Rating: K
Martha's Christmas Surprise
Lately it
hadn't escaped Fifteen-year-old Candy that
something was
bothering Martha all the time.
And she knew exactly what it was. Martha
wanted to be kissed by Ed Peevey
under the mistletoe but was very sure
he wouldn't muster the courage
to do that. Wanting to make Martha
happy
on this Christmas, Candy had a
very splendid idea of how to bring Mr.
Peevey to taking this step. She
knew about the magic of the mistletoe.
First she met
Ed in town and convinced him to join
the Muir family on
Christmas day. Using all
the wiles she could manage, Candy got Ed
to
agree her invitation. Her
second step was telling her brother,
her
mother and the Captain about her
plans, but very carefully so that
Martha didn't suspect a thing
about the Christmas gift waiting for her.
She found all
three in the living room. "Oh good,
you are three
people I wanted to speak with."
she said very mysteriously.
"Candy,
you're speaking in puzzles. What is it what
you wanted to
tell us? And why didn't you want
Martha in here?" Carolyn asked, very
curious.
"I'll tell
you. It has something to do with Martha
and that's why she
shouldn't be here. You all have
noticed lately that something is
bothering Martha and we all know
what it is." Candy continued. "And I
have a plan to make Martha very
happy."
"Plan, what
plan, Candy?" now the Captain asked.
"Quite
simple. When I was in town, I met Mr. Peevey
and have invited
him to join us on Christmas. I
know I should have told you before what
I
had planned to do, but...."
"Don't be
sorry, Candy. That's okay and I'm glad you
had that idea."
her mother answered and there
she looked at the Captain to see his
reaction to Candy's news. She
was relieved to see that he was very
pleased with Candy's idea. "But
Candy, what exactly did you have in
mind?"
"The
mistletoe, Mom. Remember she was very
disappointed last
Christmas when she had hung up
the mistletoe and thought she could
bring
Mr. Peevey to kiss her under it.
We all know it didn't work the last
time so I convinced Mr. Peevey
to join us this year on Christmas."
"Of course, I
remember." only now Carolyn knew what
her daughter
wanted to do. "Great idea. But
when will you place the mistletoe? You
know Martha gets very curious
when she notices the branch."
"I'll do it
Christmas Eve, when Martha has
gone to bed. If that's
okay, Mom?"
"Of course,
Candy! Captain?" looking at Daniel.
"I'll help
her, my dear and make sure that nothing
will happen to
Candy when she hangs up the
mistletoe."
"Thank you,
Captain." Carolyn was relieved.
They had just
finished their discussion when Martha
entered the
living room and told them that
the dinner was served.
*****************
On Christmas
morning, Martha was the first one in
the kitchen. It
completely escaped her that a
mistletoe was hanging in the hallway near
the front door when she entered
the hallway on her way to the
kitchen.
A few minutes later, the rest of
the family joined her in the kitchen
to
partake of the wonderful
breakfast Martha had made for Christmas. "Good
Morning, Martha and Merry
Christmas to you." Carolyn and her children
said at the same time.
"Good
morning, Mrs. Muir, children and a Merry
Christmas to you,
too." Martha greeted back.
"Mhm, Martha,
the breakfast looks delicious." came
Jonathan's voice.
"Thank you,
Jonathan." Martha said.
She had just
finished speaking when the Captain
appeared in the
kitchen. "Good morning to all of
you. and a Merry Christmas."
"Good
morning, Captain and a Merry Christmas to you,
too." all four
called at the same time.
After the
great breakfast and clearing up the table,
all five went
into the living room and opened
their presents. Candy was happy that
Martha hadn't still noticed the
mistletoe. An hour later, a knock
at
the front door got the attention
of the family.
"Who can that
be?" Martha asked curiously.
"I don't
know, Martha." came Carolyn's answer. "Why
don't you take a
look to see who is there?"
"Mhm!" Martha
made her way to the door. She opened
it and was taken
aback to see Ed Peevey standing
before her. She was really baffled as
she had expected anyone but him.
Ed noticed
Martha's puzzled face and said, "Martha,
before you ask,
I'll tell you why I'm here.
Candy invited me and I agreed so I'm here."
"Oh!" Martha
sounded a little disappointed. "Please
come in before
you catch cold."
And Ed came
in. A few seconds after Martha had
closed the door
behind them, the miracle
happened. Before Martha knew what was going
on,
Ed put his arms around her waist
and kissed her. Martha was so
much
surprised by the kiss that she
even couldn't breath. But then, out of
the corner of her eye, she
caught sight of the mistletoe and noticed
that Ed and she were standing
under it. And then and there, she knew
what just had happened.
Her greatest, greatest wish had come
true, that
of being kissed by Ed under the
mistletoe.