For the past three years, I have shared this now-classic Christmas story in the Daily Umbrella. I also published it for many years in CITYVIEW magazine and just recently in the Guthrie County Times Vedette, too. I am doing so again today. You can call it tradition, as that is what the story is all about.
In years past, I shared the Christmas classic on Christmas Day, but this is truly a Christmas Eve story. As such, I am bringing it to you on the appropriate day from this point forward.
The piece was originally written in 1977 by Bob Hullihan, a writer for The Des Moines Register. Michael Gartner, who was the editor then, asked Hullihan to write a Christmas story for the newspaper. Hullihan obliged, and it ran in the Register. Years later, when Gartner co-owned The Tribune in Ames, he ran it there as well.
Seventeen years ago, Gartner reached out to me and told me how much he valued traditions. He then asked that I consider running Hullihan’s story in CITYVIEW. I wholeheartedly agreed to it, but I wanted to add a strong visual element, too, so I asked cartoonist Brian Duffy to draw the images for me. He did, and the combination was truly wonderful.
The next year, Gartner reached out and asked if I was planning to run the story again.
“Again? The same story we ran last year?” I replied.
“Yes, it is a great tradition that I think you should continue,” Gartner told me. “But it’s your call,” he said.
I reluctantly ran the story again, ironically missing the underlying message about traditions and the changing of the guard that are prevalent in the story. So I read Hullihan’s Christmas classic again. And again. And again.
Seventeen years have passed, and I have been running that story with various versions of artwork from Duffy every year in CITYVIEW and re-reading it each year, too. I plan to continue to do so for years to come. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and can make its reading a tradition for you and your family as well.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
See Shane Goodman's past columns here. |
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Twas the night before...
Our Christmas classic for the holidays |
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Story by Robert Hullihan
Illustrations by Brian Duffy
The waterbug had grown old and weary. And he was alone. He was the only one of his kind left in the house. He knew he would never survive the next spring cleaning. He could not scurry away from the poison sprays anymore. Still, the waterbug had been so clever in his youth, and he had lived so long, that now he was the senior creature in the house. He knew that he had a last duty to perform.
So, as Christmas Eve approached, he called a meeting of all the creatures in the house. They met at a dark joint in the woodwork. It was a place that had happy memories of youth for the old waterbug. Once he had gathered with old friends here. Now all the old friends were gone. The waterbug did not recognize any of the young creatures who began to assemble around him. |
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There was a pair of silverfish, shameless and brazen because they had grown up in one of the popular novels on the bookshelf.
An insolent young spider came. Her web was deep in a stereo set. She greeted the old waterbug with: “Hey, old daddy... what’s happenin’?”
Three ladybugs arrived, carefully made up and proud of their beauty. A cricket who lived in the television set came in and began acting like a game show host.
The old waterbug looked at the creatures sadly. He knew he was dealing with a new generation. But he cleared his throat and began: |
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“Now I know you are all new creatures in the house. This will be your first Christmas Eve here. It is my duty to tell you that there must be no stirring on that night. We are under a severe and clear directive. Not a creature in this house may stir on Christmas Eve, especially not the mice. It is a Tradition.” |
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When he said that, the old waterbug stared directly at a wild young mouse who had come late to the meeting. The mouse had been born in the fields of summer and had only come into the house when the nights grew cold. The old waterbug drew himself up in all of his brittle majesty. He sensed that be would have trouble with the mouse. The mouse was wild and resentful and, yes, he was a troublemaker.
“Wait a minute,” said the mouse. “Whose tradition? That’s a human tradition you’re talking about. It has nothing to do with us creatures! We can stir around all we want to, Christmas Eve or not!”
“Right on, man,” said the spider.
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“Stay tuned, stay tuned,” shouted the cricket. The silverfish giggled indecently and the ladybugs batted their long eyelashes.
“And why should we cooperate with the humans, anyway?” the mouse shouted, wild now with rebellion. “They’re trying to kill all of us. Why, right now, there’s a trap set for me in the basement. And you, you poor doddering old waterbug, you can scarcely get your breath from all the poison they’ve sprayed at you! Stir? I’ll show you stirring! I’m going to race around this house all Christmas Eve, and I just hope the other creatures will join me.”
It was a full-scale revolt. The old waterbug could only draw a painful breath and thunder at the creatures: “Stop! This is quite enough. Creatures have always obeyed the Tradition on Christmas Eve. It’s been handed down from generation to generation. I don’t know why, and I don’t know what it means, but there will be no stirring of creatures in this house on Christmas Eve! Is that understood? I am senior creature here, and you will answer to me!”
The old waterbug dismissed the meeting, but he made one more attempt to establish his authority as the creatures left. “And you silverfish,” he shouted. “If we ever have another meeting like this, I want you to come fully dressed. I will not tolerate nudity!” But the silverfish just giggled in their naughty way and wiggled off to get back into their popular novel. The old waterbug watched them go; he had never been more discouraged in his life.
He began to think about the wild, young mouse and the fiery way he had spoken out. The old waterbug did not understand the mouse at all, but he rather admired him. He did not want the mouse to come to harm. The old waterbug thought about the trap set in the basement. He thought about the day when the mouse, being young, would foolishly attempt to take the bait. Perhaps, in an act of bravado, he would try to do it that very Christmas Eve. The old waterbug sighed and thought about what he must do. |
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He crawled painfully through the rooms of the house until he came to the Christmas decorations. For hours he gnawed away at a sprig of holly until he had removed a small piece of it. He carried it into the basement and found the trap set for the mouse. Risking his life, the old waterbug carefully pushed the cheese bait off the trap and replaced it with the bit of holly. He didn’t get back to his dark place under the drain until dawn. He was exhausted.
The very next night was Christmas Eve. The little wild mouse came bounding out of his hole determined to stir around the house all night. He saw the trap with its bit of holly and stopped short. He knew at once that this was the work of the old waterbug. |
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“Why, the old fool,” thought the mouse, “he knows I don’t eat that stuff.” And then the mouse realized that was the point. The old waterbug had brought a gift of warning and good will. They might never understand one another, but they could wish one another well.
The little mouse thought about that idea as he went on through the house to the Christmas tree, where he was to meet the other creatures. He had promised to lead them “in a night of stirring around in this house that they won’t soon forget.” The silverfish, the ladybugs, the spider and the cricket were waiting for him. But they were strangely silent. None of them had ever seen a Christmas tree lighted before. It awed them. |
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The mouse looked at the tree and knew he had never seen anything so beautiful, not even in the fields of summer. He didn’t understand what it was. He thought, “This must be the Tradition the old waterbug is so hyper about.”
Dimly, the mouse knew that something was on display here that surpassed all the creatures and all humanity. The mouse made a decision and quickly told the other creatures what to do. He knew the old waterbug would be coming out soon to see what was going on.
And, sure enough, the old waterbug came crawling slowly out, but he stopped in confusion when he saw what the creatures were doing. The little mouse stood motionless among the tiny plastic animals around a manger. |
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The spider had spun a brilliant web on the tree, and it shimmered in the lights. The silverfish and the ladybugs hung like glittering ornaments from one limb of the tree, and the cricket quietly sang a simple, peaceful song.
The old waterbug looked carefully at what the creatures were doing. He wanted to remember this sight for all the rest of his life. Then he turned and crawled back to his place under the drain. He slept deeply and, for the first time in many nights, he did not have a nightmare about the dreaded Orkin man who would surely come for him in the spring. He knew that the Tradition had been passed on.
The little mouse watched from the corner of his eye as the old waterbug left. Then he stepped out from among the tiny plastic animals and called to the rest of the creatures. “All right, fellas. Let’s knock it off for the rest of the night, OK?”
All the creatures went quietly back to their places. Something had happened to them when they made their display for the old waterbug. They did not understand it, but they felt good about it.
Not one of the creatures stirred for the rest of the night. |
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FROM KCCI: Des Moines boy released from hospital after being shot in the arm. DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting that sent one person to the hospital Sunday evening. According to the DMPD, the shooting incident happened in the 6000 block of Creston Avenue around 6:38 p.m. A boy was transported to the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Des Moines International Airport expects to see 79,000 travelers over the holidays. DESMOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines International Airport estimates that between December 20th and January 6th, 79,000 people will travel using the airport....READ MORE
FROM WOI: 2 dead, 2 airlifted after crash in Boone County. BOONE COUNTY, Iowa — Two people are dead and two others were airlifted to local hospitals after a Boone County crash that occurred shortly before noon on Monday, the Iowa State Patrol said in a report. All involved were Perry residents, with the crash occurring north of the town at the intersection of 310th Street and G Avenue. ....READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A few flurries are possible today, then rain chances Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. Temps stay mild through the weekend.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | FEATURE STORY
Favorite Holiday Songs
By Cyote Williams
Christmas music floods the airwaves through our radios, Spotify and Apple Music playlists, or however you choose to listen to the holiday tunes year after year. While some think it criminal to start jingling bells before Thanksgiving, others begin rocking around the Christmas tree in their Halloween costumes. And all some want for Christmas is a silent night with holiday tunes regulated to the shadows for another year. We respect each of these opinions, but one way or another, Santa Claus is coming to town — and so is his music.
We, at CITYVIEW, sat down and discussed our favorite Christmas classics. From old to new, from good to bad. We noticed the classics rose to the top with not many newer songs making the list of favorites. Sure, a few crept in, like Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Michael Bublé’s cover of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” which, having been released in 1994, 2011 and 2013, will soon be classics, too. Meanwhile, nearly every pop star, rapper, rock band and everything in between has released Christmas albums over the years. | | | READ MORE |
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Tuesday Touts
• Christmas dinner at Amruth Indian Grill. The superb Chennai-style cafe on Swanson Boulevard will be open Christmas Day and will have a full buffet for $20.
• Two new breeds of cocktail-size tomatoes are being marketed this year, and they are super sweet. We bought a week's supply of both Flavor Bombs and Sugar Bombs at Fresh Thyme, and they were gone in 24 hours.
Reckoning the year in food and hospitality
The life imitates high school move of the year. DC hospitality workers, make that "hospitality," vowed to refuse service and cause other inconveniences for members of the incoming Trump administration. Industry veterans, bartenders and servers in the nation’s capital told The Washingtonian and New York Post that resistance to Republicans in the progressive city was "a matter of conscience." Bartenders and servers in the report promised to shun certain officials or employ other small acts of resistance against these figures to take their “power back.” One bar manager said it was inevitable that someone would throw a drink in RFK Jr.'s face. Our take — never threaten to sit down at the cool guys' or the mean girls' table. (NYP)
Deals today
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers an $80 buffet tonight with lobster bisque, endless crab legs, and roasted prime rib. Reservations are required (515) 225-8020
• Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has a buffet featuring fried shrimp, manicotti, chicken piccata, chicken meatballs, garlic knots, pasta alfredo, lamb and chicken, pizza, and all-you-can-eat dessert for $22.99 tonight till 8 p.m.
• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale). They also have Christmas dinners for four for takeout at $89.99.
• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines), all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) and Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines).
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Motorcycle Shop
1. Mean Machine Cycle Parts
2. Big Barn Harley-Davidson
3. Struthers Brothers
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | |
$570,000 4052 N.W. 175th St. Clive, IA 50325
With 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, this layout provides plenty of privacy and convenience for family members and guests. The main floor bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, which adds a level of luxury and comfort, especially for family members or visitors staying on the main level. The dedicated half-bath for guests is a thoughtful touch, keeping the en-suite bathrooms private.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 3600 KENNEDY DRIVE, DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-08-30
SALE PRICE: $7,450,000
SELLER: DES MOINES LEASED HOUSING ASSOCIATES X LP
BUYER: PARK WINDS APARTMENTS LLC
ACRES: 5.502
SQUARE FEET: 87,302 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Norwalk Living magazine | | | Holiday recipes
Residents share the recipes that make the season bright.
By Rachel Harrington
Favorite dishes are often at the heart of holiday gatherings. Their aromas wafting through the house signal time to join family and friends in celebration, reminiscing and gratitude. Their tastes spark memories and conversation. For many, certain recipes are a holiday must. They are inextricably woven into the fabric of the season, and the festivities wouldn’t feel complete without them.
Cinnamon roll memories
“When I was young, I had a girlfriend whose mother made the best cinnamon rolls I’d ever tasted,” Katie Routh says. “We always loved when Phyllis would have a slumber party, because we knew that Mrs. Gates would be making her famous cinnamon rolls for our breakfast. When I became a mom, I made these rolls for my family as a special treat for Christmas morning." | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: MLB, umpires agree on new 5-year collective bargaining agreement ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Reseeding the College Football Playoff After the First Round ... READ MORE
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1923: President Coolidge lights first national Christmas tree. On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge touches a button and lights up the first national Christmas tree to grace the White House grounds. ...READ MORE
1851: Fire ravages Library of Congress. A devastating fire at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroys about two-thirds of its 55,000 volumes, including most of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, sold to the institution in 1815. .... READ MORE
1801: Richard Trevithick introduces his “Puffing Devil." British inventor Richard Trevithick takes seven of his friends for a test ride on his “Puffing Devil,” or “Puffer,” the first steam-powered passenger vehicle, on December 24, 1801. Unlike the steam engine pioneered by the Scotsman James Watt, Trevithick’s used “strong steam”—that is, steam at a very high pressure (145 pounds per square inch, or psi). Trevithick’s engines were extremely versatile: They could be put to work in mines, on farms, in factories, on ships and in locomotives of all kinds. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: Louis Tomlinson, Ricky Martin, Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Declan McKenna, Davante Adams, Burak Ozcivit, Carol Vorderman, Alexis Mac Allister, Diedrich Bader,
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What happens if you throw your 70s records on the fire? A DISCO INFERNO! - Rex Post, Gail Tomlinson, Carolyn Rogers. Or, a discflagration. - William Snyder
Today's riddle: What do gingerbread men use when they break their legs?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Johnston Living magazine or weekly, contact:
Andrea Hodapp
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 322
Mobile: 515-883-0523
andrea@iowalivingmagazines.com
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