PART FOUR: On the Fourth Week of Christmas…

On Friday, December 23, 1983, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced the winner of its fourth annual Firefighters Home Decorating Contest.

Was it Roy DeSoto? While his decorations received high marks for the singing elves and strategic placing of Santa and his eight reindeer, a few points were lost for having no consistent theme. His entry won third place – and a $1,000 gift certificate at the Palisades Center .

Was it Hank Stanley? The giant Santa's workshop theme put a smile on McConnikee's normally poker-straight face, but the fake snow blew away during Wednesday's fierce windstorm. Was it Craig Brice? He earned high marks for creativity, but McConnikee found the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer theme rather tacky, if attention grabbing, during the day. Both men tied for second place – and each received a $5,000 gift certificate at the Palisades Center , plus free groceries for a year from Safeway.

Who won? It was John Gage, whose new house had a “Christmas in the 1950's” theme. Sally Gage helped him decorate their front yard, plus find vintage outdoor decorations and ornaments for authenticity. It was a futuristic look circa 1958, had an invisible speaker that played Jingle Bell Rock and Santa Baby, and it garnered rave reviews from passers-by. The Gages received the $10,000 holiday shopping spree, plus free groceries for two years and $500 atop Johnny's Christmas bonus check.

The Christmas bonuses arrived that afternoon. Johnny and Roy were elated that their checks were larger than expected, despite Johnny's working relations with that Walking Rulebook. The fire department gave weight to Johnny's long record of accomplishment and normally good job performance.

“Congratulations on winning that contest,” Roy told Johnny over the phone. “How did Brice react to getting second place?”

“Let me tell you, that man was peeved off,” reported his colleague. “He ranted and raved about how the judging process was rigged, that Chet Kelly and I helped decorate your house, and that you live in a better neighborhood. That man is a sore loser, and such a perfectionist that he'll end up at Shady Acres by Christmas 1984.”

“He's a nut,” said Roy . “Here's one for you: How'd you know that Craig Brice has been with your girlfriend?”

“Not another bad joke, Roy .”

“Okay, it's not a funny one, anyway,” resigned Roy . “Did you find out about that bone marrow thing yet?”

John said, “They're still checking out everyone. If they give that girl the wrong one, they would kill her. They'll let us know by tonight.”

Rampart General Hospital 's laboratory unit called each of Roy DeSoto's friends and colleagues regarding their bone marrows that night. Chet Kelly was not a match. Mike Stoker, Marco Lopez and Hank Stanley found themselves out of the running. Johnny Gage had a compatible bone marrow but the wrong blood type, but Sally Gage's bone marrow and blood type matched Monica Babinetz's. The hospital scheduled her to undergo the transplant procedure on Christmas Eve.

“So much for Christmas dinner,” Sally told Johnny, as she loaded the last of her Christmas shopping bags into his Land Rover outside the Palisades Center mall around closing time, 10 p.m. “I guess I'll be cooped up in that hospital for Christmas – what fun.”

Johnny gave his niece a confident but crooked smile. Walking to the driver's side of his car, he assured, “Removing a bone marrow is a simple procedure, really. It'll grow back in a matter of time. But they want to keep you in for observation in case you develop complications, which I don't think will happen.” Opening the car door, he stepped in and turned the ignition. The car radio played Uptown Girl rather loudly.

“Well, at least I'll have a Christmas.” Sally sat on the front passenger seat. “My late mom couldn't afford a tree, much less presents, but she pissed away her money on booze and jerks for guys. I hated mom for these things, and I hated mom for ruining her life. Of course, they found her dead behind a dumpster at the Red Rooster bar…”

John cried as he backed out of the parking spot, “The Red Rooster was a booze can. They even sold Jack Daniels to minors, and that got South Dakota liquor licensing inspectors into a tizzy fit. God knows how many other people ended up dead or piss-drunk behind its dumpster or in the men's room.”

“The coroner said that mom had six times the legal blood-alcohol limit,” reported Sally. “I think that's bull crap. Mom was only 5'2” and weighed 100 pounds. She couldn't have been able to handle as much booze as the coroner said she did. That's why I want to become a coroner, so that I would find out what really killed all these people. I'm probably the only person in school who likes dissecting frogs and fish during physics class. One girl in my class threw up the moment she saw a dead fish in front of her.”

“And, what is your backup goal in case you decide not to go to medical school?”

“I'd like to become a criminologist or a police officer. I know the latter can be dangerous work considering the crime rates L. A. has right now, but it sounds like something I'd love to do in case I don't become a county coroner. By the time I graduate from college, most police forces will require new recruits to have a college degree.”

The Gages drive to the DeSoto household, and quietly put the Christmas presents in the basement.

Rain descended upon Los Angeles County overnight.

The DeSoto household was mostly asleep. In the basement, Jennifer, Sally and the bums wrapped every previously unwrapped present bought for Christmas. Johnny and Chet fell asleep in the recreation room while watching Santa Claus Conquers the Martians , which was yet another schlocky movie that Chet liked. Christopher stayed overnight at Jeremy Kelly's house – he had another closing shift at Clown Burger that night, and Jeremy lived near the restaurant. Joanne worked overnight at the newspaper. The kids slept in Jennifer's bedroom, but not before they had a raucous pillow fight that Meredith broke up after Alicia fell off the bed and bumped her knee. Agnes and Archie went out for dinner and a movie. Roy worked yet another 24-hour shift, and it was an unusually quiet one.

The rain did not stop the Miller kids from sneaking out the window of their parents' mustard brick bungalow. The Millers lived two houses from the DeSotos, and were little monsters. They often set fires to garbage cans and dumpsters, trampled on other people's flowerbeds, and stole Halloween treats from little kids. Worse, they tied up 9-1-1 phone lines with bogus emergencies, directing Roy 's paramedic squad to a strip bar rather than a heart attack victim. The fire department fined the Miller parents $2,000 for letting their kids use the 9-1-1 service for these ill-advised pranks.

The Miller kids began their Grinch-like behavior in earnest, covering every home on Elm Street . They first planted cherry bombs into every mailbox, and then they snuck onto the yard of that seemingly kind-looking old woman, Mrs. Nagle, and mooned through her living room window. Mrs. Nagle, who watched Johnny Carson on her TV set, noticed the kids' rude and uncouth behavior, and ran out the front door: “You little brats! Get your fat bottoms back here, you hear?”

“Up yours, old bag,” shouted the shorter boy.

“My ass looks like your face, lady,” cried his older brother.

Stepping into the house, Mrs. Nagle complained to herself, “Kids today are rude little foulmouths who don't respect their elders. They need a good old fashioned spanking.”

The Miller boys continued their pranks, stomping on Christmas floodlights and beheading illuminated Santa Clauses and Frosty the Snowmen. There were more Christmas lights broken and wreaths thrown into an opened storm sewer. What was more, the elder Miller brother took out his Swiss Army knife and slashed the front tires of every car that wasn't parked in the garage – including those on Uncle Lloyd's Volkswagen bus.

“Check this out,” whispered the middle Miller brother. “DeSoto even puts up those gay elves that sing those gay Christmas songs.”

“Let's play ball!” Using stolen baseball bats, the boys battered the Christmas decoration until it was an unrecognizable mess of vinyl, metal and wires. The younger boy found a ladder, climbed onto the roof, and threw Santa and his reindeer off, destroying it on the ground. He carefully climbed down, gave his brothers high-fives, and snuck off to other homes with elaborate decorations. Those decorations were given the same unkind treatment, but the Millers didn't care – as long as they got what they wanted.

Roy DeSoto returned home from work around 7:30 a.m., planning to pick his family up for a Christmas Eve breakfast at Ihop. After he stepped out of his other car, a 1982 Ford F150 pickup truck, he noticed the destruction on his front porch. Santa and his eight reindeer lying on his front lawn, tangled, twisted and unusable. The two candles at his front door were knocked over, and the light bulbs broken and burned out. Most of his Christmas lights were gone – they were broken or stolen. The manger scene looked melted – the vandals doused it with barbecue lighter fluid and set it on fire. The saddest part of all, the singing elves looked like they had sung their swan song. They looked battered, as if someone hated them enough to do them in.

Roy joined the rest of his family, who walked around dazed in the front yard. Uncle Lloyd and his friends had tears streaming down their faces: “Even the Grinch would never do anything this crazy.” The kids clung to their mothers and fathers, crying. Jennifer and Sally shook their heads in dismay. Marco and Irena Lopez sat on the front porch, wondering who would do something this nasty, this contrary to the Christmas spirit. Popsicle sat on the front step, looking sad, as if he knew what was going on. Higgins walked into the front yard, joining Uncle Lloyd and his friends. Animals seemed to know the differences between good and evil, and Higgins suspected that Uncle Lloyd, Flower, Link, Ebony and Gimp were good people who happened to be eccentric, even weird. Joanne was nowhere to be found – until Roy spotted her across the street, interviewing Mrs. Nagle for yet another article.

Roy also looked around his neighborhood, wondering if others suffered the same fate. Mrs. Nagle's house suffered little – only her Christmas wreath was gone. The Williamses, who always outdid the DeSotos in holiday decorating, saw their decorations burned – Mrs. Williams was outside the house, apparently speaking with the insurance agent. All her house windows were broken, all the front tires of her cars slashed, and her cat found dead in the bush, its neck broken. The Hogans, who lived next to the Stokers at the corner of Elm and Mullholland streets, will come home from their Hawaiian vacation to a burned-out house. The vandals set it on fire, causing extensive damage, and Roy noted that Engine 51 was still at the scene, taking care of the smoldering remains.

Sally joined John Gage, who stood in front of his white Land Rover. All his tires were slashed and his headlights broken.

“Whoever did these things should be in juvenile hall,” he shouted. “Just wait ‘til I get my hands on those little fuckers.”

Roy raced to his friend's side. “Johnny, please,” he pleaded. “What happened around here was awful, but it could be worse. Those people could have easily burned our house down and have all of us killed.”

“I have to take Sally to the hospital this morning – her bone marrow matched that girl's,” Johnny cried. “How am I supposed to take her there on four flat tires?”

Roy directed his head towards his truck. He suggested, “I can take you and the girl to Rampart. There's enough space in the truck for all three of us.”

“Thank you, Roy .” Johnny's earlier anger turned into relief. Roy had been his friend for nearly 13 years, and rarely if ever let him down either at work or play. That time was no exception.

Rain descended upon the neighborhood again. The rest of the family slowly walked into the house again. Johnny and Roy stood in the driveway, beholding the destruction.

“So much for home decorating,” sighed Roy .

“At least, nobody here got hurt,” added John. “That's the true meaning of Christmas, not Christmas lights or home decorating contests.”

“You have a point, Junior.” The two men stepped inside, slightly wet from the rain.

Roy drove Johnny and Sally to Rampart General Hospital immediately after nine. At 10, Johnny and Roy joined Joanne at Ihop, where they and most others staying at their place enjoyed a Christmas Eve brunch consisting mostly of breakfast and dessert favorites. By noon, both Roy and Joanne settled into bed, napping for their big Christmas dinner that night, followed by Midnight Mass at Our Lady of Guatalupe Roman Catholic Church. Although Roy wasn't really religious for many years, he had recently attended Mass with his family whenever he could. He also realized that nearly all of his houseguests were also Catholic. The only exception was David McLean, who was raised Episcopalian but married to a lapsed Catholic. Meredith wanted to raise Brooke and Alicia as Catholics, and David thought it was a good idea.

As for the bums in his garage, Roy wasn't about to bring up religion. Besides, they would be at Rampart General Hospital that night, handing presents to kids who would not be home for Christmas, followed by Christmas story time for the younger patients, then singing Christmas carols in the common area of the hospital until midnight.

Chris telephoned his mother again around two. He had to work at Clown Burger until it closed early for Christmas, around eight – another teenaged worker called in sick from a bad cold, and Chris received a call from his boss at Jeremy's house, asking if he could take the worker's place. The kids joined Archie and Agnes in the living room to watch It's a Wonderful Life on TV, and then they turned off the TV to play the juvenile version of charades. Jennifer walked to the Stokers' house to invite Lisa and Susan over for Christmas dinner. Lisa was at work – she worked part-time at J. C. Penney, which closed at five. But after Hannah Stoker telephoned the department store, Lisa confirmed that she would make it for the DeSoto family feast.

“I heard that Sally's bone marrow matched Monie's,” said Susan, who typed her homework into her new Commodore 64 computer. “I was at the hospital, talking to her last night. She's really excited about the news.”

“That's great,” smiled Jennifer, lounging on Susan's bed, listening to Duran Duran on the stereo and reading Seventeen . Then, Jennifer changed the subject: “Did you see what those little rats did to everyone's houses last night?”

“The Hogans will find themselves homeless when they come home from Hawaii ,” said Susan. “Their house burned down – dad says that someone set the fire with gasoline.”

“That's insane,” cried her friend. “Did they want to burn down half the block? Your house is next door, and the flames would have spread to your place. You guys were so lucky. You could have been in the same situation as the Hogans.”

“Lieutenant Reed and Captain Malloy were here, talking to dad about what happened,” reported Susan. “They caught the three Grinches who stole our Christmas. No big surprise or loss here – they're the Miller kids.”

Jennifer put down her magazine. “The Miller kids' parents are getting a divorce and Mr. Miller just lost his job,” she said sympathetically. “When Mrs. Miller stupidly told her kids that they were not celebrating Christmas this year, she only added fuel to the fire.”

“Those kids are monsters,” argued Susan. “The older kid, Donny, has been suspended three times already for hitting the teacher and getting into fights in the schoolyard. The middle kid, Brian, steals Halloween treats from little kids and fondles little girls in the playground – that's disgusting! And the youngest one, Shaun, is becoming like his brothers. Each of those kids has an I. Q. in the near-genius range, but they've failed their grades at least once.”

“These kids need help,” said Jennifer, putting on her bulky sweater. “I still have $200 left from my summer jobs at the Y and Girl Scout camps. Instead of saying they'd never amount to anything, we should give them something that'll show them they could make something out of their lives, turn things around.”

Susan Stoker saved her homework on her data cassette, and then she turned off her computer. “You can't buy people like that,” she warned. “It always backfires.”

“But we could at least reassure these kids that they could have a Christmas,” said Jennifer. “Their parents get into fights all the time, and once my dad had to break it up – he ended up with a broken nose for that. What kind of life is that for a kid, seeing his parents not get along or use what money they have for the wrong things? Mr. Miller is a drunk, like Sally's mother was, and lost his job as a foreman at the plastics factory after he showed up as drunk as a skunk and punched his boss in the bread basket. He's even been caught driving drunk in a school zone. He could have killed someone.”

“I also help Lisa lead a Boys and Girls Club chapter,” said Susan. “I'd like to recruit the Millers into the club. It'll expose them to new hobbies, new friends, new life experiences. They won't have to pay a penny to join. I think that'll be the best Christmas present they'll ever receive – it even has a college scholarship program in place. They're smart kids, but they don't use their brains to their advantage.”

After Susan put on her jacket, she and Jennifer walked to the Palisades Center . Walking into a Barnes and Noble bookstore, they found the juvenile section, and then they found several books that they felt would appeal to older children and pre-teenagers. The girls also picked out the latest edition of the Merridian-Webster's dictionary, a Roget's thesaurus, and the Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms . Both Susan and Jennifer felt that the Miller boys would need reference material to survive at school. Later, they walked into a Toys R'Us store, where they picked out Trivial Pursuit's junior edition and Monopoly – two popular games that would teach them how to compete with others in a non-combative fashion.

At Toys R'Us, Jennifer and Susan met Jim Reed, accompanied by his other sons Brad and Michael. “Jamie is shopping with his mother,” the off-duty cop told the girls. “He came home from Fort Jefferson last night, and tells me how tough they are to kids there, but I think he's learned a lot there. He says hi to you girls, too.”

“Have you heard anything about the Miller kids,” asked Jennifer.

“Normally, I'd keep such information strictly confidential,” replied Reed. “But since I know you girls, and I know your dads, I'll give you the scoop: all three of the boys are at home now, but they'll be in court in January. If they're convicted, they'll be put in a foster home and given regular psychiatric assessments. Their home situation isn't particularly stable right now, with their father being unemployed and an alcoholic, and their mother working long hours for little money. Let me tell you, the woman was in complete denial of the whole situation.”

“They usually are,” agreed Jennifer. “Well, Mr. Reed, Merry Christmas to you and yours.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too, kids.” Jim Reed joined Michael in the video games section. The boy cried: “Dad, I want this game for Christmas.”

The DeSoto family, friends and guests assembled in the dining room that night. Since there were 30-odd people in the house, some of the guests spilled out into the living room, the kitchen, and even the recreation room. Higgins sat underneath the dining room table, sneaking a piece of turkey from Chet Kelly's hand. Popsicle ate his Meow Mix in the kitchen.

Conspicuous in his absence was John Gage, who installed new tires on his Land Rover and Uncle Lloyd's bus. Also absent were Uncle Lloyd and his friends – they reported to their special assignment at four o'clock.

“Sally's undergone her operation and has emerged from it with flying colors,” announced Roy DeSoto, who wore his Santa's hat at the table. Then, he turned to his child guests: “Kids, I heard on the news that NASA spotted Santa's sleigh flying over Australia and New Zealand , and it's headed towards Japan as I speak. It's raining toys and goodies over there.”

The kids cheered. Just then, Johnny walked inside, soaking wet. It still rained outside the house: “Where I came from, it would snow at this time of the year.”

“You won't like the cold temperatures that come with it,” warned Marco Lopez, who accepted a scoop of mashed potatoes from Joanne. “I live in an area where it snows at this time of the year and, I'd tell you, it almost makes me long for California .”

As Johnny settled into his seat in the dining room, he lifted his dinner plate. He received a scoop of mashed potatoes, corn kernels, gravy and turkey.

Just then, Julie Kelly bent down her seat, her eyes squinting with pain. Joanne, who sat beside her, noticed that Julie's water broke. Her baby would arrive at any time.

“Jennifer, call the doctor,” cried Joanne to her daughter, who sat in the kitchen nook with Susan, Lisa, Christopher, Jeremy and Scott – the boys decided to come to the DeSoto family Christmas after all. “Mrs. Kelly's in labor!”

Chet and Marco helped Julie to the living room chair. Johnny opened the front door: “Get Julie into the car,” he cried. Chet and Marco carried Julie carefully out of the house and into Uncle Lloyd's Volkswagen bus.

“You're not putting us into that pile of junk,” protested Roy .

“Well, we can't put Julie into your truck and my car's low on gas.”

Julie moaned in pain: “Why does having a kid feel like this.” Then, she turned to Chet, who kneeled beside her. “Chet, why did you have to put me through nine months of morning sickness, eating for two people, and now this? Wasn't having Matthew enough for us?”

The bus backed out of the driveway, with Johnny driving a neck-breaking 70 miles an hour in a residential area. Roy DeSoto cried, “No wonder why I didn't let you drive my squad back in the day – you drive like a friggin' maniac!”

What Johnny didn't realize was that the ancient Volkswagen bus had major mechanical problems. The brakes squealed and almost didn't stop at the stop sign, and the muffler made a nasty, nail biting sound as the car drove along Mullholland Street, towards Rampart General Hospital. Worse, Mullholland had a railroad-crossing barrier, which lowered to let a train pass. The bus squealed, and threatened not to stop as the signals flickered red and the bells rang loudly and quickly.

“Jesus Christ,” cried Chet. “We shouldn't have taken this junk. You could get all of us killed, okay?” Julie Kelly moaned louder, with more pain than before. The baby was soon to come, and Julie wished that the bus' old eight-track player didn't have to play Jody from Credence Clearwater Revival, Woodstock from Crosby , Stills and Nash, and L. A. Woman from The Doors so loudly. Not that Julie didn't like the feisty, energetic psychedelic sounds from the late 1960s and early 1970s, but she wished that her labor pains would go away. And loud music didn't help matters.

After the train passed Mullholland Street , the crossing barrier lifted to let traffic through. Mullholland Street seemed deserted for a Saturday night – Roy figured that people were home celebrating the holidays, and the few cars that drove on the road were on their way to their relatives' homes for the festivities. That's where they should be, not on the way to the hospital.

The bus arrived at Rampart General Hospital 's emergency entrance – and almost crashed into the door. Dr. Kelly Brackett stood at the doorway, and two male nurses helped Julie onto the stretcher, propping her legs up and spread out onto the stirrups. Just then, Joanne arrived: “Where are they taking Julie?”

“She's going to the maternity ward,” said Dr. Brackett. “We can't let you in the delivery room unless you're a close relative.”

“I was with her when her water broke,” said Joanne. “Chet and Julie's son are at home with my mother and kids. I'm wondering whether she came here okay.”

“Well,” replied Dr. Brackett, “Everyone came here in one piece, but that Volkswagen bus over there has seen better days. It nearly drove into the door over there.”

“Well, it's not Roy 's bus,” smiled Joanne, “it's my brother-in-law's, this year's Santa Claus.”

Dr. Brackett's eyes lit up: “Lloyd's turning out to be a terrific Santa Claus. When he left on Wednesday night, the kids in the children's ward wanted him back. We're thinking about hiring him for pay as a kids' activities coordinator – he's got that special touch around the little ones.”

“Well, Lloyd hasn't worked for a long time.” Joanne sounded doubtful. “But I think he's finally found his calling in life. The kids staying with Roy and me for the holidays love my mother, but they adore Uncle Lloyd. My niece even asked me whether Lloyd really was Santa Claus before she went to bed last night – he kind of looks like him, really.”

“Let's see your brother-in-law in action, okay.”

Dr. Brackett and Joanne took the elevator to the children's ward, where Uncle Lloyd recited The Night before Christmas to a group of smiling children. They already had Christmas gifts on their laps or night tables – some opened, others still wrapped in Christmas paper designed for children. Some kids sat on the floor in front of Santa, while those who weren't well enough to do so stayed in their beds.

Santa sat on a large sofa chair, with a four-year-old girl on his knee. She held a doll in her arms and a respirator underneath her nose. She didn't look well enough to go home for Christmas, but wanted to be with Santa. Maybe his spirit would help her feel better.

Dr. Brackett and Joanne stood next to Nurse Dixie McCall. Dixie said quietly, “They really adore him. Look at the smiles in their faces.”

After Uncle Lloyd, also known as Santa Claus, ended his story, Dixie stepped into the young children's section. Santa gently said, “It's getting very late, and Santa Claus and his eight reindeer, and Rudolph, too, must take their sleigh and fly all around the world, giving more toys and gifts to boys and girls like you. Santa also wants your little eyes to get some sleep – dream that your mommies and daddies are thinking of you, like I am. Merry Christmas, boys and girls!”

“MERRY CHRISTMAS,” cheered all the children, even the sickly ones.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” smiled Dixie , before she turned off the lights. It was getting close to midnight – way past the kids' bedtimes, but for once, it didn't really matter.

Joanne and the key Rampart General Hospital staff stepped into the teen patients' section. There, Monica Babinetz sat in her bed, reading another Sweet Valley High novel. “Hi, Mrs. DeSoto,” she smiled.

“Hi, Monica,” greeted Joanne. “Did you go through the transplant okay?”

“At least, I'm here,” said Monica. “Dr. Early said that I have a good chance of living a long time with my new bone marrow and, if I'm lucky, I might live a normal life, but I don't want to get too optimistic, okay? I just want to be home by the New Year.”

A nurse who spoke through the hospital's P. A. system announced, “Attention, all visitors. Visiting hours are now over. Good night and Merry Christmas.”

“Just this once, the announcement doesn't matter,” said Dixie . “Did your family visit you earlier on?”

“Well,” replied Monica, “My parents came over earlier to see me, but my brother wasn't allowed in because he's under age 12, and they didn't give him special permission to see me. Maybe that's just as well. He could be such a pain.”

“All brothers are,” related Dixie . “Okay, better get some sleep, young lady – and, Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.” Monica slipped onto her pillow, turned off her table lamp, and closed her eyes.

Back on the main floor, Johnny and Roy approached Joanne, Dr. Brackett and Nurse Dixie. Marco was there as well, with Christopher, Jennifer and their friends. Even Agnes and Archie came along.

Roy DeSoto gave Joanne some news: “Chet and Julie just gave birth to a baby girl. They named her Meredith, using the short form Merry. She was born at exactly 12 midnight, December 25, 1983.”

“Matthew won't be too happy with the news,” speculated Johnny. “He said he wanted a brother.”

“So, do most boys,” laughed Roy . “When our mother was pregnant with Penny, Lloyd and I said that we either have a baby brother or we'd run away and join the circus. Well, mom had Penny, but dad stopped Lloyd and I from packing our Red Ryder wagon and walking away to the circus. When Joanne was expecting Jennifer, Chris was way too young to say what he wanted one way or another.”

“Same here,” remembered Johnny. “I turned out to be the baby of my family. Betty – Sally's mother – came first, then Linda. They both wanted another girl.”

From the other end of the hall, the group noticed Santa and his elves. They sang Christmas carols from a songbook: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in the Manger and Greensleeves. Roy 's party followed Santa and the elves to a giant Christmas tree planted in front of Rampart General Hospital , singing Silent Night with them. Gimp, who was dressed in a green elf costume, gently gave Roy, Joanne and their entourage lighted candles to carry to the Christmas tree. The singing group assembled there, as well as the singing Dr. Brackett, Nurse Dixie, Dr. Early and Dr. Morton.

Archie Birney stopped singing to drop to his one skinny knee, in front of Agnes Lucchese. Opening a small velvet case to reveal a diamond ring, he then clasped both of Agnes' hands: “Agnes Maria Lucchese, will you marry me?”

“I certainly will.” The elderly couple embraced.

The singers surrounded the Christmas tree in a human ring. Holding lighted candles in front of their bodies, they looked up to the illuminated star that shone in the dark Los Angeles County sky.

Jennifer told Susan, “The Miller kids weren't so bad. They were grateful for the gifts we gave them. They want to join the Boys and Girls Club, too.”

Both girls wished the artificial Christmas star for the Miller kids' turnaround in attitudes and behavior – and for Monica Babinetz' long term survival despite leukemia. From a window of Rampart General Hospital , Sally Gage looked down to the tree, with the feeling that she had done a good deed for someone she didn't know. From another window, Monica Babinetz stood. She, indeed, had received her most-precious Christmas wish of all.

Uncle Lloyd, dressed as Santa Claus, mutely decided to accept Rampart's offer to make him its year-round children's activity coordinator, rather than drive his aging, crumbling van to Big Sur. Roy 's most precious Christmas wish was for Lloyd to leave his life of cheerful homelessness, but never to leave his friends.

Gimp, a man of few words, stopped singing. He told Roy , “You are very lucky to have a brother like Lloyd.”

“And I was lucky to have you guys over for Christmas.” Then, he told Uncle Lloyd, “Welcome back to the family.”

The group sang Silent Night one more time:

Silent night, holy night.

All is calm, all is bright.

‘Round the virgin mother and child.

Holy infant, so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.