1840 California Street

1840 California Street
by Angela Raines

I was just a sapling when the Krieders' moved into the house on California street. Rolf had made his money back east and moved with the family to the arid air of Colorado. It seems their son Oliver didn't do well in New York. The hope was that the clean air would help him return to health. To see the family together made me wonder what was the glue? Rolf was a large blonde haired man with a fine beard. Grace was just a tall, but with dark hair that seemed to always be flying away. Their son Oliver was a small child with hazel eyes and brown hair. So many different looks and temperaments.

The Christmas of 1881 was a year I don't think the Krieder's will ever forget. They had moved into the house that July and by December they felt that things were going well. So well in fact that Rolf decided to do something special for his family that year.

I watched as Rolf went out to find the best tree for his family. He was gone almost the whole day. I could see his wife Grace pacing back and forth from the parlor to the back of the house again and again. You see it had begun to snow about two hours after Rolf had left. As the day progressed the wind and snow created blinding conditions.

Eventually Rolf arrived back with a wonderful tree. Not as wonderful as me, but I was spared for I am not a pine tree. My branches were bare of leaves and my sap was running slow. Still I had a wonderful cover of white that day.

As I looked on I heard Grace talking to Rolf.
“Grace, it is important that we give Oliver a good Christmas.”

“What kind of Christmas would it be if his father got himself killed? Of all the stupid things to do. You should have returned home the minute is started to snow.”

“Now Grace, I was just fine. I'm home now and we should get to decorating this fine tree.”

About that time Oliver came running into the parlor, at the front of the house, where they were planning to put the tree. His eyes were shinning and he really did look much healthier.

Later that night, when the tree was finished and Oliver had retired, Grace and Rolf started in again. It seemed Rolf had some plan of putting a rope down the chimney and then following it down on Christmas eve to surprise Oliver.

“Rolf, of all the stupid ideas. What if you get stuck? Then what will Oliver think?”

“I think nothing is going to happen. It is important the our son believe in miracles.”

“And why is that dear husband?”

“The more he believes in miracles the better his chance of gaining his full potential and strength.”

“How could I have married such a fool?” Grace I could see was giving in. That must have been it. Grace liked the idea of a fool.

The next day being Christmas eve, Rolf went about setting things up for the surprise that night. When he had everything set up, he went out again. He must not have told Grace for when she went looking for him, he was nowhere to be found.

That night after returning home Rolf and the family went to the parlor and sang songs and drank tea. They played games and ate muffins that Grace had made for the occasion. As the time continued to pass I could see Grace looking at Rolf. Oliver was busy reading a book. Finally Grace called Rolf aside.

“Rolf, when are you going to come down the chimney?”

“It's all taken care of.”

About that time I saw a man in a buffalo coat with a bag on his back start toward the chimney. As he climbed up the side of the house the neighbor was watching. He must not have been in on what Rolf had planned. Out he came with his shotgun and shouting for the man to stop he fired a shot in the air.

From that point on pandemonium ensued. The other neighbors came running out. What they thought I didn't know. They men were all shouting and the women shrieking. Of course the children didn't want to be left out and they were running around causing all kinds of trouble.

Rolf and Grace came out to see what was happening. Upon seeing their neighbor with a gun on the man, Rolf blanched. Then Oliver came out and seeing the man with the sack on his shoulder he ran over.

“Are you Santa Claus?” he asked.
“Sure I am sonny, but it seems this gent here is getting in the way of my business.”

“Mr. Johnson, this is Santa Claus, why do you have a gun on him?”

Everyone decided to see what Mr. Johnson would say. It was so quiet. The snow had started falling again and you could see Johnson was embarrassed.

“Well, young man, I was afraid you were going to get robbed.” was Johnson's reply.

Grace turned to Rolf and asked, “Is that what you had planned?”

“Yes,” replied Rolf, “but that isn't the man I hired. But how do I get out of this without disillusioning the children?”

Grace stared at him, the man with the sack and everyone else who had come outside. She looked like she would rather be anywhere but here.

Then to everyone's surprise the stranger opened the bag and proceeded to hand out toys to all the children there. The adults looked guilty, especially Mr. Johnson, and the children were so excited their mothers had problems getting them into their respective homes.

Grace turned to Rolf, gave him a hug and then escorted Oliver back inside. When Rolf turned to speak with the stranger, he wasn't there, but down the street came a man with a buffalo robe, and a sack on his back.

“Hey Rolf, why are you out here?”

“Forget it Herman, you're too late. You've already been here.”

“What about the things I have in the bag? And what do you mean I've already been here.”

“It's too weird to explain. Take the bag and give the things in there to someone who may need them. I think I will go spend some time with my family. Merry Christmas.”

"Merry Christmas to you Rolf."

Then both men went their separate ways. Me, I just watched. I had all the time in the world to figure out people.

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