Family Tradition - A Christmas Story

The Zavier's were a happily married couple who had never had any children, so they devised a Christmas Eve tradition. Mr Zavier would pick up the neighborhood young ones while Mrs Zavier prepared snacks. Then, every one would sit around the television and watch the Sound of Music.

However, this year was different. Ed Zavier excused himself to go upstairs and never returned. While the girls smiled at the hills being alive with the sounds of music, Ed was playing, 'Silent Night'.

What no one knew was that he struggled with incessant, constant thoughts. They weren't necessarily bad thoughts. Often he would be analyzing and contemplating. The problem was, he couldn't stop surmising. Fittingly, the record skipped as he fatally shot himself. "All is calm, all is bright."

Marian, who was sixteen (and had not yet told her parents of her unplanned pregnancy)  groaned. She, yet again, had to relieve her bladder. She was the first to hear Mr Zavier's song. Thinking she smelt smoke, she opened the door. *creak* She was dumbstruck. He was definately dead. In a state of shock, she lifted the needle of the turntable, only it slipped. "Sleep in heavenly peace..."

"Marian, is everything alright?" called Mrs Zavier from the bottom of the stairs. "Nnno" *ahem, cough* "No." Mrs Zavier hurried up the stairs.

Then, there were the procedures of calling an ambulance, and calling the parents. Once the commotion was over, Marian and Mrs Zavier found themselves in the kitchen crying, while trying to drink warm, beige tea sweetened with honey. Over and over, Marian wailed, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." "It's alright, dear," Mrs Zavier replied.

Feeling a bit stronger Marian explained, "You don't understand. Mr Zavier made me promise not to tell, but now that he's gone..."

"Why, what is it, dear?"

"I'm pregnant with his child."

The truth of the matter was Ed had reasoned he would never get caught. Marian had always been a meek and quiet child. When he learned of her pregnancy, he had no answer for the recompense that faced him. No matter how he calculated he could not format a way of escape.

Five months later, Justice was born.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-wLc4lpGeo (song of contemplation aka. the theme song)