Elise said goodbye to her second daughter-in-law, sighed, paused, amended the thought to younger daughter-in-law, or rather younger son’s wife. Did that make her the younger daughter-in-law although technically older than both sons and her other daughter-in-law? In any case Bella was a very forthright young woman, not put off by any such distinction of age or rank.
She reviewed her Christmas plans. It would seem no Bella and David, certainly not unless she was prepared to bar Carla and Daniel unequivocally. Possibly Daniel alone as the younger son would be acceptable but that wasn’t going to happen.
First Christmas memories at her grandparents’ table rose unbidden. It held the two of them, their five children and spouses plus a growing number of grandchildren along with neighbours from time to time. She had been in the first group of three grandchildren, so there were over a dozen at the table always, and always one extra place. Her grandparents explained to her each and every year that on this day there must always be a place for a stranger at the door. Over time this became an acknowledgement of those no longer with us, but when alive George resisted even this interpretation and it never became their practice.
But that didn’t address the source or solution to the Bella and Carla dilemna. This couldn’t have happened at her grandparents’ table. Strong feelings often, yes, but never abandonment. She donned coat and hat, grabbed her bag and set out for the supermarket. She arrived to find a police officer standing with the store manager on either side of a youngish man with a cardboard sign announcing his homelessness. She continued inside and proceeded with her few supplies to her favourite checkout. To a friendly ‘Hello, dear,’ she smiled and nodded at the door.
‘Didn’t I see him here on the weekend?”
‘Yes, he hides a bike around the corner and lives in that three-storey walk-up two blocks over.” Her voice lowered. “But the manager allows no panhandling.’
Elise pondered the question of being homeless versus foodless on the way to the seniors’ centre to visit her friend Mona who would be going to her daughter’s for Christmas. Mona expounded on her guilt for leaving three or four fellow residents who had no family. Elise shared hers over argumentative daughters-in-law and grandparents who coped with more boisterous acrimony which didn’t result in anyone leaving. She ended with ‘even an extra place for the stranger at the door’.
“But perhaps,” she ended, “that was just a cultural thing with our family.”
“Oh, no,” Mona jumped in. “Scrooge’s nephew.” But just then they were joined by fellow card players.
Elise thought on the way home that they didn’t warn you when you were having sons or daughters. Daughters tended to be around all your life. Sons followed wives.
She thought about all this overnight through tossing and turning and dreaming of Alistair, the only real Scrooge, finally reaching a Eureka moment in the early hours. Hah, Scrooge’s nephew indeed, making a versa from vice, or family from strangers, and formed a plan.
The next day she called on Mona first and saw the manager, making arrangements to have Mona’s friends delivered to her place on Christmas day. On her way back she spotted the bike rider from the day before and flagged him down to issue her invitation.
Her afternoon was spent telephoning, first Daniel’s in-laws, then David’s, announcing that she would be hosting a Christmas buffet between 2 and 5. Only then did she call Daniel and Carla though it was Carla who answered and carefully expressed doubts that her family would attend.
Then it was Bella, whose reply to the announcement was a repetition.
Steeling herself, Elise said only,
‘Well, just to let you know you are all welcome. I do have a couple of special guests, but whatever works for you.”
She spent the rest of the week unpacking inherited china which hadn’t been used since it arrived in her basement, reviewing the neighbourhood and issuing invitations. There were cautious commitments, startled silences and a few offers to bring one thing or another.
By Christmas Day the fridge was full, table set and plates stacked beside the microwave. She was, she thought, as prepared as her grandparents had been those many years ago.
The doorbell rang, and there stood bike rider and one young female companion, expecting. Very expecting..
