The Watch

The story of a poignant Christmas gift. 628 words

"You know, honey. The graduation watch my father gave me hasn't worked in months. I was thinking. I need something better than a disposable plastic watch. I was wondering if it would be okay if I ordered a new one from the same company?" Thomas turned on the windshield wipers. The rain was really coming down, and the visibility was down to feet.

"No!" Victoria blurted.

Thomas risked a glance at her. "Why not? I got a generous bonus from work."

Victoria flinched, "Honey, we bought Christmas presents."

"Seven thousand dollars worth?"

"No, but enough. What is wrong with the watch you have?"

Thomas looked at his wrist, a cheap, no-name, Taiwanese plastic watch. "It makes me look like some kind of hobo!"

Victoria bit her lip. "If it bothers you how it makes you look, don't wear it. You don't even really need a watch. You could just look at your phone like most people do these days."

Thomas glared at her in time to see a truck running the red light straight into Victoria's side of the car.

------

Thomas loosened his tie and tossed his keys onto the door side table. Her funeral had been beautiful. That was slim consolation for the fact that he faced his first Christmas without the love of his life.

The accident played through his mind on repeat every spare minute of the day. He couldn't help but think that if he had been more alert to his surroundings, she might still be alive. All because of some stupid watch.

The doorbell rang, and Thomas turned back to answer it.

Outside stood the mail carrier. He held a small box and a tablet. "I need a signature."

Thomas swiped a signature onto the tablet and accepted the box. Closing the door, he brought the box to the side table. It was addressed to Victoria. Hesitantly, he opened it using the letter opener on the table. Inside was a smaller gift-wrapped box. A card was taped to it.

"Merry Christmas, Tommy. This is my present to you. If you signed for it just put it under the tree until Christmas."

Thomas dropped the card. He tore at the wrapping paper. The box beneath bore the logo of the watch company his father had bought his watch from. He nearly dropped that box. No wonder she had argued so hard against buying a new watch. She already had. Tears trickled unnoticed from his eyes. It was too much. After losing his father last winter, and now Victoria, Thomas couldn't care less about having a stupid watch. He'd rather have them back. Still, it was her last gift. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the box.

He lifted the jewelry box from inside. He fingered the navy blue clamshell box before opening it. When he opened the box, he was greeted with a watch that looked identical to the one his father had given him. Thomas picked up the watch and looked it over. The inner face of the watch bore the same inscription as his old watch. On closer examination, he recognized the scratches and scuffs of the watch he had worn daily for over twenty years. Thomas flipped the watch over and checked the face. The second hand ticked along as it should, and the other hands showed the correct time.

His face flooded with tears that blurred his vision as badly as the rain had that night. She had argued so hard against a new watch because she had already sent the graduation watch to the company to be refurbished. It was so thoughtful, so her. He ripped of the plastic placeholder watch and reverently put on the gift from the two people he loved and missed the most.

628 words


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written for Wintry Writing Wonderland

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Wintry Writing Wonderland  (ASR) A contest for creations celebrating winter holidays #2349573 by Ded Moroz

prompt
Entries must be about Christmas, Hanukkah and/or New Year’s. New Year can be the New Year of the Gregorian or Julian calendar, the Chinese New Year, Makar Sankranti or Tu Bishvat (sometimes referred to as the New Year of the trees). Ratings of entries cannot be higher than 13+.