CHRISTMAS VIGIL

by

CQB

CHAPTER 5

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

Laura Hardy drove home, leaving her sister-in-law with Fenton.  She was tired, but knew she’d not sleep well until she knew for certain that Joey was going to be alright.  

She parked on the street, unable to pull up the driveway that bore the stain of her son’s blood beneath a layer of slushy snow.  

“Hello,” Laura called out as she hung her coat in the hall closet.   

“Mommy!”  

Laura knelt and opened her arms as Frank came running down the hall.  She covered his face and head with kisses, causing the child to giggle with glee.  

“Frankie, let’s go finish our project while Mommy gets a shower, okay?” Ethel Radley suggested, coming down the hall.  

“Are you working on something special?” Laura asked her son.  

“It’s a special surprise for Joey,” Frank answered, nodding his head enthusiastically.  

“I’ll go shower, and then you can tell me all about it,” Laura smiled as she started up the steps.  

* * *

After a hot shower and a fresh change of clothing, Laura felt less weary and wanted to get back to the hospital quickly.  

She made her way down the back steps and into the kitchen.  Frank and Ethel were eating soup and crackers for lunch.  Laura joined them.  

“Tell me about your project, Frankie,” Laura said encouragingly to the dark-haired child.  

Frank quickly explained about the cassette tape he’d made for his little brother.  

“Now Joey can hear my voice and he can wake up,” Frank beamed.  

Laura felt tears fill her eyes.  “That is a wonderful present for Joey,” she said.  “I’ll take it with me to the hospital and Daddy and I will play it for him.”  

Laura gave Ethel a grateful smile as she took the cassette and put it in her purse.  She went to Fenton’s office and picked up his tape player, too.  

Hugging her friend and kissing her son, she left for the hospital.  

* * *

“They’ve lightened the sedation, but he’s just not waking up,” Fenton told his sister.  

“Fenton,” Gertrude replied, choosing her words carefully, “I know you feel responsible and that you need to be here with Joey, but its Christmas Eve.  You and Laura need to be home with Frankie tonight.”  

She quickly continued before Fenton could protest.  “You know as well as I do, that Joey has such a heart for justice.  His favorite protest has always been, ’That’s not fair.’  He wants everything to be fair and just.  Joe would want Frankie to have a nice Christmas, even if he’s not there to share it with him.”  

“You’re right, of course,” Fenton sighed, peering at the small boy in the bed beside him.  “Frank needs us as much as Joe does.”  

“I’ll stay the night with Joey,” Gertrude offered.  “Mom and Dad can be here in the morning to relieve me.  Someone will be with Joey all the time.  

“Later, after Frankie opens his gifts, you and Laura can come over here and spend the afternoon with Joey.”  

Fenton nodded silently.  “I’ll go meet Laura and see what she thinks.  She should be back soon.”  

Fenton walked into the waiting room, just as Laura arrived.  He quietly told her about his sister’s proposed plan.  

“I’ve been praying for a miracle, Fenton,” Laura said when he was through.  “I’ve asked God to give Joey back to us for Christmas, and I think He’s going to do it.”  

“Oh, Love,” Fenton sighed.  “I want Joey back too, but we have to be realistic.”  

“It’s Christmas, Darling.  It’s the season of miracles,” Laura smiled and pulled out the tape player and cassette.   

“What is that?”  

“A tape,” she replied, still smiling, “a tape from Frank to Joe.”  

Fenton smiled.  “I guess it can’t hurt to try.”  

* * *

“Hi Joe.  It’s me, Frank.  

“I’m real sorry you got hurt by the bad man.  I hope you’re not too hurting.  

“I wish I could see you, but it’s just like when you were sick.  They say I’m too little, only this time, its worser ‘cause it’s Christmas Eve.  

“I’m worried that Santa Claus won’t be able to find you at that hospital.  Maybe if they don’t let kids in to visit, they won’t let Santa in either, ‘cause he’s like a kid in an old man’s shape.  

“I’m leaving Santa a note tonight.  I wrote on it that you are in the hospital and Aunt Ethel helped me write the directions.  I also wrote that if he was too busy to stop at the hospital, he could leave your presents here and I’ll keep them ‘til you can come home and open them.  

“Joey, I’m sorry I went to New York .  It wasn’t very fun without you.  I think Mommy was kinda mad at me ‘cause I got pretty grouchy.  

“Joey, please wake up!  I really miss you and I’m lonely without you. It just won’t be Christmas without you here!  

“Well, I gotta go so Mommy can bring this tape to the hospital.  Come home, little brother.  I love you.”  

Fenton pushed the ‘stop’ button on the cassette player.  Laura was sobbing softly and holding Joe’s hand.  They waited and watched, playing the recording through several times.  

Finally, after an hour, Fenton shut the tape player off one last time.  

Laura cried against her husband’s shoulders as the blond boy in the bed never moved.  

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