“There are some Christmases that slink by, their significance lost amid the flurry of parties, holiday card mailings, and the endless lists of stocking stuffers. They end well, perhaps, with a sigh of relief and a warm curl of happiness that signifies, once again, a successful season had by all.
“There are other years, however, that stand out in stark relief. Moments when the trudge of time, however briefly, hiccups. Years when we remember exactly why we gather with family to celebrate a day of peace, of grace.
“For me, such a stumble in time came in my forty-eighth year. Theyear I turned into a fish.”
So begins The Great Christmas Bowl,
a Christmas novella by Cook County author Susan May Warren, published this year by Tyndale House Publishers of Carol Stream, Illinois.
If there was ever a book that could make it worthwhile to steal a couple of hours during the pre-Christmas rush to read by a fire with a cup of steaming cocoa in one’s hand, this is it.
Warren’s protagonist, Marianne Wallace, is struggling with her role in life as the last of her five children finishes high school. In the fall, she realizes her children, like leaves, “had started to turn. But I wasn’t ready to shed them yet,” she says.
When the man who has for many years played the role of the high school mascot, an ugly 10-foot trout, falls ill, Marianne agrees— under duress— to take his place at her son’s football games.
“It happened by accident, as all monumental occurrences do,” she says. Marianne also agrees mostly by accident – to host her church’s annual Christmas tea, an “outreach” that bolsters worn-out tradition more than it reaches the community.
Marianne finds a new part of herself when she walks onto the football field as a fish. “A strange power began to fill me as I walked through the crowd. People parted for me. A few gave me a thumbs-up.
“…We won the game by two touchdowns. I clanged my cymbals, shook my pom-poms, rang my cowbell, and even made up a fishy dance of my own design. Most of all, I lost my voice and decided that yes, this was the perfect day to be a fish.”
When children see her catching snowflakes on her tongue, they laugh and imitate The Big Trout. Marianne realizes she has become “A Trout of Influence.”
She doesn’t feel influential with the Christmas Tea committee. If she tries to shake things up and bring in fresh ideas, the traditionalists will hate her. If she goes with the same-old same-old, the younger crowd will spurn her. Thejoy of serving is completely absent.
Things don’t turn out as Marianne had hoped. The team gets to the state championship, but her son substitutes for the injured kicker instead of shining as the tailback. She accidentally misleads the press into reporting
that the Christmas Tea is a charity soup supper. Her adult kids call to say they can’t make it home for Christmas.
“I realized that I needed to surrender. No more perfect Christmases. …Over. I’d had my mom season.”
Through all the disappointments, Marianne learns from her son the reward of sacrifice, and she discovers that imperfection can bring beautiful
surprises. Once she surrenders her expectations, she discovers new joys.
The ending is a surprise, and it will bring tears. But it’s happy. It’s a great Christmas read.
The Great Christmas Bowl
can be purchased in Grand Marais at SuperAmerica, where Warren will do a booksigning Saturday, December 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It can also be purchased at major bookstores and on-line.
Leave a Reply