Holidays

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And,
she brought forth
her firstborn Son,
...and,
laid Him
in a manger,
because
there was
no room
for them,
in the inn.
[Luke 2:7]
*********************

Carefully, James wrapped the present in an old piece of cloth. Then, he took the thin twine of rope and tied it around, and around the lumpy package. Smiling, he put it behind his back, and walked 'round the low stone wall of their house, to the small shed. Just at the entrance of the shed, James stopped: feeling a bit shy, all of a sudden.

It was his brother's birthday; their mother was making a special supper, midday, and the whole family would come over: their aunts and uncles, cousins, and even their elderly grandmother. They were a poor family, but everyone was bringing some food to the house. There would be enough, for all.

James gazed down at the package; the old cloth wrapping was stained, and ragged, and the thin ropes of twine smelled of hay and manure. James eyed his present, awkwardly; perhaps, he would just set it beside where his brother slept,
at evening. Yes; maybe, that would be better. He just never knew the right thing to say.
_____________________________________________
[A WARM MALE VOICE
CAN BE HEARD
FROM INSIDE.]
"JAMES?"
[THE ROUGH DOOR
OF THE SHED OPENS.]
[CURIOUS LOOK.]
[SMILE!]
"What IS it?
WHY are you just.....
STANDING, there?"

"Oh."
(James laughs,
self-consciously.
He can smell the
freshly shaved wood
and dust, from inside
the old shed.)
"Well......eh,
HERE."
(He holds out the
soft package; the
old cloth is tattered,
from use.)
"I.....hm..."
(Smile.)
"Today's your
BIRTHDAY,
and all.....so,
well....
HERE; I had
a friend of mine..
MAKE these for
you."
(Smile.)
(Shrug.)
"I just noticed....
that YOURS were
looking rather worn-
OUT, lately."
(Chuckle.)

[OPENING THE PACKAGE.]
[SMILING.]
[NODDING.]
"Ah!
Yes!
YES!
THANK you!"
THANK YOU,
James!"

(Lopsided smile.)
(Soft shrug.)
"Well.....I
just NOTICED..."

"THANK YOU!
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL!
JUST BEAUTIFUL,
James!
THANK you!"
[SITS DOWN, ON THE
LOW STONE WALL,
TO REMOVE THE OLD,
THREADBARE ONES,
AND PUT ON THE NEW
LEATHER SANDALS.]
"These are BEAUTIFUL!
Who made them: your
friend, SAMUEL?"

(James nods,
thoughtfully.)
"Yes......he's a
very good SHOEMAKER...
just like his FATHER."
(Laugh!)
"I think Samuel's been
making shoes, since
before he could WALK."

[SMILING!]
[CHUCKLE.]
"Yes; I think you're RIGHT!"
[STANDS UP, TO
GRAB HIS BROTHER
IN A QUIET HUG.]
[GENTLE VOICE.]
"THANK you,
James."

(James laughs,
awkwardly. He
feels a tear at the
corner of his left eye.)

[QUIET GAZE
WITH SENSITIVE EYES.]
[VOICE SOFTENED
INTO A WHISPER.]
"Thank you."

(James sniffs,
hurriedly,
and looks away.)
(He nods,
and then reaches
up, self-consciously,
to scratch his head.)
"Okay.....well.....
FINISH up what you're
doing in there; Mother
is having supper EARLY,
today."

[QUIET NOD.]
[INTENSE, LOVING GAZE.]
"Yes; I know."

(James laughs.)
"We were TRYING to
keep the party...a
SECRET."
(Laughs!)

[JOYFUL SMILE.]
[HIS EYES SEARCHING
UPWARD, AT HIS
PAINTED SKY.]
[VOICE FULL OF
TENDERNESS.]
"Yes."
[QUIET WHISPER.]
"I.. know."

(James turns to walk
back, toward the house.)
"Well.......don't be long,
alright? And....."

[SMILE!]
[INTENSE, LOVING
GAZE.]
"Yes, JAMES?"

(For a moment,
James can't say anything;
his throat feels very dry.
He looks down on the
ground, shyly. Then
he glances back, up.
He speaks, just above
a whisper.)
"Happy BIRTHDAY,
Jesus."

[SUDDEN BURST
OF GENTLE LAUGHTER.]
[TENDER SMILE!]
[NOD.]

(James nods;
smiling, he
turns to walk
back, to help
his mother prepare
for the guests.)

[LONG PAUSE.]
[WHISPER, TO
HIMSELF.]
"I love you,
My James."
*******************************
For
there is
born to you
this day
in the city
of David,
a Savior,
who is Christ
the Lord.
[Luke 2:11]

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