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Art & Inspiration A MIDNIGHT BLUE CHRISTMAS- A SHORT STORY

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Spooky, Dec 12, 2021.

  1. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    Howza Ever'one!

    Well, another week toward Christmas and here is another short story I wrote that I'd like to share.

    This was inspired by the artwork of Tom Fritz hisself.

    I hope you enjoy it!



    Midnight Blue Christmas



    December 1945

    Word arrived by telegram to our home, and Ma burst into the living room shaking the letter and screamed, “EB IS COMING HOME! HE WILL BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS!!”

    I was drawing in the workbook I carried with me everywhere I went, and my little sister Stella was playing with her doll. Outside the wind gusted, and we could feel its icy grip through the walls. Pa was at work down at the rail yards. He was a mechanic and helped keep the locomotives running on time. My older brother Ebenezer had enlisted shortly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He was an all star athlete in high school and the president of a car club; he was one of those guys that others wanted to be like. Eb was five years older than me.

    When he left to serve, Eb told me to take the reins and care for Ma, Pa, and Stella. Gape mouthed, I looked at him; this was a whole new world for me. Eb dropped his head, shook it slowly from side to side with a hint of that grin that melted all of the girls in school. “Come on, Zeke, you make it sound like I’ll never come home.”

    Again, the whole world shifted for me. The thought of Ebenezer never coming home grounded me. I nervously laughed and nodded. “Yeah, I know. Just me being a clown, you know?”

    We both paused. In my mind, I saw the photos of the carnage at Pearl Harbor.

    Smoke. Fire. Lives lost.

    Eb broke the silence. “Okay, so while I am away…“ and he left me instructions on maintenance for the furnace that he tended to because Pa had a bad back and stooping in the crawl space was hard on him. He reminded me of Ma’s medication and to keep watch on Stella and to be stern on her studies and piano practice. But he also asked me to start his roadster up every week so the engine would not go south while he was away. In those four long years, I took on the tasks of being more than a son in our household.


    Monday December 24th


    My bedroom was on the ground floor of our Queen Anne styled home; my folks and Stella each had their rooms upstairs. Eb’s room was just down from mine. As I had done since my brother had left, I slept lightly; listening as the furnace performed its duties, listening for sounds that would indicate a prowler or something amiss.

    When there was a light tap on my window, I sat straight up and looked at the window, cocking my head to the side when it happened again. I leapt out of my bed and grabbed my Louisville slugger. Fear ran its icy finger down my spine as I crossed the room to open the curtains and see what, or who, was the source of the tapping noise.

    It was snowing, and standing there in his dress uniform was my brother Eb. He saw me getting ready to shout but moved his finger over his lips in a hush gesture. I nodded, and he motioned for me to get dressed and be quiet. I grabbed a sweater, my dungarees and wool socks, boots, jacket, hat, and gloves. Quietly, I opened my door, and then made my way across the dark living room before going outside.

    Eb had placed his duffle bag on the front porch and was waiting near the garage. “You’ve grown little brother!” he whispered. I nodded, and he quietly chuckled.

    “Why are we not waking the folks?” I asked in a whisper.

    Ebenezer motioned at our home. “Welp, I had every intention of doing just that, but then I saw the dark living room and no Christmas tree. What’s going on? Ma has always had a tree.”

    “We haven’t had a tree since you’ve been gone, Ebenezer. Ma and Pa just scuttled the idea, and Stella and I made do.”

    My reply hit my brother hard. He nodded, and then pressed a gloved hand to his eyes. He pursed his lips, sniffed, and I had to look away.

    “Well, let’s change that,” he said.

    With that, as quietly as we could, we pushed his roadster out of the garage and onto the street. Carefully, we placed the chains on the back tires, loaded up an ax and some twine, and then we were off.

    It was around 2 AM as we made our way toward the outskirts of town. The roadster’s mill cackled softly and resonated off the buildings as we drove. There were wreaths and lights hanging from the lamp posts. We came up to a stop sign, and I leapt out and raced to a lamp post that was at the intersection. Quickly, I removed the wreath and attached it to the roadster’s grille. Eb laughed, and we were on our way again.

    Snow began to fall creating a wonderland, and the tire chains had a rhythmic bell-like ringing. As if on cue, Eb began to sing Jingle Bells. I joined in, and it was all I could have wished for. Eb loudly sang “Oh what fun it is to ride in a hopped up 32 Ford!”

    We were about four miles out of town when Eb pulled off. We got out and eyed a few trees before we found one that was just right. We cut it down, strapped it to the back of the ’32, and headed back home. “Brother, that wreath looks mighty keen on my car.” Eb said. I just beamed.

    About a quarter mile from home, Eb killed the engine, and the little Ford rolled softly to a stop in front of our home. We carefully removed the tree from the roadster and carried it inside. Eb steadied the evergreen, and I swiftly ran back to the garage and found the tree stand and some decorations. The clock was showing 5 a.m. when we felt our work was done. I sat down on the sofa looking at the beautiful sight. I had forgotten how wonderful a Christmas tree was in our home. Eb stepped back and began to sing.

    “Silent night, holy night,

    All is calm, all is bright.”

    His voice boomed and filled the house. Upstairs, I heard footsteps, rustling, and doors banged open.

    Ma raced down the stairs followed by Pa. Stella was soon close behind. Ma turned to Pa, his hand on her back. She clasped her hands together in glee. Stella squeezed between our parents and rushed Ebenezer. He lifted her up and hugged her. My folks slowly made their way to Eb, and we all hugged each other. Again, as a family, it was Christmas 1945.

    To this very day, it resonates as one of the greatest Christmases, and I share it every year with my grandchildren.

    As a bonus, their Great Uncle Eb takes them for a ride in that great old ’32 Ford.

    -Written by Mark “Spooky” Karol-Chik 11/9/2019
     

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  2. Always a wonderful story Spooky, thank you sir :)
     
    Stogy, loudbang, 41 GMC K-18 and 3 others like this.
  3. Good story, told well. Keep writing!
     
    Stogy, loudbang, 41 GMC K-18 and 3 others like this.
  4. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

    Another great one Spooky.
     

  5. jerry rigged
    Joined: Apr 18, 2019
    Posts: 190

    jerry rigged
    Member

    Brought a tear to my eye....
     
  6. You did it again. Another great story!
     
    Stogy, loudbang, Spooky and 1 other person like this.
  7. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,141

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great story! Thanks!
     
    Stogy, loudbang, Spooky and 1 other person like this.
  8. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,757

    Deuces

    Yep, same here!.
    Thanks Spooky...:(:)
    I fixed the picture for ya... mbc.jpg
     
  9. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,301

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Nice story, it reminds me of my bedtime story's for my grandson.
    I talk him to sleep every night. Sometimes I talk myself to sleep also.:)
     
    pigIRON63, Stogy, Deuces and 3 others like this.
  10. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 3,565

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great story!
    Thanks for sharing that.
     
    Stogy, Deuces, loudbang and 2 others like this.
  11. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 4,612

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Well done, Spooky, how very well done.
     
    ffr1222k, Stogy, Deuces and 3 others like this.
  12. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    Thanks my pals. Tom Enjoyed it as well. He let me know when I finally get my collection of stories published, I can use his art work.
    So, I got that going for me.
     
  13. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    Spooky, I always enjoy your stories. A wonderful Christmas gift to the HAMB and all of us little HAMBERS! Keep them coming...

    Any thought to publishing them or perhaps at least a “compilation” here on the HAMB.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2021
  14. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 4,612

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Compilation?
     
    chryslerfan55, Stogy, Spooky and 2 others like this.
  15. mopar57
    Joined: Apr 24, 2012
    Posts: 93

    mopar57
    Member

    Awesome job.
     
    Stogy, Spooky and Deuces like this.
  16. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member


    I am working on putting together a compilation of 12 stories and photos I have taken at wrecking yards. Just gathering up which ones and how to publish it.
     
  17. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 4,612

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you're selling, I'm buying. Put me in line to purchase the collection, please?
     
    Deuces, ffr1222k, Stogy and 1 other person like this.
  18. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks for sharing @Spooky...times were very different back in those days...this one had a happy ending...So many had that 4 or more year nail biting, hoping and praying...it must have been hell for many. Lest we forget...Merry Christmas to you and yours...;)
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2021
  19. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

    Definitely in for several.....talk about a great gift for car folks.
     
    Deuces, ffr1222k and Spooky like this.
  20. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    Bloody spellcheck....
     
    Spooky and Deuces like this.
  21. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    I’d buy one for sure.
     
    Spooky and Deuces like this.
  22. carpok
    Joined: Dec 29, 2009
    Posts: 552

    carpok
    Member
    from Indy

    Been waiting for that as always painted a picture of days gone by. And emotion’s within Thanks Merry Christmas.
     
    chryslerfan55, Deuces and Spooky like this.
  23. pigIRON63
    Joined: Nov 25, 2019
    Posts: 825

    pigIRON63
    Member

    I love it, keep them coming.
     
    Deuces and Spooky like this.
  24. 40ragtopdown
    Joined: Jan 13, 2015
    Posts: 25,454

    40ragtopdown
    Member

    Great Christmas story. Thanks
     
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  25. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    Thanks again! I will be posting another story Sunday evening!
     
    Deuces and ffr1222k like this.
  26. Jack Rice
    Joined: Dec 2, 2020
    Posts: 280

    Jack Rice
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Didn't find this story until today. Thanks for this, it brought a tear to my eye.
     
    Spooky and Deuces like this.
  27. woodbutcher
    Joined: Apr 25, 2012
    Posts: 3,310

    woodbutcher
    Member

    :D Outstanding Sir.Thank you for posting.Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine.
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
     
    Jack Rice, Spooky and Deuces like this.
  28. jim snow
    Joined: Feb 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,807

    jim snow
    Member

    As others have said great story. Thanks. Snowman ⛄️
     
    Spooky and Deuces like this.

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