Page 19 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas Giver 2023

Hi-Fi stereo out of the Simpson Sears That year, however, Emma broke
catalogue.” Villa unfolded it showing the the rule she so adamantly honoured all
creases and frayed edges. “She told me those years as a nurse. She gathered her
she wanted it for Christmas and I…” family in the living room and told them
Emma moved even closer to her what had happened at the hospital that
and held her friend in her arms. The night. Then, calling her fourteen-year-
strain was too much for her. In between old son by her side, she held him tightly
sobs, Villa told Emma what she had and said, “Janie is the same age as
done. “A week ago I bought that Hi-Fi you.”
stereo. I set it up in her bedroom for her Even though her son hated it, she
to discover on Christmas Day, I still had mussed up his hair and he allowed it.
hope then, Emma, but tomorrow is She continued, “Do you know what the
Christmas and…” first gift of Christmas was? It was a
Both women cried together and child. And I realized tonight that
embraced each other. It was as if the to her feet and threw her arms lovingly although I could live without the
time had finally arrived to release all around her daughter, quickly followed trimmings and gifts of Christmas this
those months of uncertainty, frustration by Emma. “Merry Christmas to YOU year, I sure couldn’t live without you,
and false hope. Then, above the loud too, Mom!” exclaimed Janie, taken son. You’ve been my gift since the
and convulsive gasps, the sound of a aback. “And Merry Christmas to you, Christmas of 1949 and will continue to
tiny bell was heard. Both women Nurse Emma,” she said in a rare form be my most treasured gift as long as I
stopped crying and listened in silence. of politeness. “You know something, I live.”
Was that a bell? They waited intently don’t know your face, but I feel like I The beloved Nurse Emma passed
for the sound to come again. Instead, know you so well.” away in June of 2000. She was a caring,
they heard another sound of someone “I’ll let your mother explain hardworking nurse and, more
stretching and yawning. Both Emma everything to you,” Emma replied. importantly, she was my loving mother.
and Villa looked up together. By 8:30 p.m., Nurse Emma finally Although she didn’t tell me directly, I
On the bed sat Janie. She stretched left the hospital and headed home to believe it was her wish that I tell this
and yawned again and looked down on join her family for their Christmas Eve story to others. May you tell it to your
both of them in dismay. “Mom, I sure celebration. It was 1963, and although children and they to their children until
hope you bought me that stereo I asked she had always been in favour of more people each year understand and
for!” She sounded just like the old celebrating the real meaning of appreciate that the real meaning of
Janie, who could be so demanding and Christmas, she too had given in to the December 25th is the birth of a child
impudent and still be able to get away physical preparation instead of the - the first gift of Christmas.
with it. It was music to a longing spiritual one, a popular trend in the
mother’s ears. sixties.
After the initial shock, Villa leaped

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