Death comes to Christmas

It was a few days before Thanksgiving at the home of the Jackson’s. Mrs. Jackson began decorating their two floors 5 bedroom house in preparation for Christmas with the help of her two children Greg 12 and Melissa 10.

It was a family ritual that they all looked forward too, but this year it wasn’t the same as Mr. Jackson had past away just a few months ago.

So although Mrs. Jackson made an effort to keep her two children’s in the spirit of the holiday they would sometimes end up with their spirits down as they remembered what their father was responsible for doing, not to mention how much fun he was.

Chuck Jackson died due to heart problems young in his life. He was very funny, hysterical many would say and this was his favorite time of year and his wife and his kids knew it.

Although Mrs. Cecilia Jackson would try to bring fun and laughter into the Jackson household it was sometimes met with sadness, because it would remind the kids of the dad.

A few days before Thanksgiving there was a knock on the door at the Jackson’s residence. Greg answered the door and there stood death in an old tattered smoky grey hood and robe carrying a large sickle as great big snowflakes danced all about him as the night wind blew.

Standing there speechless in the front door wide open staring death right in his face Mrs. Jackson comes to the door and asked Greg; “Who is it?”

Looking out the door at who was standing there Mrs. Jackson gasped and with a hard swallow, placing her hands on her son’s shoulders she told Greg to go to his room, but Greg just stood there frozen in place.

Then Death moaned a scary deep moan and Mrs. Jackson asked Death; “What do you want, haven’t you caused this household enough grief?”

Death then said; “I am lost, I don’t know who I am, can you help me?”

Greg looked up at his mom wide eyed with an expression that said, don’t you do it mom, don’t you do it. Suddenly Mrs. Jackson’s head felt funny and before she realized it she had welcome death into her home.

Walking into the Jackson’s home Mrs. Jackson led Death into the living room where Melissa was decorating the Christmas tree. 

Turning around to see what guest had came to the house Melissa in seeing Death standing there in the middle of the living room floor drops the model of the Star Trek Enterprise that she was about to hang on the tree and stands there staring with her eyes and mouth wide open not uttering a sound scared out of her wits.

“Come here Melissa,” said Mrs. Jackson, but Melissa was unable to move. Walking over to her daughter Mrs. Jackson brought Melissa over to where Greg and she were standing.

“What is he doing here,” Melissa whispered.

“He said he’s lost and doesn’t know who he is,” answered Greg speaking softly.

“Can you help me, I am lost and I don’t remember who I am,” said Death one more time.

Walking over to Death, Mrs. Jackson asked him to hand her his sickle and Death handed his sickle to her willingly. “Now let me have your hooded coat,” said Mrs. Jackson with a slight tremble and hesitancy in her voice.

Taking off his hood and coat there stood a man 6 foot 3 inches tall with dark brown eyes, dark hair, big nose, medium size mouth with a slightly pitted face.

The clothes that he wore were ancient and were no better than the robe that first covered them.

Mrs. Jackson had Death sit on the sofa and told the children to follow her as she went into the kitchen to get Death something to drink and to take this opportunity to talk with Greg and Melissa about their current situation.

As Mrs. Jackson fixed Death a mug of hot cocoa and placed a marshmallow in it, Greg looked at his mom and said; “Do you think that Death would drink hot cocoa with a marshmallow in it?”

Greg’s mom just looked at her kids and walked into the living room with the hot cocoa with the marshmallow in it and took it over to Death.

Handing Death the mug of hot cocoa with the marshmallow in it which she poured into one of her Christmas ceramic mugs she asked Death what is his name?

“I don’t recall what my name is,” answered Death sadly.

“Well, until you remember, we will call you Gabriel,” said Mrs. Jackson.

Sitting down as Gabriel drank his hot cocoa Mrs. Jackson, Greg and Melissa looked on watching Death who they all are now to call Gabriel drinking his hot cocoa which he appeared to have enjoyed.

“Well children it’s time for you both to get ready for bed, so say good night to Gabriel,” said Mrs. Jackson.

“Good night Gabriel,” said Melissa sweetly.

“Good night Gabe,” said Greg that got him a stern look from his mother, “Good night Gabriel,” Greg then said as him and his sister walked out of the living room and up the stairs to their bedrooms.

Mrs. Jackson went and got Gabriel as pillow and a blanket from the hall closet and told Gabriel that he could sleep there on the sofa.

Waking up in the morning Gabriel found a change of clothes on the chair across from the sofa and when the kids came down stairs from sleeping they found Gabriel dressed in their father’s clothes looking all normal.

Mrs. Jackson came downstairs and said; “Oh don’t you look,” and she caught herself . . . “nice,” as Greg and Melissa looked at her.

After making breakfast and sitting down at the table to eat, Mrs. Jackson began saying grace as the kids looked on and to their surprise Gabriel joined in with saying the grace with Mrs. Jackson.

Everyone in the household was rushing about that morning and Gabriel just sat and watched as the excitement filled the house.  They were getting ready to go to the town’s Christmas parade.

“Mom,” said Greg, “Are we taking Gabriel with us?”

Mrs. Jackson looked over at Gabriel sitting there on the sofa all wide eyed with curiosity and answered, “Of course.” 

The parade was spectacular as per usual, bright and filled with Christmassy colors and music. The snow thick as it was did not prevent the parade from going on and now everyone was waiting for Santa and his reindeer to arrive. 

Hearing bells jingling and jangling everyone at the parade looked up to the sky and a big Ho, Ho, Ho was heard and there he was with his reindeer flying through the sky Santa Claus!

Gabriel in seeing Santa Claus began to levitate and float toward Santa Claus and his reindeer and Greg tried to stop Gabriel and pull him down by his pants, but he was too late.  Gabriel floated toward Santa and his reindeer and as approached the reindeer took off leaving the parade in a mad dash.

Getting Gabriel back to their house, Mrs. Jackson and the kids didn’t know what to say and then Mrs. Jackson asked Gabriel; “Gabriel what do you call yourself doing this morning at the parade?”

Gabriel with a bewildered look on his face answered; “I don’t know.” “I just saw the man in the red suit and I was drawn to him,” Gabriel concluded.

“Well you scared him off,” said Mrs. Jackson angrily, “and you spoiled the parade for the kids and everyone,” Mrs. Jackson continued.

“Not for me,” Greg hastily interjected, “that was cool.”

“Yeah that was really cool,” said Melissa joining her brother, “can you fly me like Superman,” Melissa continued.

Mrs. Jackson hearing her two children gave both Greg and Melissa her mother’s deadly stare and both Greg and Melissa became instantly quiet.

“Well it is obvious that we can’t take you anywhere, so for now on you will stay inside,” ordered Mrs. Jackson.

Greg had noticed that his father’s clothes that Gabriel was wearing was becoming old and tattered like the robe that Gabriel once wore and so he told his mother.

Mrs. Jackson seeing what her son had told her was true , took Gabriel upstairs to the master bedroom and told him to go take a shower.

Bringing him towels and a wash cloth, Mrs. Jackson walked into the bathroom only to find Gabriel standing there naked staring at himself in the mirror.

Covering her eyes, Mrs. Jackson hands Gabriel the towel and wash cloth then turns on the shower and told Gabriel to get in and wash up. As she walked out of the bathroom Mrs. Jackson couldn’t believe how buffed Gabriel was, like an Adonis.

As the days went by it appeared that Gabriel still hadn’t a clue to who or what he was prior to coming to the Jackson’s house. Gabriel had become a part of the family, helping them clean and repair things that needed repairing, he even helped Greg and Melissa with their school assignments and yes he even played with them, but he never again flew.

Doing her last minute Christmas shopping Mrs. Jackson found herself looking at some clothing for Gabriel. She thought that he should have his own clothing rather than wearing her deceased husband’s.

It was Christmas Eve and everyone was getting ready for bed, but before they did it was tradition for everyone to open one Christmas present.

Everyone opened their presents and they left Gabriel for last. In opening his Christmas present Gabriel found a pocket watch that had a big “G” on the front of it and when he opened it up it contained a picture of him and the Jacksons that they had taken a few days before. Gabriel smiled and told the Jacksons thanks.

With the kids all gone to bed just Mrs. Jackson and Gabriel were up finishing up their hot cocoa.

As the two up them walked up the stairs and were about to part ways after Mrs. Jackson told Gabriel good night Gabriel took Mrs. Jackson by the hand and said; “Cecilia, if you like I could make love to you, with you.”

Cecilia totally caught off guard stood there in shock.

“I can do husbandly things with you if you so desire,” Gabriel continued.

Cecilia’s eyes began to tear as she felt Gabriel’s sincerity and she touched his face with her hand and tenderly kissed his lips and told him good night and went to her bedroom.

Gabriel lying there in his bed couldn’t sleep as he tried to count sheep he found the sheep in his head as blowing up into ashes as he counted them and his head was floating off of the pillow.

Getting up from his bed now standing in the dresser mirror staring at himself wondering who and what he was.  Just then he sees an image in the mirror standing behind him in the mirror near his bedroom window . . . its Santa Claus.

Both Gabriel and Santa Claus sat down and talked while Santa soaked his feet in a basin of hot water as his socks dried off on the radiator.

Santa Claus told Gabriel the Jacksons were his Christmas gift and Gabriel was theirs’. Santa told him that Gabriel needed the Jacksons and they needed Gabriel, but that he would soon remember who he was and what his purpose was and would be gone from this place.

Santa told Gabriel to enjoy the moments that he had with the Jacksons with Cecilia, because soon the moments would be gone . . .

“Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,” Greg shouts into Gabriel’s room wakening him.

“Merry Christmas,” shouts Melissa as she runs downstairs. 

Walking down the stairs Gabriel sees the Jacksons, Greg, Melissa and Cecilia standing in front of the Christmas tree smiling and they shout together in unison; “Merry Christmas Gabriel!” . . .