Makarovia! Yes, I Know Where That is! Sophomore Year - 23. Chapter 23

The noisy chaos continued. Olek took the box of letters and disappeared with it.

“All those kids expect their letters to be delivered,” I said quietly to Peter. “In America, there are agencies that help. There are other places sent the mail to Santa…what do you do with those?”

Peter smiled. “Send them to St. Nicholas!”

I looked at him with eyes that said to tell me a new one.

Peter nodded and waved at Olek. “Really.” He chuckled shaking his head. “Where’s your belief in magic?”

“Peter,” I grumbled folding my arms across my chest.

Peter smiled. “We don’t have agencies, but…” he nodded and waved at where Olek had gone. “We read them. Olek, Mom and even I will…we can’t grant them many wishes, but if it’s not too expensive, they will find what they’re looking for. The many childless families are willing to help when they can. We didn’t have a lot of money before, but we also can get more truth from them many times than we can from the parents of the children sending the letters. Finding out what the child understands about what the parents’ need…even if its groceries or something the parents were heard voiced they thought they could use. The children hear a lot and will pass it on.”

“So, no requests for the X-Box or latest video game, Barbie Doll?”

Peter chuckled. “We get those, but being as small a country, we know they may not have the TV or something they want simply isn’t feasible. Since they lack things, they often don’t know what is out there. The requests are usually so...the requests are simpler.” He shrugged. “There are the usual requests not to be cold.”

I smiled and nodded. “Even the real St. Nicholas may not be able to help there.”

“That’s right, but maybe more wood or coal is delivered,” Peter explained. “Many times, a child’s observations are not quite accurate, but perceptive. Requests for Mom or Dad often are them not to be sad or angry as much. With the help of neighbors and friends, we can try to help.”

“All over Makarovia?”

“The other towns have the same things happening and the needs are read and if they can, they help. It’s not perfect…”

I smiled pulling him in closer and kissed him. “You try.”

Peter gave a shrugging nod. “Yes. We do.”

It was a few minutes more and we saw Helga return. When Olek returned to the ballroom he instantly brightened hugging her and gave her deep kiss. He didn’t care how she was dressed, but that she was here! Seeing them together was now…normal.

The next day we went to take the underground passages just to get out. After our coffees and looking at what was happening down there, we returned to the palace. The underground access was not yet connected to the palace, so we had to come out to the cold world to get back in the palace. I saw the snowcat parked next to the palace and didn’t think about it. Helga often had to take one to go to work. The thick fur coats we wore helped keep the cold out. They may not have looked that great on the outside, but they were warm. Sorry, PETA. Seeing those drawing and other things were cavemen wore skins, I no longer thought they’d be cold. As we approached the palace entrance, two thickly dressed uniformed men in those long coats walked toward us.

“Your Highness.” General Hammond bowed slightly to Peter and turned to me. “Eric.” He grinned.

“Hello, Edmond!” I greeted.

“Hi, Eric.” General Burke greeted from beside General Hammond. “Hello, Peter.” He grinned waving at Peter. “You two look like bears! You’re probably warm, but look like bears.”

“They work.” I shrugged.

Edmond walked closer to Peter and me. “We were doing some work below and we needed to see your brother.” General Edmond explained. “I got your message. You have some guests coming from England?”

“Drew Humphries and his husband Wayne.” I nodded. “The reporter from the BBC?”

General Hammond nodded. “Ah, yes. I’ve seen him.” He smiled. “On television.”

“Right, they became friends with Peter and me,” I waved at Peter. “They want to come here the last week of December. Is there a military flight coming that week?”

“Certainly.” The general nodded.

“Can he and Wayne get a ride?”

He nodded. “I’m sure His Majesty won’t object since the plane’s coming anyway…” his eyes grew from something he was seeing behind me and he quickly blurted. “David! Don’t throw that!” He pointed to the other general.

Turning to see what Edmond was upset about, I got a face full of snow from the impact of a snowball! It was cold!

“I can’t believe you threw that!” Edmond gasped as he helped wipe my face to get rid of the snow. “I am so sorry, My Lord.”

After the shock of the cold, I looked up at General Burke who wasn’t too worried from the grin on his face as he was preparing another snowball. Peter was staring shocked. I mean, his mouth had dropped open.

“Now,” David began holding his hand out to stop...whatever. He looked at Edmond. “That was your fault, Ed! I was going to hit him in the back, but noooo…” he shook his head, “you made him turn around.” He defended.

“You’re going to blame me for this…unseemly behavior!?” Edmond said crossly at David.

Edmond’s inevitable proper English manners and David’s mischievous face was priceless.

Peter walked toward me worried. “Are you okay?

The combination of Edmond’s proper behavior and David’s boyish grin and Peter’s concern, it just hit me funny and I started laughing. Peter slowed down and started smiling. “It’s just snow,” I said as I wiped my face with my gloved hands. I looked at David and pointed at the other snowball he had been making. “What are your plans for that one?”

David’s grin got a little malicious. “This.” He tossed the loosely balled ball of snow, only this one hit Edmond on the chest making David laugh.

“Really? David!” Edmond frowned as he brushed snow off his coat. “I can’t believe you would indulge such childish behavior. You are a leader of men!”

David waved at the area. “There are none of our men here right now.” He pointed out.

Peter came up still chuckling as he put his arm around me, but the fur skin was so thick, I barely felt it. “I’m glad you see the humor in this.” He said to me as I still chuckled.

“Have you never had a snowball fight?” I asked Peter.

Peter thought a few seconds and shook his head. “I can’t say I have.” He smiled. “If I have, it’s been quite a while.”

I bent down and grabbed a little snow. “Then, it’s about time you did,” I said to him, kissing him and grinned and shoved the snow lightly in his newly stunned face.

“Oh, ha, ha, ha.” Peter grimaced and then smiled at me as he wiped his face. “Maybe you’re right.” He bent down scooped up some snow and shoved some back in my face and bent to get more.

Edmond was shaking his head. “I can not understand grown men behaving like this!” He said indignantly. “I will not participate in this…juvenile activity.”

Our reply was three snowballs thrown at Edmond. He looked again shocked. It only took a few seconds before he bent and grabbed some snow and soon it was a real snowball fight. Four boys throwing snow at each other as we each of us dodged snowballs thrown at us! Laughter filled the cold air as we did behave like…boys! For the next few minutes the fight continued unabated. I watched as we did, both generals were in good shape, but our varied ages were playing parts in our ability to do this. I was puffing as I exerted myself.

I held my hand up. “Okay!” I shouted evening out my breathing. “As much fun as this has been, I think that’s enough.” I chuckled.

“Agreed.” David nodded as he brushed snow from his coat. He bounced. “This was fun!”

I grabbed Edmond in a hug. “It’s nice you don’t have to be a stuffy Brit all the time.”

Edmond nodded smiling. “Yes, but let’s just keep this between ourselves. I have a reputation to keep.”

I chuckled. “You got it. So, do I tell Drew to be at any particular base?”

Now, for my traditions. It was about 2:30 in the morning the next day when my alarm on my phone went off. I sat up instantly and grabbed it to turn it off.

“What the…” Peter muttered sleepily stirring slightly and looked at me.

“That was to remind me of my traditions!” I said happily throwing the covers off me. “It starts in half an hour!”

“What!?” Peter propped up slightly. “Your traditions? You mean Rudolph and all that!?”

I nodded. “That’s right! I don’t know why, but it can’t be played back. The DVD doesn’t count. With the satellite feed, it comes on, it’s being aired at eight in the evening at home. I set it up to watch it. Then it’s Merry Christmas Charlie Brown and Frosty!”

Peter’s eyebrows rose. “You are kidding.”

I was hoping he would, but… “I would have told you ahead of time. You don’t have to watch if you don’t want to. Go back to sleep, but I’ll be watching in there.” I pointed to the other room in our bedrooms.

Peter shook his head and threw his legs over the side. “I didn’t realize how devoted you were to this tradition.” He smiled at me. “I can share it with you?”

I nodded realizing he was doing it for me. “I hoped you would. I haven’t missed this a single year since I was six.” I smiled a little softer. “I wish you could know how I feel when I do this.” I began. “Doing it, watching these little shows…I feel peace and contentment. No matter how rough it could be during the year. I can sit and enjoy this again, for a couple of hours.” I looked at Peter. “That’s why it’s important to me. How it makes me feel.”

Peter nodded coming over to me. “Then, by all means, let’s do it.” He smiled kissing me. “We’ve joined our lives. I can’t not do it because it is important to you.” He shrugged. “Maybe I’ll feel it, too.”

I hugged him. “I love you, Peter.” I turned and grabbed my robe. “I’ll get things ready.”

“What things?” Peter asked grabbing his robe.

“I’ll get the fire going, arrange some pillows on the floor,” I explained as I went in the other room and dug through our supply of logs to put on the dying embers in the fireplace. “I also have a traditional Christmas Hot Chocolate I’m going to make, some cookies and…” I held up a container of loose popcorn kernels. “Make popcorn!” I pointed to the popcorn maker you used in the fireplace. “I even had the supplies to make these things brought up earlier.”

“Wow.” Peter shook his head coming over. “This is very involved.” He grinned. “Special Hot Chocolate? What’s special about it?”

“It has shaved real chocolate, no mix or powder. There is cinnamon, nutmeg, some ground ginger, a little orange peel in little bits and made with real milk and cream…not water. It’s pretty rich and creamy.” I pointed to the large cast iron pot. There were hooks to hang the popcorn and pot to heat things up.

Peter frowned. “You did this last year?”

“Sure, Boris helped me,” I explained and I saw hurt in his eyes. “Aw, Peter…” I went to him bringing him close to me. “I didn’t include you because of what was happening and…” I admitted. “It’s not the most mature tradition. It’s childish, really…and I would have been embarrassed then. I want to share it with you now. We had just gotten engaged…unofficially. We were new as a couple.” I waved outside our rooms. “You didn’t share all those St. Nicholas traditions with me until now.” I made him look at me. “I didn’t exclude you then, but I’m including you now…if you want to. I want to share everything with you, Peter.”

Peter nodded with a smile. “I’d like that.” He looked at the clock. “Then, we need to get started.”

I poured the milk in the pot with the cream to add. It was almost like a process. Adding what when to make it well. Like adding the chocolate shavings as soon as the milk got hot enough to begin melting the chocolate, the cream, and the nutmeg and ginger. The cinnamon was added toward the end with the orange peel to give it that special touch. Again, did it matter when I did what? Probably not, but once I learned how Grandma did it, I never veered from how it was done.

Soon the show was starting in a minute and the popcorn was popping. The hot chocolate was almost ready. When the story of Rudolph began with that storm scene to begin the explanation of why Rudolph was important was, the hot chocolate poured and steamed its great fragrance that began my contented feeling. The dozen cookies arranged as Peter took the popcorn and poured the melted butter and added the salt. As Burl Ives began singing I felt it. That comfortable peace and contentment I felt as a child making me comfortable, but with Peter right beside me as I leaned on him. I had never felt that feeling as deeply before. I looked over as he was awake and watching. I said in English. “Merry Christmas, Peter.”

His look to me softened as he smiled. “Merry Christmas, Eric.” He said kissing me. “I love you.”

I nodded. “I know. I love you.”

“I know.”

The next day I joined Olek, Mom, Helga, Fedir, Kurt, Gretchen and others that went through the many letters to St. Nicholas. Including some letters from Skoal and some other villages that got there. Reading Makarovian wasn’t hard, but reading a child’s writing took interpretation on my part. I looked up seeing Helga as she was having the same problem. German was her language. The letters were written in pencil and sometimes crayon…even Peter and Olek were having to squint to figure out what was said. Spelling? We had until the 1^st or the 7^th to read them all and get…whatever was asked for if we could.

The season of Christmas began officially on Christmas Eve. Remember the song The Twelve Days Christmas? December 25^th was that first day! Peter was right. It was nearing the end of the month and the daylight was less and less. In the Arctic Circle it simply because of the tilt of the Earth. Here is was the clouds that brought a lot of snow here. Now Makarovia was staying awake! The new underground was allowing Makarovians to come out and be with each other. They were decorating even more down there! The expansion of the tunnels would have to wait until later in January.

I loved Christmas, but you knew that. When Grandma moved to America, she went with the traditions of the West! In Makarovia and many countries in East Europe, celebrating the holiday this way…stretched Christmas for me.

We did share many customs from the Ukraine. On the first day of Christmas, the 25^th we had again the Kutya. The table was set with two tablecloths. The first for our ancestors and the second for the living members of the family. The first supper didn’t happen until the first star was seen as it was supposed to represent the Star in Bethlehem. Which was a challenge as the weather was not cooperating. No stars could be seen. Under the table and table cloths was hay to remind us Christ was born in a stable and laid in a bed of hay in a manger. There was one place set at the table for Olek’s mother, Peter and Olek’s father, my mother and father and my grandfather. All of the family members that had died were invited to come and share the meal. There was the Christmas Bread, or kolach made in a ring and placed on a bed of wheat stalks and other grain stalks called the didukah. The bread was shaped in three rings for the Trinity and Eternity. There was a candle in the middle ring; the Kutya next to the kolach. A jar of uzvar, or twelve kinds of stewed fruits is served. Olek being the head of the house, gave everyone a piece of Christmas bread dipped in honey and wished everyone the best in the coming year and at the end we all said. “Khrystos Razhdaietsia.” Christ is born. I know, it sounds very…religious. It is, at least the traditions are. However, the traditions in the West had become more secular and I admit, it became more commercial with all the sales before and after the holidays. This was more about the emotion and remembering family. I liked these traditions. To me, it just added more meaning.

Peter had shared my silly Christmas tradition, I would share his. Now they were both our traditions.

Olek was smiling as we had our meatless meal, which was another part of the tradition. “I wish I could express how having you all here means to me. The Ivanov family is growing. New additions are coming.” He smiled at Helga. “Some are family now.” He nodded. “This will be a great year for Makarovia and this family. Thank you all for being here.”

I shook my head. “No, Olek.” I looked at him and Mom. “Thank you both…for accepting me as part of this wonderful family.”