“No we don’t.”

“Yes we do!”

“No, we don’t.”

Josiah entered the lounge room where the two small children were arguing. “Unca Josiah, we have Christmas so we can all get presents, don’t we?” J.D. insisted, rushing up to the huge man.

Sanchez peered at the large dark eyes staring up at him with such all consuming innocence and then glanced across at the eight year old sitting on the mat in front of the fire. “Is that what you two are arguing about?"

J.D. nodded vigorously.

"So you think it is about presents? Vin? Why do you think we have Christmas?”

“We have Christmas to make sure everyone goes to church at least once a year.” Josiah burst out laughing. Vin’s face fell. “That’s what Uncle Ezra told me,” he whispered.

Sanchez patted J.D.’s head, walked across to Vin and lifted him to his feet. “Come and sit with me boys and let me tell you why we have Christmas Day.” The children followed him to the lounge chair and sat down on either side of the gentle giant. Their fathers were at some meeting and so Josiah was ‘babysitting’… a term Vin hated for he was no baby.

“In a way, I suppose you are both a little bit right. Let’s see. Christmas.” Josiah rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Let’s take each letter of the word Christmas.”

“Why?” J.D. asked.

“Because each letter stands for something special about Christmas. They are the clues that will tell us why we have Christmas Day. The first letter is…?” Josiah asked, turning to Vin.

“C”.

“Right. ‘C’ is for the Christ child who was born on Christmas Day.”

“Baby Jesus,” J.D. agreed. “And everyone brought him presents so that is why we get presents,” he added in triumph.

Josiah smiled. “’H’ is for Heaven’s angels who let people know that the Christ child had been born.”

“And the people took presents and that’s why we get presents.” J.D. directed his comment to Vin.

“’R’?” Vin asked, now intrigued.

“’R’ is for redeemer. Ummm, how do I explain that? Jesus was sent by God to save us and redeemer means save. Do you see?”

Vin nodded. J.D. shook his head. “So he was going to save lots of presents for us?” the little boy asked.

Vin smirked at Josiah who patted J.D.’s head. “’I’ is for Israel, which is the part of the world where the Christ child was born.”

“’S’?” Vin asked. “That would be the star?”

Josiah nodded. “Good boy.”

“What star?” J.D. asked.

“When baby Jesus was born there was a star in the sky that showed everyone where to find Him,” Vin explained.

“Ohhhh. It showed them where to leave the presents.” J.D. leaned against Josiah, becoming sleepy.

“’T’ is for the three wise men who travelled from the east to see the Christ child.”

“And they brought presents.” J.D. yawned.

Josiah pulled the sleepy youngster onto his lap. “They sure did, J.D. Gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

“No toys?”

“No toys,” Josiah chuckled.

“’M’? Vin asked.

“’M’ is for the manger where Jesus was born. The most important king born in a simple stable. Pretty incredible don‘t you think?”

“’A’?” Vin asked.

“’A’ is for ‘All’ He stands for. Love, hope, peace, goodness…”

“Presents?” J.D. asked, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

“In a way. They were the gifts God gave us when Jesus was born. And finally we have ‘S’. Any ideas, Vin?”

“Ummm. Shepherds?”

Josiah shook his head. He stood with J.D. on his hip, took Vin’s hand and led the child across to the window. “Look up there in the sky. Tomorrow night, the ‘S’ will appear.”

Vin eyed Josiah. “Do you mean…?”

“Yes. ‘S’ is for Santa.”

“Santa?” Vin asked surprised. He was old enough to have heard the rumours. “But I thought…” he stopped and glanced at J.D. who was suddenly wide awake again. The youngster was beaming.

Josiah smiled. “Santa is God’s gift to every child. He is the symbol of unselfish giving. He brings presents to remind us of the gift God gave the world on the first Christmas. The man in the red suit just does his bit to spread love, joy, happiness and a lot of hope.”

“Lots of presents!” J.D. cried, bouncing up and down with excitement in Josiah’s arms.

Josiah looked at the older child. Vin was intuitive and he seemed to understand. “It is about presents, son, but not the sort that are wrapped up under the tree.”

Vin nodded, reciting carefully, “The Christ child, Heaven’s angels, Redeemer, Israel, Star, Three wise men, Manger, All He stands for and Santa.”

“Together they spell Christmas and that, Vin, is why we have Christmas Day.

“And we get presents,” J.D. squealed. Josiah squeezed the child, affectionately.

“When he’s older, he’ll understand more,” Vin defended his little cousin.

Josiah nodded. “Now, it’s time the two of you went to bed.”

“Two more sleeps,” J.D. chirped.

“Only two more sleeps until Christmas,” Josiah agreed as the trio entered the boys’ bedroom. Josiah lowered J.D. into his bed and pulled up the blankets.

“Can we have a story, Unca Josiah?”

“Of course. What would you like?”

“Cowboys.”

“No. Can you tell us about Baby Jesus?” Vin asked as Josiah tucked him in.

The ex-preacher smiled. “The first Christmas. You know, boys, that is my very favourite story and do you want to know why?”

J.D.’s smile broadened. “Because it’s about presents?”

Josiah winked at Vin. “Yes, J.D. It is my very favourite story because it is all about the greatest, most wonderful present ever given.”

J.D. nodded. “When God gave the world Baby Jesus.” Vin and Josiah both looked at the youngest stunned. “What? That’s what you meant, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, J.D., that’s exactly what we meant. That’s exactly what Christmas is all about.”

“Yep, that and presents!”

Vin and Josiah both burst out laughing. “That... and presents,” Josiah chuckled.

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© December 2005 Brigitta B. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to DC comics and I thank them sincerely for turning a blind eye so I can borrow them. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.