Yesteryear

“Shh, let me tell you a story,” she said as we sat by the fire, warming our toes from being out in the snow. “You’ll find peace in this story, love and family as well.”

“Let us travel back to yesteryear, a time when there were no riots, no arguments in the family, no fear of being bullied because you were different. Let us join hands and travel.” We took her hands with trepidation, not knowing what to expect. As our hands joined, the world began to fade. It turned bright white and looked like we were in the midst of a blizzard.

As the swirling white abated, there was a hush as that followed a snow storm, but we weren’t cold. “You see,” she said, “The price I pay is dear, but you deserve to see how wonderful life used to be.”

Following her towards a house, we saw there were a mother and her children playing in the fresh fallen snow.  We looked on as they began to build…..not a boring snowman but an amazing snow tiger. Such a creative little family.

Laughing started as a man emerged from the house.  He began picking up snow, forming it into balls. “Daddy, you can’t throw that at us!” the girls giggled.  The man only smiled and gently lobbed the first snowball. “Thwap” it hit its mark, the youngest girl’s coat. Squealing she ran to pick up a snowball of her own.

Memories flooded my senses as the squealing faded. I finally recognized that family as my own childhood family when my sisters and I were still close. It was a time when family meant everything and nothing could hurt us as long as we stayed together. Too bad we had to grow up and it seemed that everything was just a dream.

I shook myself and saw the family had already moved inside to change and warm themselves with some hot cocoa.  Homemade pizza was on the menu for supper that night and they all got to help dress them with the toppings of their choice. Once the pizza was done, they settled down to watch some Christmas movies.

Watching the clock and curiously poking the gifts under the tree, it seemed as if the time would never come to open the one gift that would answer the question of who was Rudoph, Blitzen and Vixen.  Yes, the parents had coded the gifts to add a bit more suspense to what was almost unbearable in the girls’ eyes.  The one gift they would be allowed to open would have the answer inside.

The parents glanced at the clock and smiling they said, “Time for bed!” The girls opened their mouths in shock and said in unison, “No fair!!!” 

Once again this tugged at my heartstrings as this was one of my favorite Christmases. My parents always tried to add a bit of mystery to Christmas because we didn’t always have much money for gifts. I remember to this day that I was Blitzen, my oldest sister was Vixen and my middle sister was Rudolph. 

As I watched, the father laughed and reached out ruffling the youngest’s hair and said, “Did you think we forgot? So who is playing Santa tonight?”  After much begging, the youngest got her first chance ever to pass out the Christmas Eve gifts. She handed Rudolph to the oldest, Blitzen to the middle girl, and she kept Vixen for herself. Looking at the pretty wrapping paper and poking at the packages, they were finally given the nod to open them. Ripping the paper away, their new pjs, that mom had made, came to view and it was obvious who was who by the size.  After trading the pj’s around, they excitedly ran  to put them on.

Tears began to flow, I loved that Christmas so much. We could always count on each other.  But, again, we had all grown up. Time had changed us all, it was like we became strangers, how I longed for our family to be close like we were then.

The girls ran back into the room and slid in next to the tree and eyed the gifts now that they knew  which ones were theirs. Begging they asked to open “Just one more” but they were denied.  Mommy and Daddy said it was bed time so Santa could come and drop off presents. The girls pouted, but willingly walked into the bedroom they were to all share that night. They were supposed to keep each other from peeking.

The chatter in the room grew quieter, but none of the girls went to sleep. They just whispered and listened, hoping to hear the sound of sleigh bells in the silent night. Their eyes grew heavier and the older two started to drift off. The youngest (that would be me), silently stood and crept to the door. She listened closely, hoping that everyone else was in bed. Hearing nothing, she opened the door slightly, just enough to slip through. Mommy and daddy were asleep, the little girl could hear daddy snoring. She tiptoed down the hallway, looking around for the slightest movement. She wanted to see if she could catch Santa.

Making it to the living room, she saw that underneath the tree the presents had multiplied. She had missed Santa after all. She shuffled back to the bedroom and slipped silently into bed. It was time to sleep because Christmas morning came early in this house.

As she drifted off to sleep, the little girl could hear the peaceful night surrounding her. She knew that her family was perfect as it was right now. Mommy and Daddy and two sisters she loved. She was loved and she loved them all.

I wish for the peaceful times that we had, but memories can never be taken away. I  thank that stranger that took me to yesteryear to visit my family that used to be.

993 words

I was inspired by this years theme, and my own idea of peace and remembrance.