Christmas Eve Surprise

Peggy

 for Christmas, 1999

Daniel Cooper looked around the hotel room and sighed. He didn't know why he had to be in New York City. He really wanted to spend Christmas with his family and friends. His father had told him he had to spend it with a great aunt though. He had never met her before, but his cousins had shared their store of horror stories about her. He doubted she was the orge they made her out to be. She was probably lonely too. Well, they could be lonely together and maybe between them they would ease it a bit. A burden shared, after all. He shook himself slightly and stretched, trying to get the kinks from his flight out. He never failed to make a trip through an airport where he didn't bang himself somewhere. The bruises didn't hurt, but try to convince someone else of that though. His mother was always positive he was hiding the pain. Why would he do that? They just weren't that bad, that was all. He knew what hurt. He'd had his share of pain growing up. He'd broken his leg once, falling out of the tree when he'd been playing with his friend, Arnie. That had hurt! He was lucky his father hadn't forbidden him from seeing Arnie again after that. That would hurt more than any broken leg. For once, Daniel had been grateful that his father was too busy for the day to day discipline. His mother knew how much Daniel cared about his friend and she'd realized it was an accident. It could have happened any time, even if he'd been alone. She'd been thankful that Arnie was there to run for help. Otherwise, who knew how long Daniel might have been there?

Daniel thought about visiting Arnie for the holiday season. It wouldn't be Christmas at Arnie's house. It would be Chanukah. He knew that if his father had found out Arnie was Jewish, he would order the friendship broken off, right then and there. But his dad never did figure that out. He'd almost caught Daniel once though, at the Synagogue's shop. He'd gone to get Arnie's bar mitzvah present which he bought with the money from his last birthday. He hadn't known his father was doing a 'meet and greet' with the rabbi. The shop owner had understood when Daniel darted behind the counter to hide and never let on that he was there. Neither had the other shoppers.  They liked Daniel and always said he was a good boy, so kind and giving and sharing. The owner had given him some kosher candy before he left, to help 'calm' him. He'd shared them with Arnie, of course. He just wished he didn't have to hide his friendship from his father.

Later though! Oh later when he was older, it was all right for Daniel to be friends with Arnie. Daniel didn't understand that one little bit. First it was wrong, then it was all right? Why? Just because it was good relations? What did that have to do with friendship? And Cliff Cooper never did figure out that his teen-age friend, Arnie, was the same boy he'd played with since he was six! How blind could a person be and still have eyes in their head? Oh well, he thanked God for the blindness and went on being friends with Arnie. Best friends! He dropped off the presents for the days of Chanukah before he left, one for each day and candle. In return, Arnie had given him his Christmas present. It was in his suitcase, making it quite heavy. Daniel wondered what Arnie had given him, but he would wait for Christmas to find out. Just as Arnie would open his presents in the order Daniel had numbered them. He had faith in Arnie and Arnie had faith in him to do it right, even if they weren't together. He also had a small bag of gelt which Arnie's mom had given him. She knew how much he loved the little gold chocolate coins. He wondered if his Great-Aunt Sylvia would like some. Perhaps they should meet first and he would find out. Or... He picked up the little bag and put it back in his coat pocket. That way he'd be ready if she seemed to like things like that. He checked to make sure he had his wallet, room key and the address for his great aunt's home. Once last glance around and he was out the door. He didn't want to wait too late to call. Great-Aunt Sylvia might like to go to bed early, like the ladies at the nursing home. Or she might like to stay up half the night, like Mrs. Tuppence. You just never knew.

Daniel caught the bus in front of the hotel. He got off at the stop for his Great Aunt's house, except it wasn't. He wandered around for a bit, thinking he had gotten turned around. Oh dear! He shivered in the cold wind. He was well and truly lost. He wasn't even sure how to find the hotel again. Perhaps he should get a taxi? He sighed when he realized he hadn't seen any taxis for quite a while. Now where could he call for one? He looked up and down the street, trying to find a pay phone. He saw one, but found that it was out of order. He wandered back to the corner he'd come from... At least he thought that was the way he'd first come. Oh dear...

A strange voice interrupted his thoughts.

 "Hey there Mate! Got a problem?"

Daniel turned around and found himself looking at a puppet show next to a soup kitchen. Maybe he should make a donation and ask for directions? The voice came again and he abruptly realized the kangaroo puppet was talking to him!

"Yeah, I'm talking to you, Mate. Come on over here and tell ol' Boomer."

Bewildered, Daniel walked over to the puppet show. "Hello," he said cautiously.

"'ullo!" Boomer answered back.

"I seem to be a bit turned around," Daniel offered tentatively, feeling silly talking to a puppet, but also wanting directions.

"Yeah, I can tell you're not from around here," the white kangaroo answered cheekily.

"I... I'm from California." He paused. "You're not from here either," he pointed out. That accent sounded Australian. Whoever the puppeteer was, he was either great at voices and accents or genuine Australian.

"You got that right, Mate. Still, I know a bit about my way around. Where are you going?"

Daniel pulled the paper with his Great Aunt Sylvia's address out of his pocket. He read it to the puppet and unseen puppeteer.

Boomer whistled softly. "You are turned around. Well, you listen to Boomer and I'll soon have you straight. First, get that wallet out of your back pocket and put it inside your jacket. Don't want you getting your wallet lifted."

Daniel blushed as he obeyed the admonishment. "Yes sir," he answered sheepishly. Arnie had warned him about that! Why had he forgotten? He must seem like a real naive out-of-towner. And he wasn't! He'd spent quite a bit of time in Los Angeles, he just... Oh face it, Daniel! You like to believe the best of people wherever you are.

"That's good. Now listen close."

Daniel listened carefully as Boomer directed him around the corner to the bus stop in the middle of the block and told him exactly which bus number he needed.

"Do you have exact change?"

"I... I don't think so. Is there somewhere I could get it? Maybe if I..." He looked toward the food kitchen. He could make a donation and get the fare in exchange.

Boomer disappeared for a moment. He had change between his paws when he came back. "Here you go, Mate. Now, you got the number?"

"Yes, yes I do." He responded, even as he took the money in shaking hands. Brrr! It was cold!

"Good." Boomer told him when he should get off the bus and explained that the address he was looking for would just be a couple of doors down on his right. "Now get hopping! The next bus will be there soon. Don't want you to miss it!"

Daniel thanked his benefactor and headed in the direction of the bus stop. He shivered more as he stood waiting. He was going to be a Daniel-cicle before he ever got close to his Great-Aunt's. He hoped her house was warm. He hoped the bus was heated! Maybe he should go shopping for a warmer coat while he was here. Some sweaters too - nice, warm wool ones! He wasn't used to being this cold. Winters were mild in the part of California he lived in. Snow was a dream and a distant memory from one childhood visit to the mountains a long time ago. Gloves! He should get some gloves too.

The bus stopped in front of him with a hiss as the door opened, letting out a blast of warm air. Oh good, it was heated. He checked the number before climbing aboard and handing the driver his fare money. It wouldn't do to get on the wrong bus. Then he really would be lost! He doubted he would find another generous benefactor to get him unlost again. At least not as easily as that one had appeared. Kind of like a guardian angel! Daniel smiled at the thought of encountering a guardian angel named Boomer with an Australian accent. That certainly wasn't covered in the Bible.

Daniel found a seat next to a window just as the bus shook and pulled away from the curb. He looked out the window, hoping to get another glimpse of the puppet show. Instead, his eyes widened as he met the eyes of a man so like him he could have been looking in a mirror. A twin!?! He had a twin?!? He stared back in disbelief as the bus rumbled on its way. He didn't have a twin! His mother would have mentioned... Wouldn't she? He wondered who the man was and why he looked like him. Amazing! Absolutely amazing! 'They' said everyone had a double in the world, but he hadn't really believed it. Well, it seemed he had just seen his double. Daniel wondered if he would ever see him again. He couldn't wait to tell Arnie and his mom about the man. To think if he hadn't gotten lost... Wow! He was so caught up in thoughts of the stranger, that he missed the calls for several stops. Fortunately, he pulled his attention back to his surroundings in time to hear the call for his stop. He got off and turned just the way Boomer had said to go. Sure enough, two doors down was the brownstone belonging to his Great Aunt Sylvia. He rang the bell and huddled into his coat, waiting. The door opened and a tall, old lady with soft, silvery hair welcomed him formerly. He was ushered inside, his Great Aunt bustling him closer to the heat, taking his coat and getting hot tea to drink. His twin forgotten, Daniel sat down gratefully, glad Aunt Sylvia wasn't an 'orge'. She just belonged to an earlier time with different manners. A pity his cousins hadn't recognized that. She was very hospitable and he'd learned these manners. They probably had thought the tea was horrible and found her manner stiff. Well, he could have lived without the tea, but its warmth was welcome. The heat radiating from the cup warmed his cold hands. The heat of the drink warmed his insides.

Hesitantly, Daniel offered Aunt Sylvia some of his gelt. Her face brightened at the treat. She launched into stories of her neighbors during the Depression. Apparently, Aunt Sylvia's best friend then had also been Jewish and she had fond memories of their time together. Daniel sat back in the comfortable chair, relaxing in the warm atmosphere. He thoughts strayed a bit as his Aunt Sylvia's words washed over him, warming his heart. Daniel wondered if  he and his twin might meet again one day. Merry Christmas, twin, he thought silently.
 
 

Disclaimer: Daniel Cooper and his friends belong to LionsGate Television, Hope Island Production, PAX TV and PAXSON. I'm just borrowing him for a bit. No profit intended or received.

Note: Think you recognize Daniel's twin? Perhaps you do! If you want his side of the story, click here. You can find it under What's New or by visiting the Challenges. Which challenge you ask? Why the Holiday Challenge, of course! It has the same title as this story. :-)