A Christmas Short – Part 4/4

And here we are with the last part of the short Christmas story and the final post of the year! Thank you for reading and for supporting me all these years, and I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year! See you in 2024! ~ Kay Adelin

Part 4

Dell blinked his eyes open to see dim light creeping through the crack between the curtains, then he sat up, gasping. It’s Christmas! Already, some small treasures were under the tree, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string.

Carefully climbing over where Robert still slept, he crept over to the tree and picked up the bag with his name on it, biting his lip. What could it be? He was tempted to shake it, but decided against it when Robert muttered in his sleep and rolled over. He had to get his and Charlie’s presents under the tree too!

Drawing out his trunk as to not wake his twin, he withdrew the two packages and laid them under the tree, dusting his hands and beaming at them. What would Robert and Charlie say to discovering he got them a gift?

The door opened then, and Charlie entered, his arms full of wood and snow swirling around him. “It’s still snowing up a storm,” he said in a low tone as Dell hurried over.

He extended his arms for it. “Merry Christmas, Charwie!”

Charlie smiled and gave him half the load. “Merry Christmas, buddy.” He clomped over to the fireplace, putting some logs into the fire and taking the others from him to stack beside it.

Robert sat up then, yawning and rubbing his eyes, and Charlie laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re finally up, sleepyhead. I thought I was going to have to cook the Christmas goose myself.”

Goose? Both his and Robert’s gaze locked onto him, as they both echoed, “Goose?”

Charlie smiled at them before exiting the cabin again. A moment later, he entered, holding a large fowl hanging from its feet, and Robert leaped from his bed, clapping his hands. “You got a goose! How’d you get us a goose?!”

“That’s why I’ve been working late; I was determined to save enough coins to buy us this for Christmas! We ought to have a feast just like everyone else does, don’t you think?”

“Is that a real goose?” Dell touched the cold form, and Robert laughed.

“Course it’s a real goose, silly! It’s just had its feathers plucked so we can eat it! Help me make a spit to cook it on; we’ll have our Christmas feast ready in no time!”

In no time was an under exaggeration, as Dell watched Robert and Charlie take turns spinning it, then he was called to duty, and did the same. His gaze–and Robert’s, he noticed–kept drifting over to the small bundle of presents under the tree, and Charlie finally smiled as he came to take over the spinning from him. “All right, you two. You can open your presents.”

Dell grinned and rushed to his, but Robert reached under their bed and pulled out his trunk–and brought out four more little wrapped presents. “Wait, Dell, I got you something–and you too, Charlie.”

“So did I!” Dell grabbed his presents and offered them both to Charlie and Robert, and Charlie stared at them both with wide eyes.

“How did you two—”

“I worked odd jobs for the neighbors,” Robert said, placing two packages by Charlie’s feet and two he exchanged with Dell for his. “But Dell, how did you—?”

“I sold some carvings I did,” he said, beaming at the shock on both their faces. “Maybe I can carve more and help earn more money. Then I can do something useful around here.”

Charlie stopped his spinning and pulled them both into a tight hug. “You two are the best brothers in the world. I couldn’t ask for better. And don’t either of you ever think you’re worthless. Because you’re very important.” He pulled away and smiled at them. “And thank you so much for the gifts–but you two staying happy and safe are the best gifts I could ask for.”

“You too, Charlie,” Robert said, before pushing his gifts at Dell again. “Now hurry and open up, Dell!”

He glanced at Charlie, who nodded, returning to spinning the goose as Dell opened the first of Robert’s package. He pulled out a packet of what appeared to be a few quills and a couple of packets of ink. “A drawing kit!”

“Yeah! And now you can use them for drawing out whatever you want to carve, or for pictures—”

“Or how about your studies?” Charlie grinned at him as he shook his head with a sheepish smile.

“No, these are my special quills!” He clasped them close. “Thank you, Robert!”

“There’s one more, then Charlie’s gift!”

Dell unwrapped his last gift from Robert, revealing a few candy sticks and a tin cup, then Charlie had him and Robert both unwrapped his gifts to them at once, revealing another couple candy sticks, a copper coin, and a strange, round, orange fruit.

“It’s an orange,” Charlie said, looking at their confused faces. “It’s a rare fruit that grows in faraway lands, but I’ve heard it tastes delicious. You peel it, and eat what’s inside–after we have the goose, you two can try them and your candy sticks. You’ll have to tell me what they taste like–if they were worth the silver coin I paid for them.”

“You spent a silver coin on this?!” Robert jumped to his feet. “What were you thinking, wasting so much money on us? Charlie, we don’t need—”

“I wanted to do it. Besides, lots of other kids were getting them. Why shouldn’t you?”

“Thank you, Charwie.” Dell stood and hugged him. “Thank you for everything–you worked so hard just to make us happy.”

“Yeah–you shouldn’t have worked yourself so hard,” Robert said, dropping his gaze. “I should’ve done more to help—”

“You do enough. Both of you do. Now Robert, go open up your gift from Dell. I’m curious to see what he got you.”

Robert opened the coat, his mouth dropping. “You got me a new coat?” He slipped it on, blinking rapidly. “It-it fits,” he said, his voice choked. He rubbed his arm over his eyes, sniffling, before hugging Dell. “Thank you–thank you so much–both of you—!”

Dell hugged him back. “Don’t cry, Robert! It’s a happy day!”

“I am happy, Dell.” Robert smiled at him, wiping his eyes before jumping over to Charlie. “Now you open yours and I’ll do the spinning!”

“All right, all right.” The first package he opened was one from Robert, containing the same candy sticks and tin cup as Dell’s did. “Awesome! Now I get to rot my teeth with yours,” he said, ruffling Dell and Robert’s hair, the two giggling. He picked up the next present from Robert, then smirked. “I bet I know what this is!” Unwrapping it, he pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! A bottle of mead–my favorite! Thank you so much, Robert!”

Robert got enough money to buy Charlie the mead? Dell scooted forward, his single package of shoes feeling very cheap all the sudden. “I-I wanted to buy you some mead too, Charwie, but I didn’t have enough.”

Charlie smiled, picking up his gift. “I’m sure whatever you got me is more than enough.” Unwrapping the boots, his smile disappeared, and he examined them. “Dell–how did you–where did you get these?!”

“The general store. Mr. Clydesdale had a customer who didn’t pick up the shoes, so he gave them to the store to sell for cheap. I’m sorry, Charwie, I wish I had a better—”

Charlie pulled him into a tight hug. “You silly boy. Do you know these boots normally cost close to a silver coin? I’ve never had such a fine pair before–and I needed them so badly! Look, between Robert’s mead and your boots, I’m all set!” He ruffled his hair, laughing.

He liked them! Dell’s expression brightened, then fell. “Try them on, Charwie. If they don’t fit, the shop will give you the six copper back.”

“Oh ho! They’ll fit; I’ll make them fit if they don’t!” Charlie pulled them on, then beamed. “Hey, they’re perfect! A little big, but enough for me to grow into!” He clomped around the room in them, then snapped his fingers. “And I think the goose is done! Robert, go fetch the knife, Dell, the plates, and while we’re eating, I’ll tell you a funny story I heard about Mrs. Watson in town!”

Laughter and the delicious smell of roast goose filled the small cabin, and about an hour later, Dell flopped on the floor, rubbing his stomach with a satisfied sigh. “This has been the best Christmas ever!”

Robert nodded, taking his second helping of goose, and Charlie smiled at them. “Yeah. The best Christmas ever.”