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- 10/05/2022
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
ARROW - 101. Chapter 101
Carmella would be leaving on Saturday with Tony and his family. Bobby was excited but then he didn’t know that Carmella’s plan was to have Tony and Marie to move back to the village permanently. I drove them to the airport, they were excited. Bobby was hyped up, first plane ride as well as first trip to Italy where his dad and mom grew up. I chuckled as Carmella took over, she acted as a tour guide.
Waving goodbye, I drove home. Christmas was coming and I had shopping to do.
Arriving home, I sat in the club’s kitchen making out my Christmas list, while drinking coffee. I was doing okay until I came to Pat. That turned my attention to the orphanage and the letter from the City Council. I knew Colin would try his best, but the City Council had ways to force the issue in their favor.
“Brother, what’s the problem? You have been staring at that cup of coffee for the last thirty minutes.”
I smiled, reached up and pulled him down to sit next to me. “Brother, I was thinking about the orphanage. I’m afraid that Colin’s plans aren’t going to work.”
“You need to have confidence in him. He hasn’t failed you yet. Look what he did for Ivan. Let’s concentrate on Christmas.”
Looking at him I wondered when did he grow up. My brother wasn’t the teenager anymore. “You’re right. So what is on the menu for Christmas?”
“I don’t know. What was your usual Christmas dinner when you were living with your parents?”
“Turkey, Mom made a turkey dinner.” Then I had an idea. “Talk with Marcel and see if he knows of an old fashion Christmas dinner.” I was thinking of the English with their Yule log and plum pudding. “Thanks James, I feel better now.” I went back to finishing my Christmas list.
That evening at dinner, “Colin, we’ll need to take the boys Christmas shopping soon.”
You could see the boys getting excited.
“What are you going to get for the children at the orphanage?”
“They will have to write a letter to Santa Claus.”
“I have a better idea, let’s take them to see Santa.” The boys liked that idea.
“I’ll arrange for the buses, you arrange for the Santa and I’ll get the Moms thinking about stockings.”
Later that night after the boys had gone to bed, “Colin, do you think we could get our carpenter friend to make a fireplace mantel so the kids could hang their stockings on it.”
“Sure, I’m sure he’ll do it. Maybe I can get an old mail box, paint it red and white so they can mail their letters to Santa.”
“Do you think we can get them to see Santa? Most of the large stores have a Santa for the kids.”
“Maybe I can make arrangements with one of the department stores in New York City to open just for the kids. We could bus them there, take pictures and possibly tape their talk with Santa.”
Now I was getting excited. Christmas for the children at the orphanage will be fantastic. Our boys will also have an opportunity to see Santa. I wonder what they will ask for?
Three days later the carpenter had built a fireplace mantel that covered one whole wall. The kids wanted to know what it was for. One of the older boys knew. He told them they would have to hang a stocking with a note to Santa.
They went to get an old stocking, that was when Pat told them they would have a special stocking to put there. Three days later the Moms arrived with a Christmas stocking for the kids. They had marking pencils and as they gave the child a stocking, they wrote their name on the stocking.
Later Mom told us how exciting the kids where when they hung their stocking.
Colin did arrange for a department store in NYC to open early on Sunday morning for the kids. I arranged for our bus drivers, the Moms made sure the kids had a Christmas sweater on. Excitement was on high alert. The Moms, Colin and I rode with them on the buses. On the way to NYC, the Moms taught them to sing Jingle Bells. Colin and I had a short string of bells, which we would shake at the appropriate time. Excitement was high.
Arriving NYC, the buses stopped in front of the department store, we were met with one of the managers, and two of the elves. A newspaper photographer was there taking pictures of the kids as they departed from the buses.
Leading them into the store, there was Santa sitting on his chair and 4 elves standing next him. Colin handed a recorder to one of the elves. One of the elves had a bag filled with something. Later we found out it was candy canes. Colin had his camera ready, and as each child sat on Santa’s lap, he took a picture. As expected some where afraid, but between the elves and the older kids, they soon were laughing as well.
It took us all morning to have the kids visit Santa.
“Colin, we need to get the kids some lunch before we head home.”
Smiling, “Let’s follow Santa’s elves.” Now we had a parade. The elves led everyone to the department store's dining room where the staff had prepared lunch for everyone.
Looking at Colin, “You have surpassed my hopes for a special Christmas for these children. I know I was right in picking you.”
“I have a secret to tell you. I paid the professor to let me pose for that portrait. I had my eye on you the first time I saw you.”
I laughed, “I bet”
After lunch, we boarded our bus and headed home. We were no sooner out of the City when the younger kids began to fall a sleep. The older kids where questioning if that was the real Santa or not. “If he brings me what I told him, then it was the real Santa.”
Later that evening, “As soon as I get these photos developed, I can listen to what they told Santa.”
I wonder how he would be able to identify the child with the recording.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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