{"id":1872,"date":"2018-01-06T18:54:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-06T23:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1872"},"modified":"2018-01-06T18:54:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-06T23:54:32","slug":"advent-sunday-december-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1872","title":{"rendered":"(advent) Sunday, December 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Sunday, December 10<\/p>\n

Molly? Are you busy?<\/em><\/p>\n

Schrodinger stuck his head through the door to the kitchen, his ears cocked at an inquisitive angle.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at the moment,\u201d Molly replied, turning from the stove. \u201cI was just going to ask you if\u2026\u201d Her voice trailed off as she saw who was with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk if I\u2019d like some tea?\u201d Jack Frost said, grinning at her. \u201cI\u2019d love some. Especially that smoky tea you served me the last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly shook herself. \u201cYou are the only person I know who drinks tea that tastes like a damp smoldering leaf pile,\u201d she said, going into the pantry for a package of lapsong suchong tea. \u201cSchrodinger, would you like some too?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, please. Earl Grey.<\/em> The CrossCat jumped up onto his stool and waited patiently. I want to hear what you have to say as well, Jack.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, of course,\u201d Jack Frost said, sitting down on the stool next to him. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of asking you to leave. In fact, you\u2019re part of the reason I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

You want to talk about what happened at the bake sale,<\/em> Schrodinger said, as Molly came back out with mugs and tea.<\/p>\n

\u201cPartially,\u201d Jack said. \u201cAnd also to ask you for some help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly set down the two mugs of tea in front of them and then sat on her own stool, cradling her tea in her hands. \u201cYou want us to help you and Jade with your \u2018guests,\u2019 right?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot you specifically, this time, Molly.\u201d Jack smiled at her. \u201cYou\u2019re busy enough right now. But you guys,\u201d and he turned to Schrodinger, \u201cif you are willing, might be able to help us with our little\u2026problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not so very little,<\/em> Schrodinger said. And it will be easier if we know exactly what you want us to do.<\/em> He chuckled a bit. Although if you told Kaylee you wanted them beaten with a stick, she\u2019d probably be thrilled. She has been less than impressed by the guests she\u2019s met.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cShe and I both,\u201d Jack said, chuckling too. \u201cBut no, that\u2019s not what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell us who exactly you have, and what exactly is going on, and then we can formulate a plan?\u201d Molly said. When he looked a little surprised, she sniffed. \u201cWhat, did you really think I was just going to sit back like a good girl and not get involved? I thought you knew me better than that, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Frost laughed out loud at that one. \u201cOkay, touch\u00e9.\u201d He sipped his steaming tea, and then said, \u201cLet me give you the cast of characters first. You\u2019ve met Yesira, Palys, Horace, and Francis.\u201d He ticked them off on his fingers. \u201cLano, the Consulate of Amana, and Mesphridae, the Minister of the Free People of Yavis, arrived before them. The last four showed up yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who are they?\u201d Molly asked.<\/p>\n

Jack leaned back. \u201cDaisia, the Matriarch of Twelrian; Nahand Browntoes, the Administrator of Culture for Embersummit Mountain; Crossax, the Chieftain of Ocovar; and Lady Avala of Typhis. All together, ten of the most divisive of the Parliament of Realms. All ten of them have issues with each other, and each is convinced that their issue is the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course,<\/em> Schrodinger said. That was apparent when we met Horace and Francis. What does Jade think we can do?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was considering what Kaylee had said to her last Thursday,\u201d Jack said. \u201cAbout how they didn\u2019t really have manners. What you have to understand is that these folks are all used to everyone bowing to their every whim. Parliament members have immense personal power in their Realms, because they can remove access to the Gates for people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly and Schrodinger stared at him. \u201cReally?\u201d Molly said finally. \u201cThey can do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn their Realms, yes,\u201d Jack said. \u201cNot all peoples have adopted the democratic ways that humans have here on Earth. You believe that the Gates are public resources. Not everyone does.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, but\u2026<\/em> Schrodinger was sputtering. That\u2019s ASININE!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI agree,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWhat is worse is that many of these folks have no equal in their Realms, so they think they can do no wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I begin to see what you want the kids to help with,\u201d Molly said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to make these folks work with each other, to teach them some humility?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor one thing,\u201d Jack Frost said. He took a sip of tea and helped himself to a cookie from one of the racks next to him. \u201cWe also want to show them how people can learn to let go a bit and let others do things.\u201d He cocked his head at Molly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s why you don\u2019t want me involved.\u201d It was a devious scheme, she had to admit. \u201cDo you think it will work?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s can\u2019t hurt, can it?\u201d Jack Frost replied.<\/p>\n

I think we could do that, although I can\u2019t speak for the others,<\/em> Schrodinger said. They\u2019ll be here soon. Santa\u2019s coming later!<\/em> He looked at Jack Frost hopefully. Are you going to stay and talk to him?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cIt\u2019s been a few years since Santa and I caught up,\u201d Jack Frost said musingly, rubbing his chin. \u201cI might just stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

As it turned out, he only had time enough to talk to the others before he was called back to the Snow Queen\u2019s Realm. As Molly had known, the children all agreed that they would help, although Kaylee expressed doubt that it would work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just don’t seem to want to know,\u201d she said, as they all carried trays of cookies up the stairs. \u201cI mean, you have to want to change to really change, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

We won’t know that if we don’t give them a chance, <\/em>Jack said. Let’s see if they can learn a thing or two.<\/em><\/p>\n

And then there wasn’t time to talk. Santa Claus himself was arriving at any minute, and the bookstore was filling up with people eager to see him. Not just children, either. Santa talked to everyone, no matter their age.<\/p>\n

Even Molly got her turn on Santa’s lap. \u201cWell, Miss Molly, what can Santa bring you this year?\u201d the jolly old elf asked her.<\/p>\n

She leaned in and whispered, \u201cI’d really like to make sure that Jade\u2019s conference goes well, honestly, Santa. Can you help?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked gravely at her. \u201cThat\u2019s out of my control, I\u2019m afraid. The Snow Queen\u2019s affairs are not to be mingled in lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they aren\u2019t.\u201d Molly sighed. \u201cI guess I knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust in yourself, Molly,\u201d Santa said quietly, so no one else could hear. \u201cWhat the Snow Queen needs now is your love, and your support.\u201d He leaned in. \u201cAnd you need to take care of yourself.\u201d He smiled at her. \u201cYou know how important you are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday, December 10 Molly? Are you busy? Schrodinger stuck his head through the door to the kitchen, his ears cocked at an inquisitive angle. \u201cNot at the moment,\u201d Molly replied, turning from the stove. \u201cI was just going to ask you if\u2026\u201d Her voice trailed off as she saw who was with him. \u201cAsk if …<\/p>\n

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