The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Page #2

Oh, I just knew.

Oh, he was a

handsome thing

in those days.

Wasn't he, Grandma?

All my boys

were handsome.

They took after their daddy.

( laughter )

GRANDMA:

Listen to the old man.

My family didn't approve

of me marrying your daddy.

Did you all

know that?

What did they

have against

Daddy?

Well, my family were

big Baptists,

and your daddy, in those days,

wasn't exactly religious.

He was religious.

He just wasn't

a churchgoer.

OLIVIA:

Anyway,

when my family said

we couldn't get married,

your daddy and I sneaked off

one night

and went to see the

Baptist preacher.

John said,

"We're here

to be married."

And Preacher

Hicks said,

"Does your mama

know about this?"

And I said,

"No, sir."

And he said,

"Well, then I

can't marry you."

Oh, I was scared to death.

Ready to run

right straight home.

But your daddy

spoke up and said,

"Mr. Hicks,

"you are not the only

blankety-blank

preacher in the world--

we'll get us another preacher."

( laughter )

Mr. Hicks turned

red as a beat.

And then he said,

"Under the circumstances, then,

I will marry you."

And so he did.

( laughter )

What does Daddy have

against going to church?

Oh, he never

had the time.

Mama, this morning

there was a red bird

in your crabapple tree.

Oh, I'd love to

have seen it.

That red bird's going

to freeze tonight.

GRANDPA:

He won't freeze.

The redbird has a knack

of surviving winter.

Otherwise, he would have

headed south

with the gold finches

and bluebird

when the leaves started

to turn.

I wish my daddy

could fly.

( laughter )

Elizabeth,

if he could fly,

then he wouldn't have

to wait for the bus.

If Daddy goes flying

around in the air,

somebody's liable

to think he's a

turkey buzzard

and shoot him down.

( laughter )

Don't you worry

about your daddy.

He'll be home.

OLIVIA:

Who's going to crack

some walnuts

for my applesauce cake?

Me!

I'll do it!

Well, while y'all

are doing that,

I'll run to the store

for some sugar.

Well, I'll be glad to fetch it

for you, daughter.

Oh, no thank you,

Grandpa.

I could use some fresh air,

and maybe I'll meet John

on the way.

Oh, what we need at this door

is a traffic light.

Now, daughter, you sure

you won't need help

to carry the sugar

and all the stuff

for Christmas dinner?

Grandpa,

if John doesn't get home soon

with some money,

all we're going to have

for Christmas dinner is

my applesauce cake,

and we won't even have that

if I don't get a move on.

( harmonica playing )

Now, don't get

any shells

in there.

You'll bite

into that

applesauce cake

and break a tooth.

I wrote a letter

to Santa Claus.

Told him everything

I want the team to bring.

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