Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell Read Free Book Online

close-knit family, proud of their ancient lineage. Igather that they can trace their family tree back to an Aztec noble.”
    “They sound like wonderful people,” Honey said. “I can’t understand why they left you in the lurch like this, Uncle Monty. Didn’t they give any explanation?”
    He shook his head again. “All they said was, ‘A family emergency,
señor,’
as they departed. I simply don’t understand it. My own conscience is clear. I treated them all very well. Let them run the whole place without any interference whatsoever. They did a grand job and apparently loved it.”
    Still shaking his head he added, “But it’s my problem, not yours, kids, so forget about it. I only wish you could be here tomorrow night for the beautiful ceremony in the elementary school. It is strange that the Orlandos would want to miss
La Posada
. I think you know that it is based on ancient Mexican-Spanish tradition, which holds that Joseph and Mary spent nine days during their journey from Galilee to Bethlehem searching for a
posada
which is the Spanish word for lodging. On the ninth night they found it, in the stable where the Christ child was born.
    “Here in Tucson
La Posada
is staged on only one night, but in Spain and Mexico it is celebrated for nine days. A procession, consisting usually of school children,travels by candlelight from door to door seeking admission. A boy and a girl representing Joseph and Mary may head the procession, and figures of Mary on a burro with Joseph walking beside her are carried on a decorated litter.
    “The children chant the ancient Spanish litany and are refused admittance until the ninth night, Christmas Eve. This is the end of the ritual and from that moment on it becomes a gala festival—a joyous
fiesta
. Do you boys and girls know what a
piñata
is?”
    “No,” they chorused.
    “Well,” he said, “it might be compared to the custom we Americans have of allowing each child to open one present on Christmas Eve. In the home where the procession is finally admitted on Christmas Eve, there will be suspended from the ceiling a beautifully decorated pottery jar which is filled with candies and little toys. Now the
fiesta
becomes a sort of blind man’s buff. Each child in turn is blindfolded and given a stick with which to whack the jar. When the
piñata
finally breaks, the kids scramble all over the floor to gather up the Christmas goodies as they descend from the ceiling.”
    “What fun!” Honey cried. “Sort of like the old nursery rhyme about Little Jack Horner. Do the Mexican andSpanish children receive their presents the next day as we do, Uncle Monty?”
    “Well, yes and no,” he told her. “Those who have become thoroughly Americanized celebrate Christmas the way we do. But according to tradition the day of gift-giving does not take place until January sixth, the day when the three Wise Men came to the manger. The night before, children fill their shoes with hay and then place them on the window sills. The hay is for the camels and the Wise Men show their gratitude by refilling the shoes with gifts.”
    “Oh, how Bobby would love to hear about that custom!” Trixie said enthusiastically. “Every Christmas Eve he insists upon leaving cookies and milk under our tree for Santa and a box of hay for the reindeer.”
    “Said box of hay,” Mart added, “being a shoe box, Bobby’s size, and filled with grass cuttings which, when dried out, are barely enough to line the bottom of the box.”
    “But it’s the spirit of the thing that counts,” Honey said quickly. “Bobby is so cute and funny that I’m almost glad we’re going back home tomorrow so we can spend Christmas with him.”
    “We’re not going back tomorrow,” someone said.
    Trixie jumped. It was she who had said that!
    “I’m sorry—” Uncle Monty and Mr. Lynch began, but Trixie went right on talking just as though she were all alone in the station wagon. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from