Amie Bernstein; Chapter 14

 

Amie Bernstein; Chapter 14

© 2022 by Amber Wright

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Date: Winter 1901

Place: London, England

“Merry Christmas, Gad!” Papa gave his little brother a small punch. “Have a seat on the floor with the other children.”

“Ha-ha.” Gad sat down near Amie and Kitt, a grin spreading over his face. “Have you two opened my gifts to you yet?”

“No,” Amie looked wildly into her lap. “What does it look like? Where’s it?”

“Hmm…” Gad looked mysterious and a twinkle danced in his dark eyes. “I’m not saying or you’ll guess sure for.”

“Oh, I know!” Kitt perked up with a sudden grin. “Music books!”

“Little Sherlock Holmes.” Gad gave Kitt’s hair a tussle and marched the little painted wooden soldier he had just opened. “What’s my orders today, Captain Amie?”

Amie giggled as Gad’s voice took on an unnaturally flat voice. Kitt stared.

“Well, if everyone’s done opening their gifts,” Mamma said brightly, “I suggest we eat our breakfast that’s waiting. Everybody?”

“Food!” Kitt jumped to his feet in an instant. “I’m starving.”

“And yet you didn’t even realize—” Amie grinned.

“—Until the word was mentioned. Precisely.” Gad put his arms around Amie and Kitt. “Now, come along, children. To breakfast!”



After breakfast, everyone loaded up into their sleighs under warm fur robes and glided merrily across the snowy streets to the white-pillared church for the Christmas service. Everything was decorated in holly and ivy with candles in every window, making the place glow with a holy light. Amie swept her gaze across the entire sanctuary before opening her hymnal. They began to sing Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. The words sank into Amie as she sang Charles Wesley’s Christmas hymn. Born to set thy people free. Israel’s strength and consolation. Eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone… The grand pipe organ swelled with music, filling the air with a majestic note.

The Reverend opened his Bible to the 9^th chapter of Isaiah, verse 6. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given… His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Amie smiled, The Prince of Peace. Soon peace will come. I just have to wait a little longer. Then the Reverend opened his Bible to another scripture. Matthew 1:18-2:11. …When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when Amie closed her eyes as the Reverend closed the short sermon to pray, she pictured the bright star she had seen the night before. Bright and clear, sparkling like a diamond—softly twinkling, shining down hope, peace and love. Good will toward all man. After the prayer, they sang It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.

“Peace on the earth, good will to men.” Amie whispered quietly amidst the singing.

She hoped the words would ring throughout the earth. To end this awful Boer War. To bring back her cousin Shad from South Africa. To give to the Jews from Russia a new life. To extend to all men hope…and to renew their own hatikva. Soon.



Later that evening, Amie was playing checkers with Gad as Kitt watched on and Annie Montgomery sat in a settee nearby bouncing a relative’s baby on her knee, wearing a brand new purple dress with a white sash and frilly lace around the collar and sleeves.

When Amie glanced up from the game, Annie gave her a smile. Amie thought she looked rather happy. Oncle Gad, was her immediate thought. Her eyes continued to scope the room, Sherlock Holmes' fashion.

On another settee sat Grandmamma and Grandpapa in their sophisticated dark green outfits contrasting their white hair. They had arrived for Christmas dinner and had given Amie the latest book of Classic Tales. It was a big, black, hard-bound book filled with stories from various authors. Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, etc. And most notably, Sir Arthur Conon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, edited children’s version—but nonetheless, Sherlock Holmes. Amie was intrigued by his stories. They made you think after you had read them. And now, that was what she was doing…thinking.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Gad teased her and moved his checker piece, taking two of her red pieces.

Amie blinked as she watched him pick up her pieces. “I see my little red men aren’t doing too well. Well, I suppose the little reds have to lose sometime.”

“I’ll play the winner.” Kitt said suddenly, rubbing his nose habitually.

“And I’ll eat the winner!” Amie pretended a growl, then grinned.

Gad laughed and shrugged with eyebrows raised high. “I don’t taste good, Amie. Please?” He clasped his hands together, begging.

“Ha-ha, how do you know?” Amie teased him. “You’ve never tasted yourself. You might taste like chocolate. Hmm…”

“I don’t!” Gad shook his head, laughing.

Kitt stared at Amie with wide eyes. “You wouldn’t, would you?”

Gad finished off the game with a few more triple jumps and stood up with a grin. “How about some hot chocolate and dessert. I’ll tell Cook what’s in the order.” He winked. “Plenty of real chocolate.”

Amie nodded and turned to Kitt. “Well? Playing with me or the air?”

Still, Kitt looked thoughtful. He didn’t budge from his chair as he blinked at her slowly.

“Kitt?”

“You really won’t eat me if I win, will you?”

“Of course not! Now, to your place, thank you. Which, red or black?”

“Black.” Kitt grinned and sat down on the floor across from her. “Since it’s the winning team.” He winked.

“Oui,” Amie smiled slowly as she looked at him with a mysterious glint to her eye. “But don’t you fear the dreaded reds just the tiniest little bit, hmm?”

“Non.” Kitt pointed to the game board. “You first. Age before beauty.”

“Ha-ha, aren’t you funny?”

“Amie, don’t get upset now. I was just—”

“Teasing, yes! And you do that all the time. Your turn.”

Silence.

Amie moved her pieces recklessly, adding flatly, “I’m going to lose so I can eat you! Then you won’t be teasing me. You’ll be…eaten.”

“And inside your stomach.” Kitt gulped, scooting back some. “No thank you, I’ll let you win. Gladly!”

Amie began giggling at his horrified expression.

Kitt moved his pieces more carefully, winning the game. He shrugged, “I beat.”

“Give me your hand first, thank you.” Amie grabbed his hand and Kitt suddenly panicked. Checker pieces flew everywhere and Amie sat back on her heels, laughing hysterically.

Kitt plopped down, several feet away, and sulked. Everyone had seen the uproar and was wondering what had happened. Amie calmly quieted, stood up and pranced into the kitchen without an explanation.



Behind, Kitt stared at his clenched knuckles, furious.

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Gad reentered the parlor with a large silver tray filled with cups of hot chocolate.

Amie followed with the large silver platter full of fudgey chocolate Christmas Cake sliced thickly with fudge icing topping it. She wore a little smirk and Kitt’s frown disappeared as the food arrived.

“Merry Christmas, Kitt.” Amie grinned at him as he stood.

He all but grabbed his bare hands into fudgey cake but stopped before his fingers touched the icing. He put on a goofy grin with a gentlemanly air. “Allow me to take this from you, m’lady.”

Kitt set the platter down on a table nicely; then, he gave her a piercing stare with another goofy grin, “And Merry Christmas, Amie!”

French/English translation:

Oncle…………………… Uncle

oui……………………… yes

non……………………… no