THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512090098
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Thursday, Nov. 23 10:30 a.m. - Farm Fresh parking lot, Suffolk
Mimicking her father when asked whether Christmas has become too commercialized, the 6-year-old girl says the holiday is to celebrate the birth of Jesus and that people are not ``supposed to get presents.''
Perhaps the youngster should have pondered this question a little longer.
Seconds later, her father asks if Santa Claus needs to stop by her house this year.
``YES, YES!'' she laughs, nodding up and down.
- Allison T. Williams Sunday, Nov. 26 11:35 p.m. - Suffolk Presbyterian Church, Suffolk
Some habits never die.
Even in retirement, former policeman Sanny Chapman notices every detail.
Suddenly, he jumps up from the pew and slips out of the sanctuary. No one else in the congregation has noticed a stranger wandering around outside, trying one door, then another.
Chapman greets the out-of-luck laborer who had come from northern Virginia to deliver Christmas trees to a lot nearby. He's been left stranded with no money and no way to get home, he says.
Chapman offers to take him to a nearby truck stop, buy him lunch and help him get a ride.
``But first,'' he says, ``you've got to sit here and listen to the minister's sermon.''
- Susie Stoughton Wednesday, Nov. 29 1:45p.m. Suffolk Police Station
The cold, drizzling rain is making the day miserable for anyone who has to be outside.
``People think rain gives them persmission to drive crazy,'' says a woman, sitting in the lobby.
``I know,'' she says. ``I'm a school bus driver. When it rains, they speed up, cut right in front of you and do all sorts of crazy things.''
- Susie Stoughton Saturday, Dec. 2 Early morning - In the woods near Ivor
The men stumble upon a scene that could break a hunter's heart.
Two deer are lying in a ditch near the road, their horns locked together in a death grip. A 19-point buck has fought to the finish with a seven-pointer, even the smaller rack a trophy most hunters would love to have.
But once again, nature has foiled man's dreams. Another deer, perhaps, another day.
- Susie Stoughton Saturday, Dec. 2 Just after 10 a.m. -South Broad Street
The annual Christmas parade is underway with floats, bands, drill teams and other marching units, as well as Santa, but the Armstrong High School Band from Richmond seems to be a no-show.
Suddenly, a bus pulls up near the formation area and band members pile out, hurriedly lining up as the last parade units are getting ready to leave. The students had waited several hours beside the highway for their broken-down bus to be repaired. Once underway, there was no time to stop.
As the band members line up, one girl has a major dilemma. She has to go to the bathroom, and there are no facilities available in the residential section. Fortunately, a sympathetic woman who lives nearby recognizes the problem.
``Come on, honey,'' the woman says, hurriedly leading the girl to her house.
- Susie Stoughton Sunday, Dec. 3< 6:45 p.m. - First Baptist Church, North Main Street, Suffolk.
Two young children are intently watching the beautiful Christmas program being presented to a packed audience.
A woman representing Mary is walking down the aisle to the front of the sanctuary, cradling her infant son who represents the Christ Child.
The little boy whispers to the little girl beside him, ``Is that a REAL baby?''
When the girl replies, ``Yeah,'' the boy says with awe, ``Cool!''
- Jo Joynes ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
A truck traveling Godwin Boulevard obviously does not belong to a
Democrat.
by CNB