The old man lived alone, or at least he’d been living alone since his wife had gone on. He missed her always, but especially this time of year. Lily was the one who really loved Christmas; she just seemed to thrive during this season! She always had him get a tree. She’d said, “It just can’t be Christmas without a tree!”
Since her passing, he just couldn’t bring himself to enjoy this time of year, much less put up a tree. It was just too sad for him. The only family they had, had long since moved away, so he wasn’t in the mood to get a tree.
He had new neighbors moving in up the road. Maybe that would take his mind off this dreadful holiday season he seemed to be stuck with.
The neighbors had gotten settled in. The family consisted of a man and woman, and two little girls, one eight and the other one five. They seemed nice enough; he had seen them pass by and the little girls always had to wave! They had even brought him supper! He sure enjoyed the home cooking — he didn’t get much of that since Lily had died. Lord he did miss her cooking!
Those little girls sure were sweet! Made him feel almost alive after each visit! Oh sure, they asked a lot of questions. He hadn’t forgotten that about kids! Then one day, they asked “Why don’t you put up your tree?”
Before he had time to answer, their mom quickly changed the subject. He knew why but didn’t think he could explain all that to two little bright eyed girls. How do you explain to someone that you’re sad and alone and a brightly lit tree wasn’t going to change that? All the lights in the world weren’t going to change that!
A couple of weeks before Christmas, he heard a car in the driveway. He looked out to see his neighbors and those two little girls. They each had a box and couldn’t wait for him to open the door! They burst in the door with smiles from ear to ear!
They shouted, “We have a surprise!” But before they could tell him, their mom asked if she could she speak to him in the old kitchen, and of course he said yes.
He followed her into Lilly’s kitchen and had her sit at the table. She said, “I’m Sorry, but these girls have about drove us crazy! They were worried about you not having up a tree! They look each time we pass to see if you have one up, to see the lights!”
This brought tears to his eyes! He couldn’t let her see him cry, so he said “Must have gotten something in my eye!” She understood. She said, “Would you please humor these girls?”
He followed her back into the living room, where the little girls couldn’t contain themselves any longer! They said, “We have you a Christmas Tree! It’s a small one but it’s already got the lights on it! And it has little balls and icicles and candy canes to decorate it with! So can we please, please, help you put it up?”
How could he not say yes? They unboxed the little tree and flew in to decorating!
He set it on a small table by the window, plugged it up, and they all marveled at the little tree!
He thanked them, and as they left, he asked if he could have a hug. They were glad to give!
He waited till they had gone and just sat down and cried.
He felt bad because he had been so lonely!
And in the glow of that little Christmas tree, he said a prayer.
Even though he was lonely, he wasn’t alone!
It had taken two beautiful little girls to show him what Christmas was all about! It’s about giving and caring for one another. He made a promise to never forget that again.
This is a real Christmas story. The old man was Mr. Langston, our neighbor, and Lily was his wife. The little girls in the story were my daughters Kelly and Melanie.
After his death, his daughter found the tree and a note explaining it and asking that it be returned to these little girls.
We still have it and the memories!
And life goes on, on Thompson Hill.
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Jerry, this is beautiful, and yes, it made me cry. This is what Christmas is all about. You and Pam raised your girls right!