Christmas Delight | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Christmas Delight | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kathy Ludwig
12/03/08
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It was their holiday tradition to take the hour drive to pick up their baby brother. The two sisters, now in their late seventies wondered how much longer they could continue to do it, but for now it worked pretty well and was certainly worth the effort. For more than thirty years Sadie and Martha picked Freddie up at Mercy House to bring him home for Christmas.

Freddie had been born a perfectly healthy baby boy back in the '30s but was stricken with meningitis when still an infant. Back then, not much could be done about such a disease, and their parents watched helplessly as the fever took their youngest son's mental capacity and the disease robbed him of his muscle tone. Eventually, with the help of a local physician, Freddie regained the ability to walk and matured to the mental age of six.

Mercy House was a wonderful place for Freddie to live, the family agreed. He received care there that was not available in a private home, given by providers who truly had a heart for the people in residence. Numerous activities gave him the opportunity to try and explore avenues of interest. As a resident, he was an honorary fire fighter, rode in a helicopter and was always a part of local parades. Still, an institution can not fulfill all the comforts of home.

So, on Christmas Eve, they picked him up at Mercy House and brought him home. And on Christmas Day, this old man who still believes in Santa Clause, woke in his childhood bed and rushed as best he could to the Christmas tree. Like children everywhere, he was far more interested in gifts than breakfast, so they would always forego the coffee and cereal until later in the morning. Practical gifts were in abundance, but Freddie preferred the toy cranes or fire engines he received. He played for hours with his shiny new trucks, mimicking their sounds and talking about their features. Sadie and Martha watched happily contentedly as they were transported back to their own childhood through the eyes of their much loved brother.

Later in the day, they would pack up and head out for Christmas dinner with the entire clan. They were greeted warmly and Freddie was soon be spirited away by the children to play and marvel over their Christmas gifts. Over the years, he had played with his siblings, his nieces and nephews, then his grand nieces and nephews. Most recently, he was claimed by his great-grand generation and was an enthusiastic peer in their awe of the holiday. At dinner, around a huge family table, family members recounted their happy memories of Christmas, not the least of which included Freddie and how much he added to their holiday.

All to soon, the day ended and as the sun set, Sadie and Martha once again put Freddie and all his new belongings into the car for the trip back to Mercy House. On the way, he sang his own version of "White Christmas", with special emphasis on the treetops glistening, another holiday tucked safely into his memory. His sisters smiled at his Bing Crosby rendition and vowed that, yes, they could continue this most cherished of Christmas traditions at least one more year.

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