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Picture Of Rudolph

“Chelsea, what’s the matter?” Lynn asked as she hung her winter coat on a peg.

“Everybody was yelling last night. Kendra and I had to eat cake in her room.”

“You’re allowed to have cake in your room?”

“As long as I’m careful not to make crumbs. Mommy is more mad at Daddy than she is at the rest of us.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We got to watch a show on Kendra’s TV.”

“Oh? What did you watch?”

“Rudolph. I like the dentist. He’s silly.”

“Yeah.” Lynn laughed. “I like that one, too.”

“I’ll draw you a picture of Rudolph so you won’t be sad anymore.”

“That’s nice. Thanks.” Chelsea dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve as she sat down at their table.

“I like you.”

“I like you, too. You’re good at drawing. I hope you can meet my Aunt Ivy. She draws stuff.”

“I think she’ll get a chance with Uncle Ian if she wants it.” Lynn grabbed some construction paper and a handful of crayons.

“Uh-oh. What happened this time?”

“Nothing, really. They seemed to like each other but not a lot. You know?”

“No. What do you mean?” Chelsea watched her friend at work.

“I don’t know. They talked about stuff they both liked but I don’t think they were really interested.”

“Oh, I guess I’ll have to find out what Aunt Ivy thinks is the right way. Your uncle’s way doesn’t seem to work very well.”

“It wasn’t his idea.” Lynn colored the reindeer’s red nose. “My mommy is the one with all the friends.”

“How many?”

“I don’t know. She said lots and so did Daddy. Uncle Ian could have fake dates until next year.”

Chelsea laughed at that. “Fake dates. You’re funny, Lynn.”

“Well, that’s what it is. I think it’s weird but I don’t have a better idea. I guess it’s better than nothing.”
“What’s that, Chelsea?” Ivy asked.

“Lynn drew me a picture of Rudolph.”

“That was nice of her. I’m glad you have a friend like her.”

“She drew it for me because I was crying.”

Ivy knelt down to look her niece in the eye. “Honey, why were you crying?”

“Because Mommy and Daddy are mad.” Her head drooped.

“Oh, Chelsea, come here.” Ivy held her arms wide for a hug. “You shouldn’t have to carry that around with you. Sometimes, people get extra grumpy at Christmastime.”

“Christmas is supposed to be happy.” She mopped away the tears with her sleeve.

“I know, honey. They’re trying so hard to make it perfect for you and Kendra that they drive themselves crazy. We’re going to have a nice weekend anyway. Okay?” She sat her niece down on her thigh.

“How?”

“It’s supposed to snow tonight. Did you know that? We can make snow angels and build a snowman. Maybe we can go skating somewhere.”

“I don’t know how to skate, Aunt Ivy.”

“That’s what fun aunts are for, Chelsea. I’ll teach you.”

Kendra wandered into the kitchen. “Teach you what?”

“Aunt Ivy said we could go skating tomorrow.”

“Skating? Really?” Kendra pushed her glasses up her nose. “That sounds like fun.”

“See?” Ivy said to Chelsea. “It’s settled. We’re going to have lots of fun and everybody can just relax and unwind for the weekend.”

“Everybody?” Kendra opened the fridge. “I guess we’ll see how that works out.”

“Well, they can come if they want. We’ll have fun either way.” Ivy said.
“I’M HOME!” Lynn yelled as she burst through the front door.

“So it seems.” Her mom laughed. “Can I help you with your boots?”

“Okay.” She flung her coat on the floor and flopped down on it. “Here.” She kicked her legs up in the air.

“You’re so silly. Did you have a nice time at school?”

“Uh-huh. I drew a picture of Rudolph for Chelsea.”

“That was nice of you. You’re very kind to her.” Nancy wiggled one boot from Lynn’s foot.

“She was sad.”

“That’s too bad. What was she sad about?”

“Her mommy and daddy are fighting.” Her mom was working on the second boot and it made her back slide around on her coat.

“That’s a shame. Some people get stressed at Christmastime.”

“Why? Christmas is supposed to be fun.”

“It’s different for grownups, baby. We get worried about stuff, but it usually works itself out anyway.” She finally got the other boot off.

“Then why worry about it?”

“Well, some people worry about stuff more than other people.”

“Didn’t they go to Sunday School?”

“Sunday School?” Nancy picked Lynn’s coat up and hung it on the coat tree. “What do you mean?”

“Mrs. Tribbett said the angels told the shepherds not to be afraid.”

“That’s true. They said that.”

“Well, if it’s good enough for a bunch of shepherds it’s good enough for all those dumb worried people.”

“Dumb warty people.” Bradley echoed from the living room.

“Lynn, we shouldn’t judge people for being worried. You were nice to Chelsea because she was sad. People who worry at Christmastime are just sad in a different way.”

“I can’t draw everybody a picture.”

“No, but we can pray for them. Maybe it will help them to feel better like when you made that picture for Chelsea.”

“Dumb warty people. Dumb warty people.” Bradley chanted.

“Stop now, Bradley. That’s not nice to say.” Nancy called out. “Go wash up and I’ll bring you out a snack.”

“Yay!” Lynn ran to the bathroom.

“Now you, mister.” Nancy went to gather up Bradley. He giggled and held out his arms to be picked up.

She had him in his booster seat by the time Lynn came to join them.

“What are we doing this weekend, Mommy?”

“Daddy said he’d like to take us skating tomorrow.”

“Yay, skating! I love skating!”

“Yay, skating!” Bradley mimicked her.

“Is Uncle Ian coming?”

“I don’t know, Lynn. He might have jobs to do. We can certainly ask him.”

“Is anybody coming to meet him tonight?”

“Millie is bringing her favorite Christmas movie to watch with us.”

“Do I know her?”

“Sure, Lynn. She’s Caleb’s mommy.”

“He’s not coming, is he?”

“No, he’s at his daddy’s this weekend.”

“That’s good. He’s mean.”

“I thought you liked Caleb.”

“Caleb likes Caleb enough for all of us. He’s mean.”

“Mean!” Bradley slapped the table with both hands.

“I don’t want Caleb to be my cousin. I want Chelsea to be my cousin.” Lynn began crying.