himself! The old gentleman backed
out of the fireplace, stood up, brushed himself off, and dragged a large bag out of the fireplace behind him. He reached into the
bag and withdrew a book. Santa opened the book and read two names."Hmmm; Bobby and Susan Johnson live here. Let's see
what I have for them this year." He reached into the bag and withdrew several gaily wrapped packages. He placed them under the
tree and then turned toward Bobby. " Aren't you supposed to be in bed Bobby?" Santa asked. Bobby didn't know what to say. He
was very frightened! "Come here Bobby." Santa said, and Bobby scooted out from his hiding place behind the table where he had
felt so well hidden. How had Santa discovered his hiding place, he wondered." Don't worry Bobby." said Santa. "Lots of children stay
awake on Christmas eve to see me. Would you like to see my reindeer?" "Y-e-ss!" Bobby stammered!" " Hang on to my hand
Bobby." Santa said and in an instant they were on the roof of their house. He didn't even remember coming up the chimney it had
happened so fast."These are my reindeer." Santa said. "I would bet that you know their names. Bobby looked at the reindeer. They
were so beautiful. There were eight of them just as the stories said. The reindeer shook their heads and snorted. Silver bells on the
harnesses jingled as the reindeer pranced around. It was obvious to Bobby that these reindeer loved working for Santa. They were
eager to get moving again soon. Santa took hold of Bobby's hand and in the blink of an eye Bobby found himself back in the family
room.
"Thank you for the cookies and milk Bobby. I will take these carrots to my reindeer. They will need the energy before morning.
We have a long way to travel tonight. Oh by the way Bobby." Santa said. "You won't remember any of what happened tonight. I don't
let anyone remember." And with that Santa's hand came rapidly from his pocket and he threw some sparkly dust toward Bobby's
eyes. Bobby rubbed his eyes and fell deeply asleep as Santa carried him gently toward the stairs that led to his bedroom.
"Wake up Bobby!" His sister Susan said. She was standing beside his bed gently shaking him. "Santa came last night and you
should see the presents under the tree!" Bobby and Susan descended the stairs and ran to the family room. The tree lights were lit,
and mom and dad were standing beside the fireplace where a fire blazed merrily as the logs popped and cracked in the flames.
Santa had been right. Bobby didn't remember the previous evening. He didn't remember seeing the reindeer, nor did he
remember going up and down the chimney. But from that moment on Bobby believed with all of his heart that Santa was very real.
Tom Neiger copyright