jwalk@wowway.com
©199[?] J. Thomas Walker
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.
The tree was up with all its sparkling beauty. The lights glowed in a warm myriad of glorious colors. The tinsel was up and gleaming with the reflected light of the light bulbs. On each and every branch hung a reminder of Christmas past. Below the tree sat the presents each wrapped differently and patiently awaiting Christmas morning when they would finally be unwrapped.
A crackling fire danced joyfully in the fire place as if happy to be alive. In front of the fire slept the cat gently swishing it's tail perhaps dreaming of tomorrow's Christmas toy. Hanging from the mantle three stockings awaited to be filled. The two big Christmas candles that were lit only once a year sat alight on the mantle only a little lower then last year. Perhaps most joyous of all was the family who sat three in a row on the couch sipping eggnog together.
The tree was up. The lights glowed with many different colors yet not the same as last year. The tinsel reflected the dull light from the bulbs on the tree, on each branch there was a reminder of the old and glorious Christmas' of the past. Below the tree were all the presents gloomily awaiting tomorrow when they would be set free.
A fire burned low making only a few attempts at regaining its old glory perhaps knowing it would never come again. The cat sat near the fire remembering a time when it was more playful and would have loved a new toy. Hanging from the mantle three stockings sat awaiting a time when they could sleep once again. On the mantle the Christmas candles burned softly a little lower. On the couch sat the family quietly thinking of their own Christmas past.
The tree was spindly and drooping, perhaps missing its family. The few and scattered lights glowed weakly. The tinsel hung limply reflecting the light it could catch. Below the tree sat the few presents each wrapped alike looking like brothers and sisters, on a few of the branches sat some new bulbs and a few old ornaments his parents had given to him.
There was no fire, for his little apartment had no fireplace. There was no cat to sit happily before the fire. And one lone stocking hung on the bare wall awaiting its few Christmas candies. Sitting on the table where the two Christmas candles barely burning and just a little lower then before. On the couch sat the man sipping store bought eggnog and remembering his family.
The tree glowed with a loving light. The lights each burned brightly, a beacon in the night. The tinsel glittered with reflected light. On most of the branches sat a reminder of Christmas' not so bright but one new ornament celebrated the beginning of happy memories. Below the tree sat many presents each wrapped with love and holding a special present inside.
A fire crackled in the fireplace once more happy to be alive. In front of the fire a new cat played with an an imingary toy. Hanging from the fireplace two stockings sat close together. Most important however was the fact that the man sat with the beginning of his new family.
The tree stood tall in all its glory. The lights glittered with the memory of the past. The tinsel reflected all the light in the room creating a air of shimmering beauty. On each branch hung a piece of Christmas past.
Below the tree sat a multitude of Christmas presents each glittering with a feeling all its own. A fire crackled with new life and in front of it sat the cat quietly snoozing. On the mantle hung four stockings awaiting the coming of Santa Clause. On the mantle sat the two Christmas lights burning always together. On the couch sat the man with his new family sipping eggnog.
The tree was alight with brilliant colors only slightly dulled by the absences of the children. The lights gleamed with a keen edge of loss. The tinsel glittered with the light of the bulbs. On each and every branch sat a reminder of Christmas' probable never to be again. Below sat quite a few presents some had been sent in by the kids and some were from Santa Cluase.
A warm fire still crackled in the fire place but there was no cat to sit in front. However there was still two stockings hanging above the fireplace. On top of the mantle sat the Christmas candles burning once again. They were only a little over half gone. On the couch sat the man and his wife sipping eggnog once again.
The tree was up again, he had had to get help putting it up. The lights gleamed mournfully and the tinsel merely sat there dully reflecting a little light. Below the tree sat only ten gifts Each wrapped differently each waiting quietly for the morning. The fire glowed a warm red just barely taking the chill off the room. One lone stocking hung by its self where once there had been two. On the mantle sat the Christmas candles over three fourths gone, on the couch sat the man sipping eggnog alone and remembering Christmas past.
The tree was up with all its sparkling beauty. The lights glowed in a warm myriad of glorious colors. The tinsel was up and gleaming with the reflected light of the light bulbs. On each and every branch hung a reminder of Christmas past. Below the tree sat a few presents each wrapped differently and patiently awaiting Christmas morning when they would finally be unwrapped.
A crackling fire burned brightly in the fire place giving plenty of heat. Hanging from the mantle one stocking awaited to be filled. On the mantle sat the Christmas candles all most gone and on the couch sat the man sipping eggnog. One small tear slipped from the mans eye and as the Christmas candles flicked to the end the man slipped quietly into death.