The Christmas Journeys and the Choices They Reveal

The Master Butchers Singing Club

Christmas brings the characters’ competing hopes into view: Cyprian’s wish for a shared future, Delphine’s uncertainty, and Fidelis’s choice about family.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Christmas for Delphine A Christmas for Delphine from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". Cyprian Tries to Make a Home A holiday remade Cyprian buys a goose and decorates a tree, hoping to give Delphine the Christmas she never had as a child.

A Christmas for Delphine from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". Cyprian Tries to Make a Home A holiday remade Cyprian buys a goose and decorates a tree, hoping to give Delphine the Christmas she never had as a child.

Cyprian Tries to Make a Home A holiday remade Cyprian buys a goose and decorates a tree, hoping to give Delphine the Christmas she never had as a child. Effort misses its mark Delphine is tired and burdened by feelings she cannot explain. His loving preparations do not create the mutual future he hopes for.

A Ring Is Offered A Ring Is Offered from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". The Proposal Reappears Cyprian’s gift Cyprian gives Delphine a ring, hoping she will accept a permanent relationship.

A Ring Is Offered from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". The Proposal Reappears Cyprian’s gift Cyprian gives Delphine a ring, hoping she will accept a permanent relationship.

The Proposal Reappears Cyprian’s gift Cyprian gives Delphine a ring, hoping she will accept a permanent relationship. She is too exhausted and emotionally uncertain to respond as he wishes. Rejection follows She declines the implied future, and he leaves with the gift. The moment makes their different expectations impossible to ignore.

The Ring at Clarisse’s The Ring at Clarisse’s from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". A Misunderstanding The empty box Delphine visits Clarisse and recognizes the box Cyprian offered her. She assumes he has taken the ring to Clarisse.

The Ring at Clarisse’s from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". A Misunderstanding The empty box Delphine visits Clarisse and recognizes the box Cyprian offered her. She assumes he has taken the ring to Clarisse.

A Misunderstanding The empty box Delphine visits Clarisse and recognizes the box Cyprian offered her. She assumes he has taken the ring to Clarisse. A private interpretation The car outside leads her to imagine that the two are together. Her error gives her a way to interpret their separation, even before she knows what happened.

A Journey to Chicago A Journey to Chicago from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". The Twins’ Departure A family plan Fidelis, Delphine, and Tante drive the boys to Chicago so Tante can take the younger children to Germany.

A Journey to Chicago from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". The Twins’ Departure A family plan Fidelis, Delphine, and Tante drive the boys to Chicago so Tante can take the younger children to Germany.

The Twins’ Departure A family plan Fidelis, Delphine, and Tante drive the boys to Chicago so Tante can take the younger children to Germany. Delphine accompanies the trip despite her doubts. A last day together She takes the boys to the circus while papers are arranged. The ordinary outing makes the approaching separation more painful.

Markus Comes Home Markus Comes Home from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". A Fever Changes the Journey The plan breaks Markus becomes ill, and Delphine insists he cannot travel. Fidelis agrees to take him back to Argus.

Markus Comes Home from "The Master Butchers Singing Club". A Fever Changes the Journey The plan breaks Markus becomes ill, and Delphine insists he cannot travel. Fidelis agrees to take him back to Argus.

A Fever Changes the Journey The plan breaks Markus becomes ill, and Delphine insists he cannot travel. Fidelis agrees to take him back to Argus. A choice revealed The return gives Delphine and Fidelis a chance to speak privately about the boys and their future. A failed departure becomes the beginning of a different family arrangement.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, later that night

Christmas morning

The following winter

The morning the twins leave