Blogging Friends.... Well, I did it!! I complete my 2014 New Year's
Resolution of writing twelve fictional books in 365 days!! Wow. Me, the one
step forward, two steps back flawed personality type?! I actually started
something.... And finished it?! This calls for a Happy Dance!! In my wooden
"office" chair. As though I am "hip swaying" to Elvis
Presley's version of "Here Comes Santa Claus". With my arms up like
Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. Oh. Yeah, wow!! I am truly proud of myself for this
accomplishment!! Twelve fictional books. In 2014. And keeping this New Year's
Resolution has not been easy.... Especially toward the end!! In July? We
switched my sister and brother's bedrooms up. In August? We experienced a last
hurrah of Summer when our dear, dear friends drove up from Idaho. In October?
If memory serves me right--and it seldom ever does!!--we began watching my
nieces, "Amethyst" and "Opal" three days a week. But I
managed!! Somehow!! I am already excitedly anticipating 2015--and have been for
months!!--because I intend to write twelve more fictional books!! Stay tuned!!
Love you later.
Sorry for posting this fictional book eight days into December. Eight
freakin' days!! First we were busy, busy, busy. And then it has
seemingly taken me longer to edit this fictional book than write it!! Ridiculous!!
I have an adult brother--named
Michael--who has Down syndrome!! He
is my best friend, roomie, and a far better person than me!! Several months
back? I wrote an Independence Day-themed fictional book and named a character
Brayden after somebody who I very much love. Shortly thereafter? My youngest
brother asked that I name a character Michael!!
"Can he have Down syndrome.... Like you?" I asked. Michael did not
hesitate. "Yeah," he answered. "Can I write it for
October?" I asked. That is when Down
Syndrome Awareness Month is!! Michael only had one request. That I write this fictional book for December!! Michael had his logical reason why, but I
will not mention it here!! I then decided to make this fictional book Christmas-themed!! Because I can!! And it was quite the nerve wrecking story for me to write!! Why? Because while I usually write for God's Glory and myself? This time? I
was also writing for Michael!! And I did not want to disappoint him!! But I received the Michael Seal of Approval!! Score!! Although
Michael love, love, loves music, he does not play {Or build!!} most of the instruments
mentioned throughout this fictional book!! And I do not play anything!! So that being mentioned. I am quite ignorant on musical notes, melody, harmony, rhythm
and such!! Anyhoo. I did quiz
Michael on his favorite Christmas
songs. That was fun!! I included most of his favorites in this fictional book--minus "Rudolph The Red-Nosed
Reindeer"--so you have my full
permission to sing along!!
Disclaimer. This is purely a fictional story. Although I
know that children and adults with Down syndrome are small/short, I mean zero
disrespect in any way, shape, or form to these Beautifully Unique individuals
by making Michael Thomas an elf!! I just thought I'd express this!!
"An Elf With Down Syndrome"
The North Pole is a place where temperatures are freezing cold and
never-ending white snow piles clear up to your knees or higher. {Unless, of
course, you are an elf!! Being small in size, the never-ending snow piles clear
up to their chests or higher!!} It is a magical place where Santa Claus lives.
His nine reindeer, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner,
Blitzen and Rudolph fly as though they are unicorns. While wearing red-colored
harnesses, they pull Santa Claus' green-painted sleigh around the world every
single Christmas Eve as he delivers presents. It is where Santa's Workshop was
built many, many, many years ago. And
during Christmastime? Santa's Workshop is a very busy place as his elves create
toys for every nice child. {And the naughty kids, too!!}
But an elf named Michael Thomas is different from all of Santa
Claus' other helpers. {In more ways than one!!} Like all of Santa Claus' other
elves, Michael Thomas is small in size. But he has brown-colored almond-shaped
eyes. A long tongue. Michael Thomas' head is round. He has a short neck.
Michael Thomas' pointy ears are small. He has a cute little button nose. The
middle of Michael Thomas' small hands have one deep crease across them. He has
a gap between his big toe and second toe. Blond-haired, Michael Thomas' smile
has been known to spread Christmas cheer all around the North Pole!! This elf
has Down syndrome!! And another way that Michael Thomas is different from all
of Santa Claus' other helpers? Rather than create toys for children, he makes
musical instruments!!
Michael Thomas builds complete drum sets. He makes harmonicas in
every key available. Michael Thomas builds acoustic, bass and electric guitars.
He creates keyboards. Michael Thomas builds red and green hand-painted maracas. All so that every
musical instrument is ready to be delivered on Christmas Eve!! As a matter of fact. If it
is a musical instrument {Bamboo flute? Violin? Bongo drums? The list goes on
and on and on....} then Michael Thomas can definitely build it!! One December
afternoon, young Rudolph--who was new at the North Pole--heard a steady rhythm
coming from Santa's Workshop.
"What is that?" asked Rudolph, "Drum beats....? Where
is it coming from?"
Rudolph listened curiously. Then he heard Michael Thomas' voice
sing: "Little Baby, pa rum pa pum pum, I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pum
pum, I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum, that's fit to give our King,
pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, shall I play for You, pa rum
pa pum pum, on my drum...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "It is
'Little Drummer Boy'!!"
Rudolph looked inside through a window. Well, he tried to, at
least!! For the windowsill had white snow piled up on it!! So Rudolph could not
see inside!! He balanced on his back legs and brushed it away with one front
hoof.
"Michael Thomas?!" exclaimed Rudolph, "He is playing on
a red-painted drum set!! Wow....!! He is very talented!! Michael Thomas really
has some rhythm going!! And he can sing, too!!"
Just then Prancer--who was older and has lived at the North Pole for
several years now--walked by. He overheard what Rudolph had said.
"Michael Thomas can play the drums and sing!!" announced
Rudolph.
"Yes!!" explained Prancer, "You are absolutely
correct!! That is our elf, Michael Thomas!! He builds musical instruments for
every nice child who wants one!! {And the naughty kids, too!!} Then he plays
Christmas songs on every musical instrument before Santa delivers them!! It is
a years-long North Pole tradition around here!! Everybody has come to excitedly
anticipate Michael Thomas' beautiful music!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of harmonicas.
{First? It was in a C key. Second? It was in an E key. And third? It was in a G
key.} Then they stopped. Soon Rudolph and Prancer heard Michael Thomas sing: "Dashing through the snow, in a one
horse open sleigh, over the fields we go, laughing all the way. Ha, ha, ha! Bells
on bob tail ring, making spirits bright, what fun it is to ride and sing, a
sleighing song tonight. Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh,
what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, Hey! Jingle bells, jingle
bells, jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open
sleigh...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "It is
'Jingle Bells'!!"
"Yes!!" explained Prancer, "Michael Thomas is very
talented indeed!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of an
acoustic guitar. Next? They heard the sound of a bass guitar. And last but not
least? They heard the sound of an electric guitar. Then Michael Thomas sang: "We
three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we travel afar, field and fountain,
moor and mountain, following yonder star, o star of wonder, star of night, star
of royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy
perfect light...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "It is 'We
Three Kings'!!"
"Correct!!" said Prancer.
"This is so much fun!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "Which
musical instrument will Michael Thomas play next?! I wonder!! Which Christmas
song will Michael Thomas sing next?! I hope it is 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed
Reindeer'. That's my song, you know!!"
"I haven't a clue!!" smiled Prancer, "It is anybody's
guess!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of maracas shaking. Then
Michael Thomas sang: "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, I wanna wish you
a Merry Christmas, I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my
heart...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed
Rudolph, "It is 'Feliz Navidad'!!"
"Very good!!" replied Prancer,
"That was a hard one to guess right!! But you did it!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of keyboards.
{First? It was a sixty-one key keyboard. Second? It was a seventy-six key
keyboard. And third? It was an eighty-eight key keyboard.} Then Michael Thomas
sang: "Joy to the world! The Lord is come, let earth receive her King! Let
every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature
sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed
Rudolph, "It is 'Joy To The World'!!"
"Correct!!" replied Prancer,
"Michael Thomas has said that this Christmas song is fun to play on any
musical instrument because it's fast paced!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of bamboo
flutes. Then they stopped. Soon Michael Thomas sang: "On the twelfth day of Christmas my
true love sent to me: twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords
a leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, seven Swans a swimming,
six Geese a laying, five golden rings! Four calling birds, three French Hens,
two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed
Rudolph, "It is '12 Days Of Christmas'!!"
"Correct!!" laughed Prancer,
"Boy is that Christmas song hard to sing!! I can never remember where we
are, the first day or the twelfth!!"
"Oh, but it is so much fun!!"
said Rudolph, "Kind of silly. But so much fun!!"
Young reindeer!! Prancer thought, smiling, Their minds are filled with such wonder!! I
love it!!
"Have you heard The Muppets sing '12
Days Of Christmas'?" asked Prancer, "It is so much fun!! Especially
with Miss Piggy's crazy 'Ba-da-bum-bum' in the end!!"
"No, I have not heard it!!"
answered Rudolph.
"Oh, you should!!" said
Prancer, "You'll love it!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of violins.
{Children's arm lengths can vary. So Michael Thomas builds violins in all kinds
of sizes!! From 1/16 to 3/4.} Then Michael Thomas sang: "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus
lay down His sweet Head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the
little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "It is 'Away
In A Manger'!!"
"Yes!!" said Prancer, "'Away In A Manger' is really
fun for many small children to sing!! Do you know why? Because there are hand
signals to it!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the sound of
saxophones. Then they stopped. Soon Michael Thomas sang: "Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose, and if you
ever saw it you would even say it glows, all of the other reindeer used to
laugh and call him names, they never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer
games, then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say: 'Rudolph with your nose
so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight?' then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee, 'Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down
in history!'"
"It is my song!!" exclaimed Rudolph, "Finally!!
Michael Thomas played and sang 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer'!!"
"Yes he did!!" said Prancer, "I like that
song!!"
A few short minutes later, Rudolph and Prancer heard the steady rhythm of bongo
drums. Green-painted, they were tall. Then Michael Thomas sang: "O holy night, the stars are
brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth, long lay the
world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth, a
thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious
morn. Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices. O night divine, O night when
Christ was born, O night divine, O night, O night divine...."
"I know that song!!" exclaimed
Rudolph, "It is 'O Holy Night'!!"
"You really know your Christmas songs!!" said Prancer,
"Wow!! You have guessed every single song right!!"
Just then, Michael Thomas walked through Santa's Workshop's door and
stepped outside. He was not carrying any musical instruments in his hands. The
moment Michael Thomas' brown-colored almond-shaped eyes saw Rudolph, he noticed
something different about him. Something
unique. Unlike all of the other reindeer's black noses, Rudolph's was
bright red!! Michael Thomas did not say a word. He just spread Christmas cheer
and smiled at Rudolph. For Michael Thomas loved that this reindeer was
one-of-a-kind. Just like him!! And the moment Rudolph saw Michael Thomas, he
knew that this elf has Down syndrome. He
knew that this elf was born different. Just like him!! Rudolph did not say
a word, either. He just smiled back at Michael Thomas. For there was a definite
"special needs" connection between them!! Finally, Michael Thomas
broke the silence when he started singing "Wonderful Christmastime".
And soon everybody sang along with!!
"The moon is right, the spirits up, we're here tonight, and that's
enough, simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, simply havin' a wonderful
Christmastime, the party's on, the feelin's here, that only comes, this time of
year, simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, simply havin' a wonderful
Christmastime, the choir of children sing their song, ding dong, ding dong, ding
dong, ding, ooh, ooh, we're simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, simply
havin' a wonderful Christmastime, the word is out, about the town, so lift a
glass, ahh, don't look down, simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, the choir
of children sing their song, they practiced all year long, ding dong, ding
dong, ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, ding, ooh, ooh,
the party's on, the spirits up, we're here tonight, and that's enough, simply
havin' a wonderful Christmastime, we're simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime,
the moon is right, the spirits up, we're here tonight, and that's enough, we're
simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, simply havin' a wonderful
Christmastime, simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime, oh, Christmastime."
Wow that has been a busy year for you. Love it and it has helped put us in a festive mood. Hope all your preparations are going well. Have a terrific Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
DeleteMolly....
Thank-you for the comment, Friend!!
"Love it and it has helped put us in a festive mood." Good!! Writing this fictional book put me in a festive mood, as well!! {As if I wasn't already!! Hee, hee, hee....} I am glad that you loved it!! ;)
What a wonderful story. I love how you said that it is good to be unique and how the little boy found a very special friend. Your stories bring so much joy.
ReplyDeleteLynne x
Lynne....
DeleteThank-you for the comment, Friend!!
"What a wonderful story. I love how you said that it is good to be unique and how the little boy found a very special friend. Your stories bring so much joy." Thanks, Friend!! I am glad that you loved it!! ;op