Christmas Short Story - The Star the Wisemen Saw - Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #shortstory

The Star The Wisemen Saw

Hurry, hurry, thought Ruth Greer. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. Traffic moved through town like the last drops of ketchup from the bottle.

Rush, rush. Why did I invite both families to Christmas dinner? I must have been out of my mind,

Bob’s parents are nice. It’s my family who’ll act like I’m the idiot child. Marcy’s house is spotless and she never gets in a flap. All my life I’ve heard, “Hurry, Ruth. If you would plan, you would get things done.”

It’s Christmas Eve and five o’clock, she thought. I’ve just finished my Christmas shopping. I promise and I promise. Never again. The promise doesn’t work. Every year, I have to shop on Christmas Eve.

“Hey, Mom,” shouted Timmy in his loudest voice. “Why can’t we see Santa? There’s so much I want to tell him.”

“Me, too. Me, too,” shouted the three-year-old twins.

Bother Santa, thought Ruth. I’d like to send him to the moon.

“I want a robot, a sled, a new bike, a racing car set and some of those trucks that run by them selves,” shouted five-year-old Timmy. “I’ve got to tell Santa.

“Me, too. Me, too," shouted the twins.

“Would you sit still and shut up,” said Ruth through clenched teeth. There is no Santa, she wanted to shout. He’s someone made up to drive parents crazy. I wish there wasn’t a Christmas. I wish I didn’t have a mother and a sister who keep perfect homes.

It was snowing lightly when Ruth pulled into the driveway. Nearly six o’clock. Two hours behind schedule. I might be finished by tomorrow morning. I’ll be glad when Christmas is over.

“In the house, kids,” she said and grabbed two bags from the seat beside her. She dropped them on the kitchen table and hurried out for the rest.

“Out,” she shouted at the boys. They were standing on chairs lifting packages from the bags. “Outside and play. Daddy will be here soon.”

“I want to help,” said Timmy.

“Me, too. Me, too," echoed the twins.

“Come on, kids. Outside,” shouted Ruth over their voices. “Please.”

The door slammed behind the three boys. Ruth slumped in a chair and rubbed her forehead. She was getting a headache and she didn’t have time to nurse it. She shouldn’t be sitting here.

“Mind over matter, “she mumbled. “Think positively.”

But she couldn’t. There were groceries to put away, pies to bake, cranberry sauce to prepare, the turkey to stuff and start baking. Last minute purchases to wrap and the tree to trim after the kids went to bed.

I’ll never get done, she thought. All those jobs suffocated her. She looked at the clock. Bob’s late. Dinner’s not ready. The guest room beds had to be made.

She threw some hamburgers in the oven and dashed upstairs. I’ll make the beds up. Then I can spend time with Mom and Dad Greer when they arrive. They’re darlings. They won’t mind if everything’s not perfect.

Only Mother and Marcy will be looking for what I haven’t done. When they come tomorrow, they’ll try to take over. This time I’m going to refuse.

The bottom sheets were on the bed when Ruth remembered the groceries hadn’t been put away. She dashed downstairs and stopped short. Muddy footprints and clumps of snow left a trail across the clean kitchen floor.

What have they done now, she thought. The trail led to the table. Oh, no, they’ve drunk the whipping cream. Bob’ll have to go to the store for more.

Ruth took a deep breath. I don’t have time to cry. She jammed things into the refrigerator and cupboards and set the table. As she called the children, she sighed. I haven’t played with them all week. Why is tomorrow so important to me? Why does it matter what Mother and Marcy think? It does. I’m tired of being Miss Scatterbrain.

When Bob came in, she had supper on the table. “Traffic’s fierce,” he said and kissed her. “You’re tense. Stop worrying about tomorrow. It’s just another day.”

Ruth began to cry. “It’s not just another day. It’s Christmas. We’re having company and the children drank the whipping cream.”

Bob laughed. “Is that all? I’ll go to the store after supper.

The house was silent when Bob and the boys left. Ruth wished she could relax but there was too much to do. She had mixed the filling for the pumpkin pies while Bob and the boys ate. She rolled the crusts and set the pies to bake. While she was cleaning the cranberries, the phone rang.

“Ruth, dear,” said her mother. “Would you like me to come over and help? I know how frantic you get.”

“Everything’s under control,” said Ruth. “Just a minute.” She turned off the water and scooped the cranberries back into the bowl. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mother.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me?”

“Perfectly sure.”

The back door opened and the boys dashed in. They waved candy canes. When they hugged her they left sticky imprints on her arms.

“Santa. Santa,” shouted the twins.

“It really was Santa,” Tommy said. “He gave us candy. He said we were good.”

“Good. Good,” echoed the twins.

“Quiet,” shouted Bob. “Upstairs and get undressed.” He shook his head as they ran off. “Had to get a can of cream. They were out of the other.”

“Those darn kids’ said Ruth.

He pulled her close. “Don’t take it so seriously. You’re been frantic all week. Mom and Dad don’t care what we eat. They want to be with us.”

“It’s not your parents. It’s Mother and Marcy. They act like I’m a goof.” She sighed. “Most of the time they’re right.”

“If you’re a goof, that’s the way I like you.” He kissed her on the forehead.

“Don’t make jokes,” said Ruth. “I can see Mother and my sister when they come in. ‘Ruth, dear, is there anything we can do? Your pies are watery. Are you sure you baked the turkey long enough?’ Just for once, I would like to show them.”

He kissed her again. “You do just fine. I’ll get the kids ready for bed.”

“Bed,” shouted Ruth. “The guest room beds aren’t made yet.” She started to the door. “I can’t leave this food. What am I going to do/”

“Relax,” Bob said.

“How can I when everything’s getting out of hand.” Ruth heard water running. “See what those kids are doing.” They would decide to take a bath tonight when I spent two hours cleaning the bathroom.

As she melted butter for the stuffing, she felt like she was missing something. I don’t know what, she thought. I feel so empty.”

The phone and the front door bell rang at the same time. Why can’t everyone leave me alone, she thought as she grabbed the phone. “Just a minute,” she shouted. “Someone’s at the door.” Marcy’s mocking laughter followed her down the hall.

“Mom, you’re early,” she said.

Mrs. Greer enfolded Ruth in her ample arms. “We made good time. Dad’s bringing our things in. Where are the boys?”

“Bob’s getting them ready for bed.”

“I’ll run up and help him.”

Ruth remembered Marcy and hurried back to the kitchen. The awful smell of burning butter greeted her. She ran to the stove and turned the burner off. Tears stung her eyes when she picked up the phone. “I’m here.”

“Poor little sister,” said Marcy. “Everything in a mess?”

Ruth counted to ten. “No. Bob’s getting the children ready for bed. When the phone and doorbell went off together, I had to get both.”

“Mother called and suggested we come over and help.” drawled Marcy. “I’m sure you need us. You do want to impress your in-laws.”

“I don’t have to impress then,” said Ruth. It’s you and Mother, she thought.

“Maybe we’ll have a relaxed day at your house for a change. Going to chain the kids?”

“You don’t have to come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it, little sister,” said Marcy. “See you at church tonight.”

Ruth stood and stared into space. She’d forgotten about church. There was a sitter coming in three hours. I’ll have to be ready. Last year, Marcy had entertained on Christmas Eve, gone to church and had a perfect meal at two the next afternoon, but Marcy didn’t have children.

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have children, thought Ruth. Then she gasped. What am I thinking? It wouldn’t be a home without the boys even if they do make messes.

“What’s the matter, Ruthie?”

Ruth forced herself to smile. “I was just wondering if I was going to get done.”

“Sure smells good,” said Mr. Greer.” Even the burned butter?”

“Didn’t notice that. I’ll run these things upstairs.”

Ruth returned to the stuffing. I’d better chop the onions and celery before I melt more butter. As she chopped the onions, tears streamed down her face. She could hear laughter from upstairs. I’m missing the best part of Christmas trying to impress Mother and Marcy when I know it can’t be done.

“Ruth, the boys are ready for their story,” called Bob.

Ruth took the stairs two at a time. The boys looked so sweet she wanted to gather them into her arms. She would rather have them and a messy house than an empty perfect home like Marcy’s.

“What story?” she asked.

“The Wise Men and the star,” said Timmy.

“Star. Star, echoed the twins.

Ruth sat on Timmy’s bed. The twins snuggled on either side of her. Mom and Dad Greer sat on the bed with Timmy between them. Bob leaned against the wall.

“Behold, three wisemen came to Herod…”

When Ruth finished the story, she sat quietly for a few minutes. She had missed so much of Christmas these past few days. What did a perfect house have to do with the season?

She got up and walked to the window. She pressed her face against the pane. A few snowflakes drifted lazily down. The sky was full of stars but one appeared brighter than the rest.

“What do you see?” asked Bob.

“Come here,” she said. When Bob and the boys had gathered close, she pointed to the brightest star. “Maybe that’s the star the wisemen saw.”

She and Bob tucked the boys in bed. When they started downstairs, she turned to Bob. “Mother and Marcy will have to be happy with our house as it is. I lost the meaning of Christmas trying to impress them. I’m going to be me.”

Bob squeezed her hand. “That’s my girl.”

“No,” said Ruth. “Your scatterbrain.”

The odor of pumpkin pie and stuffing filtered up to her. I’m glad I saw the star, she thought. Christmas is for family and love. I have both.