Destiny of my Heart!
By Sharon Holtz
Chapter Eight
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Having an urgent pep to his step, Vincent came out of the pantry, and found
Rebecca nervously biting her fingernails! When she saw him, she looked up at
him with a woeful hopeful look and asked, “Well?”
With a sigh of relief, Vincent informed her, “Father is ready.”
Ecstatically, Rebecca thanked him, and said, “Oh thank you Vincent! Mary
just came up to me and said it was time to begin, luckily she was summoned
away, and asked me to tell Father for her!"
Fanning the nervous flush from her face, she confessed, "I didn't dare tell her
Father had the jitters. Could you imagine how unnerved she would have gotten?”
With a brotherly hug, Vincent surmised, "About as unnerved as you are?"
Bashfully, Rebecca answered, "I just didn't want anything to ruin this night
for her. She is so pleased to have a second chance at this special event with
Father."
Surely Vincent nodded, and said, "I believe we have done all we can; now it’
s up to Father."
Thankfully Rebecca replied, "I have confidence he will come through as he
always does for us. Well I better rally the children."
As Rebecca approached the children, she gleefully told them, "Listen
everyone! Right after you get your refreshments, you need to settle in on the
comforters that are on the floor right in front..."
To which an enthusiastic Zach observed, "It’ll be just like a picnic!"
"Yes...you are right…" Answered Rebecca, "…just like that." Rebecca then
continued, "You will find that Laura, Brook and Jamie have enough comforters
laid out so you don't have to be right on top of each other. There is plenty of
room for everybody, so spread out..."
Excitedly Kipper declared, "We should be able to hear the very best from
there."
With a playful ruffling of his hair, Rebecca answered, "That's the idea!”
She then suggested the older children look after the younger, and carry their hot
coco for them. She also noted Jamie, Laura, and Brook would be there to help
them too.
Rebecca then added one last instruction, urging, "I ask you to select your
refreshments as quickly as you can, because once you are sitting, then Father
will begin.”
The excited bunch headed for the buffet table feeling so happy and anxious
to hear Father tell his story.
Vincent finally met up with Catherine who was behind all the children in the
buffet line. Quizzically he asked where Charles was. Amusedly Catherine
explained of how Mary took care of both her Dad and Peter, adding, “She
wanted to serve me too, but I told her I would wait for you.”
Huskily, he replied, “I am pleased you did.”
Together they took in the sweet sight of the children in front of them, who
were excitedly hopping in place, and talking as they chose their cookies, doing
all the things a child is inclined to do, with too much pent up excitement.
“Vincent…” With rich emotion in her voice, Catherine expressed, “…the
children…they are all so happy!”
Gathering her thoughts she continued, “I have seen people in my world, with
much in terms of material things, and their children are not excited by these
kinds of moments, moments that really matter. I think sometimes life lessons get
lost in the world above.”
Thoughtfully Vincent agreed, “I think you are right…”
With a touch to his hand, Catherine thankfully said, “Well I feel just like
these children do. I am just as excited by this evening, and by this time with you.”
Vincent felt his skin flush hearing the words Catherine spoke to him, and
responded only with a look in his eyes, which said everything he could not.
Feeling the affection between them, she cleared the sentiment from her voice
and turned the subject to the case at hand. Looking over the buffet she said how
delicious the cookies looked, and put one of each on her plate.
As they stepped onward to the vat of hot cocoa, she looked over the eclectic
rustic collection of mugs before her, and picked out her favorite. She loved the
urban quality of it, and knew it could only enhance the fun of drinking the
steaming hot coco. Handing her mug to William, who stood ready to serve with
his ever quick ladle, happily filled her mug to the brim. He then served Vincent
too, and told them to enjoy!
They thanked the good hearted tunnel chef, and then sat down beside
Charles and Peter. Vincent crooked his arm out a bit for Catherine to intertwine
her arm within, and as she did, he snuggly welcomed it and sat gentlemanly
beside her.
Leaning forward, Peter asked Vincent, “Hey what was the deal with
Rebecca? I heard her say something about Jacob…is everything all right?”
Hesitantly Vincent replied, “Everything is fine…” and then to him-self he
prayed…that it would still be so.
Mary acting as Mistress of Ceremonies, stepped up and said, “I see everyone
has their refreshments, and children, are you ready for Father?”
After they all cheered that yes they were ready, Mary then said as she stood
in front of the captivated crowd, “And so without any further ado, it is my honor
to introduce Father…”
When he didn’t come forward, Mary cleared her throat to repeat her
introduction to the monarch of the tunnels, and said a bit louder, “Here is
Father!”
As the allotted time passed for a normal intro for Jacob to come out,
Rebecca shot Vincent a terrified look wondering if there was still a problem.
Fortunately or unfortunately for an already concerned Rebecca and Vincent,
the reason Jacob did not walk out, was because he did not hear Mary’s
mellifluous voice from the pantry. It ended up taking a much more boisterous
William to walk on back and yell at him to..."Get your arse out there!"
As Jacob walked out, Vincent nervously observed his father, wondering if he
had sustained his regained composure. Warmly Jacob welcomed the young
crowd who sat in front of him, before addressing everyone else, and after
Vincent noted his father’s commanding yet affectionate aura…he relaxed,
knowing his Father would be fine.
And so Vincent, along with everyone else listened as Jacob continued,
“Hmmm, the aroma from your hot coco is wafting, and oh my…it smells
delicious. Well, so it appears you are all comfy and so I will tell you all, “The
First Tunnel Christmas Story”
“Here we were, this newly formed community, now serving as a family to
one another, and we were faced with this most blessed and holiest time of the
year! Christmas, which is rich with religious and family traditions, as well as
customs and personal memories.”
Dramatically spinning around to face a new section, he continued, “So the
question was posed in our common meeting, How do we fulfill the lonely
homesickness and voids from memories past, without dissipating, essentially
ending what we have only just begun here? Which was a new world…our new
world.”
Standing tall, Jacob gleefully added, “And so we decided to celebrate in our
OWN way! Collectively we shared our traditions from the world above and with
the aid from our helpers, Lou…Peter, and others, we festively decorated our
chambers.”
Stooping a bit, and in a huskier tone, he continued, “And because of food
donated to us, On Christmas Eve, William was able to prepare us a stuffed
Turkey! Hmmm, some traditions die hard yes? Well as we waited for dinner to
be served, a story was read to us by Anna, and the story was “The Gift of the
Magi” by O’Henry.”
As Jacob rubbed his hands together, he continued, “So here we were,
gathered around many of us warming ourselves by the fires of the numerous
kettles we had burning, listening to Anna. Oh she could keep people spell bound
when she read…oh yes indeed. It wasn’t long after the classic story was finished
when William called us to Dinner, and so we sat together and ate by candle light
right here in the Dining Hall, and before we passed the turkey and rolls, John led
us in prayer…”
With the mention of John’s name, a gasp and wide eyed looks were
exchanged amongst the children, because they all knew that it was Paracelsus,
Father was talking about, and even some of the elder’s exchanged looks too.
Jacob picking up on the dismay John’s name set off, acknowledged such, and
said, “Yes as much as we hate to admit it…evil Paracelsus was here on day one,
and helped develop our tunnel world. But he was a different man in the
beginning Paracelsus was, when we all knew him as John. He had good in his
heart then…much good. Without him back then I am not sure we would have
made it. Ahh he was so brilliant, his Codes and schematics from his early
manuals reveal his vision and mission which really set all this in motion. We
liked to call ourselves comrades in arms back then because we were united in a
cause against all that was wrong in the world above, and were powerless to
correct. And so when and if I mention John…it is not Paracelsus I want you to
conjure up as an image, but rather a kinder gentler man who did care…we
cannot speak of our beginning without the mention of a man called John Pater.”
Sorrow from the loss of this close friendship caused Jacob to expel an
anxiety filled sigh, because the tragedy of it still, after all this time, still made him
sad.
Getting back to the festiveness of the moment, Jacob cleared his throat and
continued, “So yes we prayed, and our prayer that night was to bless all of our
helpers, Peter, Lou, Dr. Wong and many others that Holy night, who had helped
us make this celebration happen. So finally, after the last sip of cider was drunk,
and the last bite of sweet potato pie had been eaten, we then gathered around
and...with the help of William, who happens to sing quite well you know, we
sang Christmas Carols in honor of the Christ child. Yes the Christ child who was
born in a poorly manger this night, and like him…our own surroundings were
unadorned and as rudimentary as you can imagine. Yet…yet somehow, after
that first Christmas Eve gathering, where we clung together as a family, we went
to bed feeling fortunate, and very, very blessed.”
With a melancholy look, Father concluded, “I can still feel the warmth from
it.”
Kipper sat waiting for what he considered to be the best part of the story,
and when Jacob sounded as if he had finished, he raised his hand and asked,
“Didn’t something magical happen Father?”
Clapping his hands together Jacob asked, “Ahh, something magical? You've
heard this story before! Well, what happened on our first Christmas was, well
some say it was magical, and some had thought it was some sort of a miracle, but
I believe it was just events set in motion because of the goodwill of the season.
But all I can tell you was when we awoke on Christmas morning, and gathered
here to share a warm breakfast we then began our trek to the community
Christmas tree. All of us were carrying the modest gifts we were going to bestow
to one another, and feeling quite anxious for the act of giving, when suddenly as
we approached the tree...our eyes widened with wonder, and we stopped in our
tracks! Yes indeed, we all thought our minds were playing tricks on us, until we
looked at one another and knew that wasn't so, because each of us were seeing
the same thing! As we approached our tree which we had meagerly decorated
ourselves the night before, we now found it heavy laden with fruits, peppermint
sticks, and gingerbread men with candy cane hooks hanging precariously from
the boughs of the tree. And...there was a crinkle paper wrapped gift chosen
specially for each one of us. Now no one knows from whence the gifts and treats
came, or by whom they were given, but there was speculation the gifts were
from a generous helper who wished to remain anonymous, but the fact
remained...we never found out who…it…was...even to this day.”
Oohs and ahhh’s and individual speculations of who the person was began
to ring out, and of course, “Santa” was the #1 contender! But there were other
suggestions too, so Jacob leaned on his cane for a moment or so, letting them
guess for a bit because it delighted them so. Then as the possibilities were
exhausted, one of the children asked what gift he had received that Christmas.
Thinking back he said, "Now as I said, we each received a gift which was
chosen specially for us, and my gift, was the book Bleak House, by Charles
Dickens. Now the reason I say it was clearly picked out for me, and who ever it
was knew me, because I had lost that very dearly loved and treasured book, to a
broken water pipe a month prior."
He then continued, "And this kind of "miracle" happened over and over,
William received much needed culinary items, Lou, supplies for his struggling
barber shop, a medical bag for Peter who was only beginning his practice, and on
and on. And you can only imagine of how each of us were quite humbled and
grateful for what we had received."
As Jacob hobbled forth, he smiled at the children and with a nod, he told
them, "So do Christmas miracles happen...I believe they do."
He then asked the children, “Now I understand you have a gift to give to us!
You are scheduled to sing?”
They all excitedly answered yes, and with that, Jacob said, "Then allow me
a moment to get some of that rich sweet smelling coco William made before I sit
down to enjoy your lovely voices."
Each of the children gave Jacob a grateful hug before they ran off with
Rebecca, who came up to usher them to their places.
As Mary walked up to William asking for a mug to serve Father, she
bashfully glanced over to Jacob, and gave him a smile. Since Jacob was already
looking her way hoping for some sign of retribution, well the smile she gave him,
was just what he was hoping for.
Rolley took charge directing the children, and with a gesture, he motioned
for them to begin.
As the children sang, Catherine listened to the sweet innocence of the young
voices, offering an unconditional natural quality which blended together so
beautifully, it brought tears to her eyes.
Leaning into Vincent she whispered, “I don’t believe there is anything more
moving than a children’s choir. “Look at them Vincent…all so sincere and
unassuming. Why do we have to lose that quality as we grow older?”
“Not everyone does…you haven’t…Catherine.”
Giving Vincent a quizzical look, wondering if what he said could be true; that
she still hosted an unassuming sincerity...she hoped so, at any rate, Catherine
certainly loved that Vincent felt it was so...and with a silent acceptance, she sat
thinking that was all that mattered.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
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