A Way Home - Christmas Story

A Way Home

It was a week before Christmas and Elizabeth decided to take a drive to look at the holiday lights. Not far away from her country home was a residential area known as Candy Cane Lane. Driving through Candy Cane Lane had been a family tradition and one rarely missed since the children were little.

Her three kids were grown now, with children of their own and Elizabeth was looking forward to spending Christmas with her eldest son and his family. Elizabeth's children would be there, as would all her grandchildren.

It was a cold night and as Elizabeth put her coat and scarf on, Dandy, her little Miniature Pinscher ran up to her, barking and dancing on his hind legs. From the coat rack she grabbed Dandy's warm jacket. Panting and grinning he waited until he was dressed and as soon as Elizabeth snapped his leash on, he was ready--front paws marching in place. "Lets go!" Elizabeth said with a smile.

In thirty minutes Elizabeth was pulling onto the first street alight with sparkling colors and animated characters. With only the parking lights on Elizabeth drove slowly, joining the throng of adults and children looking around in awe. Recalling how her children had never grown tired of taking this drive, she smiled fondly. After losing her husband it had been lonely, but she had her faith, the love of friends from her church and, Dandy, her constant companion.

The little red dog's face was gazing out, his warm breath fogging the lower half of the side window. Elizabeth turned the defroster on, clearing the windows, blowing warm air around the two of them. "So beautiful!" she thought. She turned the radio on and Christmas carols added joyous sound to the scenes around her.

Within half an hour Elizabeth turned on her headlights and pulled onto the country road that would take her home. Fog drifted from an empty field abutting the street. The thick grayness eddied around the car and Elizabeth found it increasingly harder to see anything past the windshield. She slowed down and pulled over, hoping she had cleared the roadway. She locked the doors and turned the engine off. With a prayer, she asked God to keep her safe until the fog cleared enough for her to drive.

Dandy barked excitedly, his body trembling beside her. His sharp yips had startled her awake. "What hour was it?" she wondered. Dandy continued to bark, looking out the passenger side window, then back, to the seat behind them. Elizabeth stiffened. "Is someone out there?" she whispered. Elizabeth heard a thumping, and felt Dandy's tail wagging happily. She looked out into the night--all was a dark void.

She was freezing. Elizabeth's feet were numb from cold and she was shivering despite her heavy coat. Dandy sighed, and then fell silent.

"It is too cold for you to remain here, Elizabeth." His voice was calming. "Turn the car on. I shall see that you get home safely."

Was she dreaming? She didn't know. What was happening did not make sense. But if it was a dream, what did it hurt to follow along?

She started the car and turned the headlights on. Fog shrouded the ground on both sides of the street, but the road before her was clear. "Oh, yeah, this had to be a dream," she said this to Dandy, before pulling out onto the street.

She drove up on the driveway, turned the car off, opened the door and stepped out. She could discern the faint glow of her porch light, but that was all. Fog had again claimed the night.

"I don't know how you did it!" she said to the voice in her dream. Dandy pawed at her leg. Elizabeth turned around and taking Dandy's leash, directed him out of the car. Before heading for the porch she said, "How may I thank you?"

"Wish me a happy birthday, Elizabeth," He replied.

"Is that all?" she stated, perplexed.

"It is enough..."

Her knees nearly buckled. "Happy birthday... Jesus!" she gasped with delight.

"Thank you..." like an afterthought, "for remembering Me."

~*~

The only holiday that is a birthday--Merry Christmas!!!

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Copyright 2006 Dunkin Clyde's human

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases, and hoping you will remember the reason we celebrate this most special of holidays!

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