The Christmas Cabin: A short story

Christmas Break

The cabin is snug, the air is filled with the comforting scents of Christmas. Molasses, ginger, pumpkin. All the smells the children associate with home and safety. As the kids warm up, Mama rolls out gingerbread men to make into ornaments for their tree. Tomorrow the brood will go tree hunting, sleds pulled behind them, searching for the perfect Christmas tree. Not only for the living room, but for their bedrooms as well. Mama and Dad were fun that way, letting the kids set up a tree in their room, the tiny twinkling lights keeping the night-shadows at bay.

But now, it was dinner time. Mama made pancakes, breakfast for dinner. The kids' favorite. The kids called them dollar pancakes because they were the size of a silver dollar. Warm cream was then poured over, a sprinkle of sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. The kids ate with exuberance, their smiles lighting up the room. Their laughter and jokes filled the cabin. Dad was gone, serving as pastor of the church. Helping and serving others through the Christmas season.

Bedtime was quite the affair in this house. The oldest kids tried helping, but it was more a hindrance than anything. Mama yelled and hollered along with the kids, as bath time turned into flood clean up. Once all five kids were clad in mismatched jammies, their hair matted and wet, Mama pulled out the favorite Christmas book. Gathering around the glow of the Christmas tree lights, Mama's gentle voice read the first page of 'Who was Jolly Holiday, by Ted C. Hindmarsh. The first chapter named 'The Children' was the kids' favorite, due to the squabbling and fighting of the book children.... "Get your slimy hands off my radio you little creep!" Mama read....

Once the kids were all tucked into bed, Mama sat in front of the Christmas tree, the glow shadowing her weary face. Christmas was her favorite time of year, but sometimes she felt alone during this time. Even surrounded by all her little babies, she felt a bit misunderstood. Mama checked on her children, not all were asleep, some giggled and guessed what Santa would leave, but they were all in bed.

Thank goodness.

Late in the night, Dad finally came home. He sighed as he climbed into bed, feeling more than a little world weary.

The next week, Christmas break started. The kids were free! They didn't brush their teeth, didn't comb their hair, it was winter break, after all. Chris, having saved up all his money working in the orchard last summer, bought a coveted NES...a Nintendo Entertainment System. The graphics are out of this world, the boys screeched. Nothing will be better than Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt, they all agreed. The older boys were kind and let Ella play a level, but only as the dumb brother Luigi.

Never as Mario.