Christmas With My Parents

I was born on December 26, 2000 at 12: 06am Three hours after my father James Cole died, 45 minuets before my mother Nancy Cole passed away, and Three hours ten minuets after being involved in my first car accident. The Mom and Dad were on the way home from my grandparents’ house after a late Christmas dinner and celebration. They came to the intersection of Main and Eckerd’s street, Dad had the green light and a drunk driver ran the red light. The driver’s side door was pushed across to the passenger’s seat, Dad died almost immediately. Orphaned at birth I went to live with my Aunt Teri and her husband Robert Sharp.

My Grandma Sharp said “ Christmas time is a time to take notice of the empty chair around the Christmas dinner table to take remembrance as to why their chair is empty. To say a prayer for the one off to war,” she pointed to the chair next to me My cousin Billy is in Afaginistain this Christmas will be home for next year “and for those who the Lord has taken home.” she said putting her arm on the back of the chair next to her Grand pa passed away last summer after a hart attack. “Our lives are all connected to them as well as to rest of us here. Our experiences with them help make us to be the person whom we are today.”
I know this to be true. When looking in a mirror I would notice things like my eyes, I have my mother’s eyes and my father’s smile. I have a picture of them on my desk in my room and would often think what would it have been like if… But the “if” thinking only brings me to tiers and doesn’t really serve any useful purpose. I would wipe my wet eyes with my handkerchief and force my self to think of other things but when you are sleeping well you can’t just change your dream.

This Christmas Eve after trimming the tree and our tradition of coco and telling the Christmas story witch fell on me this year because I was made the “man of the house” by default when my uncle was called in to work because of an emergency at the power plant. I nervously recited the Christmas story and about the angels and the Sheppard’s and the wise men Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. When it was bed time I said my prayers and got into bed. How long it took me to fall asleep I do not know. In my dream I found my self in a home I never was in ever before, but I felt like I was home My mother was in the kitchen baking cookies and my father was in the living room putting the train tracks around the Christmas tree.
“ You can start handing my the train cars” my father said to me as he placed the engine and coal tender on the track that orbited the trunk of the Christmas tree.
I handed him the cars one by one he would place them on the track. He turned to me, ( He looked like an older me ) he placed his hand on my shoulder and said “ This year you have the honor of the first run” pointing to the controller.
I throttled the controller up the train ran to the first turn and flew off the track my Father laughed out loud his laughter made me laugh with him. We both placed the train back on the tracks “Next time just turn the throdel a little not all the way” I turn the throdel and the train very slowly when around the tree before he said “at that speed no one would be getting home for Christmas dinner more likely they would get home for Groundhog Day dinner.” he laughed I turned the speed up and he said “That more like it”
As I watched the train make its continues journey around the trunk I looked up to the tree it was the biggest tree I ever seen in a house perfectly shaped and full of decorations and candy chins there was even a string of popcorn that wrapped around the tree at least three times if not four or even five times. Next to the tree was a fire place with three stocking hung off the mantel. The First had written in glue and glitter “DAD” the second “MOM” the third “TOM” .
“Oh what a perfect Christmas” my mother said as she entered the living room with a tray of fresh backed cookies. My mother has the nicest eyes that shined as she smiled at my father and me sitting on the floor in front of the tree playing with the trains.
We drank coco, and eat cookies my father than told us the story The Night Before Christmas It started to snow we watched if thought the big bay window in the living room
“Time for bed” my mother said “or Santa would be coming this year”
“I don’t believe in Santa any more I’m almost eleven “ I protested not wanting to leave and go to bed, I was afraid if I went to bed in this dream I would surly wake up and not be with my parents any more.
“Even still its late and you need your sleep” mom insisted
So up to my room changed in to my pj’s and laid down in bed. Being a dream the dream changed it was morning . I got out of the bed and ran down stairs to see everything was as before but the stockings were full to over flowing with candy and toys. The train would have to wait to do its rounds this morning for the boxes and packages under the tree over ran the track. From the kitchen I could smell the breakfast already placed on the table. Pancakes sausages ham stakes coffee for my parents and a glass of milk for me. After breakfast we opened our presents. Mom and Dad gave me a brand new red bicycle there was games and toy cars and puzzles and everything I ever wanted to receive for Christmas.
Mom and Dad sat watching me play with my new toys. I plaid with them till I fell asleep there on the floor in front of the tree late that Christmas morning. I woke up in my real bed. Disappointed that the dream ended, I got up. After I got dressed I went down stairs to the living room as my Uncle Robert was just getting home from the power plant.
“How should I know how it got here it was on the porch already when I got home,” Uncle Robert said to my Aunt Teri “It was there next to the door with this tag”
He handed my Aunt the tag she read it “To; Tom.
Uncle Robert wheeled into the house from the porch a brand new red bicycle.
This bicycle was my favorite present this Christmas. I rode it up and down the co-do-sack all day till time for Christmas dinner.
My Aunt and Uncle have no idea who would have given me the bicycle but I like to think some how………….

MERY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!