Reminiscences

Christmas short story:

Jeannette Cabraal

It was the Eve of Christmas once again. That unmistakable nip in the air that is characteristic of December was felt even in the usually hot climate of Jaffna.

Louis now middle-aged and Mariam matronly sat in the porch outside their modest and neat home all spruced up for Christmas. It was a newly built house modest in proportion, with freshly white-washed walls. The smell of fresh paint still lingered.

The lace curtains ruffled gently in the mild breeze that wafted. The floor gleamed, reflecting the lights that twinkled on the Christmas tree which glittered in a corner. A sizeable crib with its tableau was displayed prominently with its lit up tail - star; the Virgin Mother fondly gazing at the Godhead that was her son and Joseph the foster father bowed in adoration.

Two teenage girls and a boy in his early twenties, came out of the house to join their parents. Soft playing of carols was heard in the background. "Where have Selvi, Bala and Thanga gone?" inquired the mother.

"Selvi has gone with the carol singers and Bala and Thanga are helping Father Sunil Perera with the crib in the church", answered Ana one of the teenage girls.

With a sigh of relief, Mariam sank back in the easy chair. She was still vigilant about her children. The anxiety, the outcome of past events-nightmares persist "What tranquillity pervades on a Christmas Eve" said Louis "It's as if angels of peace are passing through. "Yes but do you remember when war guns boomed in the silent night" reminded Mariam." And the politician who was done to death on Christmas night when he was approaching the altar for communion and the mayhem."

"Why Ammah what about the time we were in the refugee camp?" chimed in Rani. "huddled on tattered sheets". "And poor grandma who died at the camp and had a pauper's burial" added Bapu. "Remember the Chrismas tree? The branch of a tree stuck in a small tin decorated with bits of coloured rags and guppie?" he said reminiscing their Christmas at the refugee camp as children and running up to the Christmas tree sang wistfully.

"Christmas tree Oh! Christmas tree! But we children were happy that night with our make - do Christmas tree".

"And remember the saved biscuits that all at the camp contributed, though they could hardly spare it" added Rani. "Yes we were all comrades in disaster".

"What about the drink we made out of the wild shoe flowers. Again all at the camp gave a teaspoon or two of sugar although sugar was rationed."

"And the charity meal we got on Christmas Day!" said Ana "What an awful time!" chimed the children.

"It was a good experience for us to realize how unpredictable life is; and to understand the predicament of the underprivileged. To put ourselves in the place of the less fortunate even through those circumstances. To know how the other half of the world lives", said Louis nodding sagely.

"Let's all go and kneel at the crib and thank the Christ - Child for the mercies shown to us and for this peaceful Christmas Day" concluded Mariam.