A Christmas to Remember
The first sentence was the writing prompt for the short story that follows ~
“As he flicked through the letters, a small handwritten envelope caught his attention and his heart began to thump. A usual pile of bills and junk mail, few people took the time to write letters anymore. The handwriting was familiar. A long ago familiarity. The envelope, yellowed with age, was postmarked December 18, 1976. A sterling silver letter opener slid easily under the sealed flap. Inside, a simple card showed a deep winter scene, an old log cabin against a backdrop of pines. The words were as simple. ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’. Joshua smiled. Pushing away from his desk, he stood up and called to his wife. “Martha, remember the Christmas of 1976?”
“Yes dear. What about it? That was quite a while ago, Josh.”
Joshua put the Christmas card down on the counter where his wife was creating their dinner.
“Oh my! Where did you get that?! That looks like my writing.” Martha wiped her hands on her apron and picked up the card.
“It is your writing, sweetie. It was 1976. We had been married just under a year. You had to be away for a two month stint on some journalism assigment. We both hoped so much that we’d be together for our first Christmas.When I didn’t hear from you - no cell phones then, and we couldn’t afford long distance - I was worried sick. I was certain you had left me. So there were no Christmas decorations up. I was just sitting sad and feeling sorry for myself. “
“Oh Joshua. Now I do remember everything. You were so surprised when I came bursting in the door with presents. And you looked dreadful!”
“And here we are forty years later. Still in love and you are as beautiful as ever.”
Martha's Christmas card fluttered to the floor. Outside, snow fell softly.
“As he flicked through the letters, a small handwritten envelope caught his attention and his heart began to thump. A usual pile of bills and junk mail, few people took the time to write letters anymore. The handwriting was familiar. A long ago familiarity. The envelope, yellowed with age, was postmarked December 18, 1976. A sterling silver letter opener slid easily under the sealed flap. Inside, a simple card showed a deep winter scene, an old log cabin against a backdrop of pines. The words were as simple. ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’. Joshua smiled. Pushing away from his desk, he stood up and called to his wife. “Martha, remember the Christmas of 1976?”
“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things
- not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
~ Bob Hope
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