{"id":1863,"date":"2017-12-16T20:59:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-17T01:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2017-12-16T20:59:00","modified_gmt":"2017-12-17T01:59:00","slug":"advent-december-9-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1863","title":{"rendered":"(advent) December 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, December 9<\/p>\n

\u201cThey ran from SANTA?\u201d Lily said, shaking her head. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s fantastic. Who is scared of Santa Claus?\u201d<\/p>\n

Someone who\u2019s been really naughty, maybe?<\/em> Aurora said, as they walked down the street to the center of Merchant\u2019s Circle. This was the part of Carter\u2019s Cove where many of the shops were, such as The Vienna Lady\u2019s Caf\u00e9, which was where they were headed. There was a soft snow falling \u2013 not a storm, but that gentle kind of snowfall that always appears in Hollywood movies about New England Christmases. It was just cold enough to snow, but not cold enough to chill the bones. Even Jack, with his warm coat, was moving briskly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way they were acting, I could see that,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cThey were very rude to each other, and to Starsha.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand how anyone could be rude to her,\u201d Zoey said. \u201cShe\u2019s always so nice!\u201d<\/p>\n

Some people just don\u2019t know how to treat others,<\/em> Jack said philosophically.<\/p>\n

I kind of hope the Snow Queen brings them to Santa tomorrow,<\/em> Schrodinger muttered. I want to see him teach them a lesson.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not very nice, though, Schrodinger,\u201d Lily said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno, I agree with Schrodinger,\u201d Kaylee said, kicking at a snowbank. \u201cThey deserve coal at the very least.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta will take care of it,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cIt\u2019s his job, anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth!\u201d Kaylee perked up as they neared the Circle and the first strains of music wafted up on the cold air. \u201cSpeaking of jobs, I wonder what Katarina and Mick will have us do today?\u201d<\/p>\n

When they arrived at The Vienna Lady\u2019s Caf\u00e9, they found it already full of people. Mick was behind the counter, making coffee with an immense machine that seemed to be full of froth and magic. The air was heavy with the scents of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and butter.<\/p>\n

They waited patiently for a break in the crowd, warming back up from their walk. Then Mick caught sight of them, and his face broke into a warm, welcoming smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you\u2019ve made it!\u201d His warm Scottish accent danced on the air. \u201cGood! Katarina\u2019s in the back getting stuff ready for you!\u201d He lifted the counter and gestured them through.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we doing?\u201d Lily asked, as they went into the back room, where Mick\u2019s wife Katarina was pouring hot chocolate into a large thermos.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to be keeping the musicians warm!\u201d Katarina beamed at all of them. \u201cThere are musicians all over the Circle, and I thought it would be nice to have you bring them hot chocolate and warm sandwiches.\u201d She indicated the large basket.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are we going to carry it all?\u201d Gideon asked. \u201cThat looks heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought you could us this?\u201d Katarina said, bringing them to the back door. Outside was a small sleigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s like Old Man Winter\u2019s, but mini!\u201d Kaylee said, clapping her hands together. \u201cI bet Aurora, Jack, and Schrodinger can pull it, and we can push it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The two dogs and the CrossCat inspected the sleigh and announced that they could definitely take turns in pulling it along. There was even a harness that would fit each of them, generously padded and embroidered with gold and silver threads.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd look here,\u201d Katarina said, showing them what was cradled in the sleigh. Instead of seats for people, there were two boxes. One opened to show spots for the thermos and two stacks of paper cups with lids, and the other was empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat goes in here?\u201d Kaylee asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s for the sandwiches,\u201d Katarina said, bringing them back into the kitchen. \u201cI made hand pockets with ham and cheese, and that box will keep them warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow!\u201d Gideon said. \u201cWhere did you get such a wonderful thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMick built it,\u201d Katarina said. \u201cIt\u2019s a prototype he\u2019s working on for the goats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katarina and Mick had a farm on the outskirts of the Cove, and their small herd of goats was their pride and joy, aside from the caf\u00e9. Schrodinger could see the small goats pulling the sleigh through the snow, perhaps over at the skating cove.<\/p>\n

Now, he looked at the others. Who wants to pull first?<\/em><\/p>\n

Aurora volunteered, and once they had filled the boxes with hot chocolate and warm hand sandwiches, they set off to the sidewalks.<\/p>\n

In front of the Tin Shop, a trio of singers were more than happy to take a break from Jingle Bells to sip hot chocolate and eat the warm hand pies that Katarina had made. It was two young men and a young woman that Schrodinger didn\u2019t recognize, but they sang Gideon\u2019s favorite Christmas carol in thanks, which made them wonderful in his eyes. Catherine, the owner of the Tin Shop, came out just in time to hear the end of the song, and joined the children in clapping enthusiastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchrodinger! Molly\u2019s not with you today?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

No, she\u2019s baking cookies for tomorrow, when Santa comes,<\/em> he replied. Is there a message I can give her?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please let her know that the centerpiece she requested for Christmas dinner is in,\u201d Catherine said. \u201cShe can pick it up at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oooh, I wonder what it is!<\/em> Schrodinger looked at the others, who shrugged. I will let her know<\/em>!<\/p>\n

Their next stop was at the Hammered Dulcimer, a music shop that Molly loved to look in whenever she was in the square. The musicians here were very familiar to all of them: Darien, the Minstrel who now lived in the Cove (in retirement, so he said) and his journeyman Starsha.<\/p>\n

Today, they had cloaks on: Darien\u2019s a dark grey, almost black, edged with white fur, and Starsha\u2019s a pearl grey, edged in dark blue fur. Darien was playing a saxophone, the elegant tones wrapping around Starsha\u2019s voice as she sang \u201cGod Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow,\u201d Lily said, as the last notes died away. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard it played like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Darien smiled at her. \u201cThe saxophone is one of my favorite instruments,\u201d he agreed, letting the instrument rest against his chest. His fingers were encased in dark grey kid-skin gloves, and he flexed them momentarily. \u201cAnd Starsha can make anyone sound good when she sings along.\u201d<\/p>\n

His journeyman blushed, the tattoos on her cheeks reddening. \u201cIndeed, Master Darien, it is your playing that makes me sound good,\u201d she said, tucking her hands beneath her cloak. \u201cI am but a poor student in your shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have never been a poor student,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cI will not listen to that bit of false modesty.\u201d He turned to Schrodinger. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see you today. I was hoping you would tell me what happened yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster, please,\u201d Starsha said, looking very uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, child, this is something I need to know, and from someone who is not going to try and cast you in the wrong,\u201d Darien said, not looking at her. \u201cSchrodinger will tell me the truth without trying to take the blame.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schrodinger, who had been hoping to run into Darien for this very reason, was brief and succinct in his retelling. She handled it very well,<\/em> he finished. \u00a0They were completely in the wrong, and she just got caught in the middle.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cHmm.\u201d Darien stroked his chin. \u201cI think it may be time for me to accept the Snow Queen\u2019s invitation to lunch, so I can meet some of these gentlemen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would they have been scared of Santa?\u201d Kaylee asked. \u201cDo you know, Darien?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I could find out.\u201d The elf\u2019s eyes gleamed suddenly. \u201cHe is at CrossWinds Books tomorrow, is he not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we shall be as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saturday, December 9 \u201cThey ran from SANTA?\u201d Lily said, shaking her head. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s fantastic. Who is scared of Santa Claus?\u201d Someone who\u2019s been really naughty, maybe? Aurora said, as they walked down the street to the center of Merchant\u2019s Circle. This was the part of Carter\u2019s Cove where many of the shops were, …<\/p>\n

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