Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:54:30 -0500 (EST)
From: dastardlyd3@aol.com
Subject: Seniors United-Christmas Eve

Charlie was down to the last four or five boxes to unpack.  These were some
books, CDs, and things like drink coasters to put on tables in the living
room.  Oh, yes, here's an ash tray.

I haven't smoked in at least 20 years.  Ralph did, that's what caused his
death.  I don't have a patio or balcony in this apartment.  I don't need an
ashtray any more.

He heard his door bell ring.  `Now who could that be?' he thought.  He
didn't know anyone here, and all his friends were far away.  He put the
latest box down on the coffee table and went to the door.  Opening it, he
looked down on the jolliest, fattest little woman.  With a big smile, she
handed him a foil covered paper plate, and said

"You must be Mr. Evans.  I'm Rose.  I live down the hall, up front, towards
the street.  We're having an open house tonight at 7 p.m.  You'll meet some
of your neighbors and have some refreshments.  There'll be singing, and it
will be a pleasant way to spend Christmas Eve.  Oh, yes, bring along
something to share, like half of the cookies you're holding.  See you at
7."

She was gone before Charlie managed to say he wasn't ready to go out, or he
had more unpacking to do.  He took the plate of cookies into the kitchen,
put them on the table, and peeled back the foil.  "Um.  Chocolate chip.  My
favorite.  I guess I can try one since I've been losing weight.'  He bit
into one, and breathed a happy sound.  It had been years since Ralph had
been able to make his great chocolate cookies.  The first cookie was gone,
devoured before he knew it, and had bitten into the second one.  He shoved
the plate of cookies into a deep corner of the kitchen counter, and
returned to unpacking his boxes.

Charlie had emptied the last box, put everything away, even dismantled the
moving box and put it with the others to go into storage, then sat down.
Even though the front door was closed, he could hear a piano and singing
from down the hall.  He looked at his watch, it was already a couple of
minutes after 7 p.m.

He remembered how Ralph would play the piano and friends would sing at
Christmas time.  There wasn't room for a piano in his apartment, and he
couldn't play anyway, so he had sold Ralph's piano.

`Deck the Halls!'  he heard from clear down the hall at the other end.
There were men and women's voices, followed by some laughter at the end of
the carol.  Charlie felt so all alone that the voices were a magnet,
drawing him out of his apartment, with the cookies, to Rose's apartment.

He was met at the door by a woman who stood at least six feet tall in her
high heels, towering over Charlie's 5'6".  "Welcome," she greeted him, "my
name is Yolanda, and I'm one of your hostesses.  My partner, Rose, is at
the piano, but, then, you've met Rose.  Thank you for the cookies," as she
gracefully took the cookies and called out to the room full of people,
"this is Mr. Evans, who lives down the hall."

"Charlie.  I'm Charlie Evans," he called out before the next carol began,
and Yolanda swept him into the kitchen to choose what kind of drink he
wanted.  They had some doctored punch, soft drinks, and beer.  "I'll just
have a glass of water, please."  Yolanda handed it to him, then drew him
back into the living room, to a seat on the couch, and said

"This is Charlie, Harry and Robert.  Charlie, have a seat."  Looking at
Charlie, she said, "Remember the dinner here tomorrow starts at 2 p.m.
Bring some sort of finger food to share."  Then she swept away, like some
ebbing tide.  Charlie gratefully sat down, shaking the hands of Harry and
Robert.  They were seated very close together.  `Are they a pair?' he
wondered.

The next carol started, Rose belting it out on the piano, the room full of
men and women singing to `Deck the Halls.'  Charlie liked to sing, though
he hadn't done much singing since Ralph became ill, and felt very rusty.
After several more carols, Rose took a break from the piano, and somebody
started passing cookies, various kinds.  They all seemed to come on the
same picture paper plate that Rose brought to Charlie.

Singing took up again, and continued through a succession of carols and
popular songs, ending with "White Christmas."  Charlie thought back how
Ralph always ended the Christmas Eve sing along with it.  He barely had
time to feel sad before Henry, a gray-haired man about his age asked him if
he was going to go to the midnight mass at the local Episcopal church.
Charlie didn't even know there was a local Episcopal church.  He remembered
the many Christmas Eves he and Ralph had gone together.  He had expected
this to be his first Christmas Eve without attending.

"The service starts at 11 p.m., but the caroling starts at 10:30.  Would
you like to go?" Henry asked.  Charlie thought a brief moment, then nodded
he would like to go.  "Bundle up warm.  It may snow tonight while we're in
church.  It's only three blocks, so there's no sense driving a car and
hoping to find a parking place any closer.  I'll collect you at 10 p.m.  I
know it's early, but we want to have a good seat in a pew close up.  The
children will be doing a pageant, and they are always spectacular.  The
director of the Sunday School must start rehearsals a month before
Thanksgiving."

Charlie nodded his head in agreement, and went home.  It was just 10p.m. on
the dot when Charlie's door bell rang.  Charlie slipped on his heaviest
jacket, grabbed his gloves and knitted cap with the ear protectors, and met
Henry at the door.  It was a short walk to church.  No, the snow had not
begun to fall, but it was sure cold.  He was glad he had warm clothes on.

They were early enough to get a seat in the fourth pew, but the church was
filling up rapidly.  Many of the men and women who had attended the sing
along in Rose and Yolanda's apartment were there.  Charlie didn't feel so
out of place that way.  The church was a beautiful old church, probably
early 20th century, with stained glass windows that were sort of modern,
lots of light, and was quite big.  By 10:15 p.m., it seemed every pew was
filled with worshipers. 10:30 p.m. the carols began.  The singing was quite
good, even without the choir.

The children acted out the prophecy to the Virgin Mary, the angel having a
decidedly lopsided halo.  Mary and her cousin met in a small room,
exchanging good news.  Shortly, Mary walked onto the scene clutching a baby
doll by one arm, and not too firmly.  She took her place, and the stable
filledl with the wise men and the shepherds and their sheep, which were
dogs of various sizes wearing wooly paper blankets and signs saying
`sheep."

The procession entered, crucifer, thurifer, acolytes, and the choir,
carefully spaced back far enough from the swinging thurible pouring out its
heavy incense, finally the clergy.  At the end of the procession was the
Rector, wearing the heavy poncho-like chasuble in blazing white,
illuminated by gold symbols.  The lights caught the symbols, and reflected
them along the passage to the altar.

Charlie was surprised what a good sermon the Rector preached.  It was about
daily living, and discovering the new and the good everywhere we go, even
in people who didn't appear to be good or worth knowing.

The communion chants were properly chanted by the congregation, bringing
Charlie back to those years when he and Ralph would sing in the choir, and
later, when they just sang with the congregation.  Before he knew it, the
service was over, the church bell was tolling the new day, and they were
moving out of the church.

The Rector greeted Henry by name, who introduced Charlie.  The Rector
invited Charlie to the church parish hall for some refreshments.  Henry
begged off, saying it was late, and they would needed to get home because
the snow was just starting to fall, but he'd bring Charlie to mass on
Sunday.

Henry and Charlie walked home.  Charlie told Henry how he'd enjoyed the
service, and would like to go on Sunday.  They made it home before the
heavy snow began.  Henry bade Charlie "Merry Christmas," which Charlie
returned, and they each went to their own apartments...alone.

Charlie didn't feel lonesome.  He felt good.  Good for the first time in
several months, since he had kissed Ralph good night that last night.
Charlie slept well that night.

______________________________________________________________________

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dastardlyd3@aol.com