Who Was Jolly Holiday?

Ted C. Hindmarsh

Review

The Ashtons are a typical American family, with typical American family problems. Like most families there's often some bickering, a little quarreling, and selfishness—a lot of selfishness.
But the Ashtons aren't content with with their family situation and have decided that Christmas would be the ideal time to do something about it.

Acting upon a friend's advice, they forge their way to a tiny cabin in the snow-covered mountains of Utah. There, far removed from the commercial effects of a worldy celebration, they will spend their holiday in an attempt to find the true meaning of Christmas.

But an unexpected stranger shows up, and all of a sudden Christmas is different.

This heartwarming story is written for those who have grown weary of "phoney baloney" Christmases. It's for those who still believe that Christmas is for families and that joy can be found in the wonder and magic of giving the greatest gift of all—the gift of self.

Table of Contents

Preface, 5

The Children, 9

The Offer, 11

The Arrangement, 21

The Journey, 26

Welcome to the West, 31

Adventure in the Wasatch, 38

The Stranger, 52

Jolly Holiday, 57

The Incident, 64

Charlie Settles Up, 71

Epilogue, 76

Sample Page

"Get your slimy hands off of my radio, you little creep!”
"No! I don't have to, you . . . you pig face bully! You're not my boss!"
"Look, Burger Brains, it's mine! And if you don't give it to me right now, I'm gonna capture Molly the Dolly and pull her braids out a strand at a time! Now give it here!"
It was obvious that the six-year-old sister was no physical match for her fifteen-year-old brother, but it was also clear that her feisty spirit wasn't going down without a darn good fight.
"You'll be sorry, Raunchy Rob. Mom's gonna take me to see Santa Claus tonight, and I'm gonna tell him that you're the world's biggest, fattest jerk. You'll be lucky if you ever get any more presents from him for the rest of your life!"
"Look who's talking, pipsqueak;” the brother countered. "Santa will see right through you! He'll see you coming and run. He won't let you within ten miles of his knee!"
The older teenage sister who was curled up reading on the nearby sofa may have had an inkling to break up this verbal barrage between her junior siblings, but if she did, you would never have known it. What business was it of hers? She just buried her face deeper into her magazine and hoped, as always, that the irritation would soon fade away.
The tip of an angry, rigid tongue stuck forcefully out from between the pursed lips under the six-year-old girl's wrinkled nose. Although it was well aimed at the brother, its intention was intercepted by a hassled mother who suddenly burst onto the scene and took a firm, scowling position between her two sparring offspring.
As one of her animated hands shooed the verbal gladiators out opposite doors, the other wiped glistening beads of perspiration from her exasperated brow, and then reached in a sort of desperation for the wall telephone.
"Help me, John," she muttered to herself as her index finger jabbed a number into the phone's buttons. "I just can't handle it any more."
In the background the ceiling-mounted speakers of an expensive built-in stereo system oozed the strains of a mocked Christmas carol . . . "God rest ye merry, gentlemen. Let nothing you dismay. . ."

	Order Information

Title: Who Was Jolly Holiday? Author: Ted C. Hindmarsh Retail Price: $5.98 Available: Now ISBN: 0-88290-281-4 Order Number (SKU): 1966 Pages: 80 Size: 5.5" X 8.5" Binding: Paperback