One thing was for sure as it always was for the girls: a visit to one of the Christmas’ of their parents’ past was a definite happening. There was no argument about this. The girls cherished the glimpses of seeing their parents as children enjoying the holiday season. They could do this in one trip because Mark and Robin grew up next door to each other. They were high school sweethearts and married shortly after their graduation.
These magical journeys created a special family bond between Mark and Robin and their girls—a special bond that soon would be created with their son. They provided opportunities for their children to see how they lived in their youth and the feelings they expressed.
Heather and Sarah decided to visit the Christmas past of their parents when they were eleven years old because Sarah is now eleven years old... and she’s the oldest!
Well, that was the easy decision. Now Sarah and Heather had to think hard about what other special place they wished to visit. They talked and talked and argued and argued. Of course, Jacob could not get a word in edgewise. Yet, he did not really know what his sisters were talking about so he did not really mind.
Finally the girls came to a decision, but swore each other to secrecy. They would tell no one until the journey was completed. Tomorrow is the day before Christmas and tomorrow night will be Christmas Eve. Sarah and Heather were busy packing. They discussed what they would need and what they could do without. Heather and Sarah always over-packed and they hoped not to let that happen on this trip. Jacob’s mother did the packing for him.
Christmas Eve fast approached. The family candy cane hung in the tree in the spot it always shared. In one more hour it would be twelve o’clock midnight. Midnight is the time that the magic begins. Sarah, Heather and Jacob would soon be touching the candy cane and their journey will begin.
Jacob, Heather and Sarah gathered around the Christmas tree as their living room clock struck twelve. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation. Mark and Robin gave a nod and their girls placed their hand on the candy cane. Sarah then placed Jacob’s hand on the family ornament. The children waved goodbye to their parents, as did their parents in turn. They wished each other a “Merry Christmas.” Then Sarah, Heather and Jacob were gone as their journey began.
Around the children stars began to twinkle. As the years past backward, the twinkling stars blurred and appeared fuzzy. Sarah and Heather saw this before and knew what was happening. Jacob was quite flabbergasted and looked all around as far as his neck could stretch.
As quick as they started, Heather, Sarah and Jacob arrived in the small town where their parents were born and raised. The twinkling stars faded as they found themselves on their father’s doorsteps.
Their mother’s house was right next-door. The childhood homes of their parents were a familiar sight to Sarah and Heather.
Sarah, Jacob and Heather could move and talk both unseen and unheard. The year was 1951 and their parents were 11 years old. They arrived at six o’clock Christmas morning. Jacob, Heather and Sarah walked through the door (another mystery of their trip back in time and more fun than riding up and down the mall escalator). They sat in front of their father’s family Christmas tree. In the corner was the nativity scene reflecting the mystery of Christ’s birth.
Sarah and Heather had learned from experience that their father was always the first to wake up. They also knew that to this day, their mom never rises before their dad. I guess some things never change!
It was not long before they heard footsteps running down the stairs. As quick as a wink, their dad appeared before them. The children always marveled that their dad had hair back in his youth— something they see much less of today! Their father rushed in front of them and stopped short of the family Christmas tree. Sarah and Heather knew their father would not open any presents as the family custom was to await the presence of their mom and dad, a custom practiced in their own family today.
Of course, it did not mean that one could not look, touch, poke, shake or do anything short of opening the gifts. At age 11, Mark was very good at all those things. It was not long before his brother and sister joined him in this yearly exploration.
The moment came when the grandparents (daddy’s parents) of Sarah, Heather and Jacob arrived at the family tree. They hugged and wished their children a Merry Christmas. They asked for God’s blessing and sang their favorite Christmas carol, White Christmas.
Mark’s parents next gave their children that all too familiar nod of the head. Mark and his siblings began opening the gifts with the speed of lightning. Sometimes, haste really does make waste!
Their dad did not open presents of CD’s, computer or video games. Such things had not been invented as of yet. Instead, Jacob, Heather and Sarah saw their father open kid gifts of the time: a baseball mitt; erector set; microscope; a coin set; model airplane; dinosaur; and of course, clothes and underwear.
Jacob, Heather and Sarah saw that their father was very happy. The children turned to leave waving goodbye and wishing their dad and grandparents a “Merry Christmas.” Of course, they did not see or hear them, but it did not matter. Their father was cuddled safely between his parents as Sarah, Heather and Jacob walked through the front door and out into the Christmas morning.
It was cold as Jacob, Heather and Sarah saw their breath in the air. They scurried across the yard and watched two chipmunks chewing at tree nuts in the snow. The kids hurried through the door of their mother’s family home. Sure enough, not a creature was stirring, not even the family mouse did roam!
Heather and Sarah smiled at each other, as they knew their mother would still be fast asleep. They grinned and said to each other at the same time, “Some things never change!” Sarah and Heather laughed. Jacob laughed too although he was not sure why his sisters were laughing. But, oh, did he love to laugh!
As they did with their father, the children sat in front of the family’s Christmas tree awaiting their mom. The tree was decorated with candles and popcorn. Sarah mused to herself, “Boy, are my parents old!” While they were waiting, Jacob thought he saw somebody familiar peeking upside down out of the fireplace.
He turned to tell his sisters, but the familiar sight was gone with a wink and a twink and a bink! Jacob could only shrug his shoulders when his sisters questioned, “What?”
Heather and Sarah looked at the living room clock. It was getting late even by 1951 standards. Soon they heard a door creak down the hallway.
Their mother eventually emerged into the front living room of the house. Robin, who also was now 11 years old, was rubbing her eyes. She too knew that she could not unwrap her gifts until the entire family entered the room. So she sat near the tree unaware that her daughters and son sat beside her in another dimension. Heather and Sarah thought how beautiful their mother looked.
Soon their mother’s brother and sister entered the room. They were all excited and wished each other a “Merry Christmas.” Then Robin’s parents entered the room and another round of “Merry Christmas” could be heard.
Like at their father’s house, Robin’s parents gave their children that all too familiar nod of the head. Robin and her siblings began opening the gifts. Ribbon, bows and wrapping flew every which way.
Jacob, Heather and Sarah saw their mother open girl gifts of the time: a Barbie doll; Barbie clothes; a necklace; a purse; a hula-hoop; a E-Z bake oven; and of course, clothes and underwear.
The children saw that their mother was very happy. The children turned to leave waving goodbye and wishing their mom and grandparents a “Merry Christmas.” Of course, they did not see or hear them, but it did not matter. Their mother was cuddled safely between her parents as Sarah, Heather and Jacob walked through the front door and out into the cold Christmas morn.
As they walked away, Sarah and Heather knew that their time here in the Christmas past of their parents was nearing an end. Around the children stars began to twinkle as they did beforehand. Jacob again was amazed as they twinkled and winkled at him
. However, only Sarah and Heather knew where the stars were taking them. The family cane had taken the three children to their planned destination. The stars faded once again. As the sky cleared and their eyes adjusted, the children saw a familiar sign in the distance.
Yes, it was the North Pole. Sarah and Heather always wanted to visit the living place of Father Christmas, Santa Claus. As they approached the magical home of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Santa and his reindeer were doing all sorts of things. Jacob’s eyes barely stayed in their sockets as he watched the play before him. Heather and Sarah had to admit they were quite in awe too!
Santa and his reindeer were out playing in the snow. They had just finished their yearly rounds to all the children of the world. They were exhausted, but not too tired to relax and have fun after their worldly trip.
Jacob was jumping up and down—too excited to say anything, but did he smile and laugh and laugh and smile! Sarah and Heather were excited too because they have always wanted to visit the North Pole and see Santa. They were speechless too as they watched Santa and his reindeer at play.
Heather and Sarah would have never guessed that Santa snowboarded or that the reindeers rode in sleds or threw snowballs at each other. The red-nosed Rudolph seemed to be watching all the fun too.
As they watched Santa and his reindeer, Sarah and Heather knew that their time here at the North Pole was drawing to an end. Around the children stars began to twinkle as they did before. Now, even Jacob understood that the twinkling stars meant that they would soon be leaving.
What seemed like hours to Sarah, Heather and Jacob were actually only minutes. The stars faded and they found themselves back home. As much as they enjoyed their trips to Christmas past, they always loved coming back home and cuddling with their parents on Christmas morn. For them, that was the best part, the part that really mattered. The Love of Christmas was always special to their family.
About the Author
As a doctorate level practitioner serving school children for more than 35 years, Edward Galluzzi became keenly aware that children and their parents often had in short supply what families needed the most: open communication and sharing time together. Twelve Upon A Time… was written to provide families a moment here and a moment there to come together and share heartwarming, silly and believably unbelievable tales.
The stories are tied typically to the main holiday or theme of each month, more or less. The characters in the stories are based on what children relate to most… animals and other children. There are also over 100 colored drawings, reproduced in black and white, sketched by children ranging from 7 months to 12 years of age. The stories from my imagination and the drawings from theirs come together to stimulate the imaginations of children and open a whole new world for parents and their children to share.
That is my gift to your family. Time for sharing… time for laughing… time for talking… time for each other. Not once upon a time, but Twelve Upon A Time….
Other Books by the Author
published by CCB Publishing
Mirror, Mirror at 1600 D.C.
The role of the Presidency is complicated more than enough for Elizabeth Ashton without the added political burden of being the first woman elected to this high office in America. She is delighting her supporters and converting readily her critics when she is kidnapped while attending a fundraiser. The unfolding plot is a matter of survival—not only personal survival, but also hanging in the balance is the endurance of the Presidency and democracy in America. The missing President must be recovered— dead or alive.
Beginnings
Beginnings is based on the lives of Greg and Charly that propels the reader on an emotional roller coaster, as events unfold in their lives, including the more absurd and humorous aspects of life. Beginnings traverses the singledom lives of Greg and Charly and bring them together. The global benchmarks that help define them and a people unfold for each decade of their lives. We all encounter collectively many beginnings and beginnings of the end. We share them for they are part of what we call the human condition. Greg and Charly experience many beginnings and beginnings of the end—some predictable, some unexpected. Some beginnings are critical moments in our lives as they forever change us for better or worse—they bring us together or tear us apart. They are intimately tied to human relationships as they strengthen or weaken the stuff that binds us. The beginnings that impact on Greg and Charly unfold in the pages to come. Yet, these are not necessarily unique experiences and readers will relate to their own beginnings and beginnings of the end. However, I am getting ahead of myself. I would like to tell about the circumstances of my world just before my beginning and the woman of my life, Charly . . .
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