Christmas Eve Dinner

“Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh…” Bertha sings as she opens the door to her balcony. Although it was winter, Bertha and Earl never missed a day sitting outside. They sit through rain with umbrellas, hot with fans, and cold with coats. 

“Oh shut up Bertha!” Earl said, his voice curt. The Christmas Eve air blew into Bertha's house, stirring her loose photos but brought a new scent to her living room. She always called it “air from heaven.” The morning sun was still rising, yet below the highest balconies were streets filled with bodies charging at one another for last-minute gift shopping. “Beeeeep Beeeeep” called the cars shoving one another for a parking spot. The noise of humans completely engulfed the pretty Christmas music played. 

“The paper said it's gonna snow today,” said Earl as he massages his joints. 

“What?” Bertha shouts. As her age progressed, her hearing began to give up on her. 

“You with your deaf ears again.” 

“Yeah, look at em trucks loading off the salt.” replied Bertha while she glances at the people beneath.

As Earl’s attention shifted from the paper to the streets, he commented “I remember when I was with them, running to the toy store to buy Mia a cooking set. Now it's Mia who gives gifts”

“Speaking of your daughter, when is she gonna come home?” asked Bertha, turning to Earl.

“She said this afternoon that the planes are gonna land.” Earl replied 

“What's that whistle--” Earl shouts as the noise sends vibrating waves down his spine. 

“My tea!”

Bertha went inside and poured herself a cup of cinnamon tea. She sips on it while taking out a red scarf she has been knitting for weeks. 

“You don’t give gifts to your daughter?!” Bertha demanded as she finished the final row of the scarf. 

“What!” Earl shouts, turning his chair towards Bertha’s balcony.

“You don’t give gifts to Mia!” claimed Bertha as she cuts off the yarn of the scarf. She held up the scarf and examined its knots and edges. She stretches out the fabric and finally, a smile forms across her face. 

“No, she gives them to me. Because she already has everything. You know, Mia’s the head doctor in her hospital, and it shows on her paycheck. Last year she bought me a new TV even though I don't know how to turn it on. Once, she even asked me a favor to use some of her money!” Earl laughed at the thought.

Bertha glanced at Earl and responded “Earl, my son Tuesday is the finest engineer out there. He does something with computers. I bet Tuesday made that TV Mia bought. This year I made him a scarf, you know a personal gift. I bought the finest yarn for my finest Tuesday.”

“Finest, Finest, Finest!” mocked Earl

“What!” 

“Never mind, when’s Tuesday gonna come home?” asked Earl

“His PRIVATE JET is landing this afternoon too.” 

“You know Earl, sometimes I wonder if our kids will sit on their balconies and talk about us. What will they say?”

“The usual, how her father has raised her so well.” laughed Earl. 

“I'm especially looking forward to this Christmas-- Look, it's Tuesday!” said Bertha

“But today’s Thursday?” pondered Earl

“Hello? What! Oh, uh its fine son. Merry Christmas!” After Bertha put her phone down she said to herself. “What am I going to tell Earl!”

Her body felt uncomfortable. As if she were dirty clothes tossed in a washer again and again but the stain didn't seem to go away.” 

“Something’s gotta be wrong by your droopy face.”

“Mind your own business Earl, do you have anything else to do other than judge other people?” Bertha said as she took the scarf and went inside. 

“I mean she is not wrong.”

Bertha placed her tea on her table and hung the red scarf next to the five other scarves she made for her son every Christmas. She kept them clean despite the years. 

“He promised every year. But he must have a lot of work.” Surprisingly, no tears formed on her eyes. It was as if Bertha was expecting this to happen. There are different levels of loneliness and it felt like Bertha was dragged deeper and deeper below. Every year Bertha prepared a full Christmas dinner to fill the gaps of Tuesday’s father. The neatly decorated table was topped with roast beef, grilled carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy, pie, and Tuesday’s favorite: baked mac and cheese. Yet, every year, only Bertha ate Christmas dinner. Afterwards, she stores away the leftovers for tomorrow's meals. 

Bertha fidgeted with her tea for a few minutes then went to the kitchen to prepare the Christmas dinner, but this time for Christmas Eve. 

She sliced the beef, melted the cheese, made the pie, mashed the potatoes, and grilled the carrots. The bubbling gravy and roast beef scent danced in Bertha’s kitchen then was set free out the window to please Earl’s senses.

“What’s that smell?” thought Earl. He put his paper down and followed the scent. 

“Bertha! Is that you?” shouted Earl

“What do you want?” shouts Bertha as she comes out with mac and cheese in her hands

“Is your son home early? That's why you're preparing two dinners?”

“Yeah.” Bertha answered quietly 

“Tuesday couldn't come home again right?” Earl knew Bertha very well since they’ve been neighbors for decades. He could tell when she was disappointed. 

“Yeah.” Bertha whispered. 

“To make you feel better, Mia couldn't come home either.”

“That's why I never wasted my energy on making a gift.”

“I'm such a fool.” Bertha thought when she glanced at the hanging scarves.

“You’re not a fool, as parents we should always love our children. We can never leave them, but it shouldn't stop us from having a good Christmas.” Earl explained as he looked in Bertha’s teary eyes. He continues “Just let kids be kids, they’ll learn somehow. Look I’m not good at this emotional stuff, it's been over 5 years Mia has come home, but at least she sends some gifts so I know that she's fine. I’m over it.” 

“What- What did you say?!” shouts Bertha

“I said I’m over it.” shouts Earl

“Do you want to come over for Christmas Eve dinner?” asked Bertha

“Why not.” said Earl