Title: Christmas Surprise
Author: Ashley D.

"Christmas Surprise"


        Time flew by much faster for me in Cutter Gap than back in Asheville.  I 
think it was because I really enjoyed what I was doing and could really see 
some good results coming from the work that I did with the students.  Well, 
whatever the reason,  my second Christmas at the cove came rather quickly.  
Earlier I had sent money home to my parents so they could send back the 
Christmas presents I asked them to buy with it.  I got the gifts two weeks 
before Christmas and could hardly keep secret what I had gotten for 
everybody.  After they were wrapped and put away in my closet, however, it 
was much easier.
        This year the students were going to put on a play of the Christmas story 
before the sermon on Christmas day.  I picked out which student would play 
each part and we started working on it two weeks before Christmas.  The 
students were all excited, even the little ones that played the parts of 
animals and angels.  I had a little trouble convincing Creed that racoons 
were not in the stable, but he finally agreed.
        “Ok class, I will hand out the parts to all of you and you can look them 
over tonight.  We will not have our first practice until tomorrow afternoon. 
  Zady, you will be the part of Mary.”  I was rewarded with the biggest 
smile, and could tell that I had made a great choice.  “John, you will be 
the part of Joseph.”
        “But Miz Christy, they’s brother and sister, they cain’t play parts of 
married people!”
        “I know they are, Ruby Mae, but that’s what acting is all about.  I just 
felt like they would each be good for the part.  I also want to give 
different students the leads in different plays.  You and Rob were the leads 
in Romeo and Juliet.  Ok, next we have the shepherds....”  On it went, until 
I had each part handed out.  Then class was dismissed and everyone went home 
to read their parts.  I had just a little work to do at the school before 
going to the mission house.  I worked fast because I had to talk to David.  
I wasn’t sure if he was staying here or going home for Christmas.  I hoped 
he was staying here, but would understand if he wanted to be home; I wanted 
to be home in a way.  On the other hand, I couldn’t wait for another 
Christmas here in Cutter Gap!
        I guess what always made Christmas time in Cutter Gap so special was not 
only the people you were with, but the beautiful scenes!  Oh, the snow on 
the mountains, especially when it reflected the awesome oranges and reds of 
the sunrise and sunset was so breath taking!  It was so lovely, though, that 
I couldn’t quite describe it to my parents and wished that they would come 
for once to see what it was like in winter for themselves.
        “Hey Christy, how did it go handing out the parts, did everyone like the 
part they got?”
        I looked up from the desk quickly, “David, I didn’t expect you here, but am 
glad you came.  I was wanting to talk to you  about Christmas plans.”
        “What about them?  Were you wandering if I was staying here?  If so, the 
answer is yes.  I wanted to be home to see mother, but wrote her saying how 
much I needed to be here.....”
        David was still talking, but I wasn’t listening.  I was thinking back to 
the day I had stood there between David and Neil with Davids ring in my 
hands.
-FLASHBACK-
        I stood there with the ring, looking from David, to Neil, and back.  I said 
a quick silent prayer, and got the answer I needed.  I handed the ring back 
to David.  I saw a look of sadness and such hurt that I started crying.  I 
knew that Neil wasn’t right for me, especially after seeing him with 
Margaret, but also knew that I couldn’t marry David right now either.  I 
looked at Neil, “Neil, you need to get back to Margaret, I know she still 
loves you.  I talked to her...”  I didn’t get to say more; he rode away in 
such a hurry and I felt so bad, but just knew it wasn’t right.  I was upset 
with myself for going there in the first place, before thinking clearly and 
praying.  If I would have, I would have realized that I went there on 
impulse.  When I said the prayer just a few minutes ago, I knew that I 
really loved David and felt that he was the one that God had planned for me. 
  I just couldn’t marry him right now.  “David, I do love you, but I need 
some more time.  I also know that I am needed here.  I am not sure if you 
will be staying, but I need to.  I can’t be married to you if you are not 
going to be here like I need to be.”
        “I understand Christy.  I am so sorry for pushing you.  I was just jealous 
of Neil.  I can tell that he is really special to you and I was just scared 
of loosing you.  I need to be more faithful and trust God for the future.  I 
know that I do love you though, and you are worth waiting for.  When I know 
for sure that I can stay here and feel that it is the right time, this ring 
will be waiting.”
-END FLASHBACK-
        About a month after that day, both Neil and Margaret repented and came to 
Christ!  It was the most exciting day around the cove!  They also were then 
able to forgive eachother and work at starting over.  Margaret even wanted 
to travel with Neil when he would go long distances so that she wasn’t 
alone.  She would also come visit Miss Alice and I when she didn’t go with 
Neil.  I was really becoming great friends with her and was happy to see how 
her relationship with her mother and Neil were.  I was afraid how my 
friendship with the Doctor would be, but after he became a Christian, 
everything was great between us.  As for David, he really was growing closer 
to all the people of the cove and I could see that roots were being planted. 
  I could tell that this was the place he needed to be too.  I still loved 
him, and knew that if he ever asked me to marry him again, I would be able 
to say yes.
        “Christy, did you hear a word of what I said?”
        “Sorry David, I started listening, but no, I didn’t hear all of it.  I 
guess I just have a lot on my mind.  You said you were staying?”
        “Yes, I said that I was staying and that mother and Sissel are coming here 
for Christmas!  This is going to be the best Christmas ever; I have a 
surprise for everyone!  Well, I will talk to you more at supper, I got some 
work that needs to be done.”
        As David left, I couldn’t help but be a little worried.  Sissel was coming 
to the cove again?  I was excited to see my friend again, but also worried 
that she had changed her mind about this place.  Maybe she liked it now and 
was done with her singing in Boston.  I hoped that David’s surprise wasn’t 
that he would be marrying her!”  Quickly I scolded myself, I needed to be 
more faithful in God for my future, trust Him to work it all out, and help 
me through everything.
        That evening at supper, David was still acting excited and different.  
“David, does thee have some secret that is making thee jumpy and excited?”
        “Yes I do, my mother and Sissel are joining us for Christmas, and I have a 
great surprise for everyone!  In fact, they should be arriving in two or 
three days.  They wanted to be here about a week and a half before 
Christmas.”
        “That is wonderful David, but if thou art going to be this jumpy until they 
get here, I don’t know if I could stand it.”  Everyone laughed at this 
statement and David said that he’d work at being more calm.
        That night I prayed to God, for Him to have His will done in my life.  I 
knew that there was nothing better for me than what He had planned, I just 
needed His help to seek His will rather than my own.
        As the next three days passed, David worked on not bugging everyone else 
with his excitement, and God really helped me.  I was able to go on and not 
worry about David’s surprise.
        Finally David’s mother and Sissel arrived.  I was prepared to see Sissel, 
she was just as beautiful as the first time, if not more; but I didn’t know 
if I was prepared to meet David’s mother.  She also was beautiful and anyone 
could tell that she was from the city.  I wanted her to like me, even if 
David and I were just friends.  I was worried as she approached me,  “Well, 
you must be Christy Huddleston, I feel like I should already know you after 
reading all of David’s letters.  I am glad to meet you.”
        I was very intimidated by her matter of fact way of speaking, “Yes, I am, 
and I am also happy to meet you.”  Then I took her to Miss Alice’s room 
where she would be staying.  Sissel was going to get my bed, and Miss Alice 
and I were sleeping on the floor.  It didn’t really bother me; I was just 
going to pile up enough blankets so it wouldn’t be hard, and Miss Alice was 
always used to sleeping on the floor from all of her traveling.
        They both rested for the first day after their long trip from Boston.  I 
took that time to have a talk with David.  I told him that I didn’t feel 
like his mother liked me that well, but he said, “Don’t worry, that’s just 
mother.  She is controlling, but I can tell that she does like you.”  I 
wasn’t sure how he could tell, but hearing him say that did make me feel 
better.
        They had both had a nice nap all day and were ready to join us when it was 
time for supper.  “Ruby Mae, what is this?  It looks, um, great.  Let me 
guess, is it possum?”
        “You guessed it Miz Sissel!  I bet you aint had any possum since the last 
time you was here!”  Mrs. Grantland didn’t look very excited about the 
thought of eating possum, but she didn’t complain either.  Supper went 
really well, and we had some great conversations; I even felt pretty 
comfortable with Mrs. Grantland.  Night time came all too soon, though, and 
everyone said goodnight as we separated to our rooms.  I was sleeping on the 
floor in my room where Sissel was, but we were both too tired for much 
conversation before falling to sleep.
        The next day after school was let out, I got up to go to the mission house 
when David walked in.  “David, now that your guests have arrived, when are 
we going to get this big surprise?  Do we have to wait until Christmas day?”
        “Actually I was hoping to announce that just shortly.”
        “Oh, well lets go get everyone rounded up.  Who all should be there to hear 
it?”
        “No, wait Christy, I need to talk to you privately first.”  I was about to 
question him, but he stopped me.  “Wait, let me say what I need to say.  I 
have been praying and thinking a lot about what you said to me the last time 
I proposed to you.  I know this is the place I need to be.  Not only because 
you are here, but because I want to make a change and help the people here.  
I also love you Christy,” then he got down on his knees, “and want to know, 
will you marry me?”  Then he got out the box and held it out to me.
        I took the box and opened it up to see that sparkling ring again, “David, 
yes, I will marry you; I love you too.”  He got up and was about to kiss me, 
when I said, “Wait!  What about Sissel, will she be upset?”
        “No, I told her about this before she decided to come.  She knows that her 
and I are not meant for eachother.  In fact, I don’t think it will be too 
long before Robert, a friend back in Boston, asks her to marry him.  She 
told me that they have been getting close.  He is another singer.”  Then he 
did kiss me, and it was more meaningfull and sweet than all the other times 
we’d kissed.
        As we were walking hand in hand to the mission house,  we bumped into Neil 
and Margaret.  They both saw us holding hands and exchanged glances and 
smiled at us.  “Good to see you Neil  and Margaret, in fact we just wanted 
to come and invite you to supper.”
        “We’d be happy to stay, I wanted to say hi to Sissel again and meet your 
mother.  Margaret would like to meet them both too.”
        We all walked over to the mission together and visited with Sissel and Mrs. 
Grantland while Ruby Mae put the finishing touches on the supper.  After 
supper David stood up.  “I have an announcement for everybody.”  I heard 
Miss Alice mumble something about it ‘being about time’ to Margaret, and saw 
them smile.  I had a feeling Margaret knew what was happening.  “Today I 
proposed to Christy, and she said yes!  And Christy, I called your parents 
and they said with such a big celebration this year, they have to come, they 
will arrive here sometime Christmas Eve!”  I was so excited I jumped up and 
gave him a big hug.  Everyone else shared their excitement and happiness for 
us throughout the meal.
        The rest of the time before my parents came went by fast and with me 
walking on a cloud.  All the kids and my friends in cutter gap shared their 
happiness for me through their kind words.  “Gee teacher, I always knew 
you’d be marryin’ the preacher some day.  I’m right glad too because you’re 
both so nice.”  Before I had a chance to thank Sam Houstan, Creed was 
telling me  how he was thinking the same thing.
        Fairlight and I had a long talk on one of our special walks together.  
“Well, I thought you’d be marryin’ David soon, I had one of my visions and I 
saw you ‘n David sayin’ your vows.  I can tell you’ll both have a happy life 
together!”  I was surprised to hear about her vision, but didn’t say 
anything.  She also asked how things were going for the play.  I told her 
that the children were all ready and doing great jobs, especially Zady and 
John.
        Christmas Eve dawned as gorgeous as possible!  There were no classes that 
day so I passed the time before my parents came by talking with David, his 
mother,  Sissel, and the McNeills, who were as anxious to meet my parents as 
I was to see them.  We weren’t sure when they were coming, but David had 
left a wagon in El Pano which my father would drive here.
        “I think it’s time for me to get a haircut!”  Margaret started to protest 
with Neil, saying that she liked his curly hair that length, when I heard 
the wagon pull up.  I ran ouside with the rest of them all following me.  
Even the discussion about the hair was dropped.  Mother and father hugged 
me, then David, and then they met Margaret, Sissel, and Mrs. Grantland, who 
weren’t here the first time they came.  After that,  We went back into the 
house and talked until it was time for supper.
        That night sleeping arrangements were just a little more cramped.  David 
gave up his bed for my parents and slept on the floor of the parlor.  We 
didn’t have to have this arrangement long though, because we had decided to 
get marred New Years day, then the next day all of our guests were going 
home.  We decided this would be better than trying to get everyone out here 
again.  Plus, David and I were both ready to get married.
        Christmas day went by better than I dreamed it would.  The play worked out 
perfectly; I couldn’t have picked better parts for anyone.   The part of 
Jesus required imaginations from the audience though, because all we had was 
Mountie’s really small baby doll.  Then, when David read the Christmas 
story, it was as beautiful as the first time I had heard it.  After the 
service, Ida and Clarence showed up as a surprise to us all!  They were 
excited about David and I, and were happy to finally see everyone again.  It 
was the first time Ida had seen her mother since her wedding.  Later that 
night,  exchanging gifts was fun, but David and I both knew that our best 
gifts for eachother were still coming.  Our vows to eachother would last 
forever!
        With all the plans and making the dress for me to wear in the wedding, New 
Years day came faster than I could have imagined!  My mother, Mrs. 
Grantland, Ida, Sissel, Margaret, and Fairlight were all helping me and 
giving me tips and encouraging words as I got ready.  All the support was 
overwhelming, but I was glad for it; they were all so special to me.  Mrs. 
Grantland was a little demanding how how things should go, or look, but 
David had warned me that she could be controlling and I wasn’t letting it 
ruin my day at all.  Right before my father came in though, they all let my 
mother and I have a small private talk.  “I am so happy for you Christy.  I 
wasn’t sure last time I visited whether you would ever make this choice, but 
I am glad you did.”
        “I am too mother.  I wasn’t sure if this would be in my future either, but 
I am so happy now.  I know this is the right timing too though; it just 
wouldn’t have been right if I would have said yes before.”  Right then my 
father walked in and said everyone was waiting on the bride and he had to 
get me down that isle.  Mother quickly went and took her seat, then dad and 
I walked down the isle.
        I will never forget the way I felt as David and I both said our vows and 
the look he had on his face during the ceremony!  It is a memory that I 
cherish and will forever.  After the ceremony was over, the rest of the day 
with the congratulations and cake and dancing, flew by.  I danced with about 
every man there, David being the first and most lovely dance partner there, 
and of course my father being next.  Sometime during the afternoon I danced 
with Neil too.  He let me know how happy he was for David and I, and that 
meant more to me than he will ever know.
        That night, David and I were in his old bunkhouse and we just let everyone 
else worry about their sleeping arangements.
        It was sad to see everyone leave the next day, but I was also excited to 
start my new life as Christy Grantland!  Ida and Clarence were going to stay 
for about another week though, so everyone was really excited about that.  
David and I took the others to El Pano where we said goodbye and watched 
them all board the train.  Then David turned to me, “Are you ready to go 
home, Christy?”
        I smiled, “Yes I am David, let’s go”  He helped me into the wagon and we 
started for home, where we would live together, teach together, and learn 
together.
The End!