Welcome to Newtonberg by David Emprimo Read Free Book Online Page B

Workshop to make sure
everything was ready for the kids. Mike was there, pacing.
    “Where’s Janet?” asked Cliff.
    “She’s off tracking down the photographer,”
Mike replied. “He was in the marching band and was supposed to
retrieve the camera from his mother.”
    Cliff looked him over. “Well, you sure look
the part. The kids won’t even notice you’re not Al. You might even
give old John Swenson a run for his money.”
    Mike chuckled. “He said the same thing.”
    Cliff looked out at the crowd that was
beginning to gather and saw Janet making her way toward the tent
along with a teenager holding a camera. The young man was still in
his marching band uniform.
    “Well, it looks like it’s just about time.
You ready?”
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Mike smiled at
him. “Have you got the whiskey?”
    Cliff laughed, remembering the Founder’s Day
incident. “Nope. Never again. The hardest drink you’re getting from
me is root beer.”
    Janet stepped into the tent. “Okay, Mike.
It’s time.”
    Mike took a deep breath and stepped out. He
made his way to the overstuffed red velvet chair that was set up on
a small raised platform. A Christmas tree was set up on one side of
the chair. A small table with a bowl full of candy canes was on the
other. The chair itself had been brought over from the Widow
Missus’s boarding house, where it normally sat in a corner of the
living room. It had been her husband’s favorite chair and had been
used for every Christmas Festival since the beginning.
    Mike sat down and looked out at the line of
children and parents waiting. It seemed to go on forever and he
knew it would be a few hours before he was finished.
    At least it was well-organized. When a child
entered to meet Santa, the child’s parents were led to a waiting
area about ten feet away from the platform so they could hear what
the child said. Mike greeted the child, asked their name and what
they wanted for Christmas. After the child finished, they would
have their picture taken and Mike would hand them a candy cane.
Another helper (a high school girl also in need of volunteer
service as part of her National Honor Society membership) would
retrieve the picture and lead them to the waiting area to meet
their parents. Then Janet would lead the next child to the
platform.
    When it came time for Little Philip Kelly to
have his picture taken, Cap asked Emily if he could take the baby
up to the platform. Emily agreed, and he gently took the sleeping
baby from her.
    As he headed up to the platform, Cap looked
down at the face of his nephew and whispered to him. “Now, Little
Philip, I don’t want you to be afraid. This is a good friend of
mine. He won’t hurt you.” He smiled as he handed the baby to Mike.
“Isn’t he just the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?”
    “Yes, he is, Cap. He’s beautiful.”
    Mike looked into Little Philip’s face and
spoke softly. “So, you’re Little Philip, huh?” The baby kept his
eyes closed, not a care in the world.
    “Well, since you can’t tell me what you want
for Christmas, let me tell you what I wish for you instead.
    “My wish is that as you grow up you never
forget how much you are loved by your family: your mother, your
father, your grandmother, and especially your uncle. You’re not
just named after him, you’re a part of him; a piece of his spirit
and love that will live on long after he is gone.
    “I also wish that you will never forget how
lucky you are to have a connection to this town. No matter where
you live, there is a part of you that is tied to this wonderful
place. This is your hometown. The people here are just as much your
family as those who are related to you by blood.
    “But most of all, I wish for you a life of
happiness, contentment, and love. I can’t promise you that life
will be easy. But if you are happy with your choices in life,
content with where you are and what you do for a living, and have
the love of your family and