Silent Night…..Holy…..Christmas Mouse!

Little Johnny Jr was sitting in his room, thoughtfully examining the sheet of paper that he had gripped in his hands. 1

His eyes bounced over each word and you could hear a faint hum as he read. Every once in a while he would stop, smile and then continue back to reading and humming.2

This went on for days. 3

After the fourth day, Simon Jr started feeling neglected and he would try to do anything he could think of to distract Johnny Jr from that sheet of paper. 4

He shot rubber bands, did a little tap dance number on Johnny Jr’s head and he even went as far as to tip over Johnny Jr’s glass of water sitting on his desk. 5

But he just sat there, reading and humming.6

So, Simon Jr decided to go downstairs to find his dad. He knew he’d be sitting on the couch with his mom watching TV. 7

As he hit the bottom step, he looked up and sure enough, there they were. 8

Usually Simon Jr liked to watch TV, but his mom was on this kick of watching the cooking channel. 9

She would be scribbling in her notebook all of the recipes that had to do with cheese and his dad would sit there and imagine all the wonderful dishes she was going to make for him. 10

She had already filled up three notebooks, but had yet to actually make anything. Simon Jr thought for sure it was because she was afraid that if she didn’t do it just right, dad would be disappointed. 11

She really didn’t like it when that happened, because he’d usually just thank her for dinner and then go into his workshop and be in there for hours and hours. 12

Simon Jr knew that his dad did that so that he wouldn’t say anything mean to his mom about her cooking, and he understood, but mom didn’t.13

Simon Jr jumped up onto the couch and was surprised to see that they weren’t watching anything to do with cooking. 14

They were watching a show that was in black and white. 15

Simon frowned because he thought the TV wasn’t working right, and Simon Sr noticed that, and said, ‘Don’t worry. Nothing’s wrong with the TV. Way back, this is how TV shows were. They didn’t have the technology we have today for color movies.’16

Simon Jr shook his head. ‘That must have been horrible! I don’t think I could survive without modern technology!’ 17

Lizzie and Simon Sr looked at each other and giggled. ‘What did I say that was so funny?’ Simon Jr asked. His dad just shook his head and told him not to worry about it.18

They all sat there and watched the rest of the movie and when it was done, Lizzie suggested that they all go into the kitchen and have some hot chocolate. 19

There was no way that Simon Sr and Jr were going to pass that up so they all hopped down and scampered in.20

Johnny Jr’s mom was sitting at the table reading the newspaper, drinking a cup of hot chocolate. 21

‘The water’s already hot, and ready to make some if you’re interested.’ She said with a smile as she pointed with her cup to the pot on the stove. 22

They all sat there and enjoyed the flavorful hot chocolate that always seemed to taste so much better when they all sat together. 23

The only thing missing at the table was Johnny Sr and Johnny Jr’s laughter. 24

It was 4:30 PM and Johnny Sr’s train wasn’t due to be back for another two hours. His wife hated that he had to go in to the big city to submit his stories to his editor personally. 25

He was always afraid that somehow if he didn’t do it himself, they would never make it. But she understood how important they were to him, so she didn’t make too much of a big deal about it.26

And of course Johnny Jr was up in his room reading and re-reading the words on that piece of paper. 27

He only came down for meals, and sometimes his name would have to be called two or three times before he even came down for that. That usually didn’t go over too well with his mom or grandma, but they knew what he was preparing for, so it was a little more tolerable than usual.28

On that sheet of paper were the words to a song he was going to sing at a recital. 29

Even though Johnny Jr wouldn’t admit it, he was nervous and he didn’t want to mess it up, especially if his dad was going to be there. 30

And this time, his dad promised he would be, and Johnny Jr knew that his dad NEVER broke a promise.31

At 5:30, Deana left to pick Johnny Sr up at the train station. Lizzie went along and Simon Sr and Jr stayed home to work on some projects they had been putting off for far too long. 32

They really liked working together, because Simon Sr liked teaching his son things, and Simon Jr liked learning them.33

A couple hours later, the front door opened and Deana and Lizzie walked in. 34

Both Simon Sr and Jr came running out and noticed that they were alone. ‘Is Johnny still getting his stuff out of the car?’ ‘He’s got lots of presents huh?’ Simon Sr and Jr asked heading for the door.35

‘No, the train was delayed until morning because a tree had fallen and was blocking the tracks and it wouldn’t be cleared until then.’ Deana said, obviously trying to hold back some tears. 36

It had been four days since Johnny Sr left for the big city, and she didn’t like being away from him that long as it was, and now it was going to be even longer until she saw him.37

She went in to the kitchen and put everything away that she had been cooking all day for Johnny Sr to come home to. 38

She had wanted to give him a real meal, and not that fast food junk he obviously was wolfing down while he was away. Oh well, she knew it heated back up pretty nicely, so it wasn’t a total downer.39

The next day was Johnny Jr’s recital and he was afraid that his dad was going to break his first promise. 40

Johnny Sr had called in the morning to let them know that the tree was just the beginning of the problems. When it fell, it hit the tracks so hard that they shifted and there was no way a train was going to go through there like that. It looked like he was going to be staying there for at least another day.41

All day long, Johnny Jr was moping around the house. 42

He didn’t look at the decorated Christmas tree that always made him smile, even though he knew there would be lots of presents sitting under it soon. 43

He didn’t care that his recital was only a few hours away. He no longer wanted to practice the lines, hum or have anything to do with the song. 44

He even asked his mom if he could just stay home and not go to the recital at all. 45

‘You know son, that recital was not being put on just for your dad. There are other people that are going to be there that want to hear you sing. Like me, Lizzie, and both Simon Sr and Jr.’ his mom said. ‘I know you really wanted your dad to be there. So do I, but we have to make the best of it.’46

Even though Johnny Jr knew she was right, it didn’t make it all right. He was still disappointed, but he agreed to try to make the best of it. 47

A couple hours went by and Deana was making sure everyone was ready and getting into the car. 48

It was a short drive in to town, but she wanted to make sure they were early enough to get Johnny Jr there and to get some good seats. 49

She even made sure that she saved one for Johnny’s dad, just in case he somehow made it. 50

Every once in a while Johnny Jr would peak out the curtain only to see a still empty seat next to his mom. 51

He would close the curtain and frown. ‘He’s not going to make it.’ he kept repeating under his breath.52

Before he was to go on, there were three other kids that were there to sing. ‘All of their dads are here. Why are they so lucky?’ he said, with a little bit of anger growing inside. 53

But it wasn’t just anger, it was disappointment. His dad never broke a promise in his life, and today was his first one.54

The third kid had finished and it was Johnny Jr’s turn to go on. He really didn’t want to go out there, but he remembered what his mom had said. 55

‘You know son, that recital was not being put on just for your dad. There are other people that are going to be there that want to hear you sing. Like me, Lizzie, and both Simon Sr and Jr.’56

With that thought in mind, he stepped out onto the stage. 57

The lights were shining on him so brightly that he could barely see anyone sitting in the crowd. He wanted to put his hand up to shield his eyes, but knew that he shouldn’t. 58

The music started playing and he knew the part was coming where he needed to start singing. He was so nervous, but without hesitation, the words just started coming out right on cue. 59

As he sang the last word of the song, he noticed that the empty seat next to his mom was no longer empty. He saw the familiar goofy toothy smile of his dad. 60

He had kept his promise after all.61

After the recital, they all went to the diner for some pumpkin pie. As they sat there eating, Johnny Sr told them of the great adventures he had coming in from the big city to make sure he was there for Jr’s recital. 62

But that’s a story left to be told for another time.63