~It was Christmas Eve 1939 and Jenny's family – my family – was in hurry. Both my younger brother, Jonathan, and I were helping mum with the clean-up of the house and the preparations for the meal for that night's dinner. A delectable smell was coming from the kitchen; there was a stuffed turkey with overripe, juicy plums in the oven which were going to be served with mushy sweet potato. Mum had had to rush to the supermarket for last-minute shopping, as she had forgotten to buy red wine and bread. Everything should be perfect by the time of kinfolks' arrival. However, this Christmas wouldn't be quite the same…
In the afternoon, when everything was almost ready, Jonathan and I went upstairs to dress up so as to be prepared for welcoming our guests. Mum had bought me a dress, made especially for the occasion, with red velvet and black lace on the hems. My brown wavy hair was tied up with a red ribbon and I was wearing my favourite gold earrings that dad had bought me on my16th birthday. Despite the time that had passed since he left, I was always thinking of him…
It was almost 6 o'clock when Aunt Vanessa, Uncle Robert and the mischevious twins came home. They were all dressed up, holding colourful presents for the three of us in the family and kissing us, wishing us a Merry Christmas. We all sat down at the table dinner, waiting for the others to come. We were extremely hungry and the smell of the food was whetting our appetite more and more. While I was sitting there, I noticed that Uncle Robert looked just like dad; they both had short, black hair, brownish eyes and an imposing stature, revealing their well-mannered upbringing. I just couldn't stare at him while so many sad thoughts of the past months were coming to mind. Without wanting to, I burst into tears and ran quickly to my room. I couldn't handle the pressure of missing dad, and pretending that everything was alright, even though I knew it wasn't, and now, spending my first Christmas Eve without him. After a while, mum knocked on the door and entered my room. She knew what was happening to me, of course, and while she was trying to hold back her own tears, she was attempting to cheer me up. I was so sure she had the same feelings as me and was fighting against the same or even stronger waves of emotion that had been caused due to the war.
Some hours later, after eating and having fun, grandma, grandpa, my aunt and uncle, mum and we, the kids, were gathered round the fireplace, next to the Christmas tree. Aunt Vanessa was playing several Christmas carols on the piano during our casual conversation that was trying to avoid the subject of the war. 'That's all we've been discussing for so many months now. I think we shouldn't refer to it anymore', mum had said quietly some days ago. And that's what we had done.
Suddenly, a knocking on the main door was heard. We weren't sure if it was really happening, as we weren't expecting anybody to come that late. Another knocking some minutes later confirmed our suspicions and when uncle opened the door, he found a letter, signed by the British army. We were all scared to open it in case the news was unpleasant. With her hands trembling, mum held the letter and read it. Suddenly a huge smile painted her face. She was so happy that tears ran from her shining eyes. She couldn't believe that her husband had been found alive and would come back home on Christmas day. I hadn't seen her so enthusiastic for ages! Her happiness made us happy, too. All of a sudden, the house brightened and everybody was talking about dad's arrival and what had to be done before tomorrow morning.
That was the best Christmas Eve of my whole life, for sure!~
I looked at my grandchildren while they were sleeping. I closed the book, left it on the nightstand and kissed both of them. ' Merry Christmas', I said and turning off the small light on the wall, I left quietly.
