My latest book, HALLEY, has just been released by NewSouth Books:\u00a0www.newsouthbooks.com\/halley<\/p>\n
Mama wasn\u2019t a patient woman. I think she got less patient when she learned to drive and got her first long term job at the mill. Getting a television set, a refrigerator, a Warm Morning Heater, and a washing machine all in 1955, made her restless to have the good life she thought everybody else was already enjoying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have a real Christmas this year,\u201d she announced in early December. \u201cWith all the trimmings.\u201d<\/p>\n
None of us five children could quite believe it. Some years there had been no presents at all, much less \u201ctrimmings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a tree?\u201d asked my sister Jean. \u201cAnd colored bulbs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd icicles?\u201d said John.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas like everybody else has,\u201d Mama repeated.<\/p>\n
Mike and Jerry argued about where the tree would be placed. Daddy didn\u2019t say anything. He was headed toward a crisis with alcohol and had to save all his energy for making forty hours a week at the mill before getting fully drunk.<\/p>\n
While Mama put presents on layaway, we kids toured the woods around our house and picked a tree.\u00a0\u00a0 True to her promise, Mama bought decorations a few days before Christmas and we loaded down that tree. It sagged under the load of two strings of lights, several dozen glass bulbs, and about a half dozen packages of icicles. I can still recall the crisp clean smell of those needles.Then Mama arranged the wrapped packages at the base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d said Jean.<\/p>\n
Mama grunted in dissatisfaction. \u201cDon\u2019t look like much for all I spent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks good,\u201d I assured her and all three boys agreed.<\/p>\n
Mama dropped into her rocker and stared at the tree. \u201cNeeds a skirt like the trees on TV.\u201d She found an old chenille spread that served the purpose, and then surveyed the scene again with a dissatisfied frown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like everybody else has,\u201d Jean said.<\/p>\n
Mama sniffed. \u201cI reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the next two days Mama rearranged packages and ornaments a number of times. Then it was Christmas Eve and Mama could hardly stay away from the tree. Right after lunch, as if answering a request, she suddenly burst out, \u201cI reckon I could let ya\u2019ll open one present today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s wait,\u201d Jean and John said together.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is just another day,\u201d Mama said.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is the birthday of Jesus,\u201d Jean said.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is whenever we say it is,\u201d Mama said, but she wouldn\u2019t meet Jean\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
Mama won.<\/p>\n
Everyone chose a gift and soon wrappings were flying. I opened my box and found a Ban Lon crew neck sweater. I didn\u2019t have a skirt fit to wear it with nor did I own a pair of pants. Maybe I could wear it over a dress?<\/p>\n
Mama smiled on all the happiness she had created. \u201cMight as well open the second present and get it over with,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Jean began to cry.\u201d Can\u2019t we wait…\u201d but the boys were already tearing into boxes. My box contained a pair of loafers, which delighted me, until I realized they were a size too small.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey run big, the man in the Trading Post told me,\u201d Mama said. \u201cAnd they\u2019ll stretch as you wear them.\u201d All my shoes had to stretch as I wore them. I had big feet.<\/p>\n
Mama stood. \u201cLet\u2019s get this stuff cleaned up, and I want this tree mess out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Late that afternoon while we rolled the bedraggled tree down the hill behind our house, we heard holiday carols from the little church up the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, at least we had Christmas this year,\u201d John said.<\/p>\n
Jean nodded. \u201cAnd we had it before everybody else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My latest book, HALLEY, has just been released by NewSouth Books:\u00a0www.newsouthbooks.com\/halley Mama wasn\u2019t a patient woman. I think she got less patient when she learned to drive and got her first long term job at the mill. Getting a television … Continue reading