Sister Mary Christmas
After much discussion elsewhere, I think posting this here is the correct decision...or not. :)
Title: Sister Mary Christmas
Author: omteddy2006
Rating: PG
Words: 392
Characters: Allan, Tom
Summary: A young Allan discovers the truth about a mythical Christmas figure...
Credit: My beautiful Christmas icon of Allan is by railise
Author's Note: Originally written for a challenge in the Christmas round of competition at hoodland . The instructions were "to bestow a Merry Christmas upon one or more characters." I took them literally.
Allan was almost seven-years-old when he figured out that there was no “Sister Mary Christmas.”
As a wee tot, barely able to speak, he had asked his father why people said “Mary Christmas” to each other. Who was Mary Christmas?
His father had slurred in response, “Mary Schismas is a mean nun. She’s in charge of da’ children who’re naughty.” The solid-built and somewhat menacing smithy looked his oldest son in the eye, barely able to focus, and threw his arms out wide. “She wears a big, black robe and carries a large switch. So, BE GOOD or I’ll send ya to ‘er.” Then, he cuffed Allan on the ear.
All year long, Allan would wander through the market place with little Tom in tow. Always looking for trouble or excitement, the Brothers a’ Dale were fairly lucky in the spring, summer, and autumn. But, come winter, when there were fewer people about and it was a lot harder to get lost in a crowd, that darn Sister Mary Christmas would start making her rounds of the village!
Allan a’ Dale would stand, backed into a stall, reaching clandestinely behind him for a bit of bread or scrap of meat, and suddenly, from out of nowhere, someone in the crowd would yell “Mary Christmas!” Startled, the young lad would scurry away-his meal scuppered and his nerves frayed. He never understood why people called out so boisterously whenever she was near, but he appreciated the warning!
Years later, upon learning that there was no “Sister Mary Christmas,” young Allan was incensed. As if the humiliating laughter of the other boys was not enough, he had lived in fear of Mary Christmas-all because of his shiftless father. He stormed home to tell the old man off with Tom running beside him to keep pace. Upon reaching the house, however, there was no one to tell off. His father had taken off with what little the family had, two days before the Yuletide holidays.
As a grown man, Allan no longer had to fear Sister Mary Christmas and he had fortunately experienced many happy Christmases since that time. Still, his holiday spirit was a bit tainted by memories of days gone past. Even as an adult, he cringed a bit whenever someone called out “Merry Christmas,” much preferring “Happy Holidays” as a salutation.
Title: Sister Mary Christmas
Author: omteddy2006
Rating: PG
Words: 392
Characters: Allan, Tom
Summary: A young Allan discovers the truth about a mythical Christmas figure...
Credit: My beautiful Christmas icon of Allan is by railise
Author's Note: Originally written for a challenge in the Christmas round of competition at hoodland . The instructions were "to bestow a Merry Christmas upon one or more characters." I took them literally.
Allan was almost seven-years-old when he figured out that there was no “Sister Mary Christmas.”
As a wee tot, barely able to speak, he had asked his father why people said “Mary Christmas” to each other. Who was Mary Christmas?
His father had slurred in response, “Mary Schismas is a mean nun. She’s in charge of da’ children who’re naughty.” The solid-built and somewhat menacing smithy looked his oldest son in the eye, barely able to focus, and threw his arms out wide. “She wears a big, black robe and carries a large switch. So, BE GOOD or I’ll send ya to ‘er.” Then, he cuffed Allan on the ear.
All year long, Allan would wander through the market place with little Tom in tow. Always looking for trouble or excitement, the Brothers a’ Dale were fairly lucky in the spring, summer, and autumn. But, come winter, when there were fewer people about and it was a lot harder to get lost in a crowd, that darn Sister Mary Christmas would start making her rounds of the village!
Allan a’ Dale would stand, backed into a stall, reaching clandestinely behind him for a bit of bread or scrap of meat, and suddenly, from out of nowhere, someone in the crowd would yell “Mary Christmas!” Startled, the young lad would scurry away-his meal scuppered and his nerves frayed. He never understood why people called out so boisterously whenever she was near, but he appreciated the warning!
Years later, upon learning that there was no “Sister Mary Christmas,” young Allan was incensed. As if the humiliating laughter of the other boys was not enough, he had lived in fear of Mary Christmas-all because of his shiftless father. He stormed home to tell the old man off with Tom running beside him to keep pace. Upon reaching the house, however, there was no one to tell off. His father had taken off with what little the family had, two days before the Yuletide holidays.
As a grown man, Allan no longer had to fear Sister Mary Christmas and he had fortunately experienced many happy Christmases since that time. Still, his holiday spirit was a bit tainted by memories of days gone past. Even as an adult, he cringed a bit whenever someone called out “Merry Christmas,” much preferring “Happy Holidays” as a salutation.