Chapter 5

The next day, a faint knocking was heard at the door. Jonas was half asleep when he heard the soft pounding. As he sat up drowsily, he listened to the soft scuffling of Rosemary's trotting feet.

As the door creaked open, Jonas heard a gasp and a small whimper. Hard as he try, Jonas could not make out the small words.

"Jonas! The door's for you!" Rosemary bellowed into the house, her voice reverberating off the walls.

Jonas, still in a sleepy haze, wondered dimly whom the person at the door could be.

Maybe its Asher Jonas thought mildly.

Clumsily he swung his legs over the bed onto the cold chilled floor. His eyes opened wide as his feet touched down. Suddenly, Jonas remembered where he was.

Silently, Jonas climbed to the opposite side of the bed and reached over to grab a pair of luxurious red socks. Jonas smiled as his cold feet were enveloped once more in a warm tingling covering.

"Jonas?" came another call.

Jonas scrambled out of bed and pulled on some pants.

"Coming!" Jonas replied as he tugged on a tee-shirt.

He bounded out of the room and came to the entrance of Rosemary's dwelling. A little girl stood shivering outside at the doorway and Rosemary looked impatiently at Jonas, as if standing there were the last thing she wanted to be doing.

"Jonas!" squeaked a high pitch voice emitted from the little girl below.

It took Jonas a minute to figure out but suddenly, it clicked, "Carla! Why Rosemary, let her in! It's freezing out there!"

A look of disgust crossed Rosemary's face. "She wouldn't come inside, Jonas." She said through gritted teeth. "Apparently, she was perfectly fine waiting for you out there."

Jonas looked from Carla to Rosemary and back again. Carla shivered; whether from cold or fear, he could not tell.

"Come in Carla. We can make hot chocolate,"- it was a drink that Rosemary had given him. Jonas thought the taste was especially warming and delicious.

Carla looked up excitedly and rushed in; evidently disregarding whatever mistrusting feelings she had before.

"Okay Jonas!" she squeaked. Without another word, she came in and peeled off her coat hat and mittens, hanging them to dry on the coat rack. Rosemary went to the kitchen where Jonas had started to boil water.

"Shall I put on a fire?" Rosemary asked inquiringly. Jonas looked up excitedly. He hadn't seen a fire aside from his memory. Carla looked excited too.

"We can make smores!" she said scrunching up her nose in delight.

Jonas had a questioning frown on his face but Rosemary gave him a warning look not to say anything. His look slid off his face, replaced by a momentary smile.

"That would be a wonderful idea Carla!" Rosemary said cheerfully and went to the next room.

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With hot cups of cocoa in their hands, Jonas and Carla made their way to a cushy couch by the fire. The fire captivated Jonas. The dancing swirl of colors, all bouncing and bright, filled Jonas with emotion. He watched as it crackled and popped and sent the pleasant smell of burning wood into his nostrils.

Rosemary came in with Gabe and he merrily gazed into the fire, clapping when it made a noise. Rosemary laughed gaily and a glimpse of fire twinkled in her eyes. Jonas smiled and sipped his cocoa. Outside a group of carolers were forming.

This is how family should be, he thought, warm, happy, and snuggled up by the fire.

And as Jonas was taught how to make a smore, with happy Gabe clapping, Carla giggling, and Rosemary smiling, the carolers started to sing… And Jonas found himself humming to the song he didn't quite know, with people he didn't quite know, and he found himself feeling as cheerful as the fire before him.

(The End)

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