The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

And Peace to All





Tom gave one last shove, his feet slipping on the icy ground as with a grunt he finally got the car off the roadway. Shivering in the cold nearby stood his wife, son and daughter, their holiday plans having blown up as surely as the car’s engine. The ideal was to try and bond closer with his family, now gone up in smoke. Taking out his cell phone he once more began the searching for a signal dance that all users instinctively know when the time to perform it, arrives. He turned left, then right, stood tall and stretched to try and find an elusive signal. Stopping with the phone at a full arms length from his body he realized that even should a signal bar miraculously show up he couldn’t possibly speak into the phone from this range. With a disgusted sigh he still looked at it, no signal of course. Seeing the battery also was growing weak he shut the power off, with a mind to save it, so if later the miracle of a signal showed up, it would work.



Walking over to join his family Sherry, his wife asked him “What do we do now?” He shared a quick hug for her, before answering, “we’ll have to walk until we find help or I get a signal.” The kids both started complaining about the cold and having to walk in the blizzard conditions but their parents turned on them together and they stopped mid-gripe. With frowns on their red cheeked faces they began to walk along the road, Tom leading the way down the cold lonely roadway. Behind him he could hear his wife softly praying to God for them to find a good Samaritan and be rescued very quickly. Silently echoing her, he finished with an Amen just as he caught sight of a light flashing through the woods off to his right.



Gary and Melissa Larson along with their two sons and daughter were putting the finishing touches on the Yule tree they had found and brought into their cabin that very afternoon. Standing back they enjoyed the smell and feelings of happiness it brought to them even as their kids went to clean up for dinner. They were pleased with the time they had managed to scrape together to spend as a family and to celebrate Yule. They both had jobs and with the kids school schedules it was often hard to get the time off for a family Yule celebration, it being before the traditional Christmas vacations began.



Melissa went to stir the big pot of vegetable stew she had put on earlier in the day, to be enjoyed with crusty bread, warming by the fire. They had electricity there and all the modern conveniences were available yet they were trying to teach their kids the joys of simpler things too. A big Dutch oven left over the smoldering fire to slowly cook a savory meal used no extra energy and was good for them. Gary was getting out the bowls and spoons and taking the time to sneak in a hug and kiss or two in passing. The kids came bounding back into the room and found them in a clinch and began hooting and teasing them only to stop abruptly when Jackson their beagle began barking and running toward the door. Gary said “I’ll take him for a quick walk before dinner” when a few thumps sounded on the door. Surprised, Gary started to the door and Mark, his eldest son picked up Jackson to keep him from rushing the door.



Tom raised his hand to knock again just as the door swung open and man stood there in a deep green sweater and jeans, and a curious look on his smiling face. Tom’s voice came out fast as he was very cold in the near blizzard conditions, “My name is Tom Wilson, we’ve had car trouble and I can’t get a cell signal here, do you have a phone and can my family come in and get warm?” Gary looked out as Tom shifted and he saw the rest of the family all huddled close together to try and conserve warmth. He stepped back and swung the door open and said “Please come in out of the cold.” Calling to his wife Melissa, he asked her to get hot drinks for their guests. Tom, pushed his children into the warm cabin and then ushered his wife in before pushing the door closed behind him. “I cannot thank you enough, we saw your lights from the road but didn’t realize it was quite this far away.” Gary responded, if you came from Route 12 then you’ve walked nearly a mile. Those conditions out there have gotten really bad so please sit down by the fire and get warm.” He went to pour coffee for the husband and wife while Melissa fixed hot cocoa for the kids.



By the time the newcomers were warm and relaxed, the adults had determined that no rescue was possible until the storm let up. The cell phone service in the area was very skimpy in the best of times but in a blizzard, no way. The Larson’s invited the Wilson’s to shelter from the storm with them and Melissa and Sherry working together, began dishing up the vegetable stew for both families. They were all seated around the table when Tom asked Gary if it was okay for them to say grace. Gary shot a look at his wife who answered for him, “we do that too but you go first then we will say ours”. Gary’s eyes got a bit big but at his wife’s encouraging smile he followed her lead. Tom shot them a confused look even as he reached for his wife’s hand and the Larson’s son, Freddie as one by one they all joined hands. Bowing his head Tom began with “Dear heavenly father, we give thanks for this food we are about to consume and for the wonderful family you have sent to rescue us. Amen” He raised his head to find the Larson’s raising their faces toward the sky as Gary began “Lord and Lady, we thank you for the nourishment we are about to receive and for the wonderful day we have enjoyed and for the safety of our guests. May your blessings fall upon us all and may the Earth benefit from the storm. Blessed Be unto all.”



Tom and Sherry were speechless, staring at their hosts even as the kids all tucked into the delicious soup. They had quickly made friends sharing their ages and names and favorite television shows. They talked of their favorite games and determined who was the best game player among them. The Wilson adults were now fully aware that the nice family they were sheltering with were not the “good Samaritans” they had first thought them to be. Gary looked at Tom and said we can talk later if you have any questions. Nodding solemnly Tom began to eat his soup but his eyes began searching the cabin and picking up on things he’d missed or ignored when he first saw them. While they finished eating Melissa discussed with Sherry how they could bed the kids down for the night.

Since the cabin had 3 small bedrooms and one bath they decided both sets of parents would have a room and the 2 girls could share the other one. Their 3 sons would be bedded down in the living room floor on pallets and quilts near the fire but with a fireguard in place. Mark, at 13 was comfortable with keeping an eye on the fire and knew what to do in case of an emergency. When dinner was over they quickly cleared the table and let the kids begin a game of Trivial Pursuit, the Disney’ edition. When the dishes were done, the adults settled down at the table with cups of coffee and Gary could almost see the questions in Tom’s eyes and taking pity on him explained. “Gary, my family and I are of the Wiccan faith and we believe in the Goddess and God. We are here to celebrate Yule tomorrow and to enjoy time together as a family. We do not worship Satan, we do not even believe in him. We will not try to change your beliefs nor those of your children and only ask that you give us the same courtesy.”



Tom met his wife’s eyes and she just shook her head but he ignored her this time and said “How can you raise your children in such as sinful way? Don’t you want them to be saved and be right in the eyes of God?” Melissa jumped in at that and responded “Tom my children are “right” in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the Goddess too! Our beliefs are not the same as yours but we love our children, our families, friends and the world we all live on. We do not condemn you for believing that your kids must be saved and baptized to be accepted by God, but ours live by the Wiccan rede and that is as important to us as your 10 Commandments.” She settled down when Sherry leaned over and laid a hand on her arm. “Please excuse my husband for his poor choice of words. He didn’t mean to imply that you don’t love your children or want the best for them.” Her eyes shot the sternest of looks at her man who realizing how he sounded was abashed but not fully satisfied. “I do apologize to you both for insinuating that you would do anything to harm your kids but I cannot say I understand how you can compare the two beliefs.”



Gary refilled the coffee cups before he spoke, “Tom, my wife was raised in the Wiccan faith but I was raised in a Christian household and chose my faith as an adult. We are raising our children to know right from wrong, to be kind and considerate to others and to have a deep and caring attitude toward our mother Earth. We also are teaching them of our belief in the female and male aspect of God and how we embrace both. We believe in many of the same things as you probably do as parents of children in this country and share most of the same fears for those children.” Tom was quiet when he finished but when he spoke you could tell he had taken the man’s words to heart. “Okay I can see that is probably true and God knows there is much to worry a parent in today’s world but that makes it even more important to ensure that your child is protected by their faith in God. Can you not understand that?” Tom’s wife Sherry realizing that her husband was concerned because he had begun to like the other family moved over to sit by him and reaching out caught his hand with her own. She, while unfamiliar with their faith had grown up with friends of different religions so found it easier to accept the ideal.



Gary moved next to his own wife and putting his arm around her, tried to answer the man with as much concern as the question had been placed with, “Tom, our children are as protected by their faith, as your own are in yours. It is different from your’s but no less than Christianity. You faith cannot stop a predator from targeting your child any more than mine but that is the truth we have to accept as parents, we cannot guard them from every possible thing, we can only do our best and trust in our faith to show us the way to protect them or survive what happens.” He watched as the other father interpreted his words and realized the truth behind them, before continuing. “We will just have to accept that we have different faiths but that doesn’t mean we are enemies. I don’t know if you are familiar with this area but I seriously doubt that even should you get a call out, there will be no way help will be here for a few days. This is the country and unless there is a medical emergency they expect you to be prepared to fend for yourselves in case of a storm. I believe you will be here until at least Christmas Day if not longer. Can you handle that? We have plenty of food to spare and you are welcome to spend the holidays with us, but you have to accept that our faith is real and that we have the right to follow it and raise our children in it. In return we will adhere to your rights to follow your faith and will help you to make this as good a Christmas as possible for your family. Is this agreeable?”



Tom was silent for a long while as he thought about the other man’s words. It wasn’t that he thought everyone had to believe the same as him but this was so very different from everything he’d been taught to believe and how he felt. But the truth of the matter was his family needed shelter and here was a kind family offering them shelter and to help them keep their children safe. He looked around the clean little cabin once more filled with the scents of pine and cinnamon and nutmeg from the cookies they had enjoyed after dinner. Could he be open minded or was he so caught in learned behavior that he was going to leave good shelter to try and find more help? He reached his decision just as Sherry leaned over and said “Tom?” He exchanged a look with her and then met Gary’s eyes. “From the strength of the storm I can easily believe we are going to be trapped here through the holidays and while I don’t claim to understand your faith I do accept that you have it and have the right to follow it, the same as I do. If you will allow us to shelter here we will also try to make your holiday, Yule is it? As good as it can be, for your family.”

He reached his hand across the table and Gary took it in the usual way of men who reach an agreement. Both wives met each others eyes and relaxed for the first time since they had sat at the table. Soon after the families retired to their beds as it had been a long tiring day for them all.



Before dawn Melissa was up headed to the kitchen to start breakfast for the families and had just put the water on for coffee when she was joined by Sherry who quietly asked to help her. A conspiratorial grin was shared by them as they quickly divided up the tasks and got breakfast underway. As they cooked Sherry asked questions about the Yule holiday the Larson’s were celebrating that evening, wanting to find out how best her family could help and not hinder their ritual. Melissa explained to her that Yule was the celebration of the Winter Solstice or when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light. She explained that there were many ways that Wiccans celebrated this holiday but that her family enjoyed a Yule feast and they would continue to decorate the cabin today with the evergreen boughs they would collect along with Holly and Mistletoe to invite the nature spirits inside to join in the celebration. By the time breakfast was almost ready, Sherry went to wake the others while Melissa put the spiced cider over the fire to slowly cook.



Tom and Gary came back inside from their trip to fetch the Wilson family’s suitcases and sought out hot cups of coffee. They told the rest that the worst of the storm seemed to be over but it was still snowing quite a bit and the roads were impassable. Instead of being upset the kids were quite happy with the whole ideal. The boys were full of stories of their great night on the pallets while the girls were both playing with littlest pet shop toys and talking about their favorite Barbie’s. Breakfast was a loud and happy meal with everyone filling up on the meal of pancakes, fluffy scrambled eggs and peppered bacon. Melissa said there was plenty of fruit and cereal if they happened to be vegetarians but Sherry was quick to laugh and say not her bunch of barbarians. After the meal while the women quickly cleaned up, Gary spoke with Tom telling him the same things about Yule that the women had already done. Tom was a bit hesitant when Gary called it a ritual but remembering his promise he kept quiet and was soon interested in asking about the significance of the solstice and why they called it the return of light?



Gary told him how it was the longest night of the year, and the celebration was for the rebirth of the Oak King, or the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and allowed her to bring forth from seeds, protected through the long winter, in her womb. It was a celebration special to those whose lives were determined by the success of the crops. Tom who had visited his grandparents farm often as a child said he fully understood how that was a reason for people to seek divine help. It seemed a bit more reasonable once he began to place it in connection to the growing seasons. Soon everyone was bundled up for the outdoors in their coats and warmest clothes, they went to find the best evergreen boughs and holly to decorate the cabin with and a laughing fun filled time was had by all. None of the kids asked any questions about why they were tramping through the snow they just enjoyed doing it and the snowball fights and snow angels they made.



When they returned to the cabin the women went inside to make coffee and hot cocoa, while the others knocked off the snow from the boughs they were going to bring inside. They sat them by the door and came inside to enjoy the warm drinks and while their chicken was baking for lunch they decorated the whole cabin in the great smelling festive limbs. By the time they finished, the baked chicken casserole was done and they sat down and enjoyed the hearty dish. After a quick cleanup by everyone, the women began preparations for the evening feast while the rest settled down to watch the Muppets Christmas Carol and laughter filled the cabin. Tom was laughing at the way his kids and the Larson’s were able to quote the characters from the movie almost verbatim, when the thought struck that there was very little difference in the children and they were completely unconcerned with what religion the other called it’s beliefs. His wife and he had talked softly about it after their bedroom door shut last night, but it was just now that he fully understood her words. It was how you choose to use your faith that really mattered. It was meant to be a guide and comfort in your life, not the weapon you used against others.



That night while the Wilson family observed quietly the Larson’s conducted their Yule Ritual and though a simple ritual for their children to be involved, it was full of meaning and devotion. Afterwards they cleared away their altar, storing their cherished belongings with reverence before re-joining the Wilson family still sitting on the couch where they had observed the service. Tom now was glad they had stayed for it gave him more insight into a faith he had known very little of but now could respect.



The next two days passed quietly with more board games played, snow forts built before a snowball battle was waged that saw the winners resting on the couch while the losers got to cook and clean up dinner. They fixed popcorn and paper chains to decorate the Yule tree as a Christmas tree with a tin foil star tied with fishing string as a topper. Christmas eve found them watching It’s A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, while all around the cabin members of both families slipped off to come up with gifts to share with each other. Many trips outside had been conducted to gather items and ideals leading up to this time. Wrappings made from brown paper bags painted by the children in their favorite Yule and Christmas patterns. The pile under the tree grew as items were slipped underneath when no one was watching. When the moon came out the two fathers each read to all, with Gary reading “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and Tom reading from the bible, the story of The Nativity, the stories enjoyed by all the children, who then set out cookies for Santa before heading off to sleep.



Melissa and Sherry had put their heads together and Christmas Dinner would be the best feast they could come up with from the depths of the freezer and pantry. Ham and sweet potatoes along with a green bean casserole, deviled eggs and homemade rolls. A jam cake for desert along with snow-cream, a concoction new to the Larson’s but shared by Sherry Wilson who got it from her country grandmother. The snows had begun to melt down and they expected the roads to be cleared in another day or two for sure.



The dawn of Christmas morning brought all the kids to the tree where their laughter and loud exclamations soon pulled their parents from their beds and into the merrymaking. The gifts were opened and joy shared along with praise for the ingenuity in the making of them. When calm finally reigned the children settled into playing while the adults completed their feast. Once on the table the families joined together and prayers offered first by Tom in thanks for their meal and for the very special time they had been given to become closer as a family and for the wonderful family that had provided shelter and knowledge to enrich their lives, he finished by asking God for peace for all mankind. Sherry had a big smile on her face as she squeezed her husband’s hand in approval of his choice of prayer. Melissa then offered a blessing to the Goddess and God, for the special meal and wonderful family that had come into their lives. She finished by echoing Tom’s prayer for peace to all. When finished, they all enjoyed the meal, with the kids demanding to know how the snow-cream was made and why they hadn’t had it before, where Sherry pointed out they didn’t normally have enough snow to enjoy it.



Late afternoon on the day after Christmas saw the roads finally cleared by snowplows and Gary drove Tom back to his car to meet with the tow truck that was coming to collect it and bringing a rental car for the Wilson family to return home. When the time finally came for them to go, hugs were exchanged by everyone along with phone numbers and addresses. These families had made a connection, love for each other, their children and their shared hopes for the future made their religious differences a learning experience and not a reason for distrust.