Texas winters can be brutal. November had seen an early snow and now in

December sheets of ice covered all the trees, power lines and roads. It was

beautiful all right but Aida had hoped today it would warm up enough to defrost

the roads so Marvin could finally get to work. Eight people in a small house

after three days was beginning to get on her last nerve. Christmas was coming

and with six kids it was never an easy time of year. This year had been an

especially hard scrabble one. The bottom had fallen out of the construction

business. No new houses were being built. Marvin had taken every job he could

find no matter how large or small or how far he had to drive.


You would think after twenty years I would be used to this 'feast or famine'

life. Aida thought as she stirred the morning oatmeal for the kids. Pretty

soon they would all be getting up hungry. No school for the past three days

had been a treat for the children and a nightmare for her. Next week they

would be out for Christmas break.


"You got any coffee made?" Marvin grinned and sat down at the kitchen

table. "Looks like I'll be home again today. I don't think I can get my truck

out of the drive-way. Damn, I'm tired of this weather. Why in hell can't we

catch a break?"
+++

It had been two weeks since the ice storm and things were pretty much back to

normal with Marvin out looking for a job. Aida was standing at the stove

stirring a pot of chili for supper when Marvin grabbed her from behind and

twirled her around. "Good news." Marvin whispered in Aida's ear. "I found a

job."



"Oh, thank God!" Aida laughed and planted a wet kiss on Marvin's lips. "Where?"


"Lufkin, they have an apartment house complex needin' some carpenters. Paul

said he'd go and I think I can round up the rest of my crew. We should be able

to make a pretty good check before Christmas."


"Oh, Marvin, I don't want you to be gone during Christmas." Aida pleaded with

her eyes.


"Can't help it...got to take work when I can get it. Why don't you and the

kids come with me?"


"I don't know." Aida thought aloud.


"It'll be fun. We won't have much for Christmas presents but at least we'll be

together."


"Is Paul's wife going to go with him?"


"I'm not sure what my brother is planning but I want ya'll to come with me."


"Okay. Now get ready for supper and call the kids to eat."

+++


After hours of driving in a van with six kids Aida was ready for it to

end. "What is that god awful smell? It smells like open sewage." Aida

crinkled up her nose in disgust.


"It's the paper mill. Smells bad don't it?" Marvin replied.


"I'd say. I'd hate to live here all the time and smell that mill."


"I don't think the people who live here even pay attention to it anymore."

Marvin laughed.


Small towns like Lufkin do not have a lot of short term places to rent. Marvin

and Aida drove around in the van for hours before finding the only available

place to rent in town. A two bedroom tiny run- down furnished apartment out on

the edge of town. "It will do, Marvin. It's only for a few weeks. The kids

and I will make do, and I don't think I can endure another minute in this van

with these kids asking, 'are we there yet?'


The family filed out of the van. Sixteen year old Tommy took charge

immediately getting the younger siblings settled in their new home. There

hadn't been room in the van for much luggage much less toys for the smaller

kids. The small furnished living room had a tiny television with rabbit ears

wrapped in tin foil. "I sure hope this dinosaur works." Tommy said. "Come on

kids this is going to be like camping out."


Fourteen year old Mary wasn't as positive as her brother. "Boy, this place is

a dump."


"Yeah, this place is depressing, Mama. Do we have to stay here?" Twelve year

old Hanna complained.


"Oh, shut up your nagging." Ten year old Sandra stated dryly. "That's all you

ever do."


"You shut up!" Hanna snapped.


"Okay, that's enough." Tommy stamped his foot. "You guys know mom and dad are

doing the best they can. Twins get out of that..." Tommy grabbed six year old

James' hand as he opened the knife drawer. "All of you sit down...now listen,

I don't want to hear anymore complaining from any of you. This is what it is

and we're going to help out as much as we can."


"But, what about Christmas? Sandra whined. "We don't have money to even buy

presents or a tree or anything."


Marvin and Aida had been outside still unloading the van when they overheard

the children inside. It broke both their hearts. They were so proud of their

children. They would have to find a way to give their children a Christmas.


The next morning squeals of delight woke Aida. What on earth? She got up and

to her amazement a small pine tree stood proudly in the bland living room. "Who did this?"


Tommy just grinned from ear to ear."Hey, guys we can go out after breakfast and

find some decorations in the woods behind this place. There's lots of pine

cones, leaves, and stuff to decorate the tree. John didn't you and James bring

some colored paper with you and crayons?"


Hours later a splendid tree stood covered in handmade decorations. "Now, we

just need some presents." Sandra sighed.


"Christmas, is not just about presents." Tommy stated.


"We know." The twins John and James exclaimed. "But, we still like 'em!"

Christmas morning found all six of the Blake children gathered around the tiny

Charlie Brown tree with looks of glee. Under the tree each child found one

gift beautifully wrapped with their name on it. Tommy and Mary both wondered

how in the world their parents had pulled it off.


They only got smiles from both parents. Desperate times call for desperate

measures. There was no way they were going to let their children not have a

gift under the tree.



Post note: How would you have provided for your children? My Dad hocked some

of his tools and his cherished pocket watch that had belonged to his Dad. They

got them back after he got paid for the job.