"Good morning Joseph!" A voice boomed next to him. It scared him so bad that he nearly hit the top of the van with his head. He turned his head to see a middle aged man with brown hair. He was wearing jeans and a Cleveland Browns shirt and his hair was quite curly.

"Who are you and why are you in my van on Christmas Eve?" Joe said, struggling to make sense of everything.

"I am the spirit of Christmas past and I am here because you have been a little difficult lately if I say so myself," the man answered.

"I never asked you," Joe snorted back. He went to push him out of the van, but his hand went through him.

"Sorry, you can only move things that have matter and well… I don’t! I am just a bunch of air now!" the man laughed.

"Whatever. Could you please just get out of my van and leave me alone?"

"I don’t think that will be possible. You see if I do, then a certain loved one of your will kick my butt all over the Big Dipper," the man who called himself a spirit answered. "Sorry, but I am not going to go back until my job is done."

"And what is your job?"

"To take you back in time. A time when Christmas was special and so was life," the man replied.

Joe felt himself being pulled into another dimension as his eyes grew droopy and the world went black. Then it was like a movie was playing before his eyes. He could not speak or even move. All he could do was watch as the images of Christmas past came back to life once again.

"Frank! Wake up, Santa has been here!" a little boy with blond hair whispered. He was shaking another boy, who was fast asleep in his bed.

"JOE! For Heaven’s sake, it is still dark! Go back to sleep!" the dark haired boy replied.

"Santa has been here. There are all kinds of presents under the tree! Come with me and see!" the younger boy whispered again.

"How do you know?"

"Because I sneaked all the way down there and back."

Frank sat up and put his slippers on. "If mom and dad catches us…"

"They won’t, just be quiet and come on!" Joe beckoned Frank to follow him. Both boys crept down the steps, not wanting to disturb their parents. It was pretty easy to be quiet since their sleepers had feet in them. But they did have to move slowly so they would not slide on the carpet. When they made it to the bottom of the steps, both boys stood there in amazement. There was their Christmas tree, fully lit, exposing all of the gifts that were below it.

"WOW! Santa has been here!" Frank said with his mouth opened wide.

"I know, let’s open just one," Joe said, walking towards the tree.

"I don’t think that is a good idea. Mom and Dad always like to take pictures and stuff when we unwrap things," Frank said sternly. But Joe was already over by the tree. The youngest Hardy picked up a box and gently shook it.

"This is one of yours Frank. It sounds like a Lego set to me," Joe said, holding it out.

"Put it down Joe. You are going to get us in trouble!"

"Didn’t you want Lego stuff?"

"Yes."

"Well I think that this is what it is. Open it and see if I am right," Joe said holding it out again. Frank hesitated. He felt like Adam in the Garden of Eden, but he was being tempted by his little brother. But one present wouldn’t matter. Frank took the gift and opened it quietly. Sure enough, it was a Lego set.

"JOE! We can build houses and skyscrapers now!" Frank whispered in excitement. Then Frank bent down and grabbed one labeled "Joe". He shook it and felt it.

"I think this might be that remote control car that you wanted," Frank said, handing the present to his brother. Joe happily took it and opened it up. Frank was right. It was the remote control monster truck that he had been eyeing at the local toy store.

For the next half-hour, the boys took turns guessing the presents and then opening them up to see if they were right. Frank called them "little mysteries all wrapped up". The brothers were solving "mysteries" just like their father. By morning light when Laura and Fenton made it downstairs, the boys had opened all of their gifts and were fast asleep on the floor, curled up into each other’s arms.

Joe could not help but smile at the vision. It was always a tradition that the brothers try to guess what each present was, even to this day. Then the "movie" moved a little faster until it was a mere blur of pictures. This time the setting was at the Morton farm.

The young teenagers had just returned from their annual ride to see the Christmas lights. It was the first year that Frank was able to drive everyone in the old station wagon. He had got his license the summer before that Christmas. Somehow, they all fit into the large family station wagon. Everyone went inside, except for Iola and Joe. Iola very coyly grabbed Joe’s hand and drug him to the barn.

"I have a surprise for you!" Iola said proudly. She was so beautiful in her jeans and red coat with scarf.

"What?" Joe asked.

Iola led him over to one of the stalls. There was a baby horse, standing beside its mother.

"She had her baby and I delivered him myself!" Iola squealed in delight.

"I am so proud of you! I knew you could do it."

"Dad was in town and I was here by myself so I had no choice. He was born this morning, on Christmas Eve day. That is why I am going to name him Nick," Iola said as Joe hugged her tightly. She felt good in his arms.

"Iola, you are going to make a great vet someday," Joe said. Then the couples eyes locked and slowly they moved closer together. Soon they were engaged in one of the most memorable kisses.

"I also have something to tell you," Joe said quietly. He pulled out his class ring and held it out for Iola to take. "Iola Morton, I love you and I want you to be my girl. I just got it today."

Iola’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Tears of happiness filled her eyes as she jumped up against Joe. Joe grabbed her into a big bear hug and playfully swung her around into a position that he was holding her up in his arms.

"This is the best Christmas ever," Iola said as they shared another passionate kiss.