Welcome!
Please enjoy that which is below.
May the blessings of the season fill your heart with JOY! xoxo
******************************************
Originally posted in I Ain't Dead Yet! December 25, 2007 - January 6, 2008:
Back several years ago, the editor of Dead Mule put out a call for Christmas short stories. I was on my way to being pretty sick about then, but the muses smiled upon me and gave me the germ for my first complete Aunt Grace story. In its original form, it was over 4000 words long. The editor at Dead Mule felt it was too long and asked me to hone it down to about 2500. Wanting the credit and looking at her request as a challenge, I told her I'd do my best. I edited it to just over 2700 words and she said that would do and thus my story ran in that edition of Dead Mule. Several server switches later, however, Aunt Grace was lost and is not in the DM archives. [NOTE: Two more stories have been published at Dead Mule since this post first appeared. Mrs. Mangum and Edam Elvis are both good for at least a smile and hopefully a chortle or three. Happy laughter!]
There are about two and a half dozen Aunt Grace stories altogether, partly unfinished, but there are notes on all of them. This story is the first one and is Miss Mama's favorite. My NC bff loves it too and I have a feeling Aunt Grace is one of the reasons he saved my life back in 2006 when the cancer had hold of me.
My gift to you, dear goobling, is the story below. I shall take it down on Epiphany in the new year. Please share it with someone you love, and tell them Merry Christmas! from me, my dear departed Miss Mama, and my Great-great Aunt Grace who inspires me but is, alas, a mythological figure.
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
Aunt Grace’s Broken Foot Christmas
© Virginia Lee
“Lord, Lord! What am I going to do about Christmas? Oh, good Lord! What’s to be done?”
Aunt Grace was a mess. She fell down the cellar stairs and broke her leg two weeks before Christmas, 1935. After a week in the hospital, she was home with her left leg in a cast. Unable to go upstairs to her bedroom or get her wheelchair into her private parlor, she had no choice but to stay in the large social parlor used primarily by the residents of the boarding house she ran for respectable gentlemen.
The social parlor was nicer than most in such places. Normally, a long sofa sat against the wall next to the central hall. Facing it were several comfortable chairs. In between the front windows sat the console radio. Two game tables were set up by the side windows and a couple of reading chairs with good lighting were at opposite ends of the room. Bookcases stocked with dime novels, classics, and adventure tales designed to entertain and educate Aunt Grace’s roomers filled every available nook.
“Miss Grace! What are you up to? You settle down on that couch and get your leg propped up right quick. Your brother called and he’s on his way over here. If he sees you like you are right now he’ll have both our heads. Let me shove this pillow in there. That’s better. Oh now, take that ugly face off yourself! Like I tells my children, it’s apt to get stuck that way you leave it long enough.” And with that, Josephine,
Aunt Grace’s cook, housekeeper, and confidante widened her eyes and bared her teeth in a maniacal grin. Aunt Grace laughed so hard that tears rolled down her face.
“Oh Josephine, I’d be lost without you. I can hear Elliot fussing about my leg not being up in the air high enough. Lord, Lord, that’s about all I need today too.” Aunt Grace sighed and settled back onto the chaise longue that two of her boarders had brought from her bedroom along with her small chest of drawers. Instead of carrying her antique rice bed all the way downstairs, however, the bed from an unoccupied room was moved into the big parlor. The doctor had some men move the sofa, one of the card tables, the radio, and a few chairs into the wide center hall temporarily for the lodgers so Aunt Grace could recover in private.
“Here’s your small sewing basket, Miss Grace, and all your pretties for decorating your Christmas Eve hat. Mr. Harrell said he wasn’t going to take no for an answer about you going to church, so you only have one day to do it. Have you thought about what dress you’re wearing yet?”
“No, I haven’t,” the temporary invalid said peevishly. “As little attention as Mr. Harrell’s been paying me lately, I’m disinclined to go anywhere with him. Even church!”
Mr. Harrell was Aunt Grace’s gentleman friend. He was the first person to rent a room when she began taking in boarders and he had no plans to ever move out. Mr. Harrell traveled for his job and bought a new Packard sedan every other year. He enjoyed returning from sales trips and presenting Aunt Grace with a music box or Evening in Paris perfume gift set.
“Mr. Harrell hasn’t forgotten about you! He’s busy this time of year. Remember? He didn’t get back to town last year until two days before Christmas.”
“I suppose,” Aunt Grace said, reaching for her sewing box.
Out in the garden shed, Mr. Harrell peered at the mechanism of the old Regina tabletop music box he’d retrieved from Dr. Elliot’s farm. He’d gone the previous week to pick up the wheelchair Aunt Grace needed for her convalescence. While getting the wheelchair, Mr. Harrell noticed the music box sitting on top of its custom-built cabinet that held the large metal disks it played.
“That’s a mighty fine music box you have there, Elliot. Why’s it out here in the barn?” Mr. Harrell took out his handkerchief and dusted the outside of the machine carefully, lifted the lid, and looked inside.
“I’d forgotten about that. My wife had me cart it out here when we got our new console radio. Are you as fond of music boxes as my sister is?”
“No, I like the radio myself, but Miss Grace surely loves them. Is this the one your mama had? Your sister loves that machine!”
“It’s the very one. Do you think Grace would like to have it? I’ll see if there’s a repair shop downtown that can get it working. Most likely it’ll have to go up to New York. Take a few months to get it shipped, fixed, and back.” Dr. Elliot looked thoughtful.
“It doesn’t look too bad. Let’s see if it’ll work.” Mr. Harrell turned the crank on the side of the music box with some effort. “Machine oil will take care of that. Here’s the switch, up in the corner.” He shifted it to the ON position and slowly the works began to move. The Blue Danube Waltz became audible with a few notes off pitch. He turned the machine off, lifted out the disk, opened a drawer of the cabinet, and placed the disk inside.
“Elliot, I’d like to carry this back to Grace’s. I’m sure I can fix it up. I’m good with mechanical things.” Mr. Harrell closed the lid of the music box and waited for a reply.
“That’s a fine idea! Gracie will faint when she sees it. Let’s put the music box in the wheelchair and carry it out to your car. Then we can come back for the cabinet.”
Mr. Harrell had a time getting the music box into the shed back at Aunt Grace’s, but he managed. He’d been working on the mechanism for several days. He kept tinkering with it, taking a part out here, checking it for damage and rust, putting it back. It was an arduous process but he knew it would be worth it once Aunt Grace heard the result.
“Whatcha doin’, Mr. Harrell?” A child’s voice startled him.
“Lord, Ruby! You scared me half to death! Did your grandmother send you out here?”
Ruby and her cousins, Zora and Livvie, were Josephine’s grandchildren. Ruby was the oldest.
“No sir. She don’ know we’re visitin’. We heard noises out here. Livvie said she thought it was fairies like Aunt Grace tells us about from her big storybook. You got fairies?”
Laughing, Mr. Harrell said, “Well, I have something a little like fairies. Can you keep a secret?”
Three pigtailed heads nodded vigorously.
“Livvie, turn this crank. That’s it! Zora, come here and I’ll lift you up so you can reach. See that switch in there? Can you move it? Good!” He put the littlest cousin down and the girls’ eyes widened as Greensleeves began to play.
“It is fairy music! I tol’ you it was!” Livvie began to sway. Ruby grabbed Zora’s hand and they danced.
After a while, Mr. Harrell turned off the music and said, “Girls, you all promise me. You won’t tell anyone, especially not Miss Grace, about this music box, will you?”
“Not even Mama Jo?” Ruby looked uncertain.
“She knows. Please ladies, it’s a secret. It’s a surprise for Miss Grace’s Christmas. I’ll tell you what,” Mr. Harrell three shiny nickels from his pocket, presenting one to each girl. “Here’s a nickel for each of you. Now you can get your own surprises.”
“Thank you, Mr. Harrell! We won’t tell Aunt Grace about the fairy box. We promise!” Holding their nickels tightly, the little girls left the shed, walked to the kitchen door, and knocked.
“Mama Jo! You in there?”
“Look who’s here! Come on in. Ruby! You know better than to let Livvie go around without her coat buttoned. Lord, Lord! Now come here and give me some sugar.” Mama Jo embraced all of her granddaughters at once. “What brings you callin’?”
“We came to see you, Mama Jo! And to see how Miss Grace is doin’. Is her leg still broke?”
“Yes, Ruby, it is. She’s been in a right state today too. You’re just what she needs. Give me your coats and I’ll take you in to see her. She’s working on her Christmas hat but I’m sure she’d like a visit.” With their coats off, Josephine gave them a spit and a polish and led them into the parlor.
“Miss Grace! Miss Grace! We come to see you and your broke leg!” Livvie ran over to the couch where Aunt Grace was working her millinery magic.
“Well if it isn’t my girls!” Aunt Grace beamed. “You three are a welcome sight. I’m about to have a fit over this hat and now I’ve got you to help me with it!”
“That yo’ Christmas hat, Miss Grace?” Zora asked.
“Yes, indeed it is. I can’t seem to get it right. Can you help me?”
The little girl nodded and tiptoed closer to Aunt Grace. Her eyes widened as she looked at the vast array of ribbons and accoutrements.
“You sure got some pretties, Miss Grace. I bet you have the most beautiful hat of all.”
“Thank you, Ruby. I don’t know why I’m bothering. All anybody’s going to see is this big white cast.” Aunt Grace knocked on her cast and tried to smile but she didn’t quite manage it. “Now then, what are you girls doing here? Why aren’t you out playing?”
Livvie and Ruby answered Aunt Grace and told her about the decorations they saw in the shop windows during their walk that day. Zora, meanwhile, had been staring at the ribbons, shiny baubles, and feathers. Gingerly she picked up a long green satin ribbon and looked from it to the cast. She moved to the foot of the chaise and began to wrap the ribbon around Aunt Grace’s plaster covered ankle, tying the ends together in the prettiest bow she could manage.
“Now it ain’t all white, Miss Grace.”
“Zora! I’m sorry, Miss Grace. I don’ why she did that.” Ruby began untying the ribbon.
“No! Leave it! Zora has the right idea. Let’s decorate my cast! Josephine! Yoo-hoo, Josephine!”
“Yes’m? These girls botherin’ you?”
“Heavens no! Zora has a brilliant idea. We’re going to decorate my cast. Can you bring my big sewing basket, please? And some of my prettiest scarves?”
“Sure thing, Miss Grace. Livvie, come help me carry.”
“Yes’m, Mama Jo.”
An hour later, Aunt Grace’s cast was swathed in bright scarves and ribbons. Aunt Grace was so pleased with the effect that she invited the little girls choose three ribbons apiece for their hair. The last bow was being tied upon Ruby’s braids when the doorbell sounded. Josephine answered the door and let Dr. Elliot into the house.
“What’s all this ruckus?” Dr. Elliot’s voice boomed as he entered the parlor. “Good Lord, Gracie! What have you done now? How am I supposed to look at your leg?” He pretended to be angry but his twinkling eyes belied the gruffness of his voice.
Josephine came into the parlor too and said, “I’ll take your coat, Dr. Elliot. Girls, y’all come with me. I’ve got cookies and milk in the kitchen. Say goodbye to Miss Grace and thank her for your pretties.”
“Thank you, Miss Grace! We hope your leg gets better real soon!” All three girls curtsied and followed Josephine.
Laughing, Dr. Elliot said, “Well Gracie, it looks as if you’ve got all the doctorin’ you need already. You look happier today than I’ve seen in a week!” Then he gave Aunt Grace a thorough check-up.
On Christmas Eve morning, a cacophony awakened Aunt Grace.
“What’s going on out there? Lord, Lord! Somebody answer me! Yoohoo! Hello?”
The noise was coming from the wide central hall. It sounded like a herd of elephants was tromping through the house.
“Somebody better answer me! Oh, good Lord, what is that racket?” Aunt Grace reached for her dressing gown and was trying to get to her wheelchair when a knock sounded on the parlor door.
“Come in!”
“Good! You’re decent.” Mr. Harrell smiled at Aunt Grace. “Let’s get you into this wheelchair. We have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? How thoughtful!” Her earlier anxiety dismissed, Aunt Grace smiled and said, “Now then, push my wheelchair closer!”
Mr. Harrell helped the lady into her conveyance. He even tucked a quilt around her, patting her hand when he was done.
“You’re all set now, Grace. Close your eyes and I’ll be your chauffeur.”
“Take care with my leg!” Aunt Grace fluttered her lashes at her favorite boarder, happy to have his attention.
“Yes’m, I’ll be careful. Shut those eyes!”
She obeyed and he maneuvered the wheelchair into the hall.
“Open your eyes, Gracie!”
“Elliot? What are you doing…Oh my soul! It’s resplendent! It’s beautiful!” Aunt Grace reached for her handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. “How long did it take? I’m amazed!”
The main hall was impressive. There was a wreath on the inside of the front door that Aunt Grace’s sister-in-law assembled from boxwood and holly branches dressed with red velvet bows. The boarders had made pine ropes and festooned the banister and doorways. Dr. Elliot had cut down and brought a tree from the farm. Trimmed with strings of popcorn and colored paper, Aunt Grace’s fancy glass ornaments added glamour to the evergreen.
Everyone sang a chorus of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. When they finished, Josephine’s granddaughters stepped forward.
“It’s all for you and your broke leg, Miss Grace.” Ruby was spokesperson. “We know it ain’t Christmas ‘til tomorrow, but you been so sad we all decided you needed it early. This is from us girls.” She handed Aunt Grace a covered basket.
“We hopes you like it, Miss Grace.” Livvie said.
Zora added, “It’s soft.”
Aunt Grace lifted the towel from the basket. Sitting upon a blue satin pillow was an orange fluffball wearing a blue satin bow. “I love him! I’ll call him Sir Marmalade. Thank you so very much!” She lifted the kitten from his pillow and rubbed her cheek against his fur.
Dr. Elliot, noticing her quivering bottom lip, said, “Now before you get to bawling again, Gracie, the rest of us have some things we’d like to give you.”
A half-hour later all Aunt Grace’s presents were open, save one.
“You’ll look mighty fine in that pretty dress Elliot’s missus made, Miss Grace. I hope you’ll wear it to church with me this evening.” Mr. Harrell was unusually shy.
“I certainly shall, Mr. Harrell. Now then, what’s that you’re hiding behind your back, sir? Is it for me?”
“Yes ma’am, it is. I hope you’ll like it.” Mr. Harrell handed her a large, flat, square box wrapped in shiny paper. Excited, she tore off the paper and opened it quickly.
“It’s a music box disk! Oh, I don’t have a music box large enough to play this. Elliot, do you think this will fit Mama’s? I guess I’ll have to wait to hear it until I get out to the farm again.”
“No you won’t, Gracie. Wheel it in boys! Gracie, Mr. Harrell saw this when he came for the wheelchair. He’s been working on it ever since so you’d have it in time for Christmas."
“Why Mr. Harrell, is that true?” Aunt Grace finally understood where her friend had been keeping himself.
“Yes, Grace, it is. You talk so often about your mama’s music box and when I saw it at the farm I asked Elliot and he said go ahead so I did. Do you like it?”
Reaching for her handkerchief, Aunt Grace nodded.
“Let’s see what that disk is, Gracie. Turn that crank, someone! Let’s have some music!”
O Holy Night played once the disk was inserted and Aunt Grace began to sing. When the song ended, everyone applauded.
“Y’all must be starved!” Josephine stood in the doorway of the parlor. “I’ve got ham biscuits, scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, apple fritters, and a big urn of coffee set out. Come have some breakfast, but set that box to playin’. That’s pretty, that is.”
Aunt Grace ended up having a wonderful holiday despite her broken leg. She talked about that Christmas for the rest of her life.
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
