Christmas is just around the corner now. I hope you enjoy part four of this year’s story. You can find the rest of this story, as well as all the past Christmas stories, at this link.
June was gently nursed by Linda for several days. Soon she was able to sit up and eat something. Joey had come down with the virus as well, although he was up and around again in just a day or two.
When they both were completely well again, Joey began to grow uncomfortable staying with the Bells. He didn’t want to take advantage of their hospitality.
One evening, after they had eaten dinner, he carefully broached the subject as June sat on the sofa looking through a picture book that Martin had brought up from the store.
He heaved a big sigh, as if to gain courage, and then said, “perhaps it’s time June and I head back to the cabin. We are both well now and we don’t want to…well, as nice as it’s been here…we just don’t want to…” he stopped.
Linda’s heart sank as Joey spoke these words. Unbeknownst to them, the children had brought much joy to the Bell house. Martin and Linda had lost a little boy five years before and they had forgotten how much they loved having children around them.
Martin looked kindly upon the young man and spoke, “Joey, I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks now. And I wondered if you and June would like to stay with us through the holidays? We have so enjoyed having you both here and we’d love for you to stay for a while longer. Would you be willing to hang around with us old folks for a couple of more weeks? Or are you anxious to get back home?”
Joey stared at him in disbelief, “you are serious, sir?”
“I’ve never been more serious,” said Martin.
Joey and June did not have a good mother. Rather than teach them good manners and to care for others, she, through example, had taught them nothing except selfishness. Thankfully, the children did have a God-fearing, praying grandmother. And, while June was only small when she had gone on to heaven, Joey had learned much from her and was teaching it to his little sister. The children could have—should have— been a real burden to the Bells but, instead, thanks to a godly old lady who loved her grandchildren dearly and lived her life each day to please the Lord, they were a true blessing to the childless couple.
Linda spoke up, “A few years ago, we had a son. His name was Robert. He was such a little man. You remind me a bit of him, Joey,” she looked kindly at the boy and then continued, “when he was nine, he suddenly grew very sick one day. It was right around this time of year, actually,” her eyes grew moist as she remembered, “Well, he grew sicker and sicker until the doctor told us to prepare for the inevitable. And within just a few weeks, we lost our precious Robert,” she paused and turned to the children, “And, so you see, we have so enjoyed having you children here. We forgot how much we missed having children around. Especially such wonderful children as you are. We would be so honored to have you stay with us for the next few weeks, at least through the holidays.”
June had begun listening to the conversation and at this point she childishly piped up with vehemence, “Oh, Joey, we can stay, can’t we? I don’t want to go back to that cold cabin where we don’t have anything to eat!
Joey looked around at the three who were watching him and waiting for an answer. And then he smiled and said to his sister in his quiet way, “well, it would seem foolish to go back to that when we are being offered this, now wouldn’t it?”
There was an air of celebration that evening in the Bell household. Over the course of the next weeks, the four of them prepared for Christmas together. They cut down a tree from the woods and made handmade ornaments for it. They baked brown gingerbread men and decorated them with icing. And they went Christmas caroling with the church folk. It was wonderful.
The children were filled with delight at this unexpected turn of events. Instead of spending Christmas in a cold, lifeless cabin all alone, they were in a cozy warm home with two adults who genuinely cared about them. It was all so much to take in.
Christmas was now only five days away. Joey lay in his bed that night wondering what would happen to them after Christmas. While he had thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks, this was the one thing that was casting a constant damper on his happiness. What was going to happen to them after Christmas?
As he tossed and turned that night, he came up with several ideas. Perhaps Mr. Bell would give him some work around his store? Or he could go to Pastor Murphy, who had proven to be a very kind older man. He might help him. Joey knew he had to do something to look out for his little sister. No twelve-year-old should have to bear the burden of survival for himself and his sister, but, unfortunately, sometimes they do. Joey was not taking this responsibility lightly and he had lost quite a bit of sleep over it.
Meanwhile, in a different bedroom on that very same night, Martin and Linda were whispering together. They couldn’t imagine life without the two precious children they had both grown to love. They wondered if there would be a way to keep them permanently. Yes, Joey was stubborn and June could be quite messy but over the course of the past few weeks, they had realized anew the wonderful blessing of family.
As they discussed the possibility of keeping the children and how to go about it, Linda suddenly smiled and said, “do you think there is any possibility we could know before Christmas? Wouldn’t that be the greatest Christmas present we could give the children?” Her eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together at the thought of it.
Martin was more realistic than his wife, “Well that is a very tall order. I’m not sure we can manage to know before Christmas morning as it hinges on being able to find the children’s mother.”
Linda’s face filled with disappointment as she acknowledged that he was right.
“But,” Martin added with a twinkle in his eye, “I am sure willing to give it a try.”
Good reading!