Christmas: Past, Present & Future

Chapter One

This takes place the day after the dinner with Gina and Charlie.
~~~~~~~~~

Jeff was rudely awakened by a slap to his head with a pillow.

"What the he...?"

"He's already gone," Ginger accused.

"What? Who?" he asked. Rubbing his head.

"That hurt!"

"Serves you right, buster. Charlie's already gone and I didn't get to find out how it went with Gina last night. Linda is gone also. So I have no one to ask," Ginger explained.

"How is that my fault?" he questioned.

"Because you wouldn't let me ask him when I heard him come in last night. Then he left before I got up."

"That's what I got assaulted for?" He stood up suddenly and grabbed the pillow from her, holding it up and out to his side. He slowly advanced on her as she backed away from him. She held her hands out in front of herself, palms facing outward.

"Don't you dare!" she threatened.

"Or what?"

"Or I'll, I'll, I'll think of something." She tried hard to sound mean.

"Oh I am so scared," he said mockingly.

"Jeff!" she said as she cocked her head.

"Ginger!" he said as he whacked her with the pillow.

She squealed. "I can't believe you hit me!"

He hit her again. She ran to the bed and grabbed a pillow then turned and hit at him. His reach was longer and her hits weren't as effective.
"No fair!" she cried

"No fair!" he mimicked in a sing song voice.

"Was it fair when you whacked me while I was asleep and defenseless? Hmm?"

"You have no sense of humor," she informed him.

"Okay that is it. The gloves are off," he said beginning to pummel her with the pillow till she fell back onto the bed.

He jumped on with her and begin to tickle her.

"Jeff! Don't. Stop."

She said breathlessly in between giggles.

"Okay," he said, suddenly stopping. He got off the bed and headed toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" she asked in surprise.

"Downstairs. I'm hungry."

She chucked her pillow at him. She sat on the bed. Her bottom lip in a pout. A few minutes later she heard to door to the attic close. She heard footsteps trotting up the stairs. She couldn't believe he had just gone downstairs like that.

"Miss me?" Jeff asked, grinning as he hit the last step.

"No!" she declared throwing another pillow at him.

"Sooo. You still want to play that game huh?" he said as he advanced on her with the pillow.

Ginger giggled and hit back.

"What's all that noise up there? It sounds like the house is falling down." A familiar voice called out.

Jeff stopped, pillow in mid air. Distracted by the voice.

Whack! Ginger hit him upside the head. Jeff looked at Ginger in surprise. She put her hand to her mouth to suppress a laugh.

"Mom! Mom's here!" he said excitedly.

Ginger squealed and they raced each other down the stairs.
"Whoa! You'll knock me off my feet young man," Anne said laughing as she hugged her son.

"Al!" Ginger greeted as she hugged him. "We didn't expect you this early."

"I couldn't wait to get home. So Al and I got up early, loaded the car and here we are."

Jeff let go of his mother. Ginger quickly took his place. He looked to Al.

He hesitantly held out his hand. "Good to see you, Al. "

Al took his outstretched hand. "Thank you, Jeff. It's good to see you too."

"Ginger I want to know everything that's been going on here since we last spoke," Anne requested.

"You should have been here last night!" Ginger said excitedly.

"Do you think I could get breakfast before you two start gossiping?" Jeff asked.

Ginger shot him a look over her shoulder.

Jeff sighed, resigning himself to the fact that Ginger was more interested in visiting that cooking.

"So. How do you like your eggs, Al?"

Al laughed.

Chapter Two

"Hey, where's Mikey?" Jeff asked as they walked down the stairs, just realizing his baby brother was not with his mother.

"He was still asleep so we left him downstairs. We were afraid all the noise coming from the attic might wake him," Anne teased.

Jeff looked embarrassed and Ginger blushed.

"There is no need to be embarrassed kids. You're both married now and it's not like you were doing anything sinful up there in the attic," Anne stated.

Ginger choked just as they reached the living room.

"Ginger are you okay?" Anne asked.
Ginger cleared her throat. "Yes, I just swallowed wrong. Oh look at him. Can I hold him even though he is asleep?" she asked eagerly changing the subject.

"On one condition," Al stated.

"What would that be?" Ginger asked.

"Don't sing him the Lemo Tomato Juice jingle. We've finally got him to go to sleep just by rocking him. And personally, no offense intended, I never want to hear that jingle again." Al explained.

They all laughed.

Ginger carefully picked the baby out of the bassinet and held him in her arms. She cooed to him softly.

"You need one of those, Ginger," Anne suggested, smiling, a twinkle in her eye.

Ginger looked up and a smile lit up her face.

Jeff walked to her side and moved the blanket away from Mikey's face to look at his little brother.

"He's gotten so big. He's not hardly a baby any more."

"They do grow up quick. So isn't it about time for another little one in the family,"Anne suggested.

Jeff frowned. "Mom!"


Ginger put Mikey back in the bassinet. Then took Anne by the arm.

"We need to get caught up before the baby wakes up. I'll make us some coffee."

"And breakfast?" Jeff asked rubbing his stomach. "My stomach is eating away at my backbone. I'm starving," Jeff complained.

Anne laughed. "Some things never change. I thought one of these days you would finally fill up your hollow legs."

"I can't help it if I'm hungry a lot. I practice ball all day and then I come home at night and Gi..." He shot Ginger a mischievous look. To which she returned a warning glare.

"Well, let's just say I need to keep up my stamina," he smiled and winked at Ginger.

Ginger moved her hands in a shooing motion.
"Why don't you two get out of here and let me and my mother-in-law visit in private. Al don't you need help bringing your things in?"

"Oh! Yes. I forgot about the luggage. Would you mind Jeff?"

"I can see I'm not wanted here. So I guess I can help. Just let me get dressed first," he said in a fake pout.

"Thank you, sweetie," Ginger said softly, and quickly kissed him.

Anne waited for the door to shut behind them. She turned to Ginger who was bustling around getting the coffee ready to brew.

"Ginger?"

"Hmm?"

Anne seemed a tad nervous. "What is it? Are you okay?" Ginger asked alarmed.

"Goodness, Yes. I'm right as rain. I've never felt better. I just wanted to say something to you and I wanted just the right words," Anne explained.

Ginger waited patiently.

"It is no secret I was concerned when you and Jeff began dating. And I was even more so when you two got engaged, twice. And I was more than a little annoyed that I didn't have the pleasure of being witness to my son's marriage. But I want you to know that I am very
happy you are part of this family. As unconventional as your relationship with Jeff has been, you make him very happy. And that makes me very happy," Anne said her voice catching.

Ginger's bottom lip quivered. "Thank you." She was barely able to say.

They embraced in a warm hug. Then both laughed as they wiped tears away from their eyes.

Ginger put the coffee pot on the stove and said, "Well, we better get breakfast ready before Jeff faints dead away from starvation."

Chapter Three

"Mom!" Linda cried as she burst through the front door. "How come no one called me sooner?"

"We forgot," Jeff answered.

Linda punched him in the arm as she let go of her mother.
"Ow! What was that for?" Jeff asked.

"Just because you deserve it."

"What is this? Beat up on Jeff Metcalf day? First Ginger, now you. Geez," Jeff said as he returned to shaking packages under the tree.

"What are you doing?" Linda asked.

He looked up at her from his crouched position.

"Here I thought you were supposed to be so smart," he teased.

She reached over and gave his shoulder a shove and he toppled over.

"Hey!" He jumped up and grabbed her and hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Jeff put me down this instant. Right now! Where are you going?"

He opened the front door. "There's a big snowdrift out here with your name on it."

"Don't you dare! I have my work clothes on."

"Are you going back to work?"

"No." She immediately regretted telling him.

"Good. Then there's no need to worry," he said as he lowered her off his shoulder and unceremoniously dumped her in a drift of soft snow.

"Grrr," she growled and picked up a handful of snow and tossed it at him, hitting him in the face.

Stunned momentarily at her accuracy. He regained his composure and began pelting her with snowballs while trying to dodge the ones she
threw.

"Ow! Don't throw so hard, Sis," he warned.

"What? I don't throw like a girl?" she teased.

"Jeff. You need your coat and gloves on." Anne called out from the porch, holding his coat out.

Smack! Right up side of his head with a snowball.
"Time out!" he yelled.

"I wish Hank was here. I’m being ganged up on today," he complained to his mother.

"Jeff if your brother was here he would join up with Linda and gang up on you too. How about I let you lick the beaters from the cake
batter this afternoon?" His mother offered.

"Sounds good. Thanks Mom." He called over his shoulder as he returned to his snowball fight with Linda.

Anne pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders and her thoughts drifted back to many Christmases ago.

It seemed like only yesterday the laughter and squeals of her children rang out as they played in the snow. Jeff whining because Linda and Hank would join forces to hit him with more snowballs.

"One of these days you'll be bigger, Jeff and you'll be able to hold your own." Anne had told him.

She laughed as she watched Linda trip and fall. Jeff began to shovel snow on top of her.

"You'll catch your death of cold out here, Mother," Al said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Won't you come back inside where it is warm?"

Even though his wife had fully recovered from her bout with polio. He still worried about her health.

Linda and Jeff came running in after them. Their cheeks red from the cold and exhaustion. Their clothes wet from melted snow. Jeff ran up the stairs to the attic to change.

"Jeff!!!!" Ginger screamed.

He ducked instinctively as she threw herself across the bed to cover packages she had been wrapping.
"Oh, I thought you were gonna hit me again," he laughed.

"No. I'm wrapping gifts. Shut your eyes and turn around," she ordered.

He did as he was told. "So that means there's one for me?" he asked hopefully.

"So help me, Jeffrey Metcalf, if you peek. I'll take them all back," she warned. "What are you doing up here?"

"Well, it is my room."
Silence.

"I'm wet from playing in the snow. Can you hand me a pair of pants and I'll go change downstairs."

He felt pants hit him in the back of the head. He grabbed hold of them and opened his eyes and shielded them so he couldn't see what Ginger was wrapping. He loved her with all of his heart. But she had been acting really screwy the past few days.

Chapter Four

Mikey had been put down for a nap. Anne mixed up more cookie dough and Ginger rolled the dough out to cut into cookies.

Linda was frosting them and Jeff carefully sprinkled colored sugar on them.

Al reached over to pinch off a piece of dough and was rewarded by a slap on the back of his hand by Ginger.

"I'm glad to know it's not just me," Jeff said under his breath.

"I heard that buster!"

Anne smiled. "I'm just so happy to be back here in my home with my family at Christmas, I could just cry. I only wish Hank could be here."

"So does he. But he said he couldn't get away from work," Linda said.

"I remember when you were kids. You loved to help me make the Christmas cookies for Santa," Anne said wistfully.

"Yeah, that was the one time you could sneak at night and eat cookies and not have to bake more before morning," Jeff teased.

"I never ate those! It was Santa," Anne explained.

"Now how exactly would that be a mental reservation as opposed to a lie?" Al asked.

Linda groaned. "Here we go."

"Well, pardon me if I still can't distinguish the difference between a mental reservation and a lie," Al began.

"I think I hear Mikey. Al would you mind checking on him?" Anne asked sweetly.
"Remind me to thank Mikey one day," Jeff laughed.

Everyone joined in. They knew when Al got on his soap box it was hard to get him off.
~~~~~

"I'm worried about Charlie. He's been gone all day," Ginger stated.

"You don't think something went terribly wrong last night when he walked Gina home and he's just embarrassed to face us?"

Jeff raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"It is queer of him to be gone all day and not say anything to us." Linda agreed. "He was gone before I got up this morning."

"Charlie will be just fine but I'll bet he'll be sore that he missed such a fine meal," Jeff offered.

"I second that. You outdid yourself mother. And Ginger your dessert was heavenly," Al added.

Ginger glowed under the praise.

"Mmm, I'm full as a dog," Jeff stated and they all laughed. Ginger having filled them in on events at last nights dinner.


"I thought maybe Hank would call before we went to midnight mass," Anne said as she looked at the clock.

"We still have a few hours, Mom. I'm sure he'll call," Jeff encouraged.

Chapter Five


Mikey had been crawling around on the floor. He grabbed hold of Jeff's pants leg and pulled himself up. He held on with one hand and reached for his big brother with the other.

"Oh isn't that just the cutest thing you've ever seen?" Ginger cooed.

Jeff gave his mother a look that said, "Don't start."
Anne smiled and shook her head. "I didn't say a word."

"About what?" Linda asked having been absent from earlier conversations about having babies.

Ignoring his sister, Jeff said "But you were thinking something. Why don't you get after Linda to get married and have kids?"

"Because Linda will get married when she finds the right man. You have found your soul mate, so the next obvious step is to have children," Anne explained.

"Well, I don't know if Ginger and I are ready to have kids or not. I just got my career back on track and her career is just taking off. You may just have to wait a while, Mom."

Ginger's face fell.

"Sometime's the Good Lord will give you a blessing if you are ready for it or not. Just like little Mikey,"Anne said smiling at her baby son.

"Excuse me," Ginger said as she got up and left the room.

"Mom, enough on the baby talk. Really. I think it makes Ginger uncomfortable," Jeff pleaded with his mother.

Anne nodded her head in acknowledgment.

Ginger returned with a tray of coffee for everyone.

Jeff began to laugh. Everyone turned to look at him.

"Remember the Christmas Hank snuck down here and was snooping under the tree and one of the branches got caught on the belt of his robe and he pulled the tree over on top of himself?"

"Oh, Dad was so mad he couldn't see straight. I don't ever remember him being so mad, " Linda commented.

"I think he was madder when you and Ginger stole his liquor and got drunk and then got sick all over.........oof!" he grunted when Ginger elbowed him. Her face a bright crimson.

"What about the time we heard sleigh bells and ran down stairs and there were sleigh tracks in the snow? I never figured out how you and Dad managed that," Linda said to her mother.

Anne just smiled.

Jeff began to laugh harder. "What about the time Hank," he laughed so hard he couldn't speak. "Hank got his bike." Tears rolling down his face. "And he got so excited that he pe....."
"Don't even say it, baby brother," Hank stated as he walked through the door.

"Hank!" They all cried in unison as they got up to greet him.

Linda was the first to reach him. Hank grabbed his hat from his head and picked her up and swung her around.

"Ah, Sis. I've been reading your stories in the paper. It seems you're still keeping River Run
stirred up."

Linda was so flattered that Hank had been reading her articles she just let the little jab go by with out responding.

"Mother," he said as he hugged her. "Don't cry at Christmas."

"I'm sorry. This is just the best present I could have hoped for. My whole family together at Christmas."

"I guess I should have told you I was coming, but I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well, you sure surprised us," Jeff stated.

"And who's this little fella?"

"This is your new, baby brother," Jeff informed him.

"Aw, slugger. You're still my baby brother." Hank insisted as they hugged.

Hank rubbed the top of Mikey's head. He saw Al out of the corner of his eye.

"Al."

"Hank. I'm glad you made it home. For your mothers sake."

Hank extended his hand. "Me too. Ahem. Would you mind helping me with the stuff from the car?"

Al, puzzled, answered. "Sure."

"I can help, Hank," Jeff offered.

"If you don't mind I'd like to talk to Al in private. But after I give my new sister a hug. How are you Ginger? Slugger been treating you okay?"

Ginger hugged Hank. "Of course he has."
"Glad to hear it."

Hank put his hat back on and Al donned is hat
and coat. They walked outside into the snow filled air.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Linda said as she closed the door behind them.

Chapter Six


"Listen Hank. I want this to be a nice Christmas for your mother. It's been hard on her being away from her home and family. So I am
willing to bury the hatchet, if you are. And not in each other's head," Al stated seriously.

"Do you ever shut up long enough for someone to get a word in edgewise? I was just going to say, I apologize for the way I have treated you. I was hurt and angry about the way my life had turned
out. When I came home from the war everything was different. Then Sarah died and I blamed you. Then, you and Mom got together. I, I admit I
didn't handle the situation very well. I blamed you for everything. But being by myself in Chicago, I've had a lot of time to reflect. And well,
you've been good for Mother. She's happier than I've known her to be in a long time. Linda's told me how you took care of her when she was
ill." Hank fidgeted with the button on his coat.
" You love her and would do anything for her and I thank you for that." Hank finally got
out.

He had rehearsed this all the way from Chicago. It hadn't came out quite like he had planned.

Al stood there stunned for a moment. "Well, I don't know what to say."

"Al Kahn, speechless? This is the season of miracles."

They both laughed.

"Thank you, Hank. I appreciate what you said. And I do love your Mother. Very much. And us making the effort to be friendly will make
her very happy."

Hank patted him on the shoulder. "Let's get these things inside before we freeze," Hank suggested.

"Hey, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and all that," Charlie said as he ran up.

Charlie and Hank embraced. "Good to see you buddy. Here take a load," Hank laughed as he shoved a bag full of gifts at Charlie.
"Welcome home, Al." Charlie offered.

When they entered the house, Ginger was on Charlie like a duck on a junebug.

"Charlie Hailey! How dare you leave this house this morning without letting me what happened with you and Gina," she accused.

"Whew, I'm glad you married her Mutt and not me. What a temper," he teased.

"Charlie! I am waiting," Ginger said tapping her foot impatiently.

"Well, you're just gonna have to wait a little longer." He smiled as he moved past her to set the gifts under the tree.

Ginger's mouth dropped open and everyone said in unison, "Charlie!"

"Okay," he laughed. "I asked Gina to marry me and she said okay fine."

Ginger and Linda squealed. The men slapped him on the back and shook his hand. Anne offered her warmest congratulations.

"We spent all day looking for a house. I think we found one we liked over on Chestnut," Charlie informed them. "So what have I missed out
on here tonight?" Charlie asked.

"Dinner. I'll go warm up a plate for you and Hank," Ginger offered.

"So what was everyone talking about when I showed up?" Charlie wondered.

"We were all sitting around and talking about Christmases gone by," Jeff said.

Charlie laughed. "Remember the year that Hank got his bike and he was so excited he peed his pants?"

"Hey, now! Gee whiz. I was just a kid." Hank defended himself.

"You were 12!" Charlie laughed.

Chapter Seven

Jeff reached out and felt a cold spot on the bed next to him. He opened his eyes and looked around.

Ginger was sitting at the foot of the bed facing him. A pillow in her lap.
Jeff held up his arm to shield his head. "Not this morning okay? I'm too tired and the house is full."

They had only been to bed a couple of hours. After Mass the family had sat around and visited till the wee hours of the morning.

Ginger laughed nervously. "I wanted to give you a gift, privately," she said softly.

He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

She nudged his leg playfully. "Not that! Here," she said handing him a box.

He rubbed his eyes. The early morning light filtering into the room was dim.

Ginger reached over and turned on the lamp.

"Ow!" Jeff groaned.

"Sorry." Ginger said snapping it off. She got up and dug around for matches. Finding them, she lit a candle by the bed.

Jeff rubbed his eyes again. "That's better."

He untied the ribbon and tossed it aside. He ripped the paper off and opened the box. He pulled out a miniature Cleveland Indians
jersey. He could tell it had been hand made.

"It's a little small for me and I already have one," he stated, not fully awake and not quite sure why his wife had given it to him.

"It's not for you silly," Ginger said shyly. "Turn it around."

On the back was his number 4 and Metcalf Jr.

"Well then who.." He began. He looked at Ginger who sat quietly on the bed. "You mean we're pregnant? I mean you're pregnant?" he asked excitedly.

She shook her head 'yes'. "Is that okay?"

"Is that okay? Ginger!" He grabbed her to him. "We're gonna have a baby!"

"Mmm, hmm," she nodded.

He scratched his head. "I'm gonna be a father. You're gonna have my baby!" He literally giggled.

"I take it you're happy?" Ginger asked.

"Of course I'm happy." He stopped. "Ginger. I'm sorry about the comments I made yesterday. I just didn't want you to feel pressured
to start a family. I know how important your career is to you. Are you okay with this?"

"Oh Jeff. To think I carry your child inside of me makes me the happiest woman alive. I want to have this baby more than I ever
wanted to be a big Hollywood star," she explained.

He smiled. "Well hearing you say that makes me the happiest man alive." He kissed her. She could feel his heart racing a mile a minute.

"Hey everybody wake up! It's Christmas!" They heard Hank call out.

"Are we gonna tell them this morning?" Jeff asked.

"Can we?" Ginger giggled with happiness.

Jeff carefully put the jersey back in the box. He waited for Ginger to put on her robe and they walked down the stairs together.

"It's about time you two sleepy heads got down here. I'm ready to open presents," Hank teased.

Jeff just smiled at him. "Okay, we can open gifts now, but let me show you what I got this morning, first," he stated as he opened the box and pulled out the tiny jersey.