bonuses he handed out, Otis Fulton gave his oldest employee, Clay Harrison, his mother’s fruit cake. Holly had rewrapped it in a decorative Christmas bag with tissue paper and ribbon. Otis had been passing the cake on to Clay for years in the opinion that Clay actually liked fruit cake. After all, he always seemed very appreciative.
Clay thanked his boss and took the fruit cake home, along with his Christmas bonus. Otis had also given him a few days off, so Clay was headed up north to see a woman he’d met online a year ago. They’d seen each other a few times and she’d invited him to spend the holiday with her. He thought he’d bring the fruit cake with him. Maybe she’d like it.
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Gabriela brought Kazu and Gustavo to the coffee house at the time Dina had told them that Eli usually came by. She suggested that since they were shopping downtown, they should stop by then as well. And sure enough, Eli came in soon after them. There were hugs all around.
“Did the baby come yet?” Gustavo asked.
“Due Thursday!” Eli announced to a round of cheers.
The stern woman entered the shop at the same time, glaring as she stepped around the lively group. Dina introduced Dan to her mother in-law and sons and he invited them to join him at his table by the window, though Eli had to go back to work.
“Are you enjoying Christmas vacation?” Dan asked the boys.
“Yes!” Both Kazu and Gustavo affirmed.
“I don’t want Christmas to be over,” Gustavo said, looking sad as he sipped his hot chocolate.
“But, it hasn’t even begun,” Dan said. “My father was from England and when we went there for Christmas, they played Christmas songs into the New Year! Do you the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas?”
The boys nodded.
“Well, the first day of Christmas is December 25th! Christmas goes until January 6th when it’s Epiphany or Twelfth Night.”
“Yes,” Gabriela agreed. “In Mexico, it is Dia de los Reyes. Three Kings Day. That’s the day children open their presents.”
Yusuf came around the counter to join the conversation. “In Eritrea the Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th and Leddet on January 7th.”
“You mean we can still celebrate Christmas, after Christmas?” Kazu asked, incredulous.
“Oh boy, Julio’s going to love hearing that,” Dina said from behind the counter.
The woman looked up from the book she was reading and snapped, “I’d appreciate it if you could please keep your voices down.”
At home, Kazu enlightened his father. “Abuela and Dan and Yusuf said that Christmas lasts ‘til January.”
“Really?” Julio looked to his mother. And, then it flashed what his son was talking about. “Oh! Three Kings Day!”
Gabriela grinned to see Julio light up remembering his childhood.
“Can we celebrate Three Kings Day? Kazu asked.
“Well, first we’ve got to celebrate Hanukkah with your friend, Ben and his family,” Julio said with a wink.
To be continued December 21...
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