(no subject)
Jordan doesn't dream about the bad man much. Not anymore. Daddy's friend chased him away. But he had to go away, too. She misses him sometimes, especially when she sees Mommy and Daddy looking sad.
Or on nights like tonight.
Jordan meant to stay up and see Santa come, but then she remembered that makes him sad (Mommy and Daddy explained that last year, and Jordan doesn't want to make anyone sad, not on Christmas), so she took Benny and held him even when he wriggled, and eventually she fell asleep.
And dreamed.
***
The angel on top of the Christmas tree is singing, but Mommy and Daddy can't hear it. Jordan can, even when it sings in the funny Latin they use in church Adestes Fidelis only they're riding on the train and the angel isn't a pretty lady dressed in red, he's a man in a black coat asking 'Jordan will you help me? Will you?' and she isn't supposed to talk to strangers but he isn't one, really, so it's okay, and she puts her hand in his and he takes her to the apple orchard in the snow and shows her the tree all lit up with candles 'you can hang one too' and the lady standing next to him bends down and lights Jordan's candle only hers goes out because the wax spills and she helps Jordan put it high as she can reach and the angel-man smiles and tugs her back and he's singing too and so is Jordan and so is Daddy but Mommy isn't here where's Mommy why isn't she--
Benny whimpers in his sleep, jerking under Jordan's arm.
"Ow. Benny! Stop chasing rabbits."
That's what Mommy always says when Benny makes noise like that. Or kicks when he's laying down to sleep.
She tries really hard to go back to sleep, but her tummy's all tight and excited. Maybe Santa came already. Maybe she'll get to meet him!
Jordan tries to be very quiet as she pushes Benny aside to get out of beed, footie pajamas sliding a little on the carpet. She can be like a spy, sneaking by Mommy and Daddy's door. They won't notice. They're sleeping, too!
Or on nights like tonight.
Jordan meant to stay up and see Santa come, but then she remembered that makes him sad (Mommy and Daddy explained that last year, and Jordan doesn't want to make anyone sad, not on Christmas), so she took Benny and held him even when he wriggled, and eventually she fell asleep.
And dreamed.
***
The angel on top of the Christmas tree is singing, but Mommy and Daddy can't hear it. Jordan can, even when it sings in the funny Latin they use in church Adestes Fidelis only they're riding on the train and the angel isn't a pretty lady dressed in red, he's a man in a black coat asking 'Jordan will you help me? Will you?' and she isn't supposed to talk to strangers but he isn't one, really, so it's okay, and she puts her hand in his and he takes her to the apple orchard in the snow and shows her the tree all lit up with candles 'you can hang one too' and the lady standing next to him bends down and lights Jordan's candle only hers goes out because the wax spills and she helps Jordan put it high as she can reach and the angel-man smiles and tugs her back and he's singing too and so is Jordan and so is Daddy but Mommy isn't here where's Mommy why isn't she--
Benny whimpers in his sleep, jerking under Jordan's arm.
"Ow. Benny! Stop chasing rabbits."
That's what Mommy always says when Benny makes noise like that. Or kicks when he's laying down to sleep.
She tries really hard to go back to sleep, but her tummy's all tight and excited. Maybe Santa came already. Maybe she'll get to meet him!
Jordan tries to be very quiet as she pushes Benny aside to get out of beed, footie pajamas sliding a little on the carpet. She can be like a spy, sneaking by Mommy and Daddy's door. They won't notice. They're sleeping, too!