The Christmas A Friendship Started

By Hanna Heyes

(A/N - I don’t have kids. I’m not around kids often enough to know how a four year old talks. Please forgive me if I got it wrong.)

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 “Ma? Why do I have to make my bed when it just gonna get messied up again tanight?” Four year old Hannibal Heyes jumped off the last rung of the ladder that led to his loft bedroom.

Keara Heyes was busy in the living room stoking the fireplace and cleaning up ashes. “So it isn't messed up during the day and makes your room neat. And how many times have I told you not to jump off the ladder? Besides, you want a visit from Santa don’t you?”

“Yeah.” The mention of Santa made big brown eyes wider.

“Well then, you need to do your chores and listen to your Ma.”

“But no reason ta make bed. Nobody see it. ‘Cept dat little monster, Jed when he here.”

Keara raised her head to look at her son. “Now, Hannibal. You be nice. Your little cousin loves you and looks up to you.”

“He look up at me ‘cause I bigger.”

“No. He wants to be with you and play with you.”

Little hands went to rest on little hips. “No talk ‘bout him. Talkin’ ‘bout no makin’ bed ‘cause nobody see it. No need to.”

“I see it. You see it. Your Pa sees it. And because I say so.” The patient mother swept the last of the ashes into a bucket and stood up. Picking the bucket up, she headed for the back door with a still chatty toddler following her while arguing his point.

“It up da ladder. Just no look up dere then you no see it. I no minda bed messy. So you and Pa just no look up dere and you no see it.”

Keara stopped and turned to look down at Han. “You have to do it! You’re not going to change my mind so you might as well be quiet about it. What do you think Santa is thinking about you trying to get out of a chore?”

The tiny lawyer put his hands, palms up, in the air. “But it no make no sense. And Santa no needa know.”

“That doesn't matter. It’s one of the chores you must do. And Santa will know. He watches you, remember?”

“But I could be doin’ sumfin’ else that actually ac..com..pli..shed…did sumfin’. Brown eyes widened in surprise when he managed to get his new, big word out fairly well.

“Too bad.”

“I learnt a new word!” A huge dimpled grin appeared.

“Yes, that was a good job. But you still have to do your chores. As long as we're your parents, you have to follow our rules.” Keara turned to resume her trip to the door.

“Huh? You mean one day you no be my Ma and Pa? Are you goin’ somewhere? Do I get new ones or sumfin’?

“No.” Keara grinned as she walked a short way from the house and dumped the ashes. “You’re stuck with us. I was making the point that you will ALWAYS have to listen to us until you're all grown up.” She knocked the snow off her boots and returned the bucket to the side of the fireplace, constantly being followed by a four year old, one boy posse.

“I grown up now. And rules made ta be broke.”

A finger was pointed at the brown haired boy. “Not until you're eighteen you're not and no, not our rules, Hannibal.”

‘I heard ‘you’ say dat afore.”

“I'm an adult and I was probably teasing your Pa.”

“Well, I just teasin’ you so you no should get mad at me.”

“No, you meant it. Now go make your bed.”

“I done did! Even dough it make no sense.”

Keara pinched the bridge of her nose before looking back at her tiny terror. “Listen, you’re stuck with your little cousin too, so you should be nice to him. Just so you know, I'm watching little Jed today and I expect you to be kind and include him when you play.” Keara sat down on the couch. Han stood directly in front of her, his eyebrows raising at the mention of his irritating little relative.

“Why?! His Ma already tired of him too?” His hands went over his mouth for a second. “Not too. Didn’t mean ta say too.”

Keara ignored Han’s remark. “She has two other children in the house and a lot to get done. I only have you and he's better behaved than you are most of the time.”

“Nu uh! I’s a perfect little angel.”

“Oh?” Keara reached out, pulled her son close to her, and started tickling him. She glanced at his head. “No halo but I do see horns!”

“Dat no funny!” Han laughed. “Halo just got bended s’all.”

“Then why are you laughing?” She started giggling with him.

“‘Cause you ticklin’ me!”

Keara released her tickle victim and gave him a serious look. “Listen, Han. Jed will be here in a little while. If you're very good when he’s here, you just might get a surprise later.”

“Whatcha gonna watch him do? Sleep I hope.”

“Well he is a lot littler than you, so he’ll sleep more. But you have nap time too you know.”

“I no sleepy. And see? Just messes up da bed I made for no reason.”

“You are my little angel, Han, and I love you. Just be good, okay? I know you're a sweet boy so try to be patient with Jed.”

“Just gonna mess upa bed...”

Keara kissed the top of his unruly hair as she stood up. “Please, hush about your bed. Go find something to play with.”

Han didn’t move, however. “Can Jed sleep inna barn?”

“Hannibal.”

“Huh?” The boy gave his Ma an innocent look.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s your cousin and is only two years old. He needs to be inside where it is safe and warm.”

“It safe and warm in da barn. Da horsies like it.”

“Remember, you're my good boy, so act like it.”

“I do act like it!” Eyebrows raised and little hands went back on the hips.

“Jed is not an animal. PLEASE be the good boy I know you can be!”

“He act like a animal, crawlin’ ‘round the floor...”

“Two year olds will crawl at times. You used to crawl not so long ago.”

“I was just lookin’ for stuff ina floor.”

“Nope. You were a baby then. Now your cousin is still little so we're watching him a few hours and you're going to be very good while he is here and not be mean, right?”

“I never mean.”

“You just said that Jed should sleep in the barn, Hannibal. That isn't nice. And you already tried to put him in a sack and send him back to the stork last week.

“He wanted in dere. Stork makea s’take.”

Keara sighed at her excessively talkative son. “I’m sure Jed didn’t want to be put in a dark potato sack. Now don’t make him cry or run off from him. You’ve played together nicely before. Surely you can deal with him following you around today. Especially since he’ll be sleeping most of it and you’ll be sleeping part of it.”

“Jed slow. Can no keep up with me. And I no sleepy. Just messa bed up.”

“I don’t want to hear anything else about your bed, Hannibal!” Keara started for the kitchen, leaving her rowdy son to jump up on the couch and watch it snow.

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After Emma Curry dropped off her youngest son, Keara sat Jed and Han at the kitchen table and made lunch.

“Ma, why we eat sumfin’ dat come out chicken butt?”

“Cuz yummm.” Two year old Jed Curry was currently cramming scrambled eggs in his mouth with both hands.

A small sigh escaped from Keara who was sitting in between the cousins, occasionally wiping the youngest Curry’s mouth. “Like Jed said, they're good for you.”

“Jed no know. He baby. And messy. Eggs all over face.”

Jed looked up with a pouty expression.

"That isn't very nice, Hannibal.”

“But him IS baby! … So why not eat stuff come out other aminal butt?”

"Because it isn't food."

“How you know? You try it?”

"Other things that come out of behinds aren't for eating." Keara put her head in her hand. ‘Our son hasn’t been quiet since he learned to talk. Has a comment for almost everything. Is this how all four year olds are?’

“What ‘bout horsie eggs?”

She raised her head to look at her boy. “We are not discussing this subject anymore, Hannibal.”

“C’mon Jed. Kitty make chokit bar you can try.”

“No nice.” The impression of hurt crossed the younger boy’s face.

“You no like chokit?”

"See, even Jed knows you aren't being nice. You'd best start or you'll be in trouble."

“Him one no bein’ nice. Come here, get me in trouble.”

"No, you get yourself in trouble because you aren't being nice to him."

“I nice ta him. I offer chokit.”

"That is not chocolate and you know it, Hannibal. That isn't funny."

“I tought was.”

“Why mean?” The little blond gave Han a curious, blue-eyed gaze.

Keara looked at her nephew. “Hannibal isn’t going to be mean anymore today, Jed.” She then turned toward her boy. “Are you?”

“You like Jed more dan me!” Before he could be grabbed, the jealous boy was up and out the door.

"I just want you to be a GOOD big cousin and behave!” Keara hurriedly picked up Jed and ran as fast as she could after her upset son. “GET BACK HERE NOW, HANNIBAL!”

However, Han had no intentions of stopping. He ran all the way to the barn and started trying to climb on one of the horses by standing on a bale of hay.

His Ma had to follow carefully carrying her nephew as she didn’t want to slip in the snow. She made it to the barn out of breath. "You know you’re too little to ride a horse by yourself! Hannibal, honey, you are my baby and I love you more than anything. But you can’t be mean to your little cousin without getting in trouble."

The angry brunette was still trying to pull himself up on the horse. “I leavin’! Go find other Ma wif no cousin!”

"YOU ARE NOT." Keara grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the horse.

Han started struggling to get away. “Let go!”

"NO. You aren't running away. MICHAEL!"

Momentarily, her husband ran into the barn. “What?! What’s wrong sweetheart?!”

"Your son wants a new Ma and to run away. He won’t quit struggling and I’m trying to hold Jed and not drop him. He was being scolded for not being a good big cousin."

“Hannibal Joshua Heyes! You settle down RIGHT NOW or I’ll tan your backside!”

“But Pa! Ma like Jed bedder!”

Michael glared down at his high spirited son and pointed. “No she does not! Now you calm down. Keara, he goes on the stool for fifteen minutes.”

Han reluctantly stopped struggling. He didn’t want his backside hurting. “No fair...”

“Yes it is! You DO NOT throw fits like that or try to run away! If your Ma has to call for me again, you will regret it young man!” With that, Michael left to finish checking the fences around the pasture.

"Come on, Hannibal. Time to sit on the stool,” Keara wearily said.

Han crossed his arms, mad at both his Ma and Pa. “No...”

"Hannibal. Joshua. Heyes. NOW."

After a couple of seconds, he began shuffling back to the house, kicking snow as he went. ‘I just get up soon her no lookin’...’

Inside, after setting Jed down in front of the fire, she got the stool and sat it in a corner. "Fifteen minutes, Hannibal.”

The irate boy flopped down on the stool before his Ma left him to go make some hot cocoa.

Jed looked over at Han. “Pway?”

Keara overheard. "No, Jed. You can't play with Han right now. He's grounded to the stool."

The boy incarcerated on the stool voiced his disgust. “Hmph...”

Jed looked at his Aunt then at his cousin. He just couldn’t understand why Han wouldn’t play today. He had a couple of days before.

Han waited until his Ma looked away and got up.

She caught him anyway. "NO! You sit back down! You get another minute added!”

“Nu uh!” He headed for the door again.

"HANNIBAL! SIT DOWN! NOW. And you stay there unless you want to be grounded to the loft with no toys! And Santa won’t be bringing you any toys for Christmas either! What is wrong with you today?!”

The four year old stopped. Turning around with an upset expression, he slowly went back and sat down.*

"You stay there until I tell you that you can get up."

“But Ma!”

“No buts!”

Han sighed and put his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. ‘I hate dis stool...’

Jed watched until his Aunt was busy, thinking a minute. Looking around, he picked up a little toy horse, and moved to his cousin quietly.

Han turned when he felt a tap on his back. “Dat for me?”

Jed nodded, holding the horse up to him.

“Tank you. Maybe you no so bad,” Han said, his features turning into a softer expression. He grinned. “Wanna sit wif me?” Jed climbed up and sat as Han scooted over. “I no like sittin’here. No can leave. It like jail Pa read ‘bout inna story.”

“Jail wif ya.” Jed pointed to himself.

“You no hafta be here dough. You no do nofin’.”

“Mad?” Jed looked up wide eyed.

“Mad at Ma and Pa. Make me sit here.”

“Mad me?”

Han hesitated. “I...fraida you.”

“Fwaid? No be. Ya big.”

“Fraid Ma like you bedder.”

Jed shook his head no.

The older boy looked at the horse he was holding. “Maybe you go ask Ma, she let me up and we play.”

Unbeknownst to the two, Keara had been watching from the kitchen. "Aw, Han. Do you promise to behave like a good boy?"

“Yes, Ma.”

“Remember, Santa doesn’t bring toys to mean little boys.”

“I know, Ma.”

"Okay. You can get up and go play in the snow IF you stay in sight of the window and you take Jed with you. Deal?"

“Deal, Ma.”

“Just let me get you and Jed bundled up nice and warm. And be careful. Watch out for your little cousin.”

“‘Kay, Ma. C’mon, Jed! Let’s go throw snowballs at pine cones! Love ya, Ma!”

“‘Kay!” Jed’s blue eyes sparkled.

Han rushed outside. But then he stopped, turned around, and helped Jed down the slick step. He continued to hold his hand while they headed for the trees in the back yard.

Keara sat down to watch them, smiling.

"I think they might be becoming friends.”