Chapter 37

Christmas Eve, I woke to light snow. We would have a white Christmas. I couldn’t help it. I put my White Christmas album on the stereo. I didn’t turn it up very loud, but while I did my exercise it put me in the mood.

Dad fixed pancakes for breakfast. It was one of the few times of the year we had the traditional breakfast food for breakfast, usually, they were for dinner. We also had bacon, eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee for those who wanted it. It was one of our family traditions.

We also gathered in the living room and put the last touches on the Christmas tree. Other families had theirs up and decorated for weeks. We had the bulbs and lights on, but we now strung the construction paper chains, the buckeye ropes and popcorn strings we had made.

Mum hung the aluminum icicles that she insisted on calling chaff. She really made me wonder at times. Dad performed the finishing touch of putting the angel on top of the tree. Mary plugged in the lights and we now had the official Jackson family Christmas tree. It was beautiful.

It kept snowing lightly all day. Since the ground was frozen, by ten o’clock everything was covered. We had two inches of fluffy powder by noon. Denny and Eddie bundled up and took off with a broom and shovel.

Mum had given strict orders that they were to clear the steps and sidewalks of Mrs. Cobain’s and Ferguson, both widows and friends of the family and to take no money. Then they were free to make as much as their little capitalist hearts desired.

I did our driveway and walks. I thought about going back to the house with my handheld out, but then decided I like having a hand.

We loafed around all afternoon. I thought about taking the time to sew all the patches and badges on my scout uniforms which had arrived, but decided I wasn’t up to that. There was something like eleven different items to be attached.

At least I wasn’t in a leadership position anymore so that was one less badge to sew on. Now that was interesting, at one time I wanted to be a leader so bad and was so proud when I made it, now it was one less badge to sew.

Church service was at five o’clock. Services would last for about one hour then there was a potluck dinner afterward. Mum was told not to bring anything, so she only baked a cake. I’m sure there is a rulebook somewhere.

We all dressed a little early. Mum and Dad looked very professional middle class in their new outfits. I thought I looked spiffy in my newest suit and tie. I had also picked up a dress overcoat on my trip to Lazarus and a new hat.

The coat was a Chesterfield in a black herringbone with a plush velvet collar. The hat a black Homburg and my gloves were a pair of thin black leather driving gloves. My shoes were black Florsheim Imperial wingtips. I had thought about a cane, but that might have been over the top.

It really felt good dressing like an adult. The seniors at school dressed like this every chance they could. I should do the same. For freshmen dressing up was khaki pants, a white shirt with a buttoned-down collar and a vee neck sweater. It really helped if they were all clean.

We arrived at church a little late and it turned out a good thing we did. The church was standing room only. After we stacked our coats and hats on a table since all the hooks were taken in the cloakroom we stood along the wall.

The reason it was a good thing we were late was that there were two groups, those that came every Sunday and had their regular places to sit. Just like in school if we didn’t have assigned seating we would sit anywhere, but from then on that is where we would sit.

The other group only came on Easter and Christmas. Since this was a special event for them they would show up early to get seats. The regulars would show up at the normal time thinking their seats would be available. I’m not sure if the looks exchanged or comments muttered were a sin or not. If they were half the congregation was on its way to hell.

I was really surprised to see Cheryl Hawthorne and her mother Cynthia. The man with them in the uniform of a full colonel in the U.S. Air Force must be her father, Jim. I should’ve worn my cowboy hat.

The service went well. The scripture read was the Christmas Story. The sermon was how mankind always has hope. The music was the best part. When four hundred people sing, “Joy to the World the Lord has come,” you have to feel something. Mary became tired so Mum took her out to the lobby.

At the end of the service, Dad went out to the car to retrieve the cake for the dinner. We met Mum and Mary coming out of a classroom that had been set up for tired kids. Mary was now wide awake and had made two new friends.

When we went downstairs we were all encouraged to sit at a table. Cheryl and Cynthia were waving us over. They had saved seats for us. There would be nine of us at a ten-person table. Cheryl introduced me to her father. It was maneuvered around that I sat between him and Cheryl.

We shook hands. At least he didn’t deck me. Though after I had that thought I realized I was probably six inches taller and forty pounds heavier. It would’ve taken him a lot of decking!

We were just sitting down when a voice came over the indoor loudspeaker. An airman in class A uniform was standing at the microphone.

He said, “Colonel I have an urgent report from the radar station.”

My heart sank I remembered the last time something urgent happened out there.

He continued, “Radar operators have identified an incoming flight from the North.”