http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/
https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44
THE CHRISTMAS DOLLHOUSE
Margaret lived most of her life alone in that big old house on top of the hill. She could look out from any one of her many windows and see the town below. She watched as life went on without her. Margaret tried desperately to focus her eyes on the tiny people miles away, scurrying up and down the streets of the town; but her already failing vision was obscured by the dried dust and soot that stuck to the aged windowpanes. With frail fingers she pushed back the grey strands of her hair that tickled her eyelids, in hopes that she might see better. Unfortunately, the old house with its ancient windows had other ideas for Margaret. Those windows were her eyes to the world. Sometimes the world – her world – just didn’t see it that way. So she walked back to her stove, as she did every day after this morning ritual, and made herself a pot of tea. She reached for the lone teacup that sat on the kitchen windowsill, and wept.
Christmas was approaching, as it did every year. The snow covered the bare trees and piled up outside her front door. She felt like a prisoner in her own home, confined by the chains of isolation and abandonment. Some days, she just did not know what to do with herself. Especially around the holiday season.
A middle-aged handyman, named Louis, would stop by and clear the snow for her every winter, and bring her groceries from town every other week. This was her existence for years, ever since her parents and siblings passed on. She never married, and her nieces and nephews moved away; but called for the holidays out of obligation. Despite that, she looked forward to those phone calls. They meant everything to her. Those sporadic phone calls, visits from the handyman, and her small television set were the only voices that kept her company within her small and limited world.
Margaret recalled in conversation one day with Louis, how he had asked her what her favorite Christmas gift was when she was a child. She sensed he tried to get her mind off her current feelings of loneliness in order to allow her to live in fond memory for a short while. He got her to reminisce about the Christmases in her past that brought her great joy when she was a child, happily surrounded by her parents and siblings. She noticed how he smiled while her pale blue eyes sparkled like gems, as she told him about a large wooden dollhouse that her father had built just for her. She went on to explain that it had four bedrooms, a kitchen, a parlor and a bathroom. Margaret pretended the three smaller bedrooms were for her and her two siblings, and the largest bedroom was for her parents. She bragged about how talented her father was in wood carving. He made all the furniture in great detail, and even carved out a family of five, just like her own family. She adored that dollhouse. It now lived in her heart…and she felt so alive telling this story to Louis over tea. When he left, he said, “Christmas is coming Margaret. You keep thinking about that wooden dollhouse your father made - especially for you. Keep the memories alive. I’ll see you soon with your groceries.” Margaret, as usual, handed Louis an envelope which contained money for his services. He gave her a hug and a wink, then let himself out. Louis was her lifeline, and she prayed every day for him and his family. She needed him. He was like the son she never had.
Louis gave Margaret a special gift today. Not in the way of anything material, but in the way that kept her heart beating, her soul happy, and her mind aglow. He touched her with the Christmas spirit that she had lost along the way. She was filled with holiday love and inner peace. As she basked in the moment, she slowly tip-toed over to her storage closet, hummed Christmas carols, and took out the old Christmas tree her parents put up every year. It was only four feet high, and it was already decorated with vintage Christmas ornaments, faded red velvet bows, and withered tinsel, hidden under a clear plastic covering. This was the first time in years she was able to bring that tree out for display. She placed it on the end table near her couch, and stared at it with tears of happiness instead of tears of sorrow. She owed it all to Louis.
As she continued to hum Christmas carols, she made her way back to the closet and pulled out two artificial poinsettia plants, blew the dust off them with puckered lips, and placed them on her dining room table; one on each end. Last, but not least, she pulled out an old Christmas quilt her mother had made for the couch a very long time ago, and gently spread it over the seat cushions.
Margaret seemed to have tired herself out a bit, so she went over to the stove and made herself a cup of hot cocoa, with miniature marshmallows bouncing on top, cooling down in an old ceramic Christmas cup she took from the cupboard. The snowman image on the cup seemed to smile up at her with twinkling eyes. In her wild imagination, he tipped his hat to her. She smiled back. She shuffled over to the couch, blanketed herself in the warmth of her Mom’s Christmas quilt, and admired her Christmas tree; mesmerized by the shining tinsel that captured the light of the evening glow from the dim porch lanterns outside her bay window. Margaret fell into slumber, blessed by the magic of the holiday season. She now faced every day, up until Christmas Day, with such delight and glee.
One bitterly cold, snowy and windy day, Louis dropped off Margaret’s groceries as usual, then shoveled the snow for her, and spent a little time chatting over tea. At this last visit before Christmas, however, he brought her a large ham and all the ingredients necessary to make scrumptious holiday trimmings. He told her this was his gift to her, and made her promise that she would make an entire Christmas meal for herself on Christmas Day, with plenty of leftovers to share with him on his next visit right after Christmas. Margaret was ecstatic. She hadn’t cooked a Christmas meal for herself, or anyone else for that matter in a very long time. So she promised Louis she would do just that. Louis left with his usual envelope, which contained some extra money in it as a Christmas gift from Margaret. Louis kissed her forehead and promised he would be back right after Christmas for some holiday leftovers. Margaret smiled and nodded with a heart full of love and gratitude.
…Well, Christmas came knocking and brought along a wondrous snowfall. Margaret danced around her kitchen like she did in her youth. She paid no attention to her old aching bones, as she prepared a wonderful holiday ham and all the trimmings for herself, with plenty of leftovers to share with Louis upon his next visit. She blasted Christmas music from the old radio, and let the sounds bounce off the walls and ceiling like never before. Her cup runneth over, as she basted her ham and set a place setting for herself from her Mom’s special Christmas dinnerware set.
Before she could even get the chance to sit and have Christmas dinner, her doorbell rang. Margaret never had visitors on Christmas. Not since her family passed on. She wondered who would be ringing her bell on a holiday…So she ran over to the window to take a peek. To her surprise, there was Louis with his wife and two adult children dressed in holiday style, patiently waiting on the porch for Margaret to open the door. The snow was coming down hard, so she hurried to let them in. They walked into her home, as Louis followed behind carrying a large box, almost too large to fit through the door. However, Louis wiggled his way through the door and brought the box in without issue. Everyone stood around Margaret, as they covered her with hugs and kisses. Louis said, “Margaret, we are here to spend Christmas with you. I hope you cooked up that wonderful ham and trimmings.” Margaret was happily dumbfounded. She said, “I sure did. I am overjoyed that you and your wonderful family surprised me today.” She expected just Louis after Christmas, but was so elated he showed up with his family on this Christmas Day. She smiled from ear to ear. Louis smiled back, and said, “Open the box Margaret. There is a very special gift inside for you.”
As Margaret opened the large box with great anticipation, she could not believe her eyes. She saw one huge wooden dollhouse in there. Tears filled her pale blue eyes, and she found it hard to swallow. She felt the lump in her throat. She was so moved by this gesture of kindness from Louis and his family that she choked on her words as she tried to speak. Louis set the wooden dollhouse up in front of Margaret’s bay window. Margaret said it looked beautiful there, especially with the snow falling outside as a backdrop. It was like an old “Currier and Ives” Christmas card. She was beside herself. She asked Louis where he found that exquisite dollhouse. Louis responded that he did not find it. He made it with his own hands and hoped it would be as beautiful to her as the one her father made her many years ago. Margaret cried out, “Oh Louis. It is magnificent! How can I ever thank you?” Louis wrapped his arms around Margaret and said, “Having my family here with me, and sharing Christmas dinner with you, is thank you enough for me, sweet Margaret.”
So they all sat around the table for Christmas dinner, and ate on the special Christmas dinnerware set that belonged to Margaret’s mother. Margaret, Louis and his family, spent a warm and cozy holiday together. After coffee and apple pie, they all took part in setting up the rooms and figurines in the wooden dollhouse, just the way Margaret remembered it as a child. Margaret thanked Louis and his family for making this Christmas one that she will carry in her heart for the rest of her life. With a tear on her cheek, and her pale blue eyes sparkling like gems, she said, “Merry Christmas to All and to All a Delight.”
