‘Christmas Eve is two weeks away,’ Jane said with joy. ‘This year will be the best with Uncle Buddy coming home on leave from Vietnam,’ Jane continued. ‘He was in the stuff in the jungle and lost his best friend,’ she said with tears in her eyes.

‘Grandma A is hosting Christmas Dinner for the family with all cousins aunts, and uncles present with their food specialties and appetites,’ Billy B advised. ‘There will be a place set for Uncle Dutch as has been for every year since WWII when he went Missing In Action,’ Billy B said. ‘Uncle Dutch has had an empty seat at the Christmas Table since 1944,’ Billy B said.

‘I am happy Grandma A invited Thelma and me to Christmas Dinner as it has been lonely without Dad this past year,’ Chet said quietly. ‘One day he was with us and the next he is gone,’ Chet said. ‘We were going to smoke a turkey for Christmas this year,’ Chet continued.

‘Happy Christmas…come in my home is your home…,’ Grandma A proclaimed. ‘There will be surprises on this special day,’ Grandma A smiled.’ ‘Today marks the birth of Christ we celebrate with gifts and a feast…often the homeless have nothing and must watch through the foggy windows of our heated homes while they wait in the cold,’ Grandma A admonished. ‘Follow me through the back door of the back porch into another room,’ Grandma A said with a knowing wink.

‘Welcome Grandma A…and all…we have been waiting before we start the feast,’ CP laughed uproariously! ‘There is every delicacy imaginable and our hosts have invited us to partake of all with them,’ CP roared with a slap on the back of Billy B. ‘Plum Pudding and Roast Goose Mulled Wine and Candy from Heaven better known as Turkish Delight,’ CP laughed.

Has there been a subtle change we were not informed of,’ Neva J asked? ‘We are here with Uncle Dutch and Carol Chet’s Dad,’ she noted. ‘Also I do not recall this big banquet hall outside the back door of Grandma A’s Back Porch,’ she laughed nervously. ‘We came in the front door with the cares of the world and went out the back door with the lightness of being only God can provide,’ Neva J whispered…