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P.O.W.E.R.* Girl III - Ch. 03 - Christmas Cookies at Ms. Sophia's

by Tonja Taylor  
9/17/2022 / Short Stories


The next day, Burt, Pearl, Xi, Robin, Lucas, and Robert took time to help Ms. Sophia decorate her house.

This is so great, Pearl thought, that it’s Saturday and we could come help her. Fun!

“Okay,” said Burt, putting the last box on the floor. “This is everything.”

“Did you see the topper, Uncle Burt?” said Pearl.

He shook his head. “No. Maybe she’s got it in a very special place.”

Xi and Robin continued to look through boxes and bags.

“I’ll go ask her,” Pearl said, and went to the kitchen.

“Oh, the Madonna and Child topper was for last year,” Sophia said, her bright blue gloves up to her elbows as she washed dishes. “It got crashed in the move.”

Pearl giggled, and said softly, “Ms. Sophia, you mean it got crushed in the move.”

“Si, yes, it got crushed when it crashed to the ground!” Sophia said, and laughed. “Let’s get another!”

“Great!” Pearl said. “We can shop, then and get hot chocolate and gelado!”

“And gifts,” said Sophia.

“Yes!” said Pearl. “We can shop for Queen Mother and Ms. Risa, while they buy ours! I’m sure they are having fun.” I bet they are getting my cell phone! she thought. You know, LORD, I’m almost 13, and most kids have a phone a lot younger! But whatever gifts I get, I know You sent them. Thanks!

“Did you see the Advent candles?” said Sophia.

“Advent?” said Pearl. “I think I’ve heard of that, but what are they for?”

“Advent happens all month, for the four weeks before Christmas,” she said, rinsing the plates. “It starts the weekend after Thanksgiving, and helps us get our hearts ready for the celebration of El Senor JesuCristo.”

She looked around, and said, “Pearl, would you please get a towel from the drawer and dry the dishes?”

“Sure!” Pearl obeyed, and Ms. Sophia continued. “We have five candles for Advent now. It used to be four.”

“I like candles,” said Pearl, and dried a plate. “Queen Mother says beeswax are best, with no pollutants.”

Ms. Sophia smiled. “You are all very healthy, so good. These are not beeswax, but they are good, because they are about the LORD.”

Lucas walked in. “Ms. Sophia, do you have the tree topper somewhere else?”

“No,” she said. “Tell Burt we will shop in a little while.”

Lucas nodded, and Pearl said, “Would you tell me why there are different colors?”

“We Catholics started this a long time ago,” Sophia said, turning off the water.

“The candles go into a green wreath, which has pinecones and evergreen leaves and stands for eternal life we find in the Savior,” she said. “We light one candle each week. Three are purple, for hope and faith and peace. Pink is for joy, because El Senor JesuCristo is our great joy, and we have great joy that He has come!”

“Amen!” said Pearl, putting the last plate in the cabinet.

“Now, gracias, Pearl, we are done.”

“Many hands make light work,” said Pearl. “That’s a verse in the Bible somewhere.”

“Good, Pearl. Now, the white Advent candle, I put in the middle. It is lit on Christmas Eve, because it is for Jesus the Christ, our Savior, Who is purest of all. So the wreath and candles are in the boxes somewhere.”

That’s cool about Advent, LORD, Pearl thought. Maybe we can do that at our new house next year! 

They heard the oven buzzer. “Okay!” said Robert, running in. “My special cookies!” He reached toward the oven, but Ms. Sophia caught his hand.

“Roberto, let Lucas help you. He is taller right now,” she said gently. “Lucas! Ven aqui, por favor!”

“Is that ‘come here, please?’ Ms. Sophia?”

Si, muy bien, Pearl!”

Robert frowned, but moved back. Lucas got the cookies, and put them on the island counter for him to see.

“I did good!” said Robert.

“You did well!” Pearl said.

Si! Excelente!” said Ms. Sophia, getting a plate. “Let Lucas put them on the plate and you can help him carry them, OK?”

“Can we have milk too?”

“Robert!” said Pearl. “You shouldn’t ask for more!” said Pearl.

“No worries, Pearl,” said Ms. Sophia. “Boldness can be good.” She patted his head. “You can have le leche, Robert. Ask Lucas to get it for you.”

“Is that milk?” asked Robert.

Lucas nodded, and poured him a small glass.

“Does anyone else want any?” she asked, as Lucas handed Robert the platter of cookies. “Walk slowly, Robert,” she said.

He looked serious and nodded. “I’ll do it right!” he said.

“I know you will!” she said.

Wow, Ms. Sophia is really good for him! thought Pearl. Thank You, LORD!

Lucas walked closely beside Robert. Robert walked carefully into the living room. “Here you go!” he said, and sat it on the coffee table. “Yep, enjoy my cookies!” said Robert, and beamed.

Xi winked at Pearl. “I’ll call you The Chef, Robert,” she said. “These look really good. You are creative!”

“Jesus helped me!” said Robert. “He cooked!”

Everyone was silent for a bit. “Well, Bub, you're close,” said Burt, “but God is the Helper, like it says in the Word. We are the doers, and He is the Helper. He grabbed a cookie. “Now these are not fish cookies, are they?”

“Nah, Uncle Burt!” said Robert, and giggled. “Jesus didn’t cook fish cookies, just fish!”

He's been listening! Pearl thought. Great! Now, LORD, please help Him listen to the part about being nice to me! She smiled, and bit a cookie. What’s in these, Rob?” she said. “They’re yummy!”

He smiled. “Mac nuts and chocolate chips and cherries. Mama would say it’s stuffed with good stuff!”

“Yum,” said Xi, after taking a bite of one. “I’m liking healthy more and more with you people!”

“Let’s watch a clip,” said Mrs. Sophia, “about a sheepkeeper. It is for Christmas.”

“A video?” said Pearl.

Robin nodded. “That’s what she means,” she whispered.

They went to The Chosen website, and watched The Shepherd.

As they watched, Pearl felt the Spirit of God move in her heart. She looked around. Wow, LORD Jesus, Pearl thought. You are touching us all! I’m so glad You are the King of kings, and You were born just like me, only in an animal barn, while I was in a hospital. She gazed at Mary holding Baby Jesus. That is so neat that the shepherd with the pure heart got to see You up close first!

“It’s a new way of seeing Christmas,” said Mrs. Sophia. 

“Yes ma’am,” said Burt. “The LORD sees our hearts, and how beautiful they are to Him.”

“Yes, and thank goodness He grew up to die on the cross and rise again for us!” Pearl said.

Mrs. Sophia nodded. “Amen, Pearl! Now, let’s celebrate with more Robert Specials!”

“Oh, yeah!” said Robert, then carefully picked up the plate and served the others.

“That’s your last one, Rob,” said his uncle, “till you get more protein.”

“At least the nuts have protein, right?” Pearl asked.

“Right, Pearl, but I mean meat,” said Burt. “Meat has different proteins and amino acids and such.”

“Wow, you sound like scientists,” said Xi, eating one more. “At least this is healthy junk—I mean, sweet stuff.”

He laughed. “No worries, Xi. Everything is organic, but we still don’t need to eat too many. OK, clean up time!” He started gathering plates.

“Boys, help in the kitchen, so Mrs. Sophia can rest,” Burt commanded.

“It’s OK, Burt,” she said. “I am strong,” said Mrs. Sophia. “Xi knows where things are, and she can help too,” she said, motioning Xi toward the kitchen.

The others cleaned up the living room, then walked to the kitchen.

“OK, let’s go clean up, then we’ll come get Ms. Sophia and Xi and the boys, and then go to shop for Ms. Sophia’s tree topper.”

“I’m stayin’ to help her!” said Robert. “She said I’m special!

Something like that! thought Pearl.

“I’ll stay with them,” said Lucas.

Thanks, Son,” said Burt, and hugged Lucas, who smiled.

Burt looked at Robert. “You know how to act, Bub!”

“Right!” said Rob, and hugged Ms. Sophia.

She winked. “He is a good boy,” she said, and hugged him back.

Thank You, LORD, thought Pearl, as she and Robin and Xi walked to the truck with him.   You always make things work out!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.

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