The Christmas House (24 page)

     Michael stopped dead in his tracks.

     “Drowning victim?” he asked.

     “Yes, the boy at the morgue was pulled out of Lake Michigan. He drowned,” Arianna answered.

     Michael started to shake.

    
“Oh my God.
David!”

     “What? Michael what’s wrong?” Arianna asked.

     “David was soaking wet and ice cold when he came home last night. David arrived here at exactly 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Martha brought him home. Do you understand what I am trying to say?” he yelled at Arianna.

     “Oh God no!” she said and started to scream out for David as she ran frantically through the house.

    
“DAVID! DAVID! Where is he?”

     “He walked out with my parents. He left at 6:00 p.m.” Michael replied.

     They both looked at each other and then ran to the front door. As Michael swung the door open they ran outside onto the front stoop.

     As they looked out toward the wooded area across the street, there was nothing but darkness. Michael called out for David again and again, but there was no answer.

Christmas Night

6:10 p.m.

148 Festive Lane

     Michael and Arianna stood on the stoop in front of the house shivering and calling out to David. Arianna’s tears froze on her face as she openly wept. Michael yelled out at the top of his lungs, “DAVID!”

     Suddenly, a small image appeared from out of the darkness and moved toward the house.

     “Wow! It was so cool. They all just kinda walk into the darkness and then disappear!” said the familiar voice of David.

     Michael and Arianna ran to David and dropped to their knees as they embraced him.

     David, not realizing what was happening started to apologize.

    
“I’m sorry Mom and Dad. I didn’t mean to worry you. I stayed right out front like you told me to.”

     Michael picked up David in his arms and they walked back into the house.

     As Michael put David down in the kitchen, Arianna leaned forward and unzipped his coat.

    
“Now, why don’t you tell us what happened to you when you were lost yesterday? And start from the beginning,” she said.

    
“I was waiting for you to come back to get me by Santa’s Workshop but you never came. Santa left and a man told me I had to leave the area
cause
it was closing. I remembered you saying you were going to the Men’s Department so I went over
there. I couldn’t find you there, so I thought maybe you went back by the toys to look for me, but you weren’t there either. Then I heard this loud voice come over the speaker system say that the store was closing. I ran out of the store and tried to find my way back to the car. I guess I got turned around cause after I walked for about 20 minutes I ended up at the lake,” David replied.

     “Then what
happened
David?” Michael asked.

     “I got scared so I started to run back in the direction I came from, but I guess I got lost. I was really cold and hungry. I saw some men that were standing by a garbage can that was on fire, so I went over by them. They asked me where I was from and I told them I was lost. They said they couldn’t help me find my way home
cause
they didn’t want to get involved with the cops. They let me share the fire and made me a hotdog. It was really cool Dad. This one guy put the hotdog on a stick and then held it over the fire. It was the best hotdog I ever had!”

     “That’s because you were so hungry. Go on,
then
what happened?” Michael asked.

     “Then I got sleepy and
laid
down on some cardboard boxes. I guess I fell asleep
cause
the next thing I remember was that some other kids were trying to take my coat off. I woke up and started yelling at them and fighting to keep my coat. They were dragging me through the snow and the slush. That’s how I got all wet.”

     David continued.

    
“Then they all stopped and started running away. It was as if they
had
seen a ghost! But it was only Martha. She picked me up and then we started to walk home. It was snowing really hard but
we
just kept walking. We finally made it home last night.”

     “Why didn’t you call us to come get you?” Arianna asked.

     “I didn’t have any money and neither did Martha. Besides, she said she was going to our house anyway. It wasn’t that far of a walk,” David said.

     “David, it is a good 30 miles from downtown to here. That is a very long walk,” Michael said.

     “But it seemed like it only took a few minutes Dad. It was really strange. I was warm when Martha put her arm around me as we walked. I don’t remember being cold again until I left her side and ran into the house last night.”

    
“I think Martha has that effect on people,” Arianna said and continued.

    
“If we ever get separated again, you are to stay where I told you no matter what. Do not leave the spot where I told you to stay. You s
cared the hell out of us David”.

     “But, you never came back and....” David started to say.

     “I know David and I told you I was sorry about that. But sometimes, people miss each other when they are supposed to meet for one reason or another. Next time, if there is a next time, just stay where you are okay?” she replied.

     “Okay Mom. I promise. Can I go play now?”

     “Yes, you can go play now, but play with something quiet. It’s been a long hard day,” Michael said.

     David ran into the family room and started up his train set. Michael and Arianna sat at the kitchen table and Arianna let out a huge sigh of relief.

     “I thought for sure we
had
lost him again. I was positive that he had drowned in the lake and the fact that he came home was nothing more than a coincidence,” Arianna said.

     “I know. I thought that too. How ironic that would have been. Then I thought, no, Martha would have said something to us. She would have known. I guess we over reacted,” Michael said.

     “You know, that woman has become our guardian angel in the truest sense of the word.
This house, the money, bringing our families together again, saving David.
She is definitely God sent. I only wish there w
as
something more we could do for her to show our appreciation. We couldn’t begin to pay her back for her generosity and help over the last 9 months. What else could we do?” she asked.

     “Martha asked us to love this house.
To keep it and make it our home and not to sell it for financial gain.
We have done all of what she has asked us to do. Maybe that is why she has done what she has. She is paying us back for doing as we agreed. But you are right, I still feel like we owe her more than we could ever attempt to pay back,” Michael replied.

     As Michael poured himself a cup of coffee, Arianna walked into the family to check on David and Nicole. As she reached the entryway, she scanned the room and
saw David playing with his train set, Nicole playing in her playpen and a man sleeping on the loveseat.

     “Michael? Come here a minute,” she called.

     Michael walked over to join her in the entryway.

    
“What is it?”

     She pointed to the loveseat and said, “I think they forgot one.”

    
“Oh, my God!
He slept through the all a shore who’s going a shore call,” Michael said.

    
Michael walked briskly over to the man.

    
“Hey! Hey buddy! You gotta wake up! It’s 6:30! You missed the bus!”

     The man woke and looked at Michael.

    
“Hey, how you doing
?
You’re Michael right?”

     “Yes, I’m Michael and you’re late. You gotta hurry or you won’t be allowed to ever come back!”

     The man looked confused as he rubbed his face.

    
“Why would I want to comeback here when I live
a
block
from away
?
I have my own house to go home to. I don’t want to comeback here. I don’t even know how I got here in the first place!”

     It became obvious to Michael that the man was drunk and was sleeping it off on the loveseat.

    
“C’mon buddy, get with it. You need to get out of here if you wanna come back next year!”

     The man sat up and pushed Michael away.

    
“Listen! My name is Denny Kowalski. I live at
2
60 Festive Lane. I have no idea why I came here last night, but I had a great time and now I have to go home.”

    
“Yeah, very funny.
C’mon let’s go. Where are the trays you brought with you?” asked Michael.

     “I didn’t bring any trays. I didn’t bring anything. I was walking home from church
last night and it was about 6:30. I suddenly turned up your walkway. It was like I wasn’t in control of my own body. I followed a group of people inside and I have been here ever since,” he replied.

     Michael grabbed the man by the arm and walked him to the front door. There was a coat lying on the floor and Michael assumed it belonged to the man. He handed the coat to the man.

    
“Now get a move on. If you hurry you can probably still catch up to the rest of them. They just left about 30 minutes ago.”

     The man looked bewildered as he stepped out onto the stoop. He turned around and looked at Michael as the door shut closed. He turned and walked down the walkway and to the sidewalk. He stopped for a moment and looked back toward the Carter residence and scratched his head. He then walked down the sidewalk and
down the block
.
He crossed the street and walked to the third house down. H
e took out a set of keys, opened the front door of the house and walked inside. He shut the door behind him.

    
“What a strange day. But it sure beats sitting here alone. And that older couple I met was really nice.
Arthur and Marie Campbell.
Hope I see them again sometime.”

     Back inside 148 Festive Lane, Michael shook his head.

    
“Crazy spirits.
Hopefully he made it back okay. Is he one of your cousins?” he asked Arianna.

      “No, I thought he was part of your family. Wasn’t he?” she asked.

     “I don’t know who he was. Maybe he was a lost soul that just found his way here by accident,” replied Michael.

     “Can any soul visit this house? I thought they had to be family or a friend of ours?” Arianna asked.

     “You know, I don’t remember if Martha mentioned anything about that. Gee, maybe Alexander the Great and Caesar will show up next year,” Michael said.

    
“Oh Michael!
Don’t say that. This house is only so big. That’s all we need is to have thousands of souls showing up to this house every Christmas or worse, everyday.
Martha said they could visit for a 24 hour period anytime they wished, not just Christmas. What if spirits just start showing up at the breakfast table every morning, then what?” she asked.

     “Then you better stock up on pancake batter because spirits just love those pancakes,” Michael replied as he laughed.

     Arianna playfully slapped Michael on the arm as she walked by on her way to the family room to check on Nicole.

     Michael sat down at the kitchen table and recalled the events of the last 24 hours. He couldn’t believe what had transpired. He smiled as he thought about the faces of his family that graced the presence of his home just hours ago. He thought about how great it would be to see them all again next year and how nice it would be for Nicole and David to grow up knowing their grandparents.

     Michael stood up from the table and walked over to the family room. He peeked in and saw David lying on the floor next to his train set fast asleep. Over on the couch, Arianna held Nicole and was gently rocking her to sleep as well. Michael smiled and thanked God for the wonderful gifts he received this Christmas. Not the golf clubs and shirts that Arianna purchased for him, but the love and joy of his family that he was able to share in a very special way. Martha was right. The memories alone were worth a thousand neckties.