Mid-Winter Miracle - 9024 B.C.

 

Christmas Eve, 9024 B.C., before Christmas Eve was Christmas Eve.

Gurga was a ten-year-old boy, living in a cave with twenty-seven other relatives.

It was a bitterly cold night and near mid-dark when Gurga was roused from his slumber by an unusual sound. He arose and walked toward the cave entrance. He gazed out at the rocky landscape, covered in a thick layer of snow, wondering what the sound was that had awaken him.

It had been a particularly difficult winter for the clan – there was only enough food to feed a few, and definitely not twenty-seven. Much like any growing boy, Gurga was always hungry, but he was a kind boy and always shared some of his portions with Murga, his favorite elder.

Murga regularly told Gurga marvelous stories. He truly enjoyed them all, especially the one about when Murga was a young boy. Gurga didn’t entirely believe the story was true, but he liked it the best of all the stories Murga had told.  

Gurga, shivering, as the winter wind swept over his bare feet, was thinking about Murga’s story. It was about a man, Slava Clusa, who traveled all over the world, riding on the back of a huge, red cave bear, and would secretly deliver meat and furs to every clan in need on the eve of mid-winter without ever being seen.

Murga, when he told the story, said that he had seen Slava Clusa once. Gurga always smiled, never letting-on that he doubted Murga.  

On that cold winter night, however, Gurga sincerely hoped the story was true, because it had been a difficult winter for the clan, and he knew some of the older clan members would not survive – including Murga.

Gurga, as he stood silent outside the cave, once again he heard the unusual sound that had awakened him.

Suddenly, from around the corner, a giant of a man mysteriously appeared, riding on the back of huge, red cave bear. He smiled and jumped down. 

The Dude is Real!

A massive swirl of snow sprang up when the man’s feet hit the ground. His cosmic, silver cloak glistened like the stars in the night sky. 

Stunned and surprised, Gurga stood motionless and silent.  

The huge man grabbed a large bundle of furs and an large leather sack full of meat and fruits off the bear’s back and set them down next to Gurga. He then raised his massive hand up to his face and put an index finger to his lips and winked. He leaped back onto the bear and then in one swift move, they dashed off as quickly as they had appeared.

After they were gone, Gurga, with eyes and mouth wide open, felt surprisingly warm from head to toe.

Murga quietly walked up behind Gurga and whispered, “I see Slava Clusa has come.”

Gurga turn and looked at his old friend and excitedly replied, “I saw him!”

“Indeed, you did,” answered Murga.

“I never believed you, but I do now! I’m sorry, I doubted you,” said Gurga looking at Murga.

“No need to apologize. I tell all sorts of stories, and most of them, I just make up. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you the story about the wheel and maybe about microwave ovens.”

“Huh?” said Gurga scratching his head.

“Um, never mind, a, let’s go tell the clan of their good fortune,” suggested Murga.

“They’ll never believe us.”

“We’ll just say it was a mid-winter, MIRACLE!”

“What’s a miracle?” asked Gurga

“It’s similar to, shit happens.”

“Ah, I understand, now.”

 

Merry Christmas!

-jk-

There are those who have seen and believe, there are those who have not seen and believe, and then there are those who never believe even after it slaps them in the face. 

Faith brings hope for the world.

previously posted Dec. 23 2024