Ice Forests
During the night, Collette heard the rain begin to fall. Thunder cracked through the skies. A change in the weather had come. The next morning, the trees were once again covered in dresses of ice. They would have sparkled had the sun been given its chance. Perfect silver forests. As they prepared to leave, Collette stepped out onto the front porch to breathe in the fresh cold air.
CRASH!
Sparks everywhere. Lights out.
Collette saw the large branch fall onto the power line. And all was quiet, lit only by the rising sun hidden behind gilded skies. Alas, no power for several hours. But they were not home to experience it.
Collette was playing hooky that morning. There was something enchanting about visiting old homes in the city. So instead of church in the beautiful blue world, she accompanied Mom, Carrie-Bri, Elizabeth, her mom and grandma, Aunt Petunia, Aunt Corliss, and Joy Tecumseh on a house tour in Lafayette Square. She had hopes of once again entering the magnificent chambers in the old stone Presbyterian church.
Once the gaggle of girls had gathered at somewhat before eleven o’clock, they piled into the great green slug (or “The Joy Bus”, as Uncle Balthasar had labeled it long ago). Some forty-five minutes later, they arrived.
Collette quickly realized that gloves would have been a wonderful option as she blazed down the cobblestones, head tucked into the collar of her red Australian coat, her hands punched into her shallow pockets, and a flimsy black umbrella over her head when the rain began to pour. The houses, as usual, were interesting and old. Some were painted with brilliant colors. One was hung with Oriental prints. Another boasted a 300-pound chandelier crafted of 250 pieces of red glass shaped into what appeared to be horns. But most of them were traditionally Victorian, which the moms seemed to enjoy the most. Several houses had black ponds of brilliant orange Koi. In the backyard of one such house, a tent had been erected at the back door run by two Brits under which was displayed hot cider, hot chocolate, and Carrie’s weakness – muffins. Mom purchased her a blueberry muffin, and Carrie was happy.
By the time they had arrived at the old Presbyterian church, Collette was ready to end the tour. She could no longer feel her fingers. And despite the fact that the especially awesome rooms of the church were not open for display, the one which was open contained the choir loft and half the great round window in the front. Collette still had doubts whether it was notsacrilege to convert a church into condos. But she quickly forgot about this as she cut through the park back to the old green slug to warm the interior. The day was ended at the St. Louis Bread Company.
Several hours later, they rejoined the others back at the house. Dad had just taken off for Cedar Falls. Everyone else soon piled into the cars for the annual children’s Christmas program at church. As usual, no program passed without incident or comic relief. This year, it came in the form of Sasha Cohen Popples. As the angel bringing the good news to the shepherds in the fields (being Frances and Chester), she climbed the ladder behind the backdrop to her place in the skies, golden halo suspended above her head.
“Good lord! Someone keep 9-1-1 on backup.” Carrie whispered as she ascended the heights.
But fortunately, Sasha did not fall. Instead, the petite angel recited the incorrect line. As the realization of this error occurred, she clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise, smiled broadly, and continued with the correct words.
Then in filed the three large wisemen – large because they were not children any longer. No, these wisemen were none other than Pablo, Augustus, and Jimmy Saint. They took their places at the corner of the stage with ridiculous smiles on their faces, taking turns pointing at some unseen star in the rafters of the sanctuary.
Once Linnea had recited her line, the play had pretty much ended. The cookie buffet was opened. And the day had been good.
Good, that is, until OLeif, Collette, and the Puck returned home for the night to a house once again running with electricity. Just as Puck was half-way through his bottle…
POP!
Another explosion. Down went the lights once more. Up went the candles. OLeif dropped off Collette and Puck at the house for the night and returned himself just as the electricity returned. Puck was soon slumbering soundly. Everyone else gathered in the living room for a viewing of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” over Ruffles and Dean’s French Onion Dip (which Rose refused because she only like the Prairie Farms edition). Collette and Carrie were soon asleep on the floor and couch, respectively.
And all seemed well with the world again.