CHRISTMAS 1976

 

 

Murdock wasn’t where he said he would be, but Face wasn’t particularly surprised. In fact, he would have been more surprised had Murdock been at the meeting place.

 

Pulling the collar of his coat up higher, he looked around, trying to decide where the pilot may have gotten to. It was snowing again. Although it had occurred to them that Christmas in New York would snow, what they hadn’t taken into consideration was that it would be the first time Murdock had ever seen snow. Real snow. Not just the stuff you got in the cans, or tiny pieces of paper that he was so fond of. Having grown up in Texas, snow was as foreign to Murdock as Christmas Day on the beach was to BA. In fact, Face was still kicking himself for not remembering, since having grown up in California, it was also his first time with real snow.  

 

They had been making the best of the opportunity though. Snow fights, snow men, snow angels. They had done them all. Now though, the snow was starting to become a hindrance not a help. He had to find Murdock and get back to their hotel so he could get a few hours sleep before the pilot traditionally woke them up at 6am for the exchange of presents, too excited to wait a few more hours.

 

Suddenly, he knew where Murdock would be. 

 

Turning, he pulled the coat higher up his body and started to walk. The snow fall was easing to a more manageable light flurry, for which he was very grateful. It was hard enough to see at this time of night - or should that be morning? - without being able to see only a few feet in front.  

 

Despite the fact there were still people around, there was something peaceful about the whole thing though. It was snowing, and it was so soft and gentle. So different from what they had been experiencing lately; the hustle and bustle of their lives as they were either being chased by Lynch and the MPs, or being subjected to the unquenchable force that was the jazz. It was just nice to slowly walk along, enjoy a certain amount of stillness, quiet and calm. Nice just to be.
 

And that’s when he found Murdock. 

 

Turning the corner, he paused for a moment to take in the sight of the big Christmas tree all lit up in the centre of the square, dusted with a layer of white fur. In front of it stood a familiar figure, the ends of a bright multicoloured scarf handing down his back, obscuring the familiar picture of the roaring tiger on his jacket. Murdock, too, was just standing there, his stillness seeming unnatural compared to the hyper state he had been in for the past few days. But there he stood, just watching, seemingly oblivious to everyone else moving around him. 

 

Face slowly walked over to him, his feet crunching softly in the snow. Reaching him he just stopped, and they took the time to stand and look at the tree together.  

 

Finally it was the pilot who broke the silence, drawing his eyes away from the sight to turn to his friend. 

 

“How was Mass?” 

 

Face nodded automatically as they both turned to head back to their hotel. “Fine,” he replied. “Thanks for waiting.” 

 

“S’Okay,” Murdock said, with a shrug.  “Had to get out anyway. I really did think BA was going to kill me.”  

 

Face smiled with a slight grimace as he recalled how Hannibal had almost had to hold BA back after one of Murdock’s less than well thought out pranks. The big guy had gotten him back, though, as he was a seasoned expert at snow ball making. 

 

“You been there long?” Face asked after a pause, nodding back towards the tree. 

 

Murdock shrugged again, pulling his scarf back around his shoulder as it slipped. “Maybe,” he admitted. “Wasn’t looking at my watch.” 

 

Time wasn’t a constraint. For people who spent their lives by their watches; meetings, check ins, being careful how long they stayed in one place at a time, not being constrained by time was a gift in itself. 

 

They continued on in silence, the snow continuing to fall gently around them.  

 

“You know what, Face?” 

 

“What?” 

 

“I’m glad we came here.” 

 

New York hadn’t been their first choice for the place to spend Christmas, but with Lynch tracking their every move back in California, they had needed to go somewhere new, somewhere big, somewhere Lynch would never be able to find them. This time they had even agreed to pay out money for a hotel since they had had no time to run a proper scam. 

 

“Yeah, me too” Face breathed. 

 

New York certainly hadn’t been his first choice.  He would have preferred a warm Christmas in Miami to the bitter cold of the north.  Murdock had wanted to go to New York though, to see the big Christmas tree he had said and with the reminder to BA that it was much quicker to get to Chicago from New York than from Florida, the decision was made.

 

“Merry Christmas, Faceman.” 

 

Face glanced across at this friend and smiled slightly as a snow flake landed on the tip of his friend’s nose. “Merry Christmas to you too, Murdock.”

 

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