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Topic: Abundance (06/08/06)
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TITLE: Christmas with Nana | Previous Challenge Entry
By naomi thomas
06/13/06 -
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9.06.06
Christmas with Nana
The night was bitterly cold and wet. Snow had been falling most of the day and temperatures had dropped to below zero. Wrapping her shawl around her frail shoulders, Gladys made her way to the shed to collect the last of the wood. Gosh! She mustn’t forget to phone Tom and have him deliver a new batch in the morning.
“My memory certainly isn’t what it used to be hey Butch,” Gladys said to her dog as they both trudged along in the snow towards the shed.
“If I’m not careful I’ll forget to wake up one morning,” giggled Gladys while Butch wagged his tail as though he understood every word.
Back in the house, Gladys stoked the fire and placed a couple of logs in. The fire soon roared back to life. Glancing up at the mantle piece, Gladys tenderly picked up the photograph of her late husband and affectionately held it against her chest for a few seconds as though Ernest were hugging her. How she missed him, more so now that it was Christmas. With a gentle kiss, she lovingly placed it back on the mantle piece and went to check on the turkey.
The different aromas in the kitchen were breathtaking; roast turkey mingled with savory brown gravy and roast potatoes, blended in with traditional Christmas pudding, baked biscuits, scones, combined with her all time favorite, blueberry pie. She’d better hurry, the kids will be here soon and everything must be perfect.
At last she was finished and sat down in her favorite rocker in front of the fire taking a well deserved break. Picking up the Christmas card from her grandchildren she searched her apron pockets for her spectacles.
“Butch, have you taken my spectacles again?” said Gladys poking her fingers into the sides of the rocker frantically looking for them. “You’re the only one who can take them,” Gladys accused giggling again. “Oh! Sorry! Found them,” she mumbled placing them on and carefully reading her card for the tenth time that day.
Bright lights shone on her lounge windows and the sound of car engines disturbed her reading. Excitedly Gladys screamed, “They here Butch, they all here,” and made her way to the front door. Opening it she heard her impatient grandson cry out on the top of his little voice,” Hurry dad, open the door I want to go say hi to Nana.”
No sooner had the car door opened when Ernie junior dashed out screaming as he ran, “Hi Nana, hi Nana, I missed you so much Nana,” he said flinging his little body into Gladys’s outstretched arms and hugging her with all his strength. “I brought you a present Nana, I bought it with my own money,” Ernie rattled on.
“Hello my sweetie,’ Gladys said “and I have a present for you as well which I bought with my own money,” laughed Gladys kissing her son and daughter in law as Ernie clung to her.
“Gosh! You’ve grown my boy; Nana can’t hold you like she used too,” said Gladys putting Ernie on the floor.
“Daddy where’s my present I want to give it to Nana,” cried Ernie tugging at his father’s trousers.
“Easy there little guy,” said Thomas his dad, “let’s settle down first and find out how Nana is before we start handing out gifts, okay.”
“Butchie,” screamed Ernie making a mad dash for the dog. “Hi Butchie it’s me Ernie,” he yelled, gently stroking the sleeping dog who never even bothered to open his eyes.
With Ernie out of the way Gladys was finally able to greet the rest of her family hugging and kissing each one as they came in through the front door arms laden with gifts. Goodness, had she counted correctly? Gladys questioned herself. Sixteen altogether including Ernie? Her family had grown. God had blessed her so much.
Seated around the dinner table, the atmosphere was festive. Little Ernie sat next to Gladys and while everyone laughed and spoke, he gently nudged Gladys gesturing for her to come closer. Whispering in her ear, he softly asked, “Nana if you had one wish, what would it be?”
Gladys straightened up and looked across the table at her family. Tears welled up in her eyes and thinking for only a few seconds she leaned over to Ernie and whispered back in his ear, “Nana wouldn’t ask for anything at all. Everything Nana wants is here at this table.”
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