by Pearl
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program
"Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and
have been used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.
This was my contribution to a challenge on The
Writing Desk - A Christmas Story with the whole family in it under 500
words. This was certainly a challenge -
keeping me to 500 words or under. My
word count says I have exactly 500 words.
I hope you enjoy my little Christmas ficlet.
It was two days before Christmas and the
Barkley family had just finished decorating the tree and singing Christmas
carols. Jarrod was pouring everyone
drinks, Nick was setting up the checkers to play Audra, Victoria was reading, and Heath was standing
at the fireplace.
Audra came up behind Heath, “Penny for your
thoughts,” she said.
Heath, who’d been lost in thought while
staring at the Christmas nativity scene, turned to Audra and answered, “Keep
your penny, little sister, I was just thinking of how it must have really been
for them back then,” Heath answered as he nodded toward the figurines in the
nativity scene on the fireplace mantle.
“Heath, can I ask you a personal question?”
Audra asked.
After a moment, he nodded.
“Why won’t you go to church with us? I know you’re a believer,” she said.
The room became quiet as this was a question
Nick, Jarrod and Victoria Barkley had also wondered about.
Aware of the sudden quietness, Heath turned to
address his whole family as he answered, “When I was growing up, I saw the good
people of Strawberry go to church.
These same people turned their backs on my mother, and made sure I knew
what the word ‘bastard’ meant and where my station in life was. I knew then God and church were not
necessarily the same thing, and I saw no reason to go.”
He paused and looked around at all of them,
then rested his eyes on a miniature nativity scene ornament hanging from the
tree. He continued, “I find God in the
break of a new day, the tranquility of the woods, a beautiful sunset, a
lightening display, things like that.”
Looking around at each family member, Heath’s
eyes rested on Victoria and said, “But coming here, you all have taught me a
reason to go to church - to fellowship with neighbors, to get to know them,
find out what their needs are, and help when you can. I’ve watched as neighbors
have been there for each other, and I see God there too. It’s like the people you go to church with
are your extended family, and little sis,” Heath said as he put his arm around
her, “I think it’s time I gave church another try.”
“Oh Heath, I understand now, and if you really
don’t want to go, it’s ok with me,” Audra said with tears in her eyes.
“I want to,” Heath said.
“Well,” Victoria said trying to lighten the
air, “It will be wonderful to attend services in the morning with everyone
present, but it’s getting late, and if we don’t get some sleep, no one’s going
to want to go.”
Heath gave the woman he’d come to love as his
own mother a grateful smile.
* * * * * * * *
Heath stayed downstairs a little while longer
and was gazing at the nativity scene on the mantle again when Victoria came up behind
him and gave him a big hug. “You are a
very special person Heath Barkley.”