Christmas is A-Coming, Evelyn J. Steward [book reader for pc .TXT] 📗

Christmas is A-Coming!

“Soon be Christmas Mum.”
“Too soon for me.”
“You’re not being miserable again, are you.”
“No… not really. You love Christmas don’t you?”
“Always have mum.”
“Well these days….”
“Don’t be an old Grinch. I want Santa to bring me presents.”
“You don’t still believe in Father Christmas, do you?” I looked her steadily in the eye.
“Of course not mum, you know that. I just like the spirit and the happiness it brings, don’t you?”
“Well, in days gone by…..”
“Argh,” she groaned.
“Well, times are getting harder. Everything costs more these days. The Banks have a lot to answer for,” I said.
“You are turning into the Grinch.” Selsea sighed. “Will Gran be coming over this year?”
“I asked her, of course.”
“And?”
“She was noncommittal.”
“But she will be coming though. She always says no at first lately.”
“She’s getting on, you know.”
“I suppose. Only just a few years ago she was fine. Loads of energy. Remember when we took her skiing? She was all up for that, even when she fell on her bum. She laughed. Jaque, the instructor said she would be fine (ooh, he was something), and she was. Even she had an eye for him.” Selsea had that wistful look about her. “Skiiing!” She sighed.
“Yes love, I know. No more skiing for along while. I miss it too.!”
“Will you go collect Gran on Christmas morning like you usually do?” she asked.
“If I con persuade her, yes of course.”
“We are having a turkey Christmas Eve, aren’t we? I love turkey.” Another wistful sigh.
“They are really expensive this year.” I worried how I was going to manage, the stores were putting up prices all over the place. “I suppose I could look for a small one.”
“Yay!” She smiled that huge joyous smile of hers and my misgivings disappeared.
“We’ll see,” I said, we did really need some sort of joint if mum was coming again. Yes! If I could I get her to leave the Home and come all that way again this year. Last year she had complained all the way home that she was tired from the travelling (only and hour or so), and that her bones were getting too old for this sort of lark. I did wonder though how I would fit it all in to our meagre cash flow. Things were better last year. Not by much, but still….
“Hope you haven’t spent too much money on me mum.”
She was a good girl now. Sixteen can be a funny age but she was old beyond her years. “Is Mark popping in this year. He likes a beer and I will have to get some in.”
“He might, but don’t worry about him if things are tight If I nudge him a bit, he will probably bring his own.”
“Don’t you dare say we can’t afford to buy him a drink at Christmas.” I was shocked. These modern kids!
“I was only joking mum. Course I won’t say anything. Now, what have we got for Gran?” I was puzzling that out too.
“When I ask, she says nothing. I mean, she says don’t buy her anything. It is hard. There isn’t much space in her rooms for anything else. She has toiletries a-plenty. Those we’ve bought her other years. My mind has a blank spot as far as that’s concerned.” I scraped back my chair and went to fill the kettle. There was a dusting of snow outside. I shivered. Have to turn the heating up. More cost!
“You want a cup of tea?” Selsea looked at me.
“Yes please.” She looked edgy. “Can I ask, well can I tell you something.”
My hand stopped halfway to the tap. My mind froze. So many things can come from a teenager saying something like that.
“What is it you have to tell me?” I had become rigid. Please God it isn’t a baby. I couldn’t cope with that. O.K., so I was being selfish.
“Go on,” I said when she hesitated.
“I want to go to Mark’s for Christmas.” I breathed an audible sigh of relief. “His parent’s house I mean. His sisters will be there and a few of his friends. Aunties, mum and dad. It will be a real Christmas, like we used to have a long time ago. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to spoil things for you and Gran.”
“Perhaps Gran won’t come after all. I shall have to spend Cbhristmas alone.” I was kind of dreading being on my own.
“You should get out more. Dad has been gone a long time. You need another man. There was that nice guy, Eric wasn’t it? Really mum, you need someone to grow old with.”
She stopped suddenly, realising what she had said. “I am so sorry mum. I didn’t mean….”
“Don’t worry, I know you didn’t. I blinked back a tear. It had been a long while and she was right. I should get out more. I wasn’t getting any younger.
“If Gran doesn’t come, Mark’s parents have asked you to come over as well.”
“Did you say anything?” I looked sternly at her.
“No, no. They just came out with it when they invited me.”

I rang my mother the next day. “No dear, I don’t want to come. I am getting too frail for all this nonsense. What is it? Just another day. You eat a bit more, sing a carol or two, watch the television and then go to bed.”
“But you useed to look forward to Christmas.“ I said. Oh yes, what do you want for a gift?” I had to ask.
“Nothing. I have everything I need, and a lot I don’t need just cluttering up the place. Things don’t matter so much as you get older. You’ll find out one day. Besides, it’s hard getting into that small car of yours Don’t worry dear, I’ll be fine here, They had a couple of new gentlemen move in last week. I may try to get to know them.”
“Mother!” I exclaimed. “You’re too old.
“Never too old.” She laughed. I had not heard her laugh like that in a while
“Well, if you’re sure?”
“Oh yes. The same applies to new Years too. Bye dear.”

The house seemed to team with people. Mark and Selsea were dancing to hip hop or some such. They looked good together. Yes he was a bit older than her but he had his head screwed on right. There was lots of laughter and talk, and no television. The meal was excellent. Mark’s mother was a good cook.
T was sitting in the corner watching everyone’s enjoyment and happiness when a drink appeared at my elbow held by a strong, defined male hand.
“Thought you might like this,” he said, his eyes sparkling in the flashing Christmas lights from the tree. “Hope it is your tipple?” he queried. “I’ m Mark’s godfather, by the way. Jeff’s the name.”

Jeff and I got married December 1st the following year. We are so happy together. Soul mates. It’s like I have finally come home. Mark and Selsea get married in June. It had to be June, she is so traditional. Even Gran and her boyfriend George will be coming. Like Shakespeare says ‘All’s Well That Ends Well‘. We are going to have a great Christmas next year!

Copyright Evelyn J. Steward. November, 2011

Words 1244

Publication Date: 11-06-2011

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