Does a Christmas story need an epigraph?

  Does a prequel chapter?

  I guess this’ll do.

  EPIGRAPH!

  Cassy time.

  *****

  Cassandra Arthur Murphy was trying very hard to sit still in the back seat of her parents shiny hover car. Papa Murphy had switched it over to manual when the winter storm that snuck up on them started buffeting them about, and her bouncing around excitedly might distract him, mama had said.

  Sitting still was not something 7 year old Cassy was good at, but she was trying her best. It was almost Christmas, and they were almost to Vermont, where Gram Gram lived. She gave the best hugs, and made the best cookies, and somehow made even boring tea taste like heaven in a cup, without adding half the sugar bowl!

  They had almost cancelled the trip this year, Vermont had been on the edge of a plant incursion 2 months ago. Mom and Dad were worried that it might still be dangerous, but Gram Gram had told them there was no way she was missing Christmas with her only grandchild, and that the local Samurai had everything cleaned up and safe.

  Mom had still been reluctant, she was a big worrier, Cassy thought sometimes worrying was her moms favorite activity, outside of working all day. Dad was with Cassy though, the hugs and cookies were worth a little trip, plus they didn’t get much snow at home, and it wasn’t Christmas without snow angels in the morning.

  Cassandra was jolted from her reverie as the hover car began to plummet, her mother screaming in fear and clutching to her husband's arm. Cassy would have joined her if she hadn’t caught her fathers grin in the rear view mirror, he was just playing, Cassy broke out into happy giggles instead as the drop settled out.

  Her fathers deep hearty laughter echoed from the front seat. “Almost there kiddo, get your hugging arms ready!”

  Mrs. Murphy punched Mr. Murphy playfully in the shoulder. “You absolute as… You, you, clown of a man! Just wait till I get you alone, I’ll teach you a lesson or two.” Esther glared at Lance, not trying to hide her smile.

  Cassandra spread her arms as wide as she could, and brought them in tight to hug herself tightly, repeating a few times. “Warming up the hugging arms papa, Gram Gram is going to be so impressed by how good my hugs are this year.”

  “Mom? What’s a clown?”

  “I’m not sure hunny, it’s just a word we use for people who act silly. We can look it up tonight if you like?”

  ****

  Marylinn Murphy looked to the display on the wall, her son and his family were almost here. The timing would be perfect, the latest batch of gingerbread cookies would just be cool enough to decorate when they arrived.

  Her eyes scanned the rest of the house, looking to make sure everything was just right, and that no signs of the damage the nasty plants had done persisted. Oh, there were a few wood panels that looked newer than the others, and she’d had to replace some of the old knick knacks that weren’t salvageable. Thankfully her two favorite works of art had survived, a watercolor Lance had done of her and her late husband Victor a couple years before he had passed, and slightly crumpled crayon image of Super Gram! Cassy had given her last Christmas, now framed on the fireplace mantle. The accidental chocolate finger print still visible in the corner. Cassy had almost thrown it out, worried she’d ruined it with her sticky fingers, Marylinn had insisted the fingerprint only made it better.

  She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh Vic, you and Cassy would have had so much fun together, I wish… Oh I wish so many things.” Mary put down the framed photo she had picked up. Victor dressed as Santa, Cassy not yet 1 years old on his knee, their first and last Christmas together.

  Mary pinched her own cheeks and gave her head a shake. “That’s enough of the maudlin Mary, It’s time for some joy.” Pulling a smile to her face, she headed back to the kitchen, there wasn’t enough flour on her hands and apron, the first hugs of Christmas should leave reminders.

  ****

  “Cassy love, don’t forget your pillow in the… And she’s gone” Lance looked to the already open front door as his daughter finished the arc of her leap with a puff of flour in his mothers arms. He was worried she’d get bowled over and hurt herself, but she stood remarkably firm under the 7 year olds onslaught.

  “I’ve got the pillow Lance, and I’ll grab the rest of the bags. We can let the two of them have fun while we get things up to the rooms.” Esther leaned in and gave her husband a soft kiss on the cheek, both of their arms full of bags. “You know those two will be inseparable until she works off the energy from sitting still for so long.”

  “Nah, I’m pretty sure mom would have kept pretty busy the last couple hours, you know how she likes to go overboard.”

  “You goof, you know I meant our daughter.” She gave her husband a playful glare as they walked through the snow to the still open front door. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten about that stunt back there, you’d better sleep with one eye open mister”

  “Always do around Christmas, gotta try and catch Santa, or one of his recon elves sneaking about.” Lance replied with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows.

  *****

  It took more than a few hours for Cassandra’s enthusiastic energy to expend itself, even while decorating the cooled chocolate gingerbread cookies she struggled to sit still, while keeping up a constant stream of life updates for her beloved Gram Gram. After cookies Cassy helped make supper, Lance and Esther tried to help as well, but they were given hot cocoa with a little dash of irish and told to enjoy the fire. Grandma only had to warn them about doing work instead of relaxing once.

  After supper was concluded, a healthy meal with far more veggies, and far less candy than Cassy would have liked, the table was cleared off and games took it over. The young girl did her best to play the complex games the adults were enjoying, but soon grew bored. Sticking with Gram Gram’s preference for tangible activities, paper and crayons were provided as a distraction.

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  Several rounds of contract rummy, and a few hands of wizard later, the house was growing silent, everyone feeling the toll of the long and exciting day. The adults found Cassandra sprawled out asleep in front of the fireplace, a string of chocolate tinged drool just barely missing her latest masterpiece, a giant gingerbread person crushing veggies beneath their feet.

  Esther wiped the drool from her daughter's cheek as she lifted her up off the floor, whispering as she asked, “Where did she get the chocolate?”

  “She snuck in and grabbed a few out of the box when you two were debating the rules of stealing wild cards” Grandma replied quietly.

  Lance gave his mother a hug, laughing softly. “No wonder she loves it here, you let her get away with anything.”

  Cassy began to stir in her mothers arms, the three adults shared sheepish grins and waved goodnight as they headed for bed. If Cassandra woke now, she’d be up for hours.

  *****

  The following day was the eve, of the eve, of christmas. It began with the 4 family members bumping elbows in the kitchen in a competition to see who could make the best pancakes, the married couple or a grandmother and her grandchild. The results were inconclusive at best, but it was agreed by all, even the youngster, that oops all chocolate chips was not a good recipe. Far too hard to flip, and burnt chocolate was never pleasant.

  Breakfast was digesting, and 8 hands were making quick work of the kitchen clean up, when there was a knock at the front door, which promptly opened, a youngish looking man dressed head to toe in bright orange stepping through.

  “Hey Gram Gram, how’s the morning? Thought I’d stop by and check how the repairs were… oh you have company.” The orange clan man stopped sheepishly as the door closed behind him, waving awkwardly at the 4 faces peering out of the kitchen at him.

  “You are very orange” Cassy said into the awkward silence.

  Grandma Murphy gave the orange man a surreptitious glare, quickly switching to an exasperated smile. “Don’t you lie to me young man, you were probably skiing by on those darn rocket ski’s of yours and smelled pancakes on the wind. Well too bad, Cassy and I are saving the leftovers for a midnight snack.” Grams and Cassy shared a wink and a giggle.

  “Family, this is Orange-you-glad, a nice young Samurai that helped out when the shrubs got rowdy.”

  “Orange, this is my son Lance, his wife Esther, and the greatest granddaughter in the world, Cassandra.”

  “Shoot, sorry Gram Gram, I forgot they would be here today. I’ll just ping Candle, and see if they want to pat…” Orange stopped speaking as Grandma Murphy coughed loudly.

  “Actually, there is something you could maybe help an old lady out with Mr. Orange. Let me get my coat on, and I’ll show you. The old wood shed took a beating in the last big snow.”

  “I’m sure the Samurai has other things to take up his time than the old woodshed Mom, I can take a look at it later if you like”

  Orange-you-glad was looking quickly back and forth between mother and son, a shared look with the older woman had his face lighting up briefly, though quickly hidden. “Oh, no, it’s no big deal. With no evil plants around, helping out residents in need is all part of a days work for us local Samurai. No big deal at all, Gram Gram and I will be right back, she’s safe with me. Have no fear.”

  Gram Gram shook her head at the young mans awkward rambling, as she did up the last buttons on her coat. “Come along youngster, I’ll show you the shed.”

  A clang from the kitchen and a missing Cassy had both parents turning around, as the others headed out into the snowy cold.

  As they trudged away from the house Orange turned to Gram Gram. “I’m sorry I showed up unannounced, I forgot what day it is, but what was that all about? You are acting strange…”

  Grandma stopped and glared upward at the young man. “They don’t know about what really happened during the incursion. I don’t want them to know, not yet at least. I just want to have a normal Christmas, at least one more, before, you know…” She gestured broadly, a sad smile on her face.

  “So, they don’t know that you are…”

  “No, and for now, I’d like to keep it that way. That young girl in there is the most precious thing in the world to me, and the longer I can keep the harsh realities from touching her…”

  “It’s ok Gram Gram, I get it. I’ll see if Candle or Sasquatch can help me out today. We’ll make sure you have a quiet Christmas with the family.”

  Gram Gram gave him a pat on the cheek, and a bright smile. “You’re a good kid, so are the others, tell them I said thanks.”

  “Oh, and can you knock over the woodshed before you go? Can’t have Lance calling me a liar.” She laughed.

  “For the woman who makes the cookies that literally save lives? Yeah I can knock over a woodshed or two.”

  “And here, for the family.” With a flourish, Orange-you-glad pulled a wicker basket full of satsuma from under his jacket.

  Grandma accepted the basket with a smile and a bow. “I graciously accept your gift, oh great and powerful Samurai.”

  *****

  The Murphy’s stayed in Vermont with Grandma for a full week. A week full of amazing food, far too many sweets, and not nearly enough hugs, at least as far as the eldest and youngest Murphy's were concerned. More than one evening ended with Cassy curled up on, or against her grandmother, often in a sugar coma.

  Cassy got many fancy and fun toys on christmas morning, but far her favorite was from her grandparents. The elder Mrs. Murphy had gifted Cassy a beautiful old watch that she had once given to her husband Victor. The rear cover was engraved with the phrase “Time Flies when I’m with you.” It was far too big for the young girl, but she insisted on carrying it everywhere.

  On boxing day, Orange showed up again, accompanied by a young woman in a fuzzy white parka, and a man barely taller than Cassy, who sported a huge and very bushy beard. They introduced themselves as Candle and Sasquatch respectively, and revealed an array of toboggans and sleds waiting behind them. Grandma had given each of the trio a glare, but had given in to the bright expectant eyes of her son and grandchild. The day was spent sliding both up and down the slopes around them. No self respecting Samurai would make a sled you had to walk back up the hill with.

  Somewhere in the comfort and chaos Cassy had remembered her mothers words in the car, and asked her grandmother what clowns were. The duo spent most of an evening searching the mesh for answers, and laughing together at ancient films of clowny antics. A new framed crayon picture now stood on the fireplace mantle. Cassy the Clown, first draft, with two very deliberate chocolate thumbprints in the corner, one for each of the contributing artists.

  All too soon however, the Murphys’ vacation in Vermont came to a close, Lance and Esther had jobs to return to, and Cassy had school. Tears were shed, many many hugs were given. It was never certain who’s arms were harder to pry from the other, Cassy or her grandmother, all the same they were pulled apart and Cassy was buckled in.

  As the car lifted off to head back home, Cassandra Arthur Murphy sat quietly in the back seat, a note pad and crayons in her hand, an old watch hanging loosely from one wrist, and images of clowns in motley dancing in her head.

  On the ground a teary eyed grandmother waved at the car until it faded into the mountain mists. “Well Wylfredd, I guess vacation time is over. Back to the grind. How are Can't Hold A Candle and the others doing?”

  A voice echoed in her mind. “Certainly Samurai Gram Gram, it was lovely to relax, but work must be done. The children are out hunting stragglers two peaks west, they seem to have everything in hand, although I’m sure they would welcome some cocoa and cookies.”

  Gram Gram let out a huff. “I’ve told you, Wylf, no need to be so formal. We’re partners in this.”

  “As you say Samurai Gram Gram, as you say.”