FOR FOUR-LEGGED CREATURES
by Lauren S.
"Come on, we don't want them to see us putting that up there," Nan said while pulling Tommy around the corner of the Plumfield house. The very next moment, Nick and Jo walked out onto the porch followed by Rob. Max barked and came up to the three of them, licking Rob across the face.
"Max!," cried Rob at the Rob while wiping the slober from his chin. Max just stood there wagging his tail and his ears perked up.
Rob ran over to Nick and Jo. "Ma, you think it will snow tonight?," asked Rob while looking at Jo with expectant eyes.
"Well, I don't know, but anything is possible on Christmas Eve," Jo said while trying to sound optimistic.
From around the corner of the porch, Nan and Tommy were still peering while patiently waiting for the "moment" to happen.
"They're almost there!," Tommy said rather loudly.
"Shush!," Nan said while covering Tommy's big mouth.
"You want them to hear?," asked Nan, now rather annoyed.
"This plan has to work, nothing else has," she said confidently.
They had many unsuccessful attempts at the mistletoe moment, but now was their chance to finally get that kiss for Nick and Mrs. Jo. This whole thing had really become a contest between all of the children, resulting in rather unlikely matches this Christmas season.
Nick and Jo stood on the porch, the air so cold but still no snow appearing at the moment. Rob had gone inside the house, a little disappointed from the lack of snow this Christmas.
"He just loves snow on Christmas," Jo said.
"There's still time Jo, like you said, its Christmas Eve and anything is possible," Nick repeated her earlier words.
They continued their conversation for an hour, not aware that snowflakes began to fall lightly down to the ground.
Finally, Nick and Jo began to inch closer to the mistletoe above them, but Jo was not quite under it yet.
All of a sudden, Rob ran out of the house yelling, "Snow, ma, snow!!" This sudden screaming awoke Max from his slumber. He quickly awakened and ran up to Nick with excitement, but in the process bumped Jo out from under the mistletoe.
Nan and Tommy ran out from around the corner yelling, "Mistletoe!"
But, it was too late. Jo had already been bumped out of the way. Nick quickly looked up and noticed that it really was mistletoe. He began to grin, then looked down.
"Well, I guess it's a tradition, my friend. Hope ya don't mind," Nick said as he knelt down next to Max.
Max gladly licked his master, fulfilling the mistletoe tradition. Nan and Tommy left the porch, rather disgusted that another plan was ruined.
Rob was out in front of the house, running around trying to catch all of the snowflakes as they fell. Nick and Jo remained watchful for him, but at the same time continuing to talk.
"So, technically ya were sorta under that there mistletoe halfway before Max hit ya, so I should get a half kiss from ya," Nick quickly blurted out in the momentous silence.
Without a response, Jo just simply answered him by stepping completely under the mistletoe with Nick.
Jo looked deep into Nick's eyes as her head inched closer to his. The moment was perfect with the backdrop of snow coming down, making Plumfield a white wonderland. Nick gently touched Jo's face with his hand, as if scared to break it. He brushed her hair out of her face, ready to kiss her when…..
Max barked loudly at them and broke the moment.
"Crazy dog, you jealous? You already got your kiss Max," Nick said rather flustered.
Jo began to laugh hysterically, quickly followed by Nick. They quickly embraced, Jo melting into the kiss. Max continued to bark and pulled on Nick's jacket sleeve with his mouth, but for the moment nothing was going to disturb them.
Slowly, they parted, staring into each other's eyes, when Rob ran up to Jo.
"Ma, look at all the snowflakes I caught. Did I catch them all?"
"Yes, you did my dear," Jo said while picking up Rob.
On the porch stood Nick, his arm around Jo's waist while Rob continued to show Nick his collection of snowflakes(which Max ate later by the way).
Now we leave the happy "family", dog and all, on this happy night of Christmas Eve, when anything is possible.
"ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE"
This scene not only has some great laughs & mistletoe kisses, but a touching and appropriate theme interwoven. It really catches the spirit of the Christmas season!
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