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+Episode 3.22, Dancing With The Moon
+-----------------------------------
+
+At Home
+
+Joan – “Last night was fantastic! I haven’t had that much fun in a
+long time.”
+
+Grace – “You should have seen the expression on Clay’s face when I
+offered a demonstration of the bris. It was priceless. But I still
+don’t subscribe to the whole bogus dating ritual.”
+
+Joan – “Don’t give me that. You had a blast.”
+
+Grace – “But I would have had just as much fun meeting everyone there
+in jeans and a T-shirt.”
+
+Joan – “Didn’t you see Luke’s face when you came down the stairs last
+night?”
+
+Grace – “Yeah, a typical male response to superficial matters of
+appearance. What ever happened to letting your true beauty shine from
+within?”
+
+Joan – “If there are places on your body where that actually happens,
+you’re not attractive, you’re leaking.”
+
+Both laugh at Joan’s comment. Grace says, “Girardi, you are more
+warped than I am!”
+
+Joan – “Miss Candy told us in make-up class that all humans have
+imperfections. We conceal them because we are girls. Everything is
+not a conspiracy, and disturbing the dating ritual only creates
+havoc. Besides, assuming that you are more enlightened than the
+millions of people who created a tradition is a bit arrogant, don’t
+you think?”
+
+Grace – “Why should I participate in the dating rat race? Even if I
+win it, I’m still a rat. You know I loathe hypocrisy, yet you still
+think I should continue with this ritualistic dogma.”
+
+Joan – “Yes, I do. Tell me, why did you go to dance class with me the
+other day? I know you really didn’t want to go.”
+
+Grace – “Because you’re my friend, and I know you really wanted me to
+go with you.”
+
+Joan – “Okay, so my brother is in love with you. Don’t you think he’s
+worth a little compromise?”
+
+Grace – “Whose side are you on?”
+
+Joan – “Both.Listen, contrary to popular belief, opportunity rarely
+knocks. You usually have to beat down the door. If you want to cause
+a different outcome, play your own game, then you have to be willing
+to play the game in the first place.”
+
+Grace – “Now you sound like my father. He won’t let up on me about
+going to college.”
+
+Joan – “I think you should go. You want to change the world, right?
+So who’s listening to your ideas now? Me, Adam, and Luke. Why be just
+one more person trying to change the world when you can write things
+to cause thousands of people to try? Do it! Shoot for the moon. Even
+if you miss, you’ll land in the stars.”
+
+Grace will not admit it, but she finds what Joan has just proposed to
+be an intriguing idea. She decides to change the subject, “Let’s do
+yoga.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The doorbell rings, so Helen answers the door, “Well hello Adam,
+Joan’s at work.”
+
+Adam – “I know. I wanted to talk to you.”
+
+Helen – “Has your father told you about my proposal?”
+
+Adam – “Yes, but there’s something else. I have a problem, and I
+don’t know what to do. Can we talk?” Helen invites him in and they
+sit in the living room, “My dad has a girlfriend.”
+
+Helen – “What has he told you about her?”
+
+Adam – “He’s been seeing her for several months, always on the nights
+that I had dance lessons or work. She wants to fix us Christmas
+dinner. That’s why he told me about her.”
+
+Helen – “You should be happy for him.”
+
+Adam – “She’ll never be my mom! I had a mom. No one can replace her.”
+
+Helen – “Joan told me once that you think of me like a mom. Why
+couldn’t she be one, too?”
+
+Adam – “Because I picked you. I don’t even know her.”
+
+Helen – “Adam, you’re agonizing over something that may never happen.
+Your mother will always have a place in your father’s heart, but it
+has been five years. If this woman makes your father happy, you
+should respect his feelings for her. Who knows, if you give her a
+chance, maybe you two can become friends.”
+
+Adam sits silently for a few moments before he responds, “But it
+hurts.”
+
+Helen gives him a hug, “I know, but life must go on.”
+
+Again, Adam sits quietly for a few moments before he responds, “Okay,
+I’ll be nice to her, but that’s it.”
+
+Adam gets up to leave and Helen walks him to the door, “Thanks Mrs.
+G.”
+
+Helen – “Well, I’m sorry that you won’t be able to come with us, but
+I understand. I’m sure this dinner is important to your father.”
+
+Adam – “No, I’ll be going. He postponed the dinner until after we get
+back.”
+
+Helen – “Well, that should tell you something about your father.”
+
+Adam – “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Oh, don’t say anything to Joan. I
+haven’t told her yet.”
+
+Helen – “This is something that you should share with her.”
+
+Adam – “I will, just not yet. I’ll tell her after the trip.”
+
+At School
+
+Grace – “So, did you guys study for the tests?”
+
+All say that they had, and then Joan asks, “Why, didn’t you?”
+
+Grace – “If you haven’t noticed, studying always ends with dying. I
+can handle these corn tests, pizza tests, tater tests… betcha can’t
+eat just one!”
+
+Joan – “Tater tests, what are you talking about?”
+
+Grace – “It’s an allusion, Girardi, keep up. Would tater salad have
+been better?”
+
+Glynis– “Is an allusion still an allusion if no one understands it?”
+
+Grace – “The tree still makes a sound, Chateletness.”
+
+Joan – “What tree?”
+
+Friedman – “The one that fell in the hundred-acre wood.”
+
+Joan – “When did that happen?”
+
+Luke – “Yesterday, which is when the dog who traveled into the future
+and bit his own tail felt it.”
+
+Joan says to Adam, “The only dog I know is yours. Maybe he’s really
+Mister Paxbody.”
+
+Adam – “Could be. He was chasing a squirrel in the back yard when I
+left this morning.”
+
+Grace is not sure if Joan and Adam are actually believing this or
+just playing along, “It’s a joke, frellwits. Anyway, the point is
+that these tests are nothing but a pointless trivial pursuit. There’s
+no way a multiple-choice question can show what someone can do with
+what they know.”
+
+Adam – “Trivial Pursuit, like in Jeopardy?”
+
+Joan responds to the suggestion, “Ooh, ooh, I’ll take Laverne &
+Shirley for $800.”
+
+Luke – “I’ll take String Theory for $1200.”
+
+Glynis– “I’ll try Fractal Geometry for $900. They’re so pretty.”
+
+Adam – “Do they have a Dungeons & Dragons category?”
+
+Grace – “No, fire spear, try Abstract Art for $500. I’ll take
+Political Corruption for $1100.”
+
+Adam – “Sculpture.”
+
+Friedman – “Bzzt, you didn’t say for how much. I’ll take Human
+Reproduction for $1000.”
+
+Grace – “And Friedman sucks us into the black hole of reality.”
+
+Adam – “Can I still take a turn?”
+
+Joan smiles and gives Adam a kiss, “I’ll call your name later.” They
+each enter their classrooms to begin their first midterm exam.
+
+At The Police Station
+
+Will – “Are you ready?”
+
+Mimi – “I think you should do this.”
+
+Will – “I’ll make the opening and closing remarks, but it’s your
+testimony they want to hear.”
+
+Will steps up to the podium, “Good morning. We have completed our
+investigation into the shooting that took place at The Liquor
+Emporium last Wednesday evening. Lieutenant Rogers of Internal
+Affairs will give the briefing.”
+
+Will steps aside and Mimi begins to speak, “After reviewing the
+testimony and other evidence, we have determined that Sergeant
+Williams’ discharge of her weapon was justified. It is clear that Mr.
+Washington pointed his weapon at Sergeant Williams before the
+exchange of gunfire. Her action probably saved her life and the lives
+of others.”
+
+Reporter # 1 – “Was it determined who shot first?”
+
+Mimi – “It appears that they fired simultaneously.”
+
+Reporter # 2 – “Mrs. Washington is demanding an independent
+investigation in this shooting. Do you have a comment?”
+
+Mimi – “Internal Affairs is the independent investigation.”
+
+Will steps up to the microphone, “If the DA decides to conduct their
+own investigation, we will offer our full cooperation. However, we
+have not received such a request.”
+
+Reporter # 3 – “Chief Girardi, the ACLU has a filed suit in regard to
+your association with Brother Jimi’s committee. Do you have a
+comment?”
+
+Will ignores him, giving him his answer, “Sergeant Williams will be
+returning to active duty as of today. That is all. Thank you.”
+
+After they have returned inside, Mimi asks, “Why didn’t you answer
+his question?”
+
+Will – “I have dealt with him before. I would just be giving him
+something to take out of context. My concern is with federal court.
+I’m sure the press and talk radio will give full vent to the court of
+public opinion.”
+
+At the Herald
+
+Kevin – “Good morning, how is Dan doing?”
+
+Rebecca – “Pretty good. His sister is staying to care for him. I’ll
+help in the evening.”
+
+Kevin – “I’m glad to hear that. Would it be all right if I stopped by
+after work?”
+
+Rebecca – “I’m sure he’d like that.” She pauses briefly, “Um, could
+you do me a favor?”
+
+Kevin – “Sure, what is it?”
+
+Rebecca – “I would like to have a bottle of Woodhall Party Garnet,
+but I can’t bring myself to go back to get it. Would you pick one up
+for me?”
+
+Kevin writes down the name, “I’ll pick it up before I visit tonight.”
+Rebecca gives him a twenty-dollar bill, “That’s not necessary.”
+
+Rebecca – “I just want you to get it for me. I’ll pay for it. It’s
+for when Sergeant Williams comes over for dinner. Do you know her
+first name?”
+
+Kevin – “Toni.”
+
+Rebecca – “Thanks, now, about your editorial.”
+
+Kevin interrupts, “There’s something that I was going to put in that
+I didn’t mention on Friday. Did you know that 90% of black victims of
+murder and non-negligent manslaughter were killed by black
+offenders?”
+
+Rebecca – “I get your point. I don’t want you to publish it.”
+
+Kevin – “But, why? I have already shown you that everything in it is
+true.”
+
+Rebecca – “I just feel that it would do too much harm to the
+newspaper and to me personally, but I’m willing to make a
+compromise.” Kevin doesn’t respond verbally, but instead gives her an
+‘okay, what?’ expression. Rebecca continues, “I’m going to add
+checking stories for racial bias to your duties. That will have the
+same effect, won’t it?”
+
+Kevin has worked hard on his editorial and really would like to see
+it published, but he also can see her point of view. He counters,
+“How about political bias, too?”
+
+Rebecca – “Okay, but only outside of the editorial page.”
+
+Kevin – “No problem, that’s where opinions belong.”
+
+At School
+
+Joan – “My calculus teacher gave us a vote of confidence before the
+test. She said, ‘The Day of Judgment is upon us, and you will be
+judged. Those who fail to pass this test will be doomed forever to
+burn in an explicit differential ball of flame!’ She was joking, but
+I could sense a distinct burning smell when I left the room after the
+test.”
+
+Grace – “I’m sure you didn’t do that bad. You seemed to know it when
+we were in study hall. I should pass if the teacher uses the mean
+value theorem for grading.”
+
+Adam – “I’m not sure how I did. I could see the formulas, but I
+couldn’t figure out what to do with them.”
+
+Friedman – “Well, I’m sure that I aced it.”
+
+Glynis– “I am the calculus queen! Nature laughs at the difficulties
+of integration.”
+
+Luke – “As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are
+not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to
+reality.”
+
+Joan – “So who’s ready for Government?”
+
+Grace – “Nobody, that’s the problem. It’s just a self-licking ice
+cream cone.”
+
+Joan – “Eeeuw, that’s a disturbing image. I mean the test.”
+
+Grace – “Oh yeah, the cheese test. Hypocrisy is our current form of
+government. It is a representative republic where your neighbors
+elect someone to decide how much of your money will be given to
+them.”
+
+Luke prods Grace on, “Define the judiciary?”
+
+Grace – “The judiciary is a panel of unelected officials who impose
+laws on society that would never pass through the Congress.”
+
+Luke – “And the Congress?”
+
+Grace – “When explaining anything in Congress, always choose
+stupidity over conspiracy, incompetence over cunning. Anything else
+gives them too much credit. Congress is like looking at that Escher
+picture of the wild geese flying together. It makes absolutely no
+sense, but even they can occasionally manage to hit you with a load
+of crap.”
+
+Glynis– “Cute, Grace, but I don’t think those answers will fly on the
+test.”
+
+Grace – “And Counselor Troi once again states something that is
+blindingly obvious.”
+
+Friedman – “Grace does have a point. Whenever a politician wants to
+pass a useless piece of legislation, they always claim that it is for
+the children. It works every time. Nobody is against children.”
+
+Joan – “‘For the children’, that’s good. Isn’t it?”
+
+Grace – “Yeah, that’s good. You really are an elegant moron. We’ll
+talk later.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+With the completion of the last class on Friday, a week of tater
+tests is finally over. Winter break begins for 20% of the students,
+while the remainder plans to enjoy their Christmas break. All leave
+the school in high spirits.
+
+At Home
+
+When Joan comes downstairs with her suitcase, she is expecting
+everyone to be there to bid her farewell. Instead, she walks through
+an empty house. She finally looks out a front window and notices
+everyone gathered around a large van. When she walks out to
+investigate, Adam peeks out from behind an open door, “Good, let me
+have your suitcase.”
+
+Joan – “What are you doing here?”
+
+Grace looks out from behind him, “A piss poor job of packing. We
+should start with the Van-Gogh carrier on top.”
+
+Luke – “Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the
+Starship…”
+
+Grace interrupts, “Minimize. Your mission, should you decide to
+accept it, is to figure out how to get all this stuff into the van
+without us becoming bubble wrap.”
+
+Joan – “Will somebody please tell me what’s going on?”
+
+Adam – “We’re all going to Baltimore, I think.”
+
+Joan – “When did this happen?”
+
+Grace – “It hasn’t, yet.”
+
+Will – “We decided that since Richard came to visit us for
+Thanksgiving, we’ll go there for Christmas. Surprise!”
+
+Joan – “Grace and Adam, too?”
+
+Helen – “You said that you liked to spend Christmas with family and
+friends.”
+
+Joan – “This is going to be fun! Where’d you get the van?”
+
+Will closes the side door of the van to reveal a decal, “Dunuelos
+Rentals, I got a great holiday rate.” When he actually turns to look
+at the van, he asks, “Hey, who added the extra artwork?”
+
+Grace – “I thought the van needed some sprucing.”
+
+Joan – “I love the wreath and holly, but what does Turk 182 mean?”
+
+Grace – “It’s a populist parable about a graffiti artist in New York.
+I thought the work needed a signature.”
+
+Adam – “Uh, wasn’t that Taki 183?”
+
+Helen – “Adam’s right. When Taki ruled magik kingdom…”
+
+Grace interrupts, “Whatever. The point is that he was a messenger for
+the oppressed who took up arms against the status quo.”
+
+Will – “Well, I think your father will see a different message when I
+send him the bill to have your liberation graphic removed.”
+
+Luke – “Don’t worry, Dad, I applied a coat of wax first. It’ll wipe
+off with a sponge.”
+
+Adam, Luke, and Grace return to packing the van, having their own
+conversation in the background.
+
+Kevin – “Lilly got us a great discount on the hotel.”
+
+Grace sings a motivational tune for Luke.
+
+*You put the big box in,
+You take the small box out,
+You put the big case in,
+And you shake it all about.
+You do the hokey pokey
+And you change the stuff around
+That’s what it’s all about*
+
+Lilly walks up, having only heard her name, “I didn’t do it. What did
+I do?”
+
+Adam grins and exclaims, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
+
+Kevin – “I was just telling Joan about the discount you got us on the
+hotel.”
+
+Grace – “Never interrupt someone doing what you say can’t be done.”
+
+Lilly – “Oh, that. Well, God works in mysterious ways.”
+
+Kevin gives Lilly a ‘tell them’ look, “Okay, Father Mallory knew
+someone in Baltimore who owed him a favor.”
+
+Grace – “…Stay on target… Almost there… Stay… on… target…”
+
+Joan – “Ooh, I have to go get my other presents.”
+
+Grace begins to fling her arms up and down, “Danger, danger, Will
+Robinson. Critical mass will be reached in five minutes. Abort
+program, input data, recompute.”
+
+Luke – “Don’t have a short circuit. If all else fails, I’ll use the
+force.”
+
+At the Girardi Residence
+
+It begins to snow as they leave Arcadia. It’s a short-lived flurry,
+but still a nice gesture from Mother Nature as they embark on their
+Christmas journey. All are seated reasonably comfortable. Luke was
+instrumental in using the space available to accommodate both the
+luggage and passengers. Kevin is the only sardined passenger, but
+since he can’t feel his legs, it does not affect his comfort level.
+
+All engage in small talk for some time, and then Grace asks Joan,
+“So, where is it?”
+
+Joan – “Where’s what?”
+
+Grace – “The CD. You said that you were looking forward to listening
+to it during your drive to Baltimore.”
+
+Joan – “That was when I thought that I would be driving alone. It’s
+different now that we’re all here.”
+
+Grace – “You mean me? What, you think I’ll go postal if I have to
+listen to Christmas music? Put it in.”
+
+Joan – “Are you sure?”
+
+Grace – “Hey, you wanna know the truth? I actually like some of the
+songs. Let’s hear it.”
+
+Helen – “What did you bring?”
+
+Joan smiles, obviously pleased at receiving Grace’s permission, “It’s
+actually a two-CD set entitled, ‘WOW Christmas’. I really like it,
+because I’ve heard a lot of the singers doing regular songs.” She
+hands the first CD to Helen to put in the player. They sing along
+with some of the songs, but mostly they just listen. After listening
+to both CD’s, Lilly offers her Mannheim Steamroller CD for their
+enjoyment. The remainder of the drive is a Fresh Aire Christmas
+journey.
+
+Joan was able to avoid driving from Arcadia, but Helen made her drive
+from the hotel to Uncle Richard’s and Aunt
+Trenna’s\ `home <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/TheRichardGirardiHouse.jpg>`__\ in
+Overlea, a neighborhood in northeast Baltimore. When they arrive,
+Emily is in the front yard bouncing on her mother’s mini-trampoline.
+Trenna, being the shrewd mother that she is, placed it there this
+morning. She knew that Emily would not be able to resist using it.
+Trenna is hopeful that Joan will at least get a little sleep tonight.
+
+When Joan pulls in the driveway, Emily bounces off and runs toward
+the van. She continues to jump up and down, calling out excitedly,
+“You’re here, you’re here!” She bounces along side of the van as Joan
+pulls up the driveway, “Come on; let me show you my room. I want you
+to meet Pooka.”
+
+Joan puts the van in park, turns off the ignition, and opens the
+door, “Can I take my seatbelt off first?”
+
+In response to Joan’s wisecrack, Emily stops jumping. She puts her
+hand on her hip and gives Joan a tart smile. She then steps up on the
+running board, wraps her arms around her, and squeezes a hug, “I’ve
+missed you so much.”
+
+Joan melts into her and hugs her in return, “I’ve missed you, too.”
+They hug briefly, and then Joan asks, “Who is Pooka?”
+
+Emily – “You’ll see.” Emily takes Joan’s hand, “Come on, I’ve got my
+room all cleaned and ready for you.”
+
+Everyone in the van is amused and touched while observing the
+exchange. When Joan gets out, she smiles back at her mother. Helen
+comments, “Go ahead. We’ll bring in your things.”
+
+After Joan and Emily leave, Grace quips, “Tonight, Joan Girardi
+continues her lead on American Idol.”
+
+Helen – “We all knew this would happen. I think it’s wonderful.”
+
+Will – “Pop-Tart extraordinaire.”
+
+Adam – “Well, we won’t see Joan for a while.”
+
+Trenna, Richard, and Trevor come out as Emily leads Joan inside.
+Emily allows her mother to give Joan a quick hug before they go in.
+“I’m glad you’re here. We’ll talk later.”
+
+Joan – “It’s good to see you again too, Aunt Trenna.”
+
+They unloaded most of the luggage at the hotel. What remains are the
+presents, and Luke and Joan’s belongings. The Christmas tree seemed
+barren underneath, but now rests on a mountain of packages. Trevor’s
+eyes become aglow as he comments to his mother, “And Santa hasn’t
+even come, yet!”
+
+A poster of LeAnn Rimes adorns the outside of Emily’s bedroom door.
+The caption reads, “Crazy Blue.” Emily leads Joan in, but Joan has to
+stop, look, and smile for a moment. Emily’s room is larger than
+Joan’s, but just as cluttered. The first thing that catches her eye
+is a large net suspended from the ceiling. In it is a collection of
+stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. Joan takes a few moments to
+scan the array. She smiles and comments sarcastically to Emily,
+“Looks like E.T. did go home.”
+
+Emily plops herself on the bed and begins to hug a rabbit nearly half
+her size, “But Pooka is still here. He’s been with me for as long as
+I can remember. I put everyone else in the net, but I really would
+like Pooka to stay. Is that okay?”
+
+Joan – “Sure, your bed looks big enough for the three of us. Can I
+see him?” Emily hands Pooka to Joan. Joan hugs him and strokes his
+worn fur, “He looks well loved.” She does a quick waltz with him
+before returning him to Emily.
+
+Emily – “I dance with him too, sometimes.”
+
+Will – “Knock, knock.” He enters through the open door, “I have
+Joan’s suitcase. Where would you like me to put it?”
+
+Emily – “In front of the chifforobe. I’ve cleared out my stuff, so
+there’s plenty of room.” Will delivers the suitcase, hugs his niece,
+and leaves.
+
+Joan looks at the mirrored cabinet where her father has placed her
+suitcase. She opens the door and inspects the inside, “This is nice,
+a clothes bar and 3 drawers down below.” She thinks to herself, ‘So
+this is a chifforobe.’
+
+Emily gets up from the bed and seats Pooka on the pillows, “After you
+put your clothes away, can you teach me how to rumble?”
+
+Joan is bewildered by Emily’s request. She doesn’t recall telling
+Emily about her street fighting lessons. Then she realizes what Emily
+is asking, “Oh, it’s called the rumba. It’s similar to a waltz, but
+with a fast beat.”
+
+After she puts away her clothes, Joan takes Emily’s hands and begins
+a slow demonstration, “Okay, you need to do the opposite of me. Put
+your right foot back --- one, two, then your left foot to the side
+--- three, your…” After they practice for a while, Joan speeds it up.
+When she feels that Emily is ready, she asks, “I’ll bet you have
+every song ever recorded by LeAnn Rimes.”
+
+Emily – “Almost. The only one that I don’t have is her ‘God Bless
+America’ CD. I’ve asked Santa to get it for me.”
+
+Joan – “Have you heard her Latino version of Can’t Fight The
+Moonlight?”
+
+Emily – “Yeah, Kizzie sent it to me. I like the original better, but
+it’s awesome that way, too.”
+
+Joan – “And it will be awesome for us to rumble to.”
+
+Emily smiles at Joan’s purposeful mistake. She finds the song on her
+computer, and cranks up the volume as it starts playing.
+
+Downstairs, Luke is outside playing catch with Trevor, the adults are
+sitting at the dining room table talking, and Grace and Adam are
+talking in the living room.
+
+Grace – “When I told my dad that I wanted to come on this trip, he
+gave me the whole rabbinical speil about the differences between our
+beliefs and those of Christians. Duh, like I didn’t know. Then, just
+as I was leaving, he gave me a Christmas present. Can you believe
+it?”
+
+Adam – “Maybe your dad just didn’t want you to feel left out while
+you were here.”
+
+Grace – “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s
+run by a big eastern syndicate. Christmas is just the time of year
+when Christians indulge in material excess.”
+
+Adam – “It does seem that way, but there are those who do practice
+the true meaning of Christmas.”
+
+Grace – “And you know what that is?”
+
+Adam – “It’s a celebration of the birth of Jesus. For God so loved
+the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
+should not perish but have eternal life.”
+
+Grace – “When did you start reading the Bible?”
+
+Adam – “I haven’t. Mom read it to me sometimes, and I remember
+everything that she told me.”
+
+Grace – “Did she explain the trinity to you?”
+
+Adam – “The Holy Trinity is a mystery. We’re not supposed to
+understand it.”
+
+Grace – “A mystery? An oxymoron is more like it. I believe in one
+God, not a committee.”
+
+Adam smiles, “Don’t you mean an elegant moron?”
+
+Grace – “Yeah, I hear you. Had Whiney known Joan, she would have been
+the riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. So, what do you
+believe?”
+
+Adam – “I believe that I don’t really know.”
+
+Grace – “Good answer.” She walks over to the Christmas tree and
+shakes her package again, “I still don’t have any idea of what’s in
+there.”
+
+Adam – “Well, then it’ll be a nice surprise on Christmas morning.”
+
+In the dining room, the adults have been catching up on what has
+happened since Thanksgiving. Richard turns the discussion to their
+plan for tomorrow, “We have the whole morning and afternoon free.
+There are lots of things to do and see, but I have picked two that I
+think everyone will enjoy. I thought that in the morning we could go
+to Fort McHenry. The tour doesn’t take long and there is a nice video
+presentation about its history. Then I thought we could visit Edgar
+Allan Poe’s grave at the Westminster Cemetery. Baltimore’s football
+team is named after his famous poem, ‘The Raven’.”
+
+Will – “That sounds like a fun morning. Is your ancestor’s name
+mention on a marker at the fort?”
+
+Trenna– “No, few names are actually mentioned. My fourth
+great-grandfather was Patrick Muldoon. He was only called up for
+active duty twice during the war. Both times he served at Fort
+McHenry. His brother served under General Stricker. He was killed at
+the battle of North Point. It’s long gone now, but Patrick owned a
+pub and restaurant called The Buck Stops Here. They served venison
+and the seafood catch of the day. Stout was on tap. It was down in
+Fells Point. I’ll be happy to show you where it was when we go into
+town tomorrow.”
+
+Will – “That’s an interesting story.” He continues asking
+sarcastically, “The Buck Stops Here? That sounds original.”
+
+Trennacounters, “It may have been in 1812.”
+
+Will smiles and uses hand gestures as if speaking to an audience,
+“Bambi: You’ve seen the movie. Now, eat the star!”
+
+Trennasmirks, “Very funny.”
+
+Will – “Seriously, I do enjoy history, especially when it involves
+family.”
+
+Helen – “I have mixed feelings about visiting Poe’s grave. I’ll bet
+it’s a popular Halloween attraction.”
+
+Richard – “The lines to get in wrap around the block on Halloween and
+on January 19th, Poe’s birthday. We’ll probably be the only ones
+there tomorrow.”
+
+Luke and Trevor come in from playing catch. Trenna says to Trevor,
+“Go tell your sister and Joan to come down. I need to talk to them.”
+When they come down, Trenna addresses Emily, “It’s time to take your
+shower.”
+
+Emily – “But Mom, we’re having fun. Joan was just…”
+
+Trenna– “No buts, shower, now. Besides, Joan needs some time to say
+goodnight to her friends.”
+
+Emily frowns, but obeys her mother. She runs upstairs to the
+bathroom. Joan then walks out to the living room to see Grace and
+Adam.
+
+Adam – “Hello stranger.”
+
+Joan – “I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t get away. She’s been having so
+much fun.”
+
+Grace – “No problem. We knew that she would be the center of your
+attention.”
+
+Joan – “Whatcha been doing?”
+
+Adam – “Just talking and listening to the discussion in the dining
+room. It sounds like we’ll all be spending time together tomorrow.”
+
+Joan smiles and sings, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow,
+you’re only a day away.”
+
+Soon the conversation in the house turns to the sound of yawns, and
+everyone separates to find their own places to sleep. They have a big
+day ahead of them.
+
+At Fort McHenry
+
+Emily straddles a cannon, “Joan, take my picture!”
+
+Joan takes out her camera and snaps a picture, “That’ll look nice
+with the harbor in the background.”
+
+Emily – “Now let me take your picture.” Joan trades places so that
+Emily can get her picture, “You have to send me a copy.”
+
+Joan – “I will.”
+
+Joan had noticed it earlier, but the giggling and laughing has become
+more pronounced now that she is closer to the edge. She peers over
+the rampart to the park below. There, she sees children playing with
+bubbles, dancing like fairies in pursuit of the shining orbs. She
+watches for some time, and then comments, “They really are having a
+blast!”
+
+Woman – “Oh, children go crazy over bubbles.”
+
+Joan is a little surprised, having expected Emily to answer. She
+hadn’t noticed the woman standing there. She is an attractive woman,
+similar in appearance and demeanor to Laura Roslin. She is wearing a
+full-length red coat, with matching low heel shoes. Her bonnet is a
+crocheted masterpiece of red and yellow yarns. Joan smiles without
+comment, then returns to watching the children.
+
+The children continue their play, giggling and frolicking as they
+pursue the empty planets on the run. Their glee is infectious and
+Joan can’t help but smile as she watches them, “Watching them puts a
+smile in my heart.”
+
+Woman – “Children are fascinating creatures. I mean, what’s so great
+about bubbles?”
+
+Emily – “They’re pretty, they float, you can chase them, catch them,
+pop them, I mean, they’re just totally awesome! They even have
+rainbows!”
+
+Woman – “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone had something they
+loved as much as children love bubbles? I can remember a child who
+had a similar fascination with balloons.”
+
+Joan – “Oh, but I hated it when they popped! That really scared me.”
+She begins to wonder, “Are you…?”
+
+Emily interrupts, tugging on Joan’s hand, “Come on, let’s go see what
+they’re doing over there.”
+
+The woman looks at Emily, and then back to Joan, “Children are the
+laughter of God, don’t you think? Cherish their innocence.”
+
+Emily objects, “Hey, who are you calling innocent? Even my mom knows
+that I’m usually guilty. You don’t know anything.”
+
+The woman looks lovingly at Emily, “Yes, you are guilty of pushing
+the envelope. It’s in your nature. You are becoming who you will be.”
+She looks back at Joan, “Remember what I told you before.” She smiles
+and walks away.
+
+Joan – “Wait! What did you tell me? When?” The woman continues
+walking away, waving over her shoulder as she leaves.
+
+Emily – “Come on, let’s go!”
+
+With Joan in tow, Emily catches up with the rest of the family. The
+others are looking down at the\ `Inner
+Harbor <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/InnerHarborfromFederalHill.jpg>`__\ from
+their vantage point on Federal Hill.
+
+Will – “What’s the name of the tall ship?”
+
+Richard – “It’s the\ `USS
+Constellation <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/USSConstellation.jpg>`__\ .
+It was the last all-sail ship built by the United States Navy. You’ll
+get a closer look this evening. Emily will be singing at the sidewalk
+theater beside the ship.”
+
+Grace – “Do these cannons still work?”
+
+Adam – “Why, do you want to shoot one?”
+
+Grace – “Yeah! You see those small boats going everywhere?”
+
+Trenna– “Those are water taxis.”
+
+Grace – “Well, imagine them scurrying to get out of the way of a
+cannon ball. It would be like watching water spiders scatter on a
+pond. Round shot ripples, now that would be a hoot!”
+
+Lilly – “I think a tour of the harbor would be fun, minus the cannon
+fodder.”
+
+Kevin – “I could go for that.”
+
+Trevor – “I would rather go see the fishes.”
+
+Luke – “Fishes?”
+
+Trenna– “See that building over there? That’s the National Aquarium.
+I haven’t been there in a few years, but it’s really pretty neat.”
+
+Helen – “I would rather do that than go see a tombstone. What do you
+think, Will?”
+
+Will knows that Helen’s comment is not really a question, but a
+statement permitting only one acceptable response. He asks Richard,
+“Do we have time?”
+
+Richard – “We have time to go to the aquarium or tour the harbor, but
+not both. So, Poe’s grave is out?”
+
+Will – “We’ll have to visit his tell tale heart some other day.”
+
+Helen – “Anyone else have an opinion?”
+
+Grace – “Yes, no, maybe, sorta, kinda; Hey, look over there!”
+
+Adam - “What kind of answer is that?”
+
+Grace – “The midterm elections are coming up next year, my first turn
+at bat. It’s never too early to start preparing for their politically
+definitive answers.”
+
+Luke squeezes a hug from Trevor, “Well, I think phishing can be fun.
+I like catching big phat fish.”
+
+Helen – “Then it’s settled. I’m glad we had this discussion.”
+
+After they finished their tour of the National Aquarium, the
+Girardi’s find a street vendor and enjoy a late lunch of Philly
+Cheese Steaks. It was a nice finish to a morning and afternoon of
+fun.
+
+On the drive home, Trenna detours to Fells Point. They stop at a
+charming gift shop called Zoe’s Garden.
+
+Trenna– “This is where ‘\ The Buck Stops Here\ ’ used to be.”
+
+All browse for a while. Although it wasn’t in her shopping plans,
+Joan couldn’t help but purchase a knickknack for someone special.
+
+At the Girardi Residence
+
+Trenna– “Emily and Trevor, time to take a nap.”
+
+Emily – “But Mom, I’m not tired.”
+
+Trenna– “Em-i-ly, we already talked about this. Go to bed.”
+
+Emily asks Joan, “Will you lay down with me?”
+
+Joan – “Okay, but just for a little while.”
+
+It isn’t long before Emily falls asleep. Joan had planned to slip out
+quietly, but she falls asleep as well. In fact, everyone decides to
+take a nap. When they meet up again later, all are refreshed and
+ready for the evening.
+
+Trenna– “…so you can park here or there’s another garage a block
+north. You do remember how to get there?”
+
+Will – “Yeah, I just take
+
+Belair Road south
+to
+Lombard Street
+and turn right.”
+Luke – “Not quite, Dad. Don’t worry; I made notes for you this
+morning.”
+
+Helen – “And I bought a map at the gift shop.”
+
+Grace – “A map! What a novel idea.”
+
+Adam – “If we can find that Bromo-Seltzer clock tower, it’s just a
+few blocks south of there.”
+
+Joan – “What is Bromo-Seltzer, anyway?”
+
+Richard – “It used to be a popular antacid. I’m not sure if they make
+it anymore.”
+
+Emily comes down stairs, twirls, and then strikes a pose, “Ta-dah!”
+She is beautifully dressed for the evening as one of
+Santa’s\ `elves <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/ElfCostume.jpg>`__\ .
+
+Helen – “This is wonderful! Where did you get it?”
+
+Trenna– “Lauren’s mother made it. She’s quite a seamstress.”
+
+Lilly shakes the jingle bell several times, “I love the hat!”
+
+Joan – “You look perfect for tonight.”
+
+Emily is already beaming, but with Joan’s comment, she begins to glow
+even brighter, “I have another surprise, but I’ll show it to you
+later.”
+
+Trenna– “Did you put your long johns on?”
+
+Emily – “Snug as a doodle bug in a rug.”
+
+Trenna– “Okay, then it’s time to leave. Everybody know the plan?”
+
+All agree. With that, they depart for their destinations of Middle
+River and the Inner Harbor.
+
+At Long Beach Marina
+
+The marina is a patchwork of docks offering over 300 slips for
+mooring boats. Richard keeps his boat in storage during the winter,
+except for the week of Christmas. He launched it and the family
+decorated it last weekend.
+
+The 36-foot cabin cruiser is something the family loves to take out
+during the summer. Richard bought it used several years ago. They
+have toyed with giving the boat a new name, but it still bears the
+name of Wind Mistress. It sleeps six, and they often take it out on
+the Chesapeake Bay for overnight excursions. Emily is always her
+daddy’s first mate.
+
+Luke – “I’ve never been on a boat this big. This is really cool.”
+
+Joan, running her hand along the trim, “This woodwork is beautiful.”
+
+Trenna– “It’s cherry. I love it, too. Let me give you a quick tour.”
+
+At the Inner Harbor
+
+Helen’s map, Adam’s clock tower landmark, and Luke’s notes from
+earlier make the four-mile journey from Richard’s house a success.
+Grace’s ‘Turn right here left’ call from the back seat causes its
+intended confusion, amusing all, except for Will. The detour makes
+the total travel time just slightly longer than planned.
+
+They find a parking garage across the street from Harborplace. Helen
+and Lilly persuade all to browse through the various shops. And
+browse is what they do; however, Will purchases a variety of treats
+from the Fudgery, both for themselves and for the Barnacle Bills.
+
+For dinner, they choose the *Tir* Na Nog, an Irish restaurant with a
+tavern atmosphere. Each chooses a different sandwich from the menu:
+Will, a crab cake; Helen, a club; Lilly, a vegetable pita; Kevin, a
+smoked turkey; Adam, a buffalo chicken; and Grace, a roast beef.
+After the meal, all give a satisfied sigh of relief.
+
+Grace wipes her hands with her napkin, “Well, I’ve done my part for
+global warming. This cow will never pass greenhouse gases again.”
+
+Lilly, smirking at Grace’s remark, “Well, I enjoyed my sandwich,
+too.” She looks at Kevin, “Did I ever mention that I was once a
+vegetarian?”
+
+Grace sarcastically asks, “Did you become a vegetarian because you
+love animals or because you hate plants?”
+
+In the Outer Harbor
+
+The boats gather near the base of the Key Bridge. While Richard finds
+their place in line, Luke, Emily, and Trevor tend to the Christmas
+decorations. They inspect all the trim and turn on the twinkling
+array of lights. Trenna and Joan finish preparing dinner, a beef stew
+that Trenna had begun at home. This isn’t just any beef stew, its
+Trenna’s family recipe. Beef, bacon, carrots, onions, potatoes,
+tomatoes, black olives, porcini mushrooms, and peppercorns are just a
+few of the ingredients, but it’s the brandy that gives the stew its
+unique flavor.
+
+The Girardi’s enjoy the warmth of the stew and the accompanying cup
+of steaming hot chocolate. Each begins to gaze into the night sky,
+dreaming through the noise of the waves gently lapping against the
+boat. The flotilla provides an additional collage of Christmas music
+to sooth the end of the day. As the last remains of twilight fade,
+the evening star sets, signaling the beginning of the parade of
+lights.
+
+At the Inner Harbor
+
+The sidewalk is bustling with people. Some are walking to and fro,
+while others are standing, listening to the music. The band is
+composed of three men and a woman. All are medical professionals by
+day, but at night, they entertain patrons of Baltimore’s nightspots.
+
+The band plays a wide range of music, but tonight, the theme is
+Christmas. They have prepared to perform enough traditional favorites
+so that none will need to be repeated. However, they do honor two
+requests to repeat songs.
+
+Kevin backs his wheelchair against a pylon and seats Lilly on his
+lap. The others gather on either side. As they listen, two young
+girls approach. One asks, “Hi, are you Kevin?”
+
+Kevin – “Yeah, that’s me, are you Kizzie?”
+
+Lauren – “No, I’m Lauren.” She points to her friend, “This is Kizzie.
+We’re here to sing with Emily.”
+
+Helen – “Joan has mentioned both of you. Come join us.”
+
+Lilly – “Your outfits are darling, similar to Emily’s, but slightly
+different.”
+
+Kizzie– “That’s how we wanted it. Emily is singing lead and we will
+be singing harmony.”
+
+Grace observes Kizzie’s unique accessory, “Those are pretty earrings,
+a sparkling star that embraces all the possible opposites.”
+
+Kizziesays thank you, but then she realizes that Grace has learned
+her secret, “Okay, so I’m a Jewish elf. Emily is my best friend. She
+asked me to be here.”
+
+Grace – “Hey, no problem, that’s why I’m here. It’s just kind of
+funny, don’t ya think?”
+
+Kizziesmiles, “Yeah, kinda.”
+
+A commotion begins as people call out, “I can see them! They’re
+coming!” The band ends their song and the crowd begins to drift south
+on the sidewalk to get a better view. Cheers erupt, and then all
+becomes quiet as the first boats come into view. The people aren’t
+sure how to respond. It’s the Lady D, followed by the Coast Guard
+LCM-8 involved in
+her\ `rescue <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200408/ai_n16062106>`__\ last
+year. The crowd decides to give them a round of applause, recognizing
+the theme of tragedy and hope.
+
+Following comes a random mixture of sail and power boats, some large
+and some small. Among the boats are the Der Pelikan, Get The Net,
+Three Belles, and the *Seaheather*. The Wind Mistress has a position
+near the middle.
+
+Emily has been jumping up and down, waving at the people, and calling
+out “Merry Christmas” the whole way. The others have as well, but
+Emily is certainly the most exuberant. As they approach the wharf,
+she calls out, “I can see them! I can see them!”
+
+Joan scans the crowd, “Where are they? I can’t see them. There are
+too many people.”
+
+Luke points, “See the two guys in wheelchairs? Kevin is the one on
+the right.”
+
+Joan – “Oh yeah, the one with Lilly on his lap.” All of them return
+to waving and calling out, “Merry Christmas!”
+
+On the shore, the Girardi’s spot their seafaring counterparts. They
+wave and call out “Merry Christmas.” To the masses, this is just
+another decorated boat passing by.
+
+After they circle past the cheering crowd, Richard steers the Wind
+Mistress into the marina at Locust Point. There, he moors beside the
+USS Sanctuary. All climb the ladder to the dock, and begin the walk
+back to the theater where Emily will sing.
+
+When the last of the boats pass the crowd, the band begins to play
+once again. Emily sees Lauren and Kizzie and runs up to greet them.
+The band is playing Jingle Bell Rock so Emily, Lauren, and Kizzie
+hold hands and begin to circle dance. Joan, Grace, Adam, Luke, and
+Trevor also join in the horah. After a few more songs, the band sings
+Silent Night. This is Emily’s cue that her song is next.
+
+The female singer steps up to the microphone, “We hope that you have
+enjoyed the music this evening. For our last song, we would like to
+introduce a talented young singer.” She gives Emily a nod. After
+Emily, Lauren, and Kizzie come on stage, she continues, “Please give
+a warm welcome to nine-year-old Miss Emily Girardi.”
+
+The crowd applauds. Emily takes the microphone off the stand, “Hey,
+I’m almost ten.” After the crowd finishes laughing, Emily continues,
+“These are my friends Lauren and Kizzie.” Lauren and Kizzie take a
+bow, and then lower their microphone on its stand. Emily looks back
+to the band, nods, and returns to face the crowd. She begins to sing.
+
+*So this is Christmas
+*And* what have you done
+Another year over
+And a new one just begun...*
+
+After she finishes the song, the crowd gives her a long round of
+applause. She waits for them to quiet and then speaks, “Thank you,
+thank you.” She pauses briefly, “I’ve been looking forward to this
+for a long, long time. I love to sing, and I have been aching to have
+people to sing to. Being able to sing for you tonight is a dream come
+true.” She pauses once again, gives a sly smile, and then asks,
+“What’s my name?” The crowd roars, “Emily!” Emily responds, “Great,
+now I have one last thing to say.” She lowers the microphone to her
+belt buckle and presses
+the\ `button <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzD_A1TK-sRLZEppemZXT0FIYUk/edit?usp=sharing>`__\ .
+As the crowd laughs, Emily and her friends wave and leave the stage.
+
+Trennahugs Emily, and then she hugs Lauren and Kizzie, “You were
+wonderful!”
+
+Emily – “They did seem to like me, didn’t they.”
+
+Joan – “You were fantastic. You get better every time I hear you
+sing.”
+
+The woman from the band calls over, “Lauren and Kizzie, stay where I
+can see you.”
+
+Lauren – “Mo-om, we’re right here.” The woman stops packing her
+instruments and walks over, “Mom, these are Emily’s cousins from
+Arcadia.”
+
+Trennamakes the introductions, “Sheila Morris, this is Richard’s
+brother Will, his wife Helen, their sons Kevin and Luke, and their
+daughter Joan. And this is Lilly Watters, Kevin’s fiancé.”
+
+Sheila – “It’s nice to meet all of you, but especially you, Joan. I
+feel like I know you. Emily talks about you all the time.”
+
+Joan – “Well, it’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Morris. Emily has told
+me how kind you are to her when she comes to play with Lauren. Thank
+you for making the costumes for tonight.”
+
+Lilly – “Yes, they were marvelous!”
+
+Sheila – “I know how special this is for Emily, so I was happy to do
+it.” She gives Lauren and Kizzie a little hug, “Well girls, we need
+to get Kizzie home. Come help me finish packing.” She looks back to
+the Girardi’s, “Again, it was nice meeting you. Perhaps I’ll see some
+of you tomorrow morning. Have a very Merry Christmas!”
+
+They part ways, each to begin their journey home.
+
+At the Girardi Residence
+
+The Girardi’s are happy to be home, as they wind down from a pleasant
+evening. That is, except for Emily. She is so high she may never come
+down, but exhaustion is beginning to take its toll. She allows Joan
+to cuddle with both her and Adam. She even allows them to smooch a
+little without protest.
+
+All are gathered in the living room, enjoying a dessert of whipped
+cream covered pumpkin pie. When they finish, Richard explains, “We
+have a tradition of letting the children open one present on
+Christmas Eve. Would you like to join us?”
+
+The older kids look at each other, unsure how to respond. Helen makes
+the decision, “I think we would rather just watch Trevor and Emily
+open a present. We can do ours tomorrow.”
+
+Richard continues, “Okay, which of you would like to go first?”
+
+Trevor – “I will, I will!”
+
+Trennadirects him to a couple packages under the tree, “Which one
+would you like to open?”
+
+Trevor looks back and forth between the large and small packages,
+trying to make a choice. Richard decides to assist, “Sometimes good
+things come in small packages.”
+
+Trevor retrieves the smaller package and looks at the tag. It reads,
+“From Luke.” He unwraps it, “Wow,\ `The Adventures of Sharkboy and
+Lavagirl <http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0424774/>`__\ ! Thanks Luke,
+let’s go watch this.”
+
+Before Luke can respond, Trenna interrupts, “Not tonight, it’s
+already past bedtime. You can watch it tomorrow after church.”
+
+Emily – “My turn, my turn!”
+
+Joan – “I got you something. It’s in the blue paper with snowflakes.”
+
+Emily looks and finds it. She sits beside Joan while she opens it,
+“\ \ `Ice Princess <http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0396652/>`__\ ? What’s
+it about?”
+
+Grace – “They should have called it Skating in the City or maybe
+Buffy’s Frigid Sister.”
+
+Joan gives Grace a smirk, “It’s actually a delightful story about a
+young girl chasing her dreams. She reminds me of you. We can watch it
+together tomorrow.”
+
+Emily gives Joan a hug, “Thanks, Joan.”
+
+This appears to be it, but then Trenna comments, “Grace, we made you
+a gift. It’s the small square package in purple paper. We would like
+you to open it now.”
+
+Grace is surprised, not expecting to be a part of this ritual of
+greed, at least not tonight. She retrieves
+the\ `package <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/blue-star-of-david-ornament.jpg>`__\ from
+under the tree and opens it. When she sees what they have made her,
+she is deeply touched and initially is not sure what to say.
+
+Emily boasts, “I helped to glue on the sequins!”
+
+Trennacomments, “Happy Hanukkah, Grace. We would be honored if you
+would hang it on the tree while you are here.”
+
+Grace walks over and hangs the ornament prominently on the front of
+the tree. She admires it as she backs away, and then turns to face
+the others. A hint of a tear is in her eye, “Thank you. This really
+means a lot to me.”
+
+Christmas Morning
+
+Trevor whispers to his father at a distance of about two inches,
+“Dad, wake up! Santa came. Can I go downstairs?”
+
+Emily is on the other side of the bed whispering to her mother, “Mom,
+time to wake up. Santa’s been here!”
+
+Richard opens one eye and looks at the clock. It reads 4:53 a.m. He
+repeats Trevor’s news to Trenna, “Santa came last night.”
+
+Trennamoans, “Go back to bed. We’re not opening presents until after
+church.”
+
+Trevor responds, now at full volume, “But there’s a new bike down
+there! I think it’s mine!”
+
+Emily also excitedly informs her mother, “And there’s a scooter that
+I think Santa left for me!”
+
+Trennamoans once again, realizing that there will be no return to the
+Land of Nod. She throws back the covers, “Okay, but nothing happens
+until I’ve had my first cup of coffee.”
+
+Emily and Trevor run back to their bedrooms. There, Joan and Luke sit
+groggily on the bed. Each had previously gone through a similar
+scenario. Their response was, “Go ask your parents.”
+
+After starting the coffee, Trenna steps out onto the porch. An
+overnight shower has coated everything with a thin sheet of ice. She
+observes, Well, I know why no one has ever written a song called,
+“I’m Dreaming of a Translucent Christmas.” It’s pretty, but you can’t
+do anything with it. There will be no bike riding outside this
+morning. She returns inside to watch the coffee maker fill ever so
+slowly.
+
+The older Girardi’s sit on the living room couch, each nursing a
+fresh cup of coffee. As in Joan and Luke’s house, a loop can be made
+through the downstairs. However, here there are no steps to
+negotiate. The young folks circle through the downstairs testing
+their new modes of transportation. When Emily passes, she smiles and
+continues to sing her latest tune. When Trevor passes, he rings his
+bicycle bell, an accessory Richard is beginning to regret having
+purchased. The wall clock chimes six times to remind them that they
+should all still be in bed.
+
+Trennaretrieves the phone and calls the hotel. When Helen picks up,
+Trenna just begins speaking, “You remember that eight o’clock Mass we
+were going to? It’s been postponed until twelve-thirty. Come on over
+anyway. I’ll make breakfast.”
+
+Helen is about to respond when she hears ‘brringg-brringg’ through
+the receiver, “What was that?”
+
+Trenna– “It’s something whose warranty is about to expire. Come on
+over.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+There was a doughnut shop across from the hotel, so Will stopped and
+picked up breakfast.
+
+Trenna– “I’m glad that Fred had time to make the doughnuts. Thank you
+for getting them.”
+
+Will – “No problem. Like a good neighbor, Dunkin’ Donuts was there.”
+
+Richard - “Doughnuts bring good things to life.”
+
+Kevin moans, “If any of you decides on a second career, donut
+consider a job in advertising.”
+
+Despite Kevin’s sarcasm, or perhaps due to it, the others decide to
+join in the fun.
+
+Adam – “I donut, they are the breakfast of champions.”
+
+Grace – “Better things for better living through chemistry.”
+
+Will – “Hey, everyone knows that Arcadia’s finest runs on Dunkin’.”
+
+Joan – “I donut believe I ate the whole thing.”
+
+Helen – “King Dunkin’ donut fair to well in Macbeth.”
+
+Lilly – “Maybe he should have taken a flying leap through a Dunkin’
+Donut.”
+
+Luke – “Marge dear, would you kindly pass me a donut?”
+
+Grace - “Donut? What’s a donut?”
+
+As Emily scoots by, she snatches another doughnut, “That’s what
+donuts are-are, mmm-mmm good.” All laugh, not because her comment is
+so funny, but because she has not been privy to their conversation.
+When she comes around again, she asks, “Can we open presents now?”
+
+A ‘yes’ from Trenna begins the unwrapping fest for Trevor and Emily.
+It’s a long process, because Trevor and Emily play with their new
+toys before opening the next gift. Trevor received a Hasbro ChatNow,
+so he and Luke talk and text each other from different rooms in the
+house. Emily received the Crayola Girlfitti, and she, Joan, and Grace
+colored and talked. Adam even joins them for a while, offering Emily
+some artistic advice. Before they know it, the morning is gone, and
+it’s time to get ready for church.
+
+Although Emily is old enough to attend Mass, Trenna prefers that both
+she and Trevor attend Bible study. The teacher has a talent for
+explaining the message of the Bible in a way that children can
+understand. It is a forum where questions can be asked, and Emily is
+always full of questions.
+
+Being Christmas, today’s lesson is the story of the birth of Jesus,
+as told in the books of Matthew and Luke of the New Testament. Those
+familiar with the story know about the wise men from the east who
+visited Jesus as a child. They presented gifts of gold, frankincense,
+and myrrh. Emily has, what in her mind is a perfectly valid question,
+“Why would a wise man want Jesus to smell like a monster?” The
+teacher always counts on an interesting Bible study class when Emily
+attends.
+
+Will, Adam, Grace, Joan, and Luke stay at home. Emily wants Joan to
+attend Bible study with her, but Joan persuades Emily that she should
+spend time with her friends. They consider opening their gifts to
+each other, but Will asks that they wait until everyone is present.
+
+What to do? Joan and Luke are about to fall asleep, so Adam suggests
+that they take a walk. It has warmed enough outside to melt the ice,
+but it is still cold enough to awaken anything warm blooded. Joan and
+Luke agree.
+
+They stroll down the sidewalk and talk about last evening. Joan and
+Luke share their experience on the boat, and Adam and Grace share the
+excitement of the Inner Harbor. Grace pulls out samples of the fudge
+that Will purchased, and all enjoy the treat. The sugar rush helps
+for Joan and Luke’s fatigue.
+
+Luke – “Mmm, this is sooo good! You know, chocolate has been shown to
+improve blood vessel function in healthy people.”
+
+Joan – “So, there’s no problem with renting space at the top of the
+food pyramid?”
+
+Adam – “Hey, at least it’s a balanced diet.” He rocks back and forth
+with a piece of fudge in each hand.
+
+Grace quips, “Save the Earth… it’s the only planet with chocolate.”
+
+Joan notices what’s across the street, “Hey, Saint Michael’s! Isn’t
+that their church?”
+
+Adam – “Yeah, I think that’s what your aunt said as they were
+leaving.”
+
+Joan – “Let’s go see.”
+
+Grace – “They’re busy doing their Christmas thing. We should leave
+them alone.”
+
+Adam – “We’re not dressed for church. I don’t think we should go in,
+either.”
+
+Joan – “They won’t mind. Come on, we can go in quietly and stand in
+the back.”
+
+Grace – “Can we dispense with the rumble afterwards?”
+
+Joan gives Grace a smirk, “You know that had nothing to do with the
+mosque. It could have happened anywhere. Let’s go in.”
+
+Joan walks up the steps, pulls the huge mahogany door open, and slips
+through. The others follow her inside.
+
+They congregate in the back of the church as planned. No one notices
+their entry, except for the priest and some members of the choir. To
+their delight, they do not give notice to the congregation.
+
+The priest steps up to the lectern and begins to speak, “Today, we
+celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. His birth should not
+have been a surprise, for it was prophesied in the Old Testament.
+Some of the passages are:
+
+*Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their
+brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he
+shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.*\ God would raise
+up a prophet like Moses.
+
+*Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
+Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
+name Immanuel.*\ One would be born of a virgin as a special sign or
+miracle from God.
+
+*Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
+the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
+called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
+The Prince of Peace.*\ This One, who was yet to be born, would have a
+special place in the hearts of all the people. This One, born of a
+virgin, would have Authority to reign over the world.
+
+*Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a
+lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall
+the gathering of the people be.*\ This One, who was yet to be born,
+would have a special place in the hearts of all the people.
+
+*Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among
+the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me
+that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of
+old, from everlasting.*\ This Son was to be born in Bethlehem.
+
+*Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my
+son out of Egypt.*\ This Son was also to come out of Egypt.
+
+In the New Testament, Mathew 2:14 & 15 states…”
+
+Joan motions for them to leave, and they escape as quietly as they
+entered. Once outside, Joan asks, “Is that true?”
+
+Adam – “Is what true?”
+
+Joan – “That part about the passages in the Old Testament.”
+
+Luke – “I don’t think that a priest would make it up.”
+
+Grace – “A few words can be disputed, but they are factually
+accurate.”
+
+Joan – “Wow, so maybe my mom and Lilly are right.”
+
+Grace – “Hey, I said that it was an accurate translation. I didn’t
+say that I agree with his conclusion.”
+
+Joan – “But don’t these passages support what Christians believe
+about Jesus?”
+
+Grace – “There are just as many other passages that tend to disprove
+that Jesus was the Messiah. I… Jews believe that Jesus was a great
+teacher, nothing more.”
+
+Luke – “This type of pseudo-science is a common occurrence. Take
+nine-eleven. As soon as it happened, people started quoting
+Nostradamus saying, ‘See, he predicted this.’ When Dan Brown
+published The Da Vinci Code, people started searching The Nag Hammadi
+library for proof, in support of a work of fiction! Even man-made
+global warming has all the characteristics of a religion. A consensus
+is not proof. A consensus is an agreement, an opinion, a belief.
+There was once a consensus that the world was flat, too. These
+scientists should be required to state the opinions upon which their
+facts are based.”
+
+Joan – “So, you don’t believe what the priest said, either?”
+
+Luke – “No, I didn’t say that. A true scientist must acknowledge how
+much he doesn’t know, leaving room for mystery, miracles, and the
+wisdom of nature. In these matters, everyone has to decide for
+themselves what they believe to be true.”
+
+Joan – “So it always comes down to faith. I know what I believe, but
+what if what I believe turns out not to be true?”
+
+Adam – “Jane, I don’t think we can ever know. The answer will always
+be bigger than the question. The best we can do is to try to ask the
+right questions.”
+
+Joan is taken aback, because she remembers being told this before.
+After a short pause, she answers, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Let’s
+go home.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Richard walks in carrying Trevor and Kevin rolls in with Emily on his
+lap. The munchkins were too tired to walk home and are now sound
+asleep. This is another Girardi Christmas tradition, although it is
+seldom a planned event. Richard and Will carry the sleeping beauties
+upstairs and tuck them into their beds. As they return downstairs,
+each takes comfort in knowing that the most precious thing worth
+stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child.
+
+Trennaand Helen are in the kitchen making lunch when Will and Richard
+join the others in the living room. Will notices that Joan and Luke
+are once again falling asleep. He suggests, “Why don’t you two go lie
+down and get up with Trevor and Emily.”
+
+Both Joan and Luke feel bad, because they would rather spend the time
+with Adam and Grace, but they accept their father’s suggestion. It’s
+just too much of a struggle to stay awake. After Joan and Luke walk
+upstairs, Helen and Trenna bring out lunch trays prepared so everyone
+can assemble sandwiches.
+
+Trennaturns on the TV and selects a channel. Within a few
+minutes,\ `A Season for
+Miracles <http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0226418/>`__\ begins to play.
+All enjoy the movie while they eat.
+
+Toward the end of the movie, the four nodding hams stroll downstairs.
+Trenna retrieves the lunch trays from the refrigerator, and they
+enjoy a late lunch while watching the conclusion of the movie.
+
+Magical voices have been calling Trevor and Emily since they awoke
+from their nap. Both have been watching the packages attempt to
+jostle their way to the front, each calling out “Open me!” or “No,
+open me first!” or “No, I’m the prettier one, open me!” As soon as
+Alanna narrates the ending to the movie, Trevor asks, “Can we…?”
+
+Richard anticipates his question, “Yes, but let’s let your cousins
+begin.”
+
+Grace – “I have something for Luke.” She retrieves the package from
+beneath the tree and gives it to him.
+
+Luke – “Are you sure?”
+
+Grace – “No one has ever become poor by giving. Merry Christmas.”
+
+Luke accepts the gift and unwraps it, “Wow, thank you!” He holds up
+the book,\ `God at the Speed of Light: The Melding of Science and
+Spirituality <http://www.writers.net/writers/books/17653>`__\ .”
+Grace – “The first half is a bit heavy with physics, but the second
+half is an easier read. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
+
+Luke – “You’ve read it?”
+
+Grace – “Well yeah, I do come with a brain.”
+
+Luke – “No, I didn’t mean that. This just doesn’t sound like
+something you would be interested in reading.”
+
+Grace – “I read it to find out if you would like it. I didn’t say
+that I agree with it.”
+
+Joan – “Can I see?” Luke hands her the book. She looks at the cover,
+leafs through the pages, and then she gives it back, “I don’t think I
+would be able to understand this. Will you explain it to me when
+you’re done?”
+
+Luke smiles, “Still having personal issues with the electromagnetic
+spectrum? Okay, my fish tank can use cleaning when we get home.” Joan
+sticks her tongue out at him.
+
+Grace – “Every major religious text in the world metaphorically
+describes God using terms of light. Baumann theorizes that God and
+light are inseparably linked, being manifestations of the same thing.
+Now you know.”
+
+Trennadecides that it’s time to move on with the gift giving. She
+asks, “Joan, do you have a gift you would like to give someone?”
+
+Joan walks over to the tree and retrieves a package. She sits back
+down next to Adam and gives it to him, “Merry Christmas.”
+
+Adam opens the small box to find
+a\ `pendant <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/JMensPendant.jpg>`__\ ,
+“Wow, thanks… and the letter ‘J’.”
+
+Grace quips, “It’s a heart monitor, dude.”
+Joan smiles at Grace’s comment and further explains, “No bells or
+whistles, just a reminder of where my heart resides.”
+
+Adam understands the dual meaning of her comment. She is once again
+offering him a gift of her heart, but also reminding him of his
+responsibility by accepting it, “Thank you. I will wear this always.”
+He slips the chain over his head, puts the medallion in place, and
+thanks Joan with a kiss.
+
+Emily puts two fingers in her mouth and pretends to gag. This gives
+everyone a smile, except for Joan and Adam who are too busy to
+notice. She begins to fidget in her seat, looking excitedly at her
+mother. Trenna relents, “Emily, do you have a present that you would
+like to give?”
+
+Emily flies off the couch and retrieves a package from under the
+tree. She sits back down next to Joan and gives it to her, “Merry
+Christmas! I hope you like it. The man said it was their best movie.”
+
+Joan opens the package to find a DVD of the movie\ `Top
+Hat <http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0027125/>`__\ , staring Fred Astaire
+and Ginger Rogers, “Wow, thanks. My friend Cee-Cee thinks that Ginger
+Rogers is the best dancer ever.” She continues, still excitedly for
+Emily’s benefit, “And it’s noir!”
+
+Adam offers a correction, “It’s filmed in black and white, but it’s
+not noir.”
+
+Joan – “Oh, okay, well I like it anyway, thank you.” She gives Emily
+a hug, which Emily cherishes.
+
+Richard – “Lilly, do you have a gift that you would like to give?”
+
+Lilly goes to the tree and returns with a two-foot long cylindrical
+package. She gives it to Kevin, “Merry Christmas.”
+
+Kevin – “Hmm, let me guess, a swimsuit poster of Natalie Glebova?”
+
+Lilly – “Not a chance. Guess again.”
+
+Kevin – “Well, I guess we’ll have to see.” He opens the present,
+“Cool! Up to twenty feet! Go stand over by the wall.”
+
+Lilly – “Why, you’re not going to grab me with that thing.”
+
+Kevin – “I need to test it somehow. Oh, and face the wall.”
+
+Lilly gives him the evil eye.
+
+Kevin – “Okay, put your back to the wall. I can test it that way,
+too.”
+
+Lilly gives him a smirk, knowing full well what he intends to do. She
+crumples some wrapping paper and presses it into a ball, “You can
+grab this.”
+
+Kevin – “I like my idea better.” Lilly once again eyes him
+dangerously.
+
+Kevin relents. He inserts the batteries and presses the button. It
+telescopes out to its maximum length. He then releases the mechanism,
+pulls the lever, and grabs the ball of paper.
+
+Kevin – “Got it!” He gives her a mischievous smile, “Do you think
+Tippy would like to play when we get home?”
+
+Lilly takes the grabber tool and places it back into its box. She
+says with a slight smile, “They should have put a rating on this
+thing, not suitable for children under twelve.”
+
+Trenna– “Okay Trevor, you’re under twelve. Do you have a present that
+you would like to give?”
+
+Trevor scurries over to the tree and retrieves an oblong box. He
+gives it to Luke, “Merry Christmas.”
+
+Luke unwraps the present, “\ Where IS Moldova? I don’t know, Eastern
+Europe maybe? I’ve never heard of this game!”
+
+Trevor – “I don’t know where it is either, but my dad says this looks
+like a fun game.”
+
+Richard – “We went shopping to get you a video game, but we found
+this at the store and decided to get it instead. We hope you enjoy
+it.”
+
+Luke – “Yeah, this looks cool. I haven’t played a board game in a
+long time. Thanks.”
+
+Richard – “Do you have a gift that you would like to give?”
+
+Luke walks over and retrieves a small package from under the tree. He
+returns and gives it to Grace, “Merry Christmas, Grace. I’ve always
+known that you were special. This proves it.”
+
+Grace unwraps the package to find a homemade DVD. In black marker,
+Luke has written Grace – March 3, 1988, “You better not tell me that
+you’ve transferred a bunch of my baby pictures to DVD!”
+
+Luke – “No, although you could do that for me.” Grace gives him a
+‘not in your lifetime’ look, so Luke continues, “I discovered that
+something marvelous happened on the day you were born. I would like
+to show you.”
+
+Grace – “Now, with everyone here? No way, Dude!”
+
+Luke – “Trust me, it’s not embarrassing. You’ll love it!”
+
+Richard – “The DVD player is in the cabinet to the left of the TV.”
+
+Grace is reluctant, but she walks over and inserts the disk into the
+DVD player. Richard turns on the television and selects the video
+input. He then gives the remote to Grace.
+
+Luke – “Push play, and then replay. I’ll explain what you’re
+watching.”
+
+Grace complies. While
+the\ `video <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzD_A1TK-sRLVExlTDFqSWN1UWM/edit?usp=sharing>`__\ plays,
+Luke narrates, “There was a lunar eclipse on the day you were born.
+It was unique, because it was the shortest partial lunar eclipse of
+the 20th century. It lasted only 13 minutes, 25 seconds. This video
+is time compressed to 18 seconds. Only three thousands of a percent
+of the Moon’s surface was covered by the Earth’s umbra.”
+
+Grace – “Great! I share a birthday with the most unimpressive eclipse
+of the century.”
+
+Luke – “No, not at all! This eclipse is actually quite extraordinary!
+Watch the video again.” After Grace plays it several more times, Luke
+asks, “Can you see it?”
+
+No one does. Everyone gives him a look of bewilderment. He takes the
+remote and plays the video again, “Okay, let me explain. The Earth’s
+shadow has two parts: the umbra, the darker inner part caused by the
+Earth totally blocking the light from the sun; and the penumbra, a
+lighter outer shadow caused by light from the sun only being
+partially blocked. The penumbra does cover the Moon, but watch the
+umbra.”
+
+After several more plays, Joan exclaims, “Oh, I see it!”
+
+Luke – “What?”
+
+Joan becomes a little self conscious, “Never mind, I’m probably
+wrong. I’m sure you’re looking for some scientific explanation.”
+
+Luke – “Not everything is about science.”
+
+Helen – “Joan, tell us.”
+
+With her mother’s urging, Joan continues. “Well, it’s sorta like a
+cosmic Fred and Ginger.”
+
+Luke – “Excellent!” Luke gives Grace an embrace while looking over
+her shoulder toward the TV. He clicks play once again, “On the day
+that you were born, the Earth’s shadow danced with the Moon.”
+
+Everyone is astounded as they realize what Luke has been trying to
+show them. Joan smiles, looks up, and then back to the group, “Grace,
+it’s a touch of truth that lets you see the world in a whole new
+way.”
+
+Kevin – “How did you figure this out?”
+
+Luke – “Well, I used this program called Starry Night and…”
+
+Grace interrupts him, “Don’t spoil it, space boy. You did good.” When
+Luke moves in for a kiss, Grace permits it.
+
+Helen – “Luke, I’m impressed. This is so sweet. You really can be a
+romantic!” She pauses for a moment, thinking about who has and hasn’t
+given a gift, “Adam, do you have a gift that you would like to give?”
+
+Adam walks over to the tree and retrieves a package. He sits back
+down and gives it to Joan, “Merry Christmas, Joan.”
+
+Joan gives him a smile and carefully removes the wrapping paper.
+Inside, she finds an envelope and a smaller wrapped package. Adam
+says, “Open the envelope.”
+
+Joan opens the envelope to find a letter,
+a\ `photograph <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/SnowflakeJoan.jpg>`__\ ,
+and a small vial. She reads
+the\ `letter <http://dc14.4shared.com/download/59268857/66be85d8/THE_OFFICIAL_CANADIAN_SNOWFLAKE_REGISTRY.doc>`__\ .
+
+Joan sits silently for a few moments, looking at the photograph. She
+then tilts the vial back and forth, watching the drop of water move
+from end to end.
+
+Emily – “That’s so cool, your very own snowflake!”
+
+Adam – “I wanted to get you something unique. What do you think?”
+
+Joan is torn, not sure what to say, “Adam, this is really sweet. How
+much did you pay for this?”
+
+Adam – “Just three easy payments of $19.95.”
+
+Joan explodes, “You paid sixty bucks for this? A letter, a picture,
+and a drop of water! What were you thinking! We could have had dinner
+at La Cachette or Don’s Steakhouse…”
+
+Grace inserts a comment while Joan is on her rant, “Or Adam could
+play a joke on you.”
+
+Joan – “… or you could have gotten me a…” Joan realizes what Grace
+has just said, “It’s… it’s a joke?”
+
+Adam smiles, “Jane, there’s another package there. Open it.”
+
+Joan removes the paper to find a jewelry box. She lifts the lid and
+views
+the\ `contents <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/SnowflakeEarRingNecklace.jpg>`__\ ,
+“Wow, these are beautiful!”
+
+She removes the earrings and puts them on. She then gives the
+necklace to Adam, “Will you put this on me?”
+
+Adam clasps the necklace around her neck. She then gets up and walks
+over to a mirror. She admires her gift for a few moments and returns.
+After giving Adam a kiss, she says, “These are wonderful! I’m sorry
+about before.”
+
+Adam – “It’s okay. We all had bets on how you would react.”
+
+Joan – “We?”
+
+Kevin – “It was risky. I mean, with Joan, you never know which home
+phone number you’re going to get.”
+
+Grace – “She is quasi-Sybilesque. I still can’t believe what she did
+to that guy at the mosque.”
+
+Luke – “That expression on your face was priceless, ‘Adam, this is
+really sweet.’ I thought you were going to kill him then!”
+
+Adam smiles, “I wasn’t worried.” He puts his hand on his chest and
+caresses the pendent that she gave him, “I know what’s in here.”
+
+Emily – “Can I have the picture of the snowflake?”
+
+Joan gives her the photo, the letter, and snowflake urn. Emily grins
+and whispers to herself, “Wow, Snowflake Joan.” Joan smiles and
+squeezes a hug.
+
+Will – “Kevin, do you have a gift that you would like to give?”
+
+Kevin uses his grabber tool to retrieve a package from under the
+tree. He gives it to Lilly, “Merry Christmas.”
+
+It’s a small package and Lilly is not surprised when she sees that it
+is jewelry. She is pleased with
+Kevin’s\ `choice <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/LilyCrossNecklaceEarrings.jpg>`__\ .
+It’s a sterling silver cross, entwined by a single vine which has
+captured a calla lily. There are also matching calla lily earrings.
+She puts on the earrings and then sits on Kevin’s lap so he can adorn
+her with the necklace.
+
+Kevin – “I thought these were a perfect way to demonstrate how you
+and your faith are intertwined. It’s you.”
+
+Lilly – “I love it.” She looks down at her necklace, and then gives
+him a kiss.
+
+Will – “Well, I have a gift that I would like to give.” He retrieves
+a package from under the tree and gives it to Helen, “Merry
+Christmas.”
+
+Helen opens the package to find a beautiful\ `red
+dress <http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/mshaffer2/RedDressShaw1.jpg>`__\ and
+matching shawl, “Will, this is beautiful!” She leans over and gives
+him a kiss.
+
+Will – “There’s more.”
+
+Helen looks under the paper and finds an envelope. When she opens it,
+she finds two tickets for the play Hairspray. She looks closer at the
+tickets and exclaims, “Tomorrow!”
+
+Will – “The last time we went to a play, it didn’t turn out well. I
+thought we’d try it again.”
+
+Helen – “I’ve heard of this play. I’ve been hoping it would come to
+Arcadia.”
+
+Will – “I purposely avoided reading the details. All I know is that
+it’s a bright, colorful, tuneful musical comedy. At least the story
+will be a surprise.”
+
+Richard – “The play is at the Hippodrome downtown. It’s a beautiful
+theater. They just finished renovating the building last year. It was
+originally built in 1907.”
+
+Helen – “Maybe we can get some more tickets. Trenna, Lilly, I’m sure
+you would enjoy this play, too.”
+
+Will – “Perhaps another time. I would like this to be our night out.”
+
+Helen – “Okay, it’s my turn. She retrieves a package from under the
+tree and gives it to Will, “Merry Christmas.”
+
+Will opens the package to find a signed copy of William F. Buckley’s
+book, The Unmaking of a Mayor. Will caresses the slightly worn cover,
+leafs through a few pages, and smiles, “Thank you. I’ll enjoy reading
+this.”
+
+Helen looks at him for a moment, expecting him to say more, but he
+doesn’t. She then asks, “Richard, do you have a gift to give?”
+
+Richard retrieves a package from under the tree and gives it to
+Trenna, “Merry Christmas, Hon.”
+
+Trennaopens the package to find an assortment of nightwear. There are
+2 matching nightgown pajamas sets, and 2 robes. One nightgown and
+pajama set is royal blue and the other is white with a pink butterfly
+print. The robes are made of terrycloth, one pink and one blue, each
+matching a nightgown pajama set.
+
+Trennacomments, “Well, there is nothing sexy about these.” She
+pretends to read the garment tag, “Hmm, Melissa Gilbert Collection.”
+
+Richard smiles at her joke, “No it doesn’t. Besides, anything is sexy
+when you wear it.”
+
+Trennasmiles, “I love them. Sexy is the antithesis of comfortable.
+What do you think for tonight, gown or pajamas, pink or blue?”
+
+Richard – “How about the blue nightgown?”
+
+Trenna– “Ooh la la, royal blue dreams tonight.” She puts her
+nightwear aside and retrieves a package for Richard, “Merry
+Christmas.”
+
+Richard opens the package to find a copy of\ `The Limbaugh
+Letter <http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/pages/static/limbaugh-letter>`__\ ,
+“Great! Talent on loan from God. Now all I need is Rush 24/7.”
+
+Trenna– “The letter is a concession. You don’t have time for Rush
+24/7.”
+
+Richard notices there is also a bottle of British Sterling aftershave
+in the box. He opens it and puts a few dabs on. Trenna takes a sniff
+and begins to snuggle his neck, “I love that smell on you.”
+
+Richard smiles, “Ooh and I love it when you smell me.”
+
+Emily exclaims, “Eeeuw, da-ad, mo-om, cooties maximus!”
+
+Joan squeezes another hug from Emily, “Yeah, too much bedroom.” Joan
+whispers, “You may have cooties and not even know it. Would you like
+me to give you the cootie shot?”
+
+Emily – “Uh, I don’t know, does it hurt?”
+
+Joan – “No, let me show you.” She traces the motions with her hand as
+she sings the little song, “Circle, circle, dot, dot. Now you have
+your cootie shot.”
+
+Emily – “Show me that again!” Joan shows her again, after which Emily
+begins to practice on her own.
+
+The gift giving continues. However, the remaining gifts bear the
+label, ‘From Santa’, or ‘From Rudolph’, or from some other
+traditional holiday character. This was so Trevor and Emily would not
+believe that Santa had forgotten about their cousins.
+
+When all the gifts were unwrapped, there was still one package under
+the tree. This was Grace’s present from her father. Trenna asks,
+“Grace, would you like to open your gift now or do it later?”
+
+Grace answers by retrieving the package from under the tree. Her
+curiosity of what gift her father has given her for Christmas is
+finally quenched. She is pleased when she removes a Hanukkah Menorah,
+an eight candle candelabrum. There are also several boxes of candles.
+
+Trenna– “That’s beautiful! Would you like to light the candles?”
+
+Grace – “Yes, I would.” She glances out the window, “But it’s not
+quite time. Hanukkah begins at sundown.”
+
+Helen – “I know that Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, but I really don’t
+know any more than that. Would you explain it to us?”
+
+Grace – “Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem
+temple by Judah Maccabee in 165 B.C. It recalls the Talmudic story of
+the Temple’s one-day supply of oil miraculously burning for eight
+days. As part of the celebration, we light an additional candle for
+each day of the festival.
+
+Richard retrieves the newspaper and finds the page that gives the
+local weather forecast, “Sundown is at 4:34 pm.” He glances at his
+watch, “That’s coming up pretty quick. Is there anything that we can
+do to help you prepare?”
+
+Grace is surprised, but pleased by Richard’s offer. She is hesitant,
+but asks, “Well, after I light the candles, I would like to place the
+Menorah in front of the window. Would that be alright?”
+
+Trenna– “We can move one of the end tables under the window and place
+a cookie sheet on top of it.”
+
+Will – “How long do the candles stay lit? I mean, what if they’re
+still burning when it’s time for us to go back to the hotel?”
+
+Grace – “I think these candles will probably burn out on their own by
+then, but if they are still burning, I’ll blow them out.”
+
+Luke – “Isn’t there some ritual that goes along with the lighting of
+the candles?”
+
+Grace – “When I light a candle, I recite a passage about light from
+the Torah.”
+
+Joan – “Why don’t you write it down and we’ll say it with you.”
+
+Helen – “Yes, we would like to participate if it’s okay.”
+
+Will and Richard place the end table under the window and Trenna
+retrieves a cookie sheet from the kitchen. Grace writes down what she
+plans to recite during the ceremony, and Joan, Adam, and Luke help
+her to make copies.
+
+Grace strikes a match and lights the central candle. She then uses it
+to light the first candle on the right. She turns towards the group
+while holding the Menorah. Together they recite, “Creation - And God
+said: ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light. (GEN 1:3, JPS) Light
+was the first thing God created. All growing things depend on light
+for life. God is the source of all life.” With that said, Grace
+places the Menorah in front of the window.
+
+Helen – “That was very nice. Thank you for letting us be a part of
+your Hanukkah celebration.”
+
+Grace – “And thank you for allowing me to take part in your
+celebration of Christmas.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Helen, Trenna, and Lilly place the remaining dinner items on the
+table. The menu includes an Italian salad, stuffed mushrooms, roasted
+crab cake, lasagna, spiced beef, braised cabbage, yams, mashed
+potatoes, pumpkin and apple pies, and dinner rolls. Joan tastes one
+and says, “Mmmm, to die for!”
+
+Will and Richard are seated at opposite ends of the table, while the
+others are seated along either side. Richard fills everyone’s glass
+with a sweet red wine, excluding Emily and Trevor, who are given
+black cherry soda. He asks Will, “Would you like to offer a toast?”
+
+Will raises his glass, “To all the special ‘F’ words: Family,
+friends, fact, fiction, fate, freedom, faith, forgiveness, and
+forever.”
+
+Richard – “Hear, hear!” Everyone clicks their glasses together.
+
+Trenna– “I would like to say a Christmas prayer.” Everyone becomes
+silent and bows their heads.
+
+*May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and
+superficial relationships - so that you may live deep within our
+heart.*
+
+*May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression and
+exploitation of people so that we may work for justice, freedom and
+peace.*
+
+*May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain,
+rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hand to
+comfort them, turning their pain into joy.*
+
+*May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make
+a difference in this world, doing what others claim cannot be done.*
+
+*And, may the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies,
+be upon us, and upon all we love and pray for, this day and forever
+more. Amen.*
+
+Emily – “Happy birthday, Jesus!”
+
+Trenna– “Grace, would you like to say something?”
+
+Grace – “God bless the cheese makers for they are the curds and the
+whey. Luke, pass the lasagna.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+After dinner cleanup, all gather back in the living room. Luke
+suggests playing his new board game, while Emily and Trevor would
+each like to watch their new movies. Helen settles the dilemma,
+“Let’s watch Emily’s new movie.”
+
+As Joan stated earlier, it’s a nice, feel-good movie. Everyone enjoys
+it, especially Emily. As soon as the movie ends, Emily asks, “Mom,
+can you teach me how to ice skate?”
+
+Trenna– “We’ll see.”
+
+Emily – “Pleee-heee-heeez!”
+
+Trenna– “Okay, there’s an ice-skating rink at Patterson Park. I’ll
+call them tomorrow.”
+
+Emily – “Yes!”
+
+Joan – “You are so spoiled.”
+
+Emily – “No I’m not!” She strikes a pose, “Besides, what’s wrong with
+wanting to feel strong and graceful and beautiful?”
+
+Joan – “Nothing, you already are.”
+
+Trenna– “Time to get ready for bed.”
+
+Emily – “But I’m not tired!”
+
+Trenna– “Bath, pajamas, and then you can come back down for awhile.”
+
+Emily rummages through her Christmas gifts to find her new pair of
+pajamas, “Kim Possible is awesome. She’s so wily.”
+
+Joan – “Oh, like you’re not? She’s perfect for you.”
+
+Emily – “Well, I for sure have some of her Kimness.” She glances at
+her family and then decides to whisper in Joan’s ear, “I still don’t
+understand why it’s usually easier to get forgiveness than it is to
+get permission.” She then darts upstairs, not waiting for an answer.
+
+The remainder of the evening is once again spent in the living room,
+but now there are several activities being pursued. Kevin, Adam, and
+Luke try to find Moldova. Will is reading his book and Richard is
+reading his Limbaugh Letter. Trenna entertains Trevor by
+reading\ `The
+Star <http://dc19.4shared.com/download/40935571/bc4c331f/The_Star.doc>`__\ ,
+the first story in a book of short story science fiction that he
+received from Santa. Helen and Lilly work on needlepoint projects
+that they received from each other (a.k.a. Santa). Grace and Joan
+spend their time with Emily adorning Barbie, Ken, Francie, and
+Poindexter with outfits both new and old.
+
+At Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
+
+The observance of Boxing Day is not a common practice in the United
+States. However, it is a custom that Trenna’s family has observed,
+and she persuades Richard to continue the tradition. A non-mandatory
+gathering has been scheduled at the hospital. Richard had planned to
+go alone, but he decides to invite Joan, “The meeting won’t last
+long. If you would like to come, I can give you a tour when we’re
+finished.”
+
+Joan – “I’d like that.”
+
+Emily – “No, I want you to stay here with me. We can watch The
+Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl with Luke and Trevor.”
+
+Richard – “You can watch that anytime. Why don’t you come with us?”
+
+Emily hesitates, perplexed while her mind deciphers the competing
+urges. She then takes Joan’s hand, “Okay, I’ll go.”
+
+Grace – “Ahem, may I come too?”
+
+Richard – “Sure.” He gives Trenna a kiss, “We’ll be back in a few
+hours.”
+
+JohnsHopkins Medical Centeris composed of a series of buildings
+joined by enclosed walkways, tunnels, and skywalks. The Children’s
+Center is located near the southeast corner of the main complex. When
+they enter the ward, Richard takes them to a reading room where a
+doctor is seated viewing patient images. Richard makes the
+introduction, “Dr. Simmons, this is my niece Joan and her friend
+Grace… and you know Emily.”
+
+Dr. Simmons – “It’s nice to meet you.” He addresses Joan, “Richard
+has told me that you want to become a nurse. Feel free to have a look
+around.”
+
+Joan – “Thank you, Dr. Simmons.”
+
+Dr. Simmons – “Richard, we received a new patient yesterday. Her name
+is…” He pauses to look at the chart, “…Judith Spiegel. She’s ten
+years old and has been comatose since a car accident yesterday
+morning. She sustained minor head trauma, but the CT and MRI scans do
+not show any anomalies. I’m at a loss to explain why she’s in a coma.
+After the meeting, I would like you to take a look at these images
+with me.”
+
+Richard – “Sure thing. Joan, Grace, we’ll be back in a little while.
+Emily, do what Joan tells you. April, our head nurse, is at the
+nurses’ station if you need anything.”
+
+After they leave, Joan picks up the chart the doctor left on the
+counter.
+
+Grace – “What are you doing? Leave that alone.”
+
+Joan – “I just want to have a peek.”
+
+Grace – “We can get in real trouble, you know, that hippo law.”
+
+Emily – “What’s a hippo law?”
+
+Joan – “It’s actually H-I-P-A-A. It’s a law about keeping medical
+information private. It’ll be fine, no one’s going to know. I think
+it’s kind of cool that her name is Judith.”
+
+Grace – “Judith is just as common a name as Joan.”
+
+Joan – “Maybe, but I’ve only known one. She’s in room 10B. Let’s go
+see.”
+
+Grace – “Are you nuts! We can’t go bothering the patients.”
+
+Joan – “The doctor said that we could look around. Besides, how can
+we possibly bother her? She’s in a coma.”
+
+Joan walks down the hallway with Emily at her side, and Grace
+reluctantly follows behind. When they reach the room, Joan leaves
+Emily with Grace and walks inside. She returns after a moment,
+“There’s a woman asleep on the couch. I’ll bet she’s her mother.
+We’ll have to be quiet.”
+
+Grace – “And it will remain totally quiet if we just go back to the
+reading room.”
+
+Joan – “You have to come see her. You won’t believe it.”
+
+Joan takes her by the arm and leads her into the room. When Grace
+sees the girl lying on the bed, she is astounded. She almost forgets
+to whisper, “She’s a ten year old Judith!”
+
+Joan toys with her, “Yes, the doctor did say that.”
+
+Grace – “No, I mean she looks like our Judith, only younger.”
+
+Joan – “I know, isn’t she beautiful!”
+
+They all just watch her for a while, not saying anything. Then Joan
+brushes Judith’s bangs aside, “The doctor says there’s no reason for
+you to be asleep. Time to wake up.” She motions to Emily and Grace,
+“Say a prayer with me.”
+
+Joan takes Judith’s and Emily’s hand. Grace walks around the bed and
+takes Emily’s and Judith’s other hand. They pray silently. After a
+few minutes, they hear the woman stir on the couch. Joan motions for
+them to leave and they exit back out to the hallway.
+
+Joan says to Emily, “You were so quiet in there. I’m amazed!”
+
+Emily – “It seemed important to you. I wasn’t sure what prayers to
+say, so I said some Our Father’s and Hail Mary’s. Was that okay?”
+
+Joan – “Those were good choices.”
+
+Grace – “Okay, no more Nancy Drew. I can’t deal with being George.”
+
+Joan – “All right, let’s go see who’s awake.”
+
+Grace – “Girardi!”
+
+It was no use. Joan had already started walking down the hallway with
+Emily, looking into the rooms. When they disappear through a doorway,
+Grace reluctantly follows. They visit with five children before
+Richard finds them, “I see you’ve met Nathan. How are you doing
+today?”
+
+Nathan – “Okay, I guess. Dr. Simmons said that I’ll be going home
+tomorrow.”
+
+Richard – “Yes, I know.” With a smile, he continues, “And I don’t
+want to see you again for a long, long time.”
+
+Nathan returns the smile, “Me neither. Thanks, Doctor Girardi.”
+
+Emily – “Did you know that Nathan has a train set like ours? And
+Julie likes to play ‘Go Fish’, and Elly likes LeAnn Rimes as much as
+I do, and Peter got a scooter from Santa, but his is blue, and…”
+
+Richard interrupts, “Wow, that’s really neat, but I have to consult
+with Dr. Simmons now. When we get home, I want you to tell me all
+about it.” He addresses Joan, “When we’re finished, I’ll try to
+answer any of your questions.”
+
+Joan’s interaction with children has not always been stellar. She has
+been observing Emily, and without exception, each child that she has
+talked to has become happier from the exchange. Joan is surprised
+when she realizes that this is what God meant when she said, “I want
+you to pay attention… this time it’s how she can help you.” Emulating
+Emily, she should patent the term as a powerful new puerile
+communication technique. “Thank you, Uncle Richard, but I think I’ve
+already found my answers. I’ll just visit with more of the kids if
+that’s okay.”
+
+Richard – “Okay, I won’t be long.”
+
+As he leaves, all hear a woman calling out, “Judith! Oh, my sweet
+baby, you’re awake!” Everyone congregates in and outside of her room.
+
+Judith – “Where’s the angel?”
+
+Woman – “You’re my angel, sweetie.”
+
+Judith – “No, the one who said I should wake up.”
+
+Woman – “Oh, you were dreaming, pumpkin, but I’m so happy that you’re
+awake.”
+
+Grace leads Joan away from the others, “How’d you do that?”
+
+Joan – “Do what?”
+
+Grace – “Cause her to wake up.”
+
+Joan – “What makes you think I did it?”
+
+Grace – “Because you told her to wake up… and then she did.”
+
+Joan – “When I tell Luke to wake up, he just ignores me.”
+
+Grace – “Well it certainly wasn’t me!”
+
+Joan – “Hey, you’re the one who had the dancing moon shadow at birth.
+When I was born, all it did was rain.”
+
+Grace – “Technically, it was an earth shadow, but it doesn’t mean
+anything.”
+
+Joan – “Of course it means something. I’m not sure what, but it means
+something.”
+
+Grace – “Your balloon never lands, does it Girardi?”
+
+Joan gives her a smirk, “Maybe it was the prayer that we said or
+maybe it was just time for her to wake up. The doctor did say that he
+didn’t know why she was in a coma. Anyway, I’m just glad that she
+woke up, whatever the reason.”
+
+Neither Joan nor Grace had noticed that Emily had quietly joined
+them, “Do you think that my prayers helped at all?”
+
+Joan gives her a hug, “Of course, that’s it! Yah know, that explains
+the whole thing, the power of three. We are charmed!” Emily glows as
+she considers Joan’s revelation.
+
+Grace – “We’re charmed, that’s your explanation?”
+
+Emily reaches a new high, almost as high as she was on Christmas Eve.
+She remembers a routine she did while playing Cheetah Girls with her
+friends. She sings an answer to Grace’s agnostic question, using hand
+motions during each line.
+
+(raises and lowers her arms while wiggling her fingers)\____\_
+Sometimes the snow comes down in
+June                                                                                                                                 (draws
+circles in the
+air)                                                              Sometimes
+the sun goes ‘round the moon
+(points her finger at Grace, using a circular motion)\____________\_I
+see the passion in your eyes
+(stretches out her arms)\________________________________\_Sometimes
+it’s all a big surprise
+
+Joan – “Good job!” She takes Emily with her to peer back into
+Judith’s room, “I think your dad and Dr. Simmons will be busy with
+her for a while. Let’s go visit with some of the other kids, and then
+we’ll come back and talk to Judith.”
+
+At the Girardi Residence
+
+Helen – “Did you have a good time?”
+
+Joan – “Yeah, it was great. There was a girl named Judith who was in
+a coma, and she woke up while we were there. She looks like our
+Judith, too.”
+
+Grace – “Totally different voice, though. She has a deep, throaty,
+genuine laugh, like the sound a dog makes just before it throws up.”
+
+Joan – “Okay, she did have an odd laugh, but she’s really a sweet
+kid. She and her mother are obviously close, but she really lit up
+when her father came in. Her parents own a horse farm. She actually
+has her own horse!”
+
+Emily – “Yeah, and she said that I could come visit. Can I?”
+
+Trenna– “I don’t think you’re old enough to ride a horse.”
+
+Emily – “Mo-om! Judith is my age. It would be so cool!”
+
+Richard – “I’ll talk to her father, and then we’ll see.”
+
+Joan – “Grace went to the gift shop and bought her a PEZ dispenser.”
+
+Grace – “Hey, you weren’t supposed to tell anyone.”
+
+Joan – “Oops, there goes my balloon again.”
+
+Luke – “You remembered.”
+
+Helen – “That was really a nice thing to do.”
+
+Grace – “A moment of inspired insanity.”
+
+Kevin – “Insanity or lunacy?”
+
+Grace snips, “Yo, Professor Xavier, don’t imagine that chair gives
+you special protection.”
+
+Joan – “Whoa, down Grace, he’s just making a joke.”
+
+Grace – “This Moon stuff is starting to rent space in my brain.
+Everyone just needs to knock it off!”
+
+Luke – “I thought you liked it.”
+
+Grace – “I did, but it’s growing on me like a colony of E. Coli. The
+eclipse was just a nascent fluke, not some prophetic celestial
+marker.”
+
+Helen tries to defuse the situation by changing the subject, “Trenna
+and I have made chicken salad. Who’s hungry?”
+
+Grace – “Not!” Grace storms out the door.
+
+Luke – “Maybe I should go after her. I’m the one who started this.”
+
+Joan – “No, let me. I think she’s really mad at me.”
+
+Adam – “No, I’ll go. I don’t think she’ll hit me.” With that, he
+heads out the door after Grace.
+
+When Adam catches up to her, she is still walking fast and uttering
+expletives under her breath. Adam just quietly walks beside her until
+she is ready to talk.
+
+Grace – “Do you remember when we talked about Joan and her secrets?
+Has she ever explained any of them to you?”
+
+Adam – “You were there when she told us about her dreams. I think
+that explains a lot.”
+
+Grace – “But not all of it. Don’t you think there’s more?”
+
+Adam pauses, thinking about what Joan told him in the hospital,
+“Yeah, probably, but she doesn’t want to tell us. That’s just the way
+she is.”
+
+Grace – “Wait! What was that?”
+
+Adam – “What was what?”
+
+Grace – “That pause. You know something, don’t you?”
+
+Adam – “I know there are parts of herself that she wishes to keep
+secret.”
+
+Grace – “How can you be in love with someone you don’t really know?”
+
+Adam – “I love what I do know. Hey, I’m just happy that she’s giving
+me a second chance. Maybe someday she’ll tell me about that part of
+herself, but I’m willing to wait until she’s ready.”
+
+Grace mulls over what Adam has said before responding, “I don’t know
+if I can wait much longer.”
+
+Adam – “Sure you can. I’m hungry, let’s go have lunch.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The conversation during lunch was primarily about the wonders of
+Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Joan and Emily both provided more tales of the
+children they met today, but they avoided saying anything more about
+Judith. Although quiet, Joan could tell that Grace was still upset.
+
+After lunch, Emily asks Joan to spend time with her listening to her
+new LeAnn Rimes CD. Grace interrupts, “Later, Mushroom, Joan and I
+need to talk.”
+
+Emily pouts, “Why do I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop?”
+
+Joan kneels down in front of Emily and places her hands on her
+shoulders, “You know that’s not true. It’s okay, we’ll listen to your
+CD together in a little while.” Joan gives her a hug and heads out
+the door with Grace for another walk.
+
+Grace – “Is your entire family in on this conspiracy?”
+
+Joan – “What do you mean?”
+
+Grace – “This whole Moon thing is a deflection.”
+
+Joan – “A deflection? A deflection from what?”
+
+Grace – “You and your secrets?”
+
+Joan – “I told you about my dreams. Don’t you believe me?”
+
+Grace – “I do, but that’s not all of it. When are you going to tell
+me the rest?”
+
+Joan – “What rest?”
+
+Grace – “The other half of the red pill.”
+
+Joan is taken aback. She remembers having said that to Grace, but she
+believed that it was another one of her dreams. She just walks along
+with Grace and doesn’t respond for several minutes.
+
+Joan – “In the ‘Matrix’, do you remember me telling you about
+Cypher?”
+
+Grace – “Cypher’s the one who betrayed them.”
+
+Joan – “You’re right, but do you remember why?”
+
+Grace – “Because he regretted having taken the red pill.”
+
+Joan – “And at the beginning, do you remember what Morpheus asked
+Neo? Are you sure you want to know how deep the rabbit hole goes?”
+
+Grace – “Lay it on me.”
+
+Joan pauses for a moment, “Grace, the truth doesn’t always set you
+free. Knowing the truth can be a lonely place. You already have
+enough burdens of your own. You should think about this for a while.”
+
+Grace – “I’ve been thinking about it since last summer.”
+
+Joan – “You’ve waited this long, you can wait a while longer.” Joan
+turns around and walks back toward the house.
+
+Grace calls after her, “Girardi!”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+When they return, Joan goes to spend time with Emily as she has
+promised. Grace finds Luke sitting in the living room by himself. He
+is totally confused, believing at first that his gift was
+appreciated, but now has no clue of what went wrong. Grace decides to
+take her lost puppy for a walk.
+
+Grace – “I don’t think I’ve walked this much all year.”
+
+Luke – “I guess you’ve had a lot to think about.”
+
+Grace – “Okay, listen up. I’m not mad at you. I loved your Moon
+shadow. It’s just… well… there’s something else and your Moon thing
+caused it to reach critical mass.”
+
+Luke – “Okay, I can understand that.”
+
+Grace – “I purposely used geek speak.”
+
+Luke – “So, what is it?”
+
+Grace – “I don’t want to talk about it.”
+
+Luke – “Grace! We have to talk about it.”
+
+Grace – “Not this time, Moon Boy. All you need to know is that this
+isn’t about you.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+When the shadows begin to stretch across the floor, Luke asks, “Would
+you like us to make copies of what you plan to say tonight?”
+
+Grace – “No, this time I’m going to recite it by myself and everyone
+can just listen.”
+
+When the sun sets, Grace lights the central candle as before. She
+then uses it to light the first and second candles on the right. She
+turns towards the group while holding the Chanukah. She recites her
+passage, however this time, she maintains eye contact with Joan.
+
+“\ O send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me; let them
+bring me unto Thy holy mountain, and to Thy dwelling-places. (PSA
+43:3, JPS) Our minds and hearts will be cleaned by the light of the
+Spirit of Truth and others can be cleaned from the overflow.”
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+What Grace is asking her to do frightens her. At least her mother had
+already figured out most of it on her own. Should she tell Grace
+everything or just provide another piece of the puzzle? Will Grace
+even believe her? Will it strengthen their friendship or destroy it?
+These are the questions that Joan ponders as they rock slowly on the
+glider.
+
+Adam shifts slightly, bringing Joan back from her mental torture. She
+takes a cleansing breath of cool night air, emitting a sigh with its
+release. Pulling the blanket tighter, she snuggles deeper into the
+comfort of Adam’s arms. A lone star catches her gaze, prompting her
+to make a wish before returning to her dark night of Grace. ‘Oh God
+of second chances and new beginnings, here I am again.’
+
+photobucket.com
+