Red Bluff Daily News Special Publications
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/21718
18A Saturday, December 18, 2010 The mysterious Christmas helper By Don Polson Melanie and Michael were hav- ing a bittersweet winter moment, as they gazed at an early snowfall on the fields, trees and streams near the orphanage. This would be their first Christmas without their parents, their first time opening presents and enjoying a holiday tree that had not been wrapped and decorated by the loving, strong hands of their father and mother. The adults and authorities called it an accident and assured Mel and Mike, as they liked to be called, that they were fortunate to be alive, having been left with a neighbor while their parents made a short trip. The parents were looking at something someone had advertised to see if it was worth buying. The irony was that the children knew Mom and Dad wanted it kept secret. That meant the trip was on their account – at night, in the rain, and at the wrong time and place. Wrong because someone who’d been partying, who shouldn’t have been driving and shouldn’t have lost control, had taken their parents away. And so, lacking any other fami- ly to take them in, little Mel and Mike now found themselves among other children trying to make the best of life’s misfortunes, and hoping for a kind couple to notice them, want them, and give them a home. However, they never had the chance to interview many of the prospective parents because they insisted they had to be adopt- ed together; that was the only option to keep what was left of their family intact. Melanie and Michael really liked the adult staff at the orphan- age because, even as busy as they all clearly were, it was obvious they cared for the children in their charge. It was still a bit impersonal on everyone’s part; the children all knew this was not their home, and the adults had to take a somewhat detached attitude towards them. Obviously, at any time, prospective Don Polson parents might decide to take a child, and being too close would only make leaving difficult. So, as Mel and Mike had gazed in wonder and loneliness at a December winter wonderland just outside the orphanage door, they held hands, talked of Mom and Dad, and talked to God. They were told from their ear- liest years that praying was just talking to some- one bigger and more lov- ing than their parents, if that was possible; some- one that really did listen to what children said over folded hands. They were also told to do some listening for God to answer them through events, opportunities or people. The little brother and sister just wanted God to know that they trusted in Him to help them find a home. That one simple request was not looking very hopeful as cou- ples came and usually left with one child or another. The very process suggested dim prospects since the single children were approached for interviews, while Mel and Mike were not. On a later day, while they enjoyed yet another coating of snow on the landscape, a woman’s voice called to them. Turning around, they saw the smiling, radi- ant face of a beautiful redheaded uniformed woman that they hadn’t seen before. She asked if they were, in fact, Melanie and Michael and would they come with her. With no hint as to why, they fol- lowed her down a hall whereupon the pretty woman told them about some people that would like to meet them. She held the door open, followed them in and closed it behind them. A very friendly-look- ing man and woman looked up from some paperwork, asked their names and invited them to sit any- where while they finished. In a few short minutes, one of the orphanage administrators came through a door with a list of names of children for the couple to con- sider. Looking at Mel and Mike, he looked confused, and asked why they were in the room. Before they could answer, the couple asked if they were brother and sister; find- ing that they were, the couple turned to the man. He immediately reminded them of their initial pref- erence for adopting one child. With a single, long look at each other, and then at the children, they took a slow breath and turned to the man. "You know, the bedroom we had set aside for one child is easily large enough for two; our plans to remodel and enlarge our home would certainly allow for another bedroom when needed," the woman said to her husband and the administrator. "What additional paperwork do we need for bringing them both into our home?" "Not really very much," the man replied. Then he turned to the chil- dren and asked why they had come into the room. Little Michael said "We were brought here by that pretty red-haired helper who told us of a couple in this room, who might want to meet us." He asked, "Are you sure about what you’re telling us?" "Why, yes, she followed right behind us and …" Mike and Mel turned around to where they expected the woman to be sitting, but the other chairs were all empty. "You see, children, we’ve never had a redheaded woman on our staff, and certainly don’t now. You must be somehow mistaken." Red Bluff Daily News The mystery of Christmas By Joe Harrop Christmas is always a time for family and mysteries. I remember when my brother and I would lie awake listening for Santa’s sled to land on our roof in San Francisco, each of us alerting the other to some strange sound we were sure we heard. We never were sure how Santa could make his way down our narrow chimney and through our fireplace, but we were con- vinced Christmas morning would bring pleasant surprises. One year we got up and opened our presents while our parents sipped coffee and enjoyed watching us. After we had collected up the wrappings and decided to have breakfast, the door bell rang. I was told to answer it; when I opened the door a new scoot- er was parked on the door step, and there was no one in sight. Try as I might to find out who rang that door- bell over sixty years ago, the doorbell ringer has remained a mystery all these years. Christmas has always been a mys- tery on several levels. It enters our Joe Harrop retail life in October and lingers through the sales on Dec. 24. Its lights glitter on our streets and neighborhoods after Thanks- giving. In mid December the post office remembers what busi- ness used to be like all year round. Christmas inundates us. These events almost overshadow the mystery of the incarnation and the joy that we share at this time of the year. The date for Christmas, of course, is fairly arbitrary; logical- ly, therefore, if we can decide that Dec. 25 is a special day, we could also decide that each and every day is a special day. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, celebrating the mystery of our Cre- ator’s gift to us every day. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Rising from his chair, Mike went to the door they had entered through, opened it, looked up and down the hall and returned to the couple and the man, explaining that he didn’t see her. The wife was the first to speak up and reassured the man that it really wasn’t essential to know who the mysterious woman was. Turning to Mike and Mel, she simply asked, "Would you both like to come home with us?" Beaming, but a little confused, the children simply said, "Yes." As Christmas followed Christ- mas, the ache in their hearts for their lost parents gradually sub- sided, replaced with the enduring love of their adoptive parents. However, their marvelous good fortune, the prayer answered through the mysterious redheaded woman, was never forgotten. Mom and dad were preparing us five kids for bed. Excite- ment was thick in the air; after all, this day had taken a whole year to arrive. After dad read us a story and tucked us in, he gently reminded us that Santa Claus won't come if we're still awake. So, we shut our eyes tight, trying our best to fall asleep. Then it came as it did every year. The bells. The jingle bells! It was Santa's sleigh and reindeer flying over our house. Soon after, dad would peek in our rooms and ask if we had heard the bells. He then explained, that Santa had skipped over our house and was at the neighbor's! Sleep would final- ly overcome us, for we knew Santa always came back. Christmas morning arrived. The stockings were filled. The cookie was eaten, the glass of milk gone. The carrots for the reindeer had disappeared. The Christmas tree was lit up and beautiful. Everyone had a smiles on their faces. The West toy figures are gone. The Breyer horses and Rifle Man rifle have long since been given away. But, the tra- dition continued. For many years my dad would read to my children and jingle the bells outside of their window. The kids would close their eyes tight, trying their best to fall asleep. And Santa Claus always came. So here we are. My children are now 21 and 19. Grandpa passed away 2008. I look forward to the future when my grandchildren get to hear dad's bells jingling in the night. I never did tell dad I saw him crouching outside my win- dow jingling bells. Santa doesn't wear a cardigan! Sue Crandell, Red Bluff