Our Christmas Cookbook - 16. O Holy Night

O Holy Night

By Valkyrie

The arched stone doorway provided some relief from the bitter, stinging wind, but not from the pervasive cold. No amount of clothing was adequate to ward off the frigid temperatures. The man slunk down the wall and hugged his knees to his chest. His situation was hopeless. The shelter only a block away was full. The force of the door slamming in his face was worse than any sub-zero wind chill.

The snick of the door lock was his death knell.

His usual heating vents were all occupied by other wretched souls. And there was no sharing on the street.

So huddling in the doorway was the only option left. He tucked his face down into his knees. So tonight would finally be it. He’d survived for years on the streets. Survived disease, beatings, hunger, weather extremes. Hell, he’d even lived through the war, even though the battles never left him. Drugs and alcohol helped. They were the only things that stopped the voices and images haunting him almost constantly. They cost him his job, house, family. Everything. And now his life.

The weary veteran wasn’t afraid or angry. After all the mistakes he’d made, he deserved his fate. He sighed, his warm breath temporarily warming his upper thighs.

Daddy! Daddy, look! Santa came!

He snapped his head up, peering down the street. Elizabeth? Where is she? He hadn’t seen his daughter in years. Had she found him? Come to rescue him?

I got a Cabbage Patch Doll! Oh Daddy, I love her!

A small, blurry image appeared a little ways down the block—a brunette-haired young girl in a red dress, clutching her beloved doll.

The man made a strangled noise, his vocal cords stuck from the emotion gripping him. “Bethy….” He whispered, reaching toward his young daughter.

The blurry blob grew as it approached.

I made your favorite, Dad. Meatloaf with the Brussels sprouts you like so much.

Elizabeth always took such good care of him. She looked so beautiful, even in her ugly Christmas sweater.

I can’t do it anymore, Dad! I just can’t! You have to leave. Avery and Cindy saw you shoot up. After you promised not to! I mean… Oh my God, Dad! In front of the kids? Get out. Now!

He gasped and sobbed. He was hallucinating. Elizabeth was an adult. Married with kids. His grandchildren.

He’d failed them. And her. And himself. He’d failed everyone with his addiction.

He slumped against the cold stone wall. He deserved his fate. Maybe it was a good thing he was dying. His suffering would end. And Elizabeth would be rid of her burden. For the last time.

A strange warmth enveloped him. He wasn’t shivering anymore.

I love you, Dad. You may not think so right now, but please… always remember that.

Those were Elizabeth’s last words to him before she kicked him out of her house.

“I love you too, Bethie,” he whispered.

The approaching figure shrank, making the man think he was in Wonderland, about to be given something to make him either taller or smaller. It finally came into focus and stopped in front of him.

“Gizmo?”

The tan and white medium-haired dog wagged its tail and nudged his hand.

More hallucinations. Gizmo died twenty-five years ago.

The animal barked and tugged on the man’s sleeve with its teeth. What did he want? The man looked down the street and immediately understood. He reached to pet the shaggy canine’s head. “I got it, Gizzy. You always did like going for walks.”

Gizmo barked and trotted a few feet away, then stopped and looked back expectantly. The man smiled and stood, then followed his beloved pet into the bright patch of light that had appeared in front of them.

Valkyrie’s Shaved Brussels Sprouts

*Don’t run away at the mention of Brussels sprouts! These taste nothing of the sulphuric funk whole sprouts can have. Even sprout haters love this dish.

· 1 pound shaved Brussels sprouts

· 1 medium onion, diced

· ½ pound bacon, cut into small pieces

· Chopped toasted pecans

· Salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder

1. Cook the bacon, remove from pan, and reserve some of the fat.

2. Caramelize the onion in the bacon fat until nice and brown.

3. Add in shaved sprouts, season liberally with seasonings of choice, and cook until desired doneness. You may need to add some of the reserved bacon fat.

4. Add in chopped pecans and bacon.

5. Enjoy!

*Amounts of ingredients are approximate. If you like onion, add more. If you have more bacon, add more. You can’t have too much bacon! Or if you’re vegetarian, omit the bacon and use a different fat to caramelize the onions. Change up the seasonings to your taste. This recipe is more of a template. And it’s quite delicious!