Page 45 of Bear Creek Christmas
“Huh! The one I heard growing up was thejingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an eggversion. Can’t use that one for Christmas either.”
Levi laughed out loud.
“Uh, no, I wouldn’t recommend it, but did you also know thatJingle Bellswas the first song ever broadcast from space?”
Knox gave his mate some serious side-eye.
“What are you talking about?”
“Not kidding! It came from the astronauts aboard Gemini six, nine days before Christmas in 1965.”
Knox knew from scent alone Levi wasn’t pulling his leg, but it sure seemed like it.
“How do you know this stuff?”
Levi flashed him a toothy smile.
“Music history class. It helps keep my students interested when I toss in a few fun ones. Do you want to try? Go ahead—ask me!”
Knox thought for a minute, trying to come up with a good one.
“OK, smarty-pants, what’s the name of the first Christmas song?”
“That’s easy.Jesus, Light of All the Nations, written by St. Hilary of Poitier in the fourth century—only it was a church hymn, not a secular song.”
Knox growled and tossed out another one.
“What’s the most popular Christmas song?”
“According to Guinness World Records,White Christmas, as performed by Bing Crosby in 1942, is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.”
Knox was impressed with his intelligent mate, though he wished he could think of harder questions.
“All right, then, what’s theworstChristmas song?”
Levi paused before answering.
“There isn’t a single song everyone can agree on, but some are commonly found on the “most awful” list:Wonderful Christmastime, by Paul Mc Cartney,Christmas Don’t Be Lateby the Chipmunks,I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clausby The Jackson Five, andSanta Babyby multiple artists. Even Michael Bublé fell for that one, though I’ve chosen to forgive him.”
Knox’s belly laugh shook the interior of the jeep.
“I’d have to agree with all of those, too. So, out of all the Christmas songs youdolike, which one is your favorite?”
“There are two, tied for first place, and both are kind of sad. The first isHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, sung by Judy Garland in the 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis”. I cry every time I watch the clip. The second isI'll Be Home for Christmas, recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943. It was originally written to honor soldiers overseas who longed to be home at Christmas time. Most people today have no idea what the song is actually referring to. I thought I’d be singing it this year until my perfect boyfriend made sure I got home anyway.”
Knox leaned over to give Levi a soft kiss and whisper in his ear.
“You’re welcome. Love you, mate.”
####
The snow started inearnest about halfway home—covering the ground but not sticking to the pavement. Apparently, it had been snowing all day this far east, and by the time they reached Wilkes-Barre, everything was covered with several inches. Levi hadn’t seen his new home dressed in white, but it certainly put him in the holiday mood. The town and business owners loved it for the same reason—shoppers spent more when Bear Creek looked “Christmassy”.
At a quarter to four, Levi pulled into the apartment complex with a satisfied sigh. The drive almost flew by with good music and Knox to talk to. They grabbed their things from the back, managing to get it all in one trip, and hauled it up the steps. Levi gathered his dirty clothes so he could do a quick load at the cabin, and they headed out again to pick up groceries for the week. Sharing the Thanksgiving day meal with the Shaws on Thursday meant skipping all the holiday fare in favor of the usual supplies.
About an hour later, they slowly pulled up to Knox’s cabin. While Levi stowed the groceries, Knox surreptitiously double-checked the spare bedroom door, ensuring it was locked. It would spoil the surprise if Levi got a glimpse now, and he didn’t want to risk it. Since the driveway needed clearing, Knox put the blade on the pickup and took care of it. When he’d finished, his bear insisted on checking the property, and Knox couldn’t deny him. He asked Levi first.
“I know we have things to do, but I need to shift and look over the place. Do you mind?”
