A Christmas Eve Walk

 

Photo by: Patrick Hendry (@worldsbetweenlines) | Unsplash Photo Community

Bing Crosby was crooning White Christmas on the television as Anna Mae Semple looked at the clock on Christmas Eve. 

“7 pm,” she exclaimed. “It’s time to get moving.” Every day at 7 pm she bundled up, rain or shine, holidays or regular days and went for her walk around the neighbourhood. She had done this while her husband was still alive, "God rest his soul,” she thought. She had continued on to today where at 88 she was still as fit as a fiddle with all her faculties intact, “Thank you very much,” she added.

Anna Mae looked out the window to help her decide on how to prepare for her walk. She could see the snow falling gently. “It looks like one of those normal Christmas Eve’s,” she muttered. “The temperature is around freezing and a bit of snow.” She wondered if tonight was going to bring that calm peacefulness that other Christmas Eve’s achieved. She hoped so. There were too few times in the year that peace was felt.

She bundled up carefully, flipping her scarf over her face as she stepped through the door. 

As she put her hand on the railing she noticed her neighbour across the road putting up his Christmas lights. 

“Good evening Mr. Smith,” Anna Mae called out. “Happy Christmas Eve.”

Mr. Smith turned his head and looked down the ladder at Anna Mae. “Thought I would put these up. It is Christmas Eve after all,” he called out rather grumpily. “Does this star look straight to you?” he asked. 

Anna Mae stood still for a minute. “Mr. Smith is less grumpy and actually cares about my opinion,” she observed to herself. “It’s a Christmas Eve miracle,” she chuckled. ”The left top wing needs to go up a little.” She watched as he adjusted it. “That’s perfect,” she called out. 

“Thank you," he replied. “Merry Christmas.” 

“Merry Christmas,” she said as she continued on her walk. “It’s funny how Christmas brings out the best in most people,” she reflected.

A couple of doors down, a door opened and an elderly woman appeared on the porch with a broom. Anna Mae could hear strains of Do They Know it’s Christmas loudly bursting though the doorway.

“Happy Christmas Eve, Mrs. Brown,” called out Anna Mae. Mrs. Brown looked up from her heavy duty sweeping. 

“I’ve got to get the snow off this porch. The kids are coming soon and I don’t want snow in my hallway.” She resumed her vigorous sweeping of the tiny area. “I’ve got my Christmas baking done. All the presents are wrapped. I’m just waiting for my kids to arrive.”

A man appeared in the doorway. “Mom, you will catch a cold out here. Come back inside,” he gently spoke to her. 

“Who are you?” she asked. “You are not my son. He will be here shortly so you had better go.”

The man looked out at the street. “Happy Christmas Eve, Anna Mae,” he said when he spotted her.

“Happy Christmas Eve Caleb,” she replied. 

“Mom loves Christmas," he said as he ushered his mother back through the door and closed it gently. 

“Poor Mrs. Brown,” thought Anna Mae feeling a bit sad for the vibrant woman she once was. Slowly Anna Mae turned, thankful that she was still mobile and healthy at her age. As she took a few steps she could hear voices rising in song.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Anna Mae walked closer and listened as the Choral group ran through all the verses. She clapped merrily as they finished. 

“That’s the best version I have heard all year!” she exclaimed with glee. She reached into her pocket and offered them a dollar. 

As Anna Mae reached the corner of the street she sensed something in the woods. Carefully she looked under the large spruce trees that lined the street here. As her eyes adjusted she could make out a deer lying quietly under the boughs, silently watching her. “I guess Santa doesn't need you tonight,” she said quietly with a chuckle. The deer laid its head back down unconcerned with Anna Mae being close by. “Best be careful,” thought Anna Mae. “I hear reports of coyotes in the area.” Anna Mae turned to walk up the other side of the road back towards her house.

The first house Anna Mae came to was dark. With the street lights shining she could see the outlines of Christmas decorations waiting for their time to come on. “Could be waiting a long time,” thought Anna Mae as she looked at the house. Suddenly a curtain moved and then moved back. Anna Mae said a small blessing. “Would I be intruding if I visited Mrs. Macdougall?” she wondered. Mr. Macdougall had recently passed away. Anna Mae considered the options but decided to move on as the lights were out. “Her family  should be here,” she thought to herself. 

As she approached the next house the doors opened and people came rushing out. 

“We’re late,” wheedled Wanda, the teenage daughter.

“Just get in the car,” said Mark, her brother.

“Shotgun,” called Jordan the other brother.

“No shotgun tonight," called their father. “Everyone in the back.” Much grumbling was heard as they jockeyed for control of the radio. 

“Happy Christmas Eve, Anna Mae.”

“Happy Christmas Eve, Oscar. I remember times like this.”

“Like what?” asked Rhonda, his wife.

“Trying to herd the cats out the door to go somewhere with all the gentle squabbling that goes along with it.”

“Good memories?” inquired Rhonda as she opened the door.

“I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”

Rhonda smiled. “I’ve got something to look forward to.” She looked into the car as I’ll Be Home For Christmas blared from the radio. “Turn that radio down now.” she exclaimed. She turned to Anna Mae. “We have to go. Let’s talk another time,” Rhonda said as she closed the door.

Anna Mae made a note to take over some of her Christmas baking in a couple of days as they pulled away waving.

Glad that she was nearing the end of her walk she passed her neighbours house. The garage door opened to show Mr. Jones sitting in his usual spot looking out at the world. “Even on Christmas Eve?” she wondered. 

“Anna Mae,” he called out. “Would you care for a rum and egg nog?”

“No thank you ,” she replied. “Isn’t it a little cold to be sitting out here?”

“There are all kinds of traditions around Christmas. This is my yearly tradition, to sit here and watch the world go by. It’s as good a place as any.”

“Where is Mrs. Jones?”

“She is still wrapping presents and finishing up last minute things for tomorrow.” He paused. “One of the great things about being out here is you get to see how the rest of the world lives. They are all in a hurry to go somewhere, do something, be something, much like Santa zipping from house to house in seconds flat. Everything has to be perfect, the same as what they read about in magazines or see on TV. 

“I suppose so ,” said Anna Mae.

“When really it is all about just living. Enjoying yourself and being at one with the world. Look up,” he said.

Anna looked up at the stars. 

“They have been there for billions of years. Our ancestors saw them. Our progeny and their distant unknown families will see them. The only thing that has changed and will change is what we value in the world. Once it was warmth and food, love and caring.”

Anna smiled as she looked at him. “Merry Christmas Mr. Jones.”

“Merry Christmas Anna Mae,” he replied as she walked to her door. 

Once inside after she got herself comfortable she played a DVD compilation of Christmas’ throughout the years, smiling as her father sang along with Mario Lanza, her mother presented Christmas baking and her siblings played with their Christmas gifts once more.

She backed up the disc to where her father started singing. “Merry Christmas,” she said as she joined her father's voice singing Ave Maria.