UN-Jolly R

That December 25--- there wasn't even a whisper on the street of a little
Jewish town nor Christmas was marked on the calendar. The mist was
present; houses, porches, people, and heart blanked by snow, most people
staying inside cozied by a fire. Seconds later,one young woman stepped
outside to collect wood, warmly dressed and merry. A man with a long white
beard, walking through the garden suddenly appeared. As her breath
marched out of her mouth while she spoke, the lady loudly pronounced, " You
know, they been expecting you." Still collecting wood, without looking at him.
He got down on his knees and replied, " I didn't say I was coming this year,
did I." Then, she took at look at him with a sarcastic smirk on her face.
Outside there were piles of holidays motives quilts made by her decorating
the place, with their hands full of wood they walked inside to meet her two
young children.
They opened the door and entered the house. What a bright and green
house you have this time of the year. "It is the Christmas tree," the children
said happily. The older man was happy to see them,"is that what you called,
that bunch of branches." The children laughed excited and approached him to
play with his black hat. Inside, the scene was typical, a Christmas tree,
presents, and a table full of food.
After setting up the fire, the mother washed her hands, took off her winter
coat and asked, "Shall we begin now, is everyone ready?" The man knew that
it was his job to put the gravy on the table and move the mashed potatoes
from the stove to where they sat. He did it in silent delight. Too, he pretended
not to know the holiday food she cooked. "So much food you cooked, what is
it? and what for?" At this she made the exacted same gesture she had when
she found him outside her door. Yet, she went thought the menu list, this year
Christmas dinner consisted of: roasted turkey, ham, corn, chestnut, mashed
potatoes, freshly made (best in town) apple cider. I think that I only forgot to
mentioned....Thinking, thinking...children laughed--"We are hungry,please."
(ah yes) I forgot to tell you about the popcorn, but that is for later when we
get to see the movie." "What movie?" Just a holiday classic. "They make
movies about this time of the year." He said pretending to be shocked. " oh
yes, they do.... And oh they are so good." "What a waste of tape." He
exclaimed trying to get in her nerve looking for a bad reaction. oh, but you
see, movies don't come in tapes anymore, they exist in a digital space."
"Digital my belly!" (the children,too pointed at their bellies). Lets eat this too
fancy food. if you ask me, you can feed 20 villages in Africa with all this here.
But, none was asking him and none was complaining about the taste of

Christmas.
"It takes delicious," he said, and she ponded, "had you been to the Holy
Land?" "Many times." he affirmed more interested on eating than engaging in
a deep religious conversation. "Not, that this is as delicious as plates that I
am used to but, could you please write me some of your recipes. you know,
for a friend who might have an interest on this kind of flavors." "okay, sir, will
do." she affirmed.
And now you gotten my interested on this little bright lights, so shiny. He
started at them if a man barefoot man, stares at a brand new pair of shoes.
"That is funny that you mentioned, I am sure this year I have an extra
extension that I could give to you if you like." She tried to sound casual trying
not to embrace him. "Not that you will have an interest on such things," She
continue. His cheeks grew red, thinking how a Jewish man ended up in such
merry situation December 25. What could his relatives, "that come in that
boat from Israel," think about him? So he try to act as Jewish as possible. "Oh
please, I couldn't. when my ancestors came on that boat with their Torah,
there were not bright tiny littles." Soon he tried to change the conversation,
but everything was so Christmasy in that house. "What are these." He
pointed at some objects at the table. The children screamed," Christmas
Crackers." As they popped one, the man suddenly screamed with a little
Christmas town terror. The type of terror one has riding a ride at the town fair.
Again, he thought, perhaps if he touch his hat, he could feel a bit more
Jewish. But, the young children, didn't help his case, when the boy gave him
the end side of a Christmas cracker, holding the other side they both popped
it. He actually abandoned himself with delight and was losing the battle of
being Christmasly un-merry. Oh boy, a spark was growing inside his heart.
Suddenly, they looked inside the cracker and a crown came out. "Jesus
had a crown, we learned in Sunday school." One of the children ( a boy) tried
to make him wear the crown, when he suddenly moved like a rocket off his
chair. For him, that moment becoming a case of a little too much with
demasiado, the scene suddenly remained him of the passover. At that
moment, the spark was over, he again was a complete Jewish man. "No
worries, this not a passover, Jesus, didn't actually celebrate Christmas." He
felt better, and the sight of apple pie helped tremendously. As they moved in
to eat dessert. "Do you like it, the pie?" Tasting it, he mentioned, "I don't
know. It is not that bad." That boat from Israel had none of this crackers
nonsense, yet still with that good feeling inside, he murmured. "I never heard
of such boat from Israel," she too murmured both looking for a cover up or
someone to break the awkward moment.
"I know what Christmas isn't your thing." She ensured him. "Oh no, oh
never, no now, no ever. I am not a Christmas type of guy. The ancestors... He

went on and on. " But please taste this Christmas cake. with a small bite he
felt the purely of heaven.
He sat at the sofa highly satisfied, almost with a smile. But quickly
changed it to his grumpiest gesture when he observed eyes looking at him to
judge his state of mind. The women was now in the chicken, organizing and
having the leftovers packaged. He looked anxiously as all the food left was
put away. He stood up and move from side of side. "No that Christmas food is
my thing, but those leftover. You see, I have this friend of mine who I might
visit tomorrow. Don't you think that all this Christmasy eating could make a
good conversation piece and give a good laugh to two Jewish fellows. Of
course, not out of disrespect or nothing. But, the sight of eating
Christmas."sure, I understand." She had already packaged his portion and
written his name on him. And just to embrace him she draw with color pencils
a snowflake. As an mental image of gift giving. By this time, it was the
tradition in which the children change of their holidays clothes, and wear little
white robes to sing Christmas carol. The children were young and innocent
enough to move everyone with their Christmas songs. The men looked in
delight, the room lights were off, and only the Christmas tree was lighted
while the two "little angel" sang each by the corner of the Christmas tree. The
men grew content and brightly smile. "Is that tear in your eye?" "What,oh
holy menorah. no!" I'm just a little sleepy. All that food you made. At this
point, I think that it is best if I go." He said pretending to get up.
"The children will be so disappointed, of no having a Santa this year. How
can I break their heart?" They are already missing his father who is fighting in
a foreign country." The mother exclaimed. "if only you could." "oh No, no
now, no never, no. you cannot make a Santa out of me. You devilish woman."
Look at those faces," She sai. He tried to argue, "But the Holy Land."
"Ho Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas." He came out of the bathroom in a full
Santa Claus costume. "Santa! the children reacted elated." As Tradition went,
they started to open presents. "Santa" passed presents, toys, books (simple
things) around to her children. For them this was a night of treasures. Things
they being wanting for a very long time. Just like that, the children started to
adore him more. At their young age they were not completely sure if he was
the same man who dinned with them. But, his smiley face remained them of
beauty and warmth in the world. The Jew, then, he could finally see what the
phrase Peace in Earth meant through their eyes. Later, as the children played
with their toys, the mother went into the room and came out with an
unwrapped present. She thought that wrapping the present could be too
much embarrassment to a Jewish man, in a Christmas dinner, who opened a
cracker, ate Christmas cake, was dressed on bright red, had a long white
beard who didn't come by the chimney. She sat by the sofa handing him one
of the Christmas quilts she made. He froze in time, "is that another tear in

your eye." she remarked. "Please, oh no, no. I couldn't take it. no socks or
gloves."
Minutes later, "I have to, you know, leave now. " He got up.
"you are not staying for the movie." she asked knowing the answer. " I
couldn't." he observe. "I am leaving, I will take my food, the pies, cake, my
guilt." "Working on it, Sir," " could you add some more mashed potatoes
to..." "I see, no problem." she added more. He left. The children ran all over
the house, too happy to sleep, now wearing christmas onesies. a disc of It is
a Wonderful Life on the table. There was a knock on the door, "oh you, I
thought you left." Yet, he have been standing outside the door, trying not to
go back or knock. She looked at her children inside and felt almost guilty of
all they have, how healthy, and happy they were. "Can I ask you something,"
She said. "Of course," He replied. "How should we feel about others as we
gathered here and have so much and others have so little." "Happy," he
promptly replied without any doubts. " And those who have little too should
celebrate happily for what they got." Her eyes lighted and her heart grew
free. "What brings you here again?" she asked. "oh, oh, oh, you know, my
place, when I left, it was kind of too dark, there were not sparks, I couldn't
even see my living room when I was walking, and one needs to see if you live
in a place, you see. and my friend who is coming to visit tomorrow," He shyly
suggested, praying that he wouldn't have to be the one to ask. "Now that I
think about it I have some Christmas lights that could help with your
visibility," she smile and went inside to get him the Christmas lights she
promise.
At that moment, a familiar face walked by the door, and said, "Rabbi, we
been looking for you. Every December 25, for five years we cannot reach you.
We have nothing to do this day. But, you always, busy." The other neighbor
said. Then he observed his Christmas guilt, the leftover, and she opened the
door with the Christmas light. "Rabbi, are you celebrating Christmas?" "My
ancestor didn't came...." He started to said. She rushed to defend him, "Oh
no he could, Christmas, it isn't his thing." She said as he sighted. The
neighbor left and the Rabbi was at the door defeated.
Next year, then, she said as he walk off to his apartment. "Oh no,
perhaps, I will just came by to say hi to the children." And then, she knew
that she will have to set a sit for him For next Christmas again. And she was
thankful for it "Christmas is for everyone." she shouted at him for everyone to
hear. He opened the door of his own apartment with almost a smile on his
face. He prepared the fire, plugged the shine little lights, got on his favorite
chair. It was the only one of the day in which singing was heard from this own
apartment. With a big smirk on his face,his cat on his laps, he sat eating
Christmas leftovers, and singing, "If I was rich man, la la la la la, Tradition.

They exist in a digital space."

No free domain
By: Annydk