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Judgment
12/22/2024
“Where are we now?” Mr. Awesomeness climbed out of the firetruck and held the door.
Polka Pete climbed out and zipped his collar up tighter. “This is Unity Court. These two houses have been at war for years, one-upping each other and pulling out all the stops.”
“They filed new paperwork last week.” Mayor Drabek pulled his Santa cap down over his ears and shivered. “They’ve joined forces to put on a combined show.”
“Sounds awesome. Let’s take a look.”
Grace watched the antique firetruck pull into the circle between their houses. “Okay, there’s the mayor, and there’s Polka Pete. I guess that’s Mr. Awesomeness.”
Sarah giggled. “What kind of name is that, and what the heck is he wearing?”
“That’s his superhero costume. He wears a tight-fitting t-shirt and genie pants like MC Hammer wore in that music video. Dr. Wisler knows him personally.”
“He’s Paul’s best friend. He talked about him a little, but he didn’t say the guy wore Hammer pants.”
“I guess they give him room to do his martial arts kicks.”
“Well, whatever you do, don’t kiss him. Gosh knows what kind of super power you’d wind up with.”
“Why would I kiss him?” Grace squinted at the trio of judges. “I guess he’s alright-looking, but…”
“Here they come.”
Murray and Staś walked out to greet them.
“Hey, isn’t that the guy from the tractor place?”
“Yes, M.A.” Polka Pete said. “That’s Staś Chmielewski. This is his place over here, and that’s Mr. Murray who lives across the way.”
“No first name?”
“Same as his last.”
“Really? Murray Murray? Did his parents hate him or something?”
“Shh, here they are.”
Mayor Drabek shook hands with the two neighbors. “Staś, Murray, please allow me to introduce Mr. Awesomeness from The Sentinels in Empire City.”
“Good evening. You can just call me M.A.” He shook their hands.
“And Polka Pete requires no introduction. Pine Hollow wouldn’t be the town we know without him.”
“Hi, Staś. Hi, Murray. So, you decided to combine forces? That’s a surprise.”
“Well, God willing, it won’t be long before we’re all one family.” Staś said. “My goddaughter, Sarah, and Murray’s youngest are an item.”
“Congratulations.” M.A. said.
“As we look forward to joining our families, we thought it best to combine our efforts in the Pine Hollow Christmas Light Fight once and for all.” Murray said. “Leo, Sarah, won’t you come over and introduce yourselves? They’re going to kick off the performance for us.”
Leo and Sarah approached, hand in hand. “Follow us over to the big red button and we’ll get this show rolling.” Leo said, waving them over.
The judges and the dads followed them to the giant gift box with the enormous red button. Leo and Sarah leaned over the button for a quick kiss before slapping the button. Staś glowered, and Murray smirked.
The lights on both houses went out. The Carol of the Bells began swelling through the cul-de-sac as lights danced and synchronized bells of various sizes in both yards rang out with the music. The internal lights in the inflatable characters turned on and off in sync with the singers. The lights faded as the carol ended with a “ding, dong, ding, dong”.
The spotlights on the peak of the roof of both houses lit with the opening beats of Happy Holiday. Bells chimed and a cascade of dancing lights followed along with Andy Williams and his brothers singing.
The judges were maintaining their poker faces until they heard a distinctive humming. M.A. pointed up at the flight of drones streaming up from behind both houses to combine in the air in a 3D feast for the eyes.
Snowmen, spinning snowflakes, Christmas trees, Santa and a variety of colorful holiday shapes floated overhead, disbanded and became something else. A trio of gingerbread men turned into a wreath with twinkling red berries. A collection of stockings transformed into Santa’s sleigh.
Murray could see the judges were astonished. He nudged Staś, who nodded in approval.
The show concluded with the drones taking the shape of the Star of Bethlehem, radiating beams of scintillating white light as a choir sang Joy to the World.
Spectators down the street clapped and cheered as the three judges conferred and climbed back into the firetruck all decked out with wreaths and swag of fresh greenery. The mayor flipped on the lights and honked as they drove away.
“Well, I’ve got to say, that was really something.” Murray smiled.
“I didn’t expect it to be as great as that. The demo didn’t do it justice.” Staś looked at their kids. “Not as great as what I see here.”
“We are truly blessed. Our kids really brought it together.”
“Leo and Sarah brought us together. She’s going to join the church and then we will all be one family. That’s some kind of miracle.”
Murray extended a hand. “Merry Christmas, Staś. Here’s to family.”
“To family.” He took Murray’s hand and squeezed. “In God’s own time.”
Murray shook free and scowled at Staś. “There is only God’s own time. We can make plans, but if God isn’t behind them, they come to nothing.”
“True enough. Let’s join the kids for a celebration before we put all those drones away.”
“Yes, let’s.” He kept pace with Staś, concerned what he might do if he didn’t keep an eye on him.
“Daddy, that was amazing!” Grace hugged him.
“We’ve got it in the bag.” He smiled. “Who can top that?”
Murray moved away from Staś to congratulate his sons. “Excellent performance, boys. Joe, are you okay?”
He was leaning on the table with his head in his hands. He turned his head to answer his father, but he slipped off the chair and crashed into the snow.
“Joseph, honey, the ambulance is coming.” Mary said, kneeling by his side. “Can’t we get him up out of the snow? He’s so cold.”
“Bring him into the garage.” Elka said firmly. “Josh, get those heaters going. Grace, the blue chair. Go.”
Chris, Leo and John carried him into the garage where Grace had set up a folding camp chair with a footrest. Everyone crowded in behind them and Josh closed the garage doors.
Whitney stood outside with a plastic bento box, shaped like a Christmas tree. She looked back at the house as she wandered away to her car.
“Joseph, stay with me.”
He looked around the inside of the ambulance. “Mom?”
“We’re almost there, Joseph. Stay with me. They’ll get you looked at, and everything will be fine. Just stay with me a little longer, honey.”
“Not going anywhere.” He rested his head. “Just a headache.”
The EMT leaned in to check his vitals. He didn’t look happy.
“Joseph, stay with me.”
Joe woke to find his family crowded into his half of the hospital room.
“You gave us a scare, son.” His dad said softly.
He felt a weird sensation at his nose and tried to brush it away.
“That’s your oxygen, Joseph. Leave it there.” Mom said.
“Can’t see right.”
“I have your glasses. Do you want me to put them on for you?”
He nodded.
She leaned in to slide the arms over his ears. “There you go. Better?”
“Yes.” He was parched. “Water?”
“Certainly.” Dad said. “I’ve got a cup right here. Let’s sit you up a little more.” He held the cup where Joe could tip it to his lips.
“What?”
“Your diagnosis?”
Joe nodded.
“Fungal meningitis. I’m going to be having a word with your foreman tomorrow. Believe you, me.”
Joe shook his head. “Roger’s good. Old factory.”
“Be that as it may, it’s clear that safety protocols–”
Mary glared at him. “How are you feeling now? Have they made you comfortable?”
“Better.”
“Can I get you anything, Joseph?”
“No.” He looked around. “We win?”
“Surprisingly, no. Apparently, a hundred fifty drone program takes a distant second to a live donkey.”
“Donkey?” Joe’s attempt to laugh sputtered and died quickly. “Can’t win all.”
“You can’t win them all?” Dad chuckled. “You’re rather equanimous about it.”
“Bento?”
“Son, what?” Murray took his hand.
“She” Joe turned his palms up. “Bento”
“That lady with the black hair.” Chris said.
“Whitney?” Sarah said. “She was going to bring Joe a bento box.”
“Did” He licked his lips. “Where?”
“She went home after you fell. I guess she took it with her?”
“Tell”
“Tell you what, dear?” Mom asked.
“Okay” He pointed at Sarah. “Tell bento”
“You want me to tell Whitney you’re okay?”
“Con te”
“County?”
Joe grimaced. “Tell con te” He turned his palm up. “Partiro”
“County party row? Is that code?”
“Just tell”
“Murray, ring for the nurse. He’s delirious.”
Joe rolled his eyes. “Tell bento”
“Yes, Joe. I promise. I’ll tell her you’re okay.”
He smiled. “Tell”
Grace pulled her phone out. “It’s from Sarah. Joe’s okay.”
“Thank God.” Staś said. “Poor guy worked so hard to lose to a donkey.”
“No way.”
“What’s the matter?” Elka pulled her robe tighter.
“He wants us to tell Whitney he’s okay.”
“Who’s Whitney?” Josh asked.
“Whitney Maldonado from church. She came here to see the show.”
“That chick with the giant hair?”
“Yes, her.”
“Grace, she didn’t come to see the show. She came to see him.”
“Ah, she’s not in my contacts! How am I supposed to tell her?”
“Ask Mandy.” Elka yawned and got up. “This is what you get for meddling.”
“What?”
“You were trying to set Chris up with Mandy and Joe up with Whitney. You didn’t think to get her number? Really, Grace. Isn’t it bad enough you gave Leo’s card to Sarah? What are you, the date line lady?”
Grace scowled as she pecked away at her phone.
Amanda was nibbling at a chocolate chip cookie while she watched her third Christmas romance in a row.
Joe’s okay
‘Thank God. Poor guy.’ She took another bite.
Great
She put her phone down and watched the main couple having a flour fight in the kitchen.
Do you know Whitney’s number?
She switched over to her contacts list and scrolled. ‘There it is.’
Yes
‘Ooh, they’re gonna kiss. They’re gonna kiss!’ She shoved a whole cookie in her mouth as the couple came close to kissing, but were interrupted by a fire alarm. ‘I should have known…’
Tell her he’s okay
Tell her he said
County Party Row
She looked at the TV. The scene had changed and they were back on the subplot with her dad’s Christmas tree farm. ‘What kind of thing is that to say? He must be delirious.’
“County Party Row?” She dunked a cookie in her cocoa. “County Party Row”
She sucked the cocoa-sodden cookie and let the chocolate chips melt in her mouth.
‘County’ She frowned. ‘Party Row’ Music swelled in her memory. Violins swirling to a crescendo as a tenor sings ‘Con Te Partiro!’
She jumped off of her couch and hopped around her apartment. “Grace! That’s better than a dozen of these sappy movies! Oh, my God!” She grabbed her phone and pecked wildly.
Whitney was brushing her hair to detangle before bed when her phone rumbled on the nightstand.
Joe’s okay
Stable at the hospital
‘That’s a relief.’ She continued brushing
He mentioned you
‘Huh’ She sprayed a knot and brushed it out. ‘Mentioned me?’
Mentioned me how?
She looked at the Christmas tree box on her hope chest.
Said to tell you
She sat in stunned silence, waiting for the rest. ‘Tell me, what?’
You’re not going to believe it
‘Believe what? What is happening?’
What did he say?
She looked at the Christmas tree box. She’d have to make him a fresh one since she stress-ate the contents when she got home. She stared at the phone. ‘Well?’
His words
He insisted we tell you
Whitney was ready to throw the phone through the wall. “Tell me what, for crying out loud?”
Are you sitting down?
‘She wants me sitting? I’d better be flat out on the bed.’ She flopped onto her pillow and held the phone up to type.
Yes, I’m lying down
Just tell me already
‘I didn’t realize Mandy was such a drama queen.’ She tried to slow her breathing before she hyperventilated. It didn’t work.
He says
Con Te Partiro
Whitney gasped and dropped the phone.
Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partiro (English lyrics translation)