CHRISTMAS MAGIC

by

Velvet

CHAPTER 4

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

The last few weeks to Christmas flew by in a round of parties, caroling, finals, baking and time with family and friends. Frank and Joe inducted the Kabanov children into the neighborhood tradition of building a giant snow family in the park, took them sledding and helped to build a snow fort in their backyard. The snow had fallen fast and thick for several days, leaving plenty to use for “ammunition”.  

Fenton indeed did not mind sharing Christmas dinner with the Kabanovs. Just like his sons, he had fallen hard to the youngest daughter's charm. Little Sophia was a blond angel, her dimpled smile spreading joy to whoever saw her. In the short time the family had been there, she had managed to wind her way into the hearts of nearly every person in the neighborhood.  

Once presents had been opened, Frank and Joe made quick work of tidying up the living room and re-arranging the remaining presents. The Kabanovs would arrive around noon, and Laura wanted to serve dinner about 1:30.  

Frank was upstairs putting away his new clothes and computer toys when the doorbell rang. He quickly abandoned the task and hurried down the stairs to greet the children.  

In addition to seven-year-old Sophia, Ivan and Elena Kabanov had 2 other children, both boys, Alexander, 10, and Mikhail, 5. The boys were always talking, reminding Frank of Joe.  

The three were shedding their coats and scarves in the hall when Frank and Joe appeared. Little Misha squealed and ran straight for Joe, wrapping his arms around the teen's legs. “Merry Christmas, Joe!”  

Joe pried the boy from his legs and bent down to hug him and the other two. “Merry Christmas! Want to see the tree?”  

All three nodded eagerly and followed Frank and Joe into the living room. A chorus of “Oohs” and “Aahs” were made by the three children as they looked at the tree.  

Sophia's little gasp told them that she had spotted the presents under the tree. Frank and Joe shared a smile.  

“Why are there two Christmases?” Alexander asked suddenly.  

“Yeah, Frank, why are there two Christmases?” Joe repeated, grinning impishly.  

Frank glared momentarily at his brother, then sat down on the floor. Both sets of parents had also entered the room and were waiting eagerly to see what Frank would say. The children sat down also, staring expectantly at Frank.  

“Well,” Frank started, “part of the reason is because Russia used to use a different calendar than the rest of the world, based on the moon instead of the sun. That makes the days come out different.”  

“Why?” Misha interrupted.  

Joe smothered a laugh behind his hand, which earned him another brief glare from Frank.  

“The “why” is very boring, Misha.”  

“I do not like boring,” the boy stated.  

“I don't either,” Joe added. “So what's the rest of the reason, Frank?”  

Frank muttered something under his breath in Russian that caused Alexander to giggle, and Joe to glare at his brother.  

“Christmas is magic, Misha. And sometimes, there's just too much magic for one day. Christmas is one of those times where there's so much magic, it can't help but spill over to another day.”  

Sophia looked very thoughtful, so Frank looked at her. “What, Sophia?”  

“Can you have the magic on both days?”  

“Of course you can. Joe and I do. I think having two Christmases is fun. You have twice as many presents.”  

Misha's mouth dropped open. “Twice as many presents?” He whirled around to look at his parents. “Mama, can we have two Christmases? Please?”

Elena smiled at her youngest. “There's more to Christmas than getting presents, Misha. Part of what is so wonderful about Christmas magic is sharing it.”  

“Exactly. You have to share magic, not keep it to yourself,” Frank added.  

Fenton reached over and squeezed Laura's hand. These were some of the same words Fenton had used so many years ago to explain this very same thing to Frank. He had sat much the same way Misha and Alexander were sitting: legs crossed Indian style, chin on his hands, his brown eyes wide as he thought about the magic so big that one day couldn't hold it.  

The three children nodded in agreement with their mother and Frank.
 

“Dinner is ready!” Laura announced about an hour later. She laughed as the children raced into the dining room, Frank and Joe right behind them. All took their seats and Fenton asked a blessing on the food.

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