New! Life Cycles 18: Beliefs by S.Proto Date: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 Category: MSR (marriage) MulderAngst, MTlite! Rating: PG13 for language. Be aware, it's brief, but it's nasty. Spoilers: None necessarily…though one of my scenes may remind you of a story line in season five. I leave it up to the reader to construe it the way you want. Summary: Mulder takes his children Christmas shopping, and in the spirit of the season, learns more about his son. Archive: Yes. Disclaimer: Fox Mulder and Dana Scully belong to 10/13 productions and Chris Carter. Adam and Dawn Mulder, The Goldfarb family , and any other character you don't recognize are mine. Since I have learned to play nice in the sandbox, I am only borrowing CC's characters and promise to return them at the end of the story. I haven't earned a red cent for writing this tale, so don't please, don't sue. More Author's notes at the end. Introduction: This is the next story in the series, though if you have any idea of the Life Cycles series, you might just be able to follow it without having read number 17, though please do, if you can find the time. I kind of liked that one too! You can find the series archived at my site, courtesy of the ever wonderful, Shirley Smiley: http://susanproto.freeservers.com/ And thank you, Vickie, who I truly believe will always hear the bells. Feedback: I'd love it! It's therapeutic! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Life Cycles18: Beliefs By Susan Proto (STPteach@aol.com) Part 1/2 Mulder wheeled the sleeping toddler in her stroller as he kept a vigilant eye on the seven year old boy that half walked and half ran towards the department store which carried his heart's desire. "Daddy! Daddy, do you think Mommy has any idea about what I'm getting her?" he asked excitedly for what was probably the fifth time since they'd left the house for the mall. "No, Adam," replied Mulder, "I'm sure she doesn't. Not unless of course you let the cat out of the bag?" he teased. "No! No, Daddy! I promise, I didn't say nothing! When I heard Gamma Maggie and Mommy talking about the picture box, I didn't say anything to them. I just told you; you're the only one I told!" Mulder chuckled at the sincere tone of his son. He'd been saving his money to buy Scully a Christmas present and wasn't sure until a couple of days ago of what he should purchase. Scully and Maggie solved that problem when they spoke aloud of a photo box that had a frame on its cover that lifted to become storage for more pictures. Scully had mentioned that it would be perfect to hold the children's more recent photos. When Adam approached Mulder with as serious an expression that any seven year old could muster, and requested a trip to the mall in order to buy his mother the perfect Christmas gift, Mulder didn't have the heart to say no. Of course, when Adam showed Mulder his 'stash' of eight dollars and seventy-two cents, Mulder realized there was a pretty fair chance he was going to have to supplement the payment. So now they whizzed around the lower level of the mall in a frantic attempt to get their shopping expedition completed before two-year-old Dawn woke up and became her normal, cranky self upon wakening. It never failed that Dawn wouldn't wake up with a howl and sob for about a couple of minutes, and then would be absolutely fine after that. But the initial cry was usually loud enough to not only wake the dead, but to also draw a great deal of unwanted attention, particularly from unaware strangers. Mulder, during the few times he had Dawn alone with him on just such occasions, always felt accusing eyes upon him when Dawn would wake up in her own, unique loud manner. They found the small specialty gifts shop in which Mulder felt they had the best chance of finding the photo box. When they entered, he told Adam since this was his gift to his mother, he was the one who should take charge in shopping for it. At first Adam looked surprised and perhaps even a little anxious, but with a little urging from his dad, he walked up to the sales clerk and asked where he might find the gift for his mother. "What are you looking for, young man?" asked the sales clerk, who though harried, couldn't resist the little boy, who stood before her determined to be as grown up as possible in tackling what he perceived as a very grown up task. "I'm looking for a picture box that holds lots of pictures in it, but has a frame on its cover," he described perfectly. "Well, I think we have just the thing over in the photo department. Why don't you follow me, Sir, and we'll see if we can find the right one for your mother." The woman led the seven year old who was now proudly standing up much straighter than before as she led them all to the correct area. "Here we are. I think you have three or four to choose from. I'll let you look them over and then do call me if you need any help." Adam nodded his head and said a very polite 'thank you,' and then went about looking at the various choices before him. Mulder, meanwhile, mouthed a clear 'thank you' to the saleswoman who smiled her acknowledgment in return. Then he watched the younger Mulder as he weighed the choices before him. "How about this one, Daddy?" Adam asked as he pointed to a very ornate, silver toned box with lots of ornamental decoration all over its sides. Mulder consciously worked on suppressing the cringe he felt forming. It was the most hideous thing his adult eyes had ever seen, but he could appreciate how through a child's eye it was a thing of beauty. Now Mulder's dilemma was how to persuade the child to make another choice without hurting his feelings. "That is a beautiful box, young man," came a voice from behind Mulder. He turned and saw the saleslady reappear, "but I wonder if it's the perfect box for your home?" "What do you mean?" he asked curiously. "Well, this is a box that would typically be bought by someone who lives in a mansion or a castle. Do you live in a castle?" she asked earnestly. "No, no I don't," replied the child with equal sincerity. "Ahh, I see, well, then I don't think this is the right box for your mother. Hmm, let me think," she paused dramatically. "Wait! Young man, I believe I have the perfect photo box." She reached up to the shelf slightly above the child's eye level and brought down a photo box made of cherry wood. It was simple and understated, but had just a bit of carving to appeal to the child's eye. "Well, young man? This box has a double frame on its cover. Why I do believe it was meant for a mother with two children." "My mom has two children! See? Me and Dawnie!" replied Adam excitedly. "Daddy? Do you think Mommy would like this one better?" Mulder had to work doubly hard to suppress his laughter. "Yes, Adam, I do believe Mom would really love this box! I mean, she can put a picture of you in one side and a picture of your sister in the other. I think you made the perfect choice!" "Okay, let's wrap it up, please. I got the money in my pocket." He began taking his money out of his pocket, but Mulder told him to wait until they got to the cash register. After the saleslady rang up the cost of the box, Adam asked if he had enough money to pay for it. Mulder was honest and replied, "Well, Buddy, to be honest, no. You're a little short, but since it really is the perfect gift, maybe I can kick in the rest so it can be from you and Dawn?" "Umm, okay." When Mulder saw the child hesitate, he asked him what was wrong. "Well, Daddy, would you mind if the box could be your Christmas gift from me and Dawnie, too? I mean, I'm kinda wiped out now," he sighed. Mulder managed to keep a straight face and simply said he'd be delighted to accept this as his gift, too. He then proceeded to hand over three twenty-dollar bills to supplement the rest of the cost and had the box gift-wrapped as well. Mulder hung the shopping bag on the back of Dawn's stroller. Both father and son were still slightly amazed the child was still sleeping, but neither was about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Now as they approached the back end of the Mall, which was near the restrooms (the next stop on their tour before they went home,) Mulder noticed what appeared to be a large gathering of people. As they got closer, he realized it was the North Pole display, with Santa sitting on his grand throne. Elves were nearby to help with various tasks, such as dealing with squalling babies, frightened toddlers, the occasional insistent, belligerent child, and capturing it all on film for just ten bucks plus tax. Mulder wondered if Adam was going to request a seating with the bearded gent, when Adam made the comment, "I wonder if Santa brings presents to kids who go to Hebrew School?" Adam had begun attending Saturday morning classes at the Temple's religious school that past September. He was learning about the bible stories and the major holidays, as well as the Hebrew alphabet. It was something Adam had been excited about doing, since his best friend, Jason, was attending it as well. "I don't know, Adam," Mulder replied in a purposely open-ended manner. He didn't want to influence the child one way or the other. He didn't want to make him feel as though he couldn't sit on Santa's lap, but he also didn't want him to feel obligated to do so either. "Can I ask him, Daddy?" he asked in a small whisper. "Sure, but we'll have to get on line with all of the other kids," he replied lightly. This particular pitstop wasn't exactly a planned one, but he didn't have the heart to say no to his son. "That's okay, if you don't think Dawnie would mind too much," he replied. They both looked at Dawn who appeared to be down for the count, looked back up at one another and smiled simultaneously. "Nah," Mulder said with a slight chuckle, "somehow I don't think Dawn will mind too much." Mulder received an exuberant hug around the leg in thanks. "Daddy, what's that? Are those the presents Santa gives out?" asked the excited little boy as he pointed over to a display area. "Oh, well, not exactly," Mulder began to explain, as he read the sign over the dumpster display. "Adam, this is a 'Toys for Tots' drop-off. People buy a new toy for unfortunate children whose parents can't afford to buy toys. "Oh." The child stood for a moment and said, "Does Santa want us to buy a toy for one of those kids before I can talk to him?" "Well, I don't know about that, but do you think it might be a good thing to do?" Mulder asked. "Yeah," he said thoughtfully, and then excitedly added, "Daddy! It's like what Rabbi Gerry taught us at our before class asephar. This is like tsedakah, Daddy!" "Okay, help me remember what those two wonderful Hebrew words are, little man," Mulder replied with a smile. "Oh, sorry, Daddy. Asephar is like our morning meeting or circle time, and tsedakah is like __, like 'chattering.' Oh, that's not right!" Adam said in frustration. "Charity?" helped his dad. "Yeah! Charity. That's it!" the child squealed in delight. "The rabbi said it was like doing a 'good work.'" "Yes, I guess that's what 'Toys for Tots' is all about. I mean, it's like the old adage, 'It's better to give than receive.' C'mon, little man, let's go do some good work," said the tall man they headed toward the nearby Kay-Bee Toys store. Mulder instructed Adam to go pick out a toy that he thought a child might like. In fact, he suggested he find a toy that Adam already owned and really liked and to find one just like it. While the youngster did that, Mulder asked the salesclerk if by some miracle the store had any Pokemon card packs in stock. "As a matter of fact we do, but we're limiting them to three packs per customer in order to spread the wealth, so to speak," he explained. Mulder nodded his understanding, as he'd tried for weeks to find some packs of the latest fad, but had found it very difficult indeed. The one place that did carry them was price gouging and had an asking price of over five dollars per pack. Mulder simply refused to pay. But now, as it was getting closer to the Christmas holiday, he felt he should bear any expense and buy the packs for his son. In fact, since the child was so willing to come into the toy store to buy something for another child, and not once made a request for himself, Mulder decided to save two packs and give the third to his son immediately. If nothing else, Mulder figured it would keep him occupied with looking at which cards he gained while on line for Santa. "I found it, Daddy," said the small boy with the tousled brown hairdo. I got 'Guess Who' because this way if the child who don't get any gifts can't read yet, he can still play this game 'cause you don't hafta know how to read. Isn't that good, Daddy?" Mulder agreed and then asked if he was ready to pay for it and go hand it in to the 'Toys for Tots' campaign. Adam quietly nodded his head. The fact that he was in a toy store, surrounded by millions of toys, (well it was millions to the young Adam) and knew none of them were meant for him on that day, made him feel a little sad. As Mulder paid for both the game and the Pokemon cards, Mulder took out one of the packs of cards and offered it to Adam. "What's this?" the child asked. "What does it look like?" Mulder replied with a chuckle, knowing full well Adam knew exactly what his dad was handing him. "Why?" asked Adam impulsively, but with a big grin. "Because I know it's better to give than to receive, and I felt like giving," answered Mulder, smiling. "Oh." Adam's smile faded rapidly. "What's wrong, little man?" "I guess__," Adam hesitated for a moment or two, but then said, "I guess maybe I should give these to the 'Toys for Tots', too. 'Cause it's better to give than receive. Right, Daddy?" Mulder was so tempted to tell the child it was okay for him to keep the cards, but he knew if he did, the lesson would fall flat. Having Mulder purchase the board game for the 'Toys for Tots' campaign was nothing like giving up a coveted pack of Pokemon cards. "Yes, Adam, I do think it's better to give than receive. I think this is a very grown up thing you're doing," and he bent down to give his still little boy a kiss on the top of his head. Mulder stood back up to receive his change from the clerk when he realized along with the few dollars was another pack of Pokemon cards. "What's this?" asked Mulder quietly. "That's the most amazing thing I've seen in a long time," the clerk said softly. "I can't imagine a kid willingly giving up a pack of these things. I mean, it was his idea; you didn't have to push him at all. Let's just say I think it's better to give than to receive, too. Take this pack on me, then he can have the three packs again, okay? Tell him Santa brought 'em." "Thank you," Mulder whispered gratefully in reply. "Thank you so much. I'll tell him a very kind Santa brought them." And the family trio left the toy store, donations in hand, ready to stand on line with the rest of the mall clients. As they waited for the line to slowly (and that was very slowly) wind its way down toward the holiday icon, Adam remarked, "Jason said he was going to see Santa too, at his Grandma's house." Jason Goldfarb was Adam's best friend and a classmate of his at the Temple's Religious school, which they attended on Saturday mornings. Jason, his older sister, Rachael, and their parents Leslie and Richard Goldfarb were all very close friends of the Mulders. They were going to be spending the holidays with Leslie's parents in Florida this year, and Mulder knew Adam was missing Jason already. "Do the other children from Hebrew School talk about visiting with Santa?" Mulder asked cautiously. "A little." Mulder waited Adam out. If the child wanted to discuss it further, he would continue the discussion of his own volition. Mulder felt uncomfortable pushing him. "Amy Donahue says she visits Santa with her dad, but lights the Hanukkah candles with her mom. And David says his mother lets him sit on Santa's lap to ask for Hanukkah gifts. But nobody at Hebrew School gets Christmas gifts besides Amy, Jason, and me." "I see. So, it sounds like Amy's mom is Jewish, and her dad is not. Right?" The name alone was a giveaway, but Mulder wasn't sure if Adam was savvy enough to be aware of the differences in surnames. "Yeah. I think so." The child paused a moment and looked almost reticent about continuing. Finally, Adam said, "Amy says she's Jewish, but I'm not. Neither is Jason." Mulder remained silent; he sensed that his son needed to speak and work this one out for himself as much as possible. "Amy says your mother has to be Jewish in order for you to be Jewish. It doesn't matter what your father is." Mulder's expression remained neutral, but he nodded slightly to encourage the child to continue. "I guess I'm not Jewish then, am I?" he whispered. Mulder knelt down next to his son. He wasn't sure if this was the best place to have this conversation, but since Adam brought it up, he figured now was as good of a time as any. "Adam, it's true that traditional, Judaic laws held that the religion of a child was determined by the mother's religion. So, I guess technically, in the conservative and orthodox segments of Judaism, you would be considered Catholic, like Mommy, and not Jewish, like me. "But Adam, you are part of Mommy and me; no, you're the _best_ parts of Mommy and me. You are Mommy's inquisitiveness and Daddy's perseverance. You are Mommy's seriousness and Daddy's silliness. You are the best of us, of Mommy and me. "And when we decided to teach you about both of our religions, then you became part of Mommy's Catholicism and part of Daddy's Judaism. You are a lucky, lucky boy to have so much faith and trust surrounding you. There was a time when both Mommy and Daddy weren't sure what to believe in, but then you were born, and you helped us find our faiths again. "We both found our ties to God; the only difference was which house of God we found Him in. Mommy found him again in her church, while I looked for Him in the temple. You know, Adam, my very wise Nana once said, 'It doesn't matter which house you find God in, just as long as you find God.' "I'd asked Rabbi Ginsburg about whether you could be a Bar Mitzvah after my own Bar Mitzvah. You see, I wasn't sure, Adam if it was allowed, because I knew technically you weren't Jewish in the eyes of many Jews. But you know what Rabbi Gerry said?" At this point the little boy had become so mesmerized by his father's words, he'd stood absolutely still with his mouth slightly open, hanging on every word. He shook his head slightly in answer to his father's question. "Rabbi Gerry said as long as you studied hard, and learned about your religion and your Jewish roots as well as Hebrew, prayers, and the torah, then he would be honored to call you to the torah to be a Bar Mitzvah. So, Adam, if you keep working hard and want it badly enough, you can be a Bar Mitzvah like your Daddy was," Mulder declared softly. Adam stood quietly for another moment or two, and then asked in a whisper, "Jason, too?" Mulder nodded and said, "It's the same deal for Jason." Adam nodded at this and then wrapped his arms around his father's neck and hugged him tightly. Mulder knew this would not be the last of these discussions. As Adam grew older and became more entrenched in the ways of both Judaism and Catholicism, he would discover that at some point the two religions would diverge and cause his son some conflict in his belief. Mulder could only hope that by the time this happened, he would be adult enough to be able to choose what he needed from both religions. Mulder hoped he and Scully would be wise enough to guide him through those choices. After their heart to heart, Mulder and Adam realized they had a little ground to make up in the line, so they gathered their things and made their way up closer to Santa Claus. Adam realized there were only two or three more children ahead of him. He questioned aloud whether the baby that was even younger and smaller than Dawn would want to sit on Santa's lap, or even have that much to say. Mulder didn't succeed at stifling the chuckle on that thought. Suddenly, a pair of adolescents appeared at the head of the line. Adam indignantly declared that it wasn't fair for those guys to cut in front of the others. Mulder quickly shushed him, as he wanted to assess the situation without endangering anyone on the line, especially his own children. "Yo! Santa Dude! Wha's up, Santa? You gonna visit my house this Christmas?" the taller, thinner of the pair called out. "Boys, please, let's allow the small children to have their visit. Please," Santa calmly implored. "But how come we don't get none of these fine looking presents, Santa?" asked the boy's partner. "How do you know you won't, young man?" asked the Santa cryptically. Mulder smiled at the reaction Santa's question elicited from the boys. All he could think was, ya gotta believe. But then all of a sudden, things began to get tense and ugly. "Don't be messin' with my head, Santa! Don't need no mind fucks about Christmas, man!" shouted back the first young man. "Please, there are children present!" pleaded a young mother with a child of about three or four in her arms. "Whatch you think, lady? You don't think that little pisser don't hear that kind of word? Give me a fuckin' break!" he demanded. "Daddy!" Adam called out while tugging at Mulder's pants leg, "Daddy, tell him you're a special agent!" "Adam, hush!" he admonished the child sternly. When he saw the frightened look on Adam's face, Mulder explained in a whisper, "I don't want them to know I'm an agent yet, Adam. I have to make sure everyone will be safe, little man. Soon. I promise, soon." Mulder ruffled his fingers in the child's hair in an attempt to smooth things over without calling too much attention to himself. "Now you listen here, Santa Man, we think we deserve a Merry Christmas, too, ya know? So, what you say you just hand over some of those pretty new toys for me and my friend here, huh? I think that's a damn fine idea! C'mon, Santa, my man, give me some of that good Christmas cheer. "NOW!" And with that order, one of the young men, the first boy, pulled out a switchblade, and with the click of a button, and the hiss of air, the blade was brandished about. "Ohmigod! Please! You're frightening the children!" cried out yet another of the mothers. "Oh yeah, and I'm pretty damned sure it ain't just the little kiddies that are shittin' in their pants!" commented the shorter, heavier set of the two boys. "Oh yeah! That is the truth!" he cried out as he looked for a confirmation from his partner. Mulder kept reviewing the situation over and over. There were two agitated young people but only one of them was holding a switchblade. He appeared, however, to have no problem with waving it about while there was no one standing nearby. Mulder looked down at Adam, who was now watching, mesmerized with the choreography of the two perpetrators. He tapped Adam gently on the shoulder and whispered, "Stay put and watch your sister." Adam nodded solemnly and tightly grasped the stroller handle. Mulder, meanwhile, inched slowly closer to the boy nearest him; the boy waving the switchblade around. He felt if he could get near enough without being noticed he should be able to wield the knife out of his hands. The operative phrase was 'without being noticed.' Just as he was close enough to seize the perp, there was a bloodcurdling scream. The first impression of those present was that someone was hurt, perhaps even cut. Mulder however realized immediately what it was; his daughter's wake-up call. Unfortunately for Mulder, the knife holding perp had no way of knowing that it was only Dawn's odd manner of waking up from a long nap. The teenager turned quickly in a startled response to the frighteningly loud scream. In his own fear, the young man lost control of the weapon he held in his hand and ended up swiping and slashing the first object in his path. Mulder. "OH SHIT, BOBBY!" yelled out the second boy. "Damn, Bobby! You cut him! You cut him!" "Shuddup, A.J. Just shuddup! Aw, man, I'm sorry. I never meant to cut nobody. I was just trying to scare the Claus man, honest. Oh shit, mister, I'm sorry!" cried out the now weaponless Bobby, as security finally showed up and easily wrested the knife out of the boy's hand. Though the security officers held onto the young perpetrators, they remained close by until more assistance arrived. Mulder had somehow remained standing all this time, but his hand found the slashes the knife made in his stomach, and though he tried to stem the flow of blood, he wasn't succeeding very well. Not at all, as the pool of red that was forming at his feet well attested to. "Daddy?" called out Adam. "Dah? Dah?" whimpered a now fully awake Dawn. "Oh, God, not again," muttered a now slightly dizzy Mulder. Although he tried as hard as he could to remain standing for his children's sakes, he felt himself slipping to the floor. "Daddy!" screamed Adam, but as he never let go of the carriage handle once, he pushed Dawn forward to rush to his father's side. "Daddy! What's wrong?" "Call 911!" someone screamed out. "He's dying!" cried out another voice. "Help him!" yelled yet a third panicky bystander. "Oh, Daddy," murmured Adam as he grasped his father's hand. "Please don't die, Daddy. We gotta have Christmas with Mommy and Gamma and Gampa. Please. We got to have latkes this year, but now it's Mommy's turn. You know that! Please, Daddy," the little boy pleaded. Moments later a red clad being knelt himself down next to the fallen agent. He looked first at the wound and then at Mulder's face. Mulder was trying desperately to convey reassurances to his young son, but he was having little success. He then looked at the little girl, who sucked her thumb in an attempt to comfort herself while her real source of comfort laid on the floor going into shock. Next, the man in red looked at the young boy, who watched his father with a face that expressed an odd combination of anxiety mixed with resignation. It was as if this child had seen this before. He had experienced this type of pain before. And the old man knew this could not be. It should not be. Not now. Not at this time of year. "Your name, boy. What is your name?" asked the bearded man. "Adam." "And your sister?" he pressed. "Dawn." "Well, Adam, it seems to me your daddy was trying to do something very brave. He was trying to help me, wasn't he?" "Yes," Adam whispered in a voice that was on the cutting edge of tears. "Daddy's a FBI special agent. He's always brave." "I see. Well, I think brave people should be rewarded, don't you, Adam?" the soft spoken man asked. "Daddy says it's better to give than receive, but Daddy already gave you the board game, and I gave you the Pokemon cards. I know it's better to give, but I want my Daddy now. Please, Santa, please. I want my Daddy to be okay for Christmas for Mommy and Dawnie and me." "I understand. Well, Adam, do you believe that having the Christmas spirit can heal all wounds and make good, brave people such as your father healthy again?" asked Santa. Without hesitation, the small boy gasped, "Yes." And do you believe enough even for your baby sister?" pressed the now smiling old gent. "Oh, yes, I believe," he whispered with awe. "And your daddy, Adam? Do you think he could believe such an improbable, impossibility truly can happen?" he asked with an even wider grin. "Daddy? Do you believe?" asked the youngster who was not about to take any chances. "I want to believe, Adam. I will always believe in you, little man," he rasped. "Yes, Santa, Daddy believes," replied the child with confidence. "Then so it shall be," declared the jolly old soul as he placed his hands on the painful belly wound until all that was wrong was righted and no trace of the cuts and slashes were left. Mulder closed his eyes momentarily, and for a second Adam thought something terrible had happened but soon Mulder's eyes reopened. His eyes smiled first; his mouth curved into one soon after. "Daddy? You okay now?" Mulder placed his own hand on the now mended, clean shirt and replied, "Yes, Adam. I suppose I am." He slowly sat up and then noticed his daughter sitting contentedly in her stroller. Her lips were smiling around the thumb that remained firmly planted in her mouth. "Hi little girl," Mulder greeted. "Dah-Dah," was the enthusiastic reply. Mulder then looked at his son who was staring at his father, amazed and grateful that they would apparently not be spending another holiday in the hospital. The child then looked over to the man called Santa Claus. "I was afraid you might not give me any presents," Adam began. "Why would that be?" he asked curiously. "Because I'm Catholic and Jewish. I got gifts from my Mommy and my Gamma for Christmas last year, but I wasn't sure if you could give me one, Santa," explained Adam. "But you did give me a gift. You gave me back my daddy. Thank you, Santa." "Miracles happen all of the time, Adam. There was the miracle of the Lord's only Son being born in a small manger. And Adam, did you know the Lord's son, Jesus, was Jewish too? Seems to me if the Lord's son was Jewish, it would be all right for Jewish boys and girls to receive gifts at Christmas time if those presents were given and received in the spirit of the season. Don't you?" "Yes, Santa. Thank you," he said yet again and then the child reached out and offered the familiar figure a loving embrace. And suddenly the child was grasping at nothing with only the sound of bells ringing in the air. Adam looked about with surprise and confusion, but he then caught his father's eyes and began to giggle with relief and joy. "Do you hear them, Daddy? Do you hear the bells ringing?" Adam cried out. "I think it's time to go home and see Mommy," declared a suddenly exhausted Mulder. "But Daddy! Can you hear them? They sound so pretty!" Adam pleaded. Mulder stopped and cocked his head to one side and then smiled. "Yes, little man. I hear them." "Hear what?" asked several of the people who had remained milling about. "What do you hear?" "I hear what my son hears. The sound of Christmas bells," Mulder replied smiling. And the lovely fact of the matter was, he really and truly did. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End ( Feedback to: STPteach@aol.com) Author's Note- A special acknowledgment to one of my favorite holiday books, The Polar Express, by Chris van Allsburg for inspiring the final scene of hearing the bells of Christmas. Happy Holidays to old friends and hopefully some new ones! And a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2000 to you all!