(A narrative sometime after Thanksgiving but before Christmas)
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It was Scott’s privilege, or maybe not, to introduce Johnny to
Thanksgiving. Since it was Scott’s holiday Murdoch delegated the duty to
his elder son. Johnny wasn’t interested in some Yankee holiday about
pilgrims and a rock, or that they hand’t planned ahead so they were
starving, but it was nice the Indians gave them food. Or so Johnny thought
Scott told him since he phased out on the story and concentrated on the good
smells coming from Maria’s kitchen. Though the holiday didn’t mean much to
Johnny the food won him over and the Lancer’s celebrated their first
Thanksgiving as a family.
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With the colder weather upon them and the threat of snow in the air, Murdoch
and Scott began sharing stories of their childhood snow adventures. They
seemed to especially enjoy exaggerating how cold and wet they got building
snowmen and fighting snow ball wars. Johnny enjoyed the stories but had
trouble imagining what could possibly be fun about being cold and wet. Then
he remembered Murdoch and Boston like cheese on their apple pie...yep,
they’re crazy.
Another thing Johnny didn’t like about the cold weather was the amount of
clothing required for these so called snow adventures. Murdoch had
presented his younger son with a heavy jacket, wool scarf, fur lined gloves,
thick wool socks, new boots, flannel shirts, heavy pants, and long-johns.
The later didn’t appeal to him at all, they itched. He also realized that
by the time he was fully dressed he either had to pee or forgot why he was
doing all this in the first place. Also why were the old man and Scott
making him gear up when it wasn’t even snowing...yet.
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Christmas was two weeks away and Scott and Murdoch had been explaining
traditions, decorations, foods, and presents. As for the decorations, he
was so tired of Teresa and Scott pulling him into the mess, hang this, move
that, and ‘Johnny stay away from the cookies’. At this point Johnny
seriously considered shooting his brother and stepsister, but knew Murdoch
would be mad and he didn’t want to listen to the ol’ man’s yelling. Now
what did interest the former gunfighter was the getting presents part of
this holiday. After all when he was a boy presents were never a part of his
life, so this was new and exciting. However, much to the chagrin of the
rest of the Lancer’s, Johnny was constantly searching the hacienda for his
presents.
Now with Christmas approaching so came the chance of the dreaded snow. The
fact was he had never seen snow and was not in the least comforted that it
seemed to amuse his family. With the days getting shorter and colder he
decided his favorite place in the hacienda was on the rug in front of the
blazing fire. Scott said Johnny looked like a cat curled up on the rug.
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Finally the day arrived, Murdoch and Scott were overjoyed, however the
younger Lancer son was another matter. When they banged on his door and
announced that it was snowing he yelled, ‘Go away!’ and snuggled further
under his covers. He should have known that wouldn’t work.
Not to be dissuaded from the first snow day of the winter, they burst into
Johnny’s room, threw back the covers, and pulled the reluctant man from his
bed. Johnny was so surprised and it all happened before he could get to his
gun. Later he blamed his slowness on frozen fingers, otherwise there would
have been blood shed.
After much laughing by Murdoch and Scott and grumbling by Johnny the Lancer
men finally headed outside. Johnny kept scratching the itchy wool
long-johns, he was not happy, no, not by a long shot.
At first the snow novice was easy prey to the more experienced snow-ballers
but being a quick study it wasn’t long before he took his revenge. Soon
after Teresa joined Murdoch and Scott while Jelly joined forces with Johnny,
the war was on.
After team Murdoch won the snow ball war he mandated a snowman building
contest. The result was a snow family adorning the side yard. To show just
how he felt about snow things, and feeling he had been sorely used, Johnny’s
snowman sported a stick in the shape of a gun resting on it’s hip.
Exhausted, cold, and wet the Lancer’s decided to call it quits, and as the
afternoon sun disappeared everyone headed for the warmth of the Great
Room. Johnny was eager to get inside and warm up by the fire, he still
wasn’t completely convinced that snow was fun. A fact he didn’t hesitate to
let his family know, loud and clear.
Everyone had changed into dry clothes and gathered around the fire while
Maria and Teresa brought coffee, cocoa, cookies, and sandwiches to the
grateful men. Johnny was sprawled in his favorite spot in front of the
fire, Murdoch in his leather chair, Scott and Jelly on the sofa, and Teresa
in her chair working on her knitting. Each basked in their private revelry.
Murdoch looked at his children and knew this day would be a very special
memory for him. He would never forget watching his younger son learn about
snow, and the boy’s shocked look when the first snow ball hit him in the
face.
Murdoch relaxed into his chair, smiled, and thought in the battle of Johnny
vs Snow:
Snow won.
Next? How was going to keep Johnny from finding Santa’s gifts?
The End