The Christmas String

THE CHRISTMAS STRING

 

When I was eight years old, my father brought a pine tree into the house, from the forest.  My mother asked, "How do you like our christmas tree?"  And, I told her, "That's no christmas tree, it's just an old pine tree from the forest.  I know, because I tied that string on there, so I wouldn't get lost."

 

My mother assured me that that string was how she knew that this was a christmas tree.  She took that filthy old string and cleaned it up and cross-stitched a saying on a heart that hung from it, at the top of that tree and all of the christmas trees that we had.

 

Now, it is over fifty years later and my mother has just passed away.  We lost our father about ten years ago.  Mom died during the holidays and it was very hard.  I was sitting in her parlor weeping into my hands and feeling very lost.  The thought of not having her to comfort me, anymore, was overwhelming.

 

Her cat walked past the christmas tree and caused a little bell ornament to ring.  I looked up at the tree and there it was; the christmas string.  I barely could remember what was written on the heart, but when I did a smile came to my face and heart.

 

     XXXX          XXXX               

  X         X      X         X

X   YOU   X  X  WILL  X

X  NEVER  X      BE     X

 X  LOST, BECAUSE  X

   X      I WILL        X

     X   ALWAYS     X

       X COME TO  X

         X  FIND    X

           X YOU  X

             X   !  X

               X  X

                 X   Even in death she had found me, when I was so very

                       lost.

 

Honorary Mention

Aug 19, 2011

• The 'One Day' Contest
• The Christmas String

 

Author's Note

This is simply a short story.

My mother, Susie Q on this site, is very much alive and well!

Love ya, Mom!!

Reviews

[Desert Dreamer]

Such a wonderful story...amazing how little things we do, like the making of this christmas string message, can have the most meaning to those that love us.

The first lines of the story had me heartbroken, seeing the tree that was most likely loved by a child who tied the string on it, cut down for decoration. How cruel we are to cut down our best-shaped trees in the forests (I don't participate in the tree cutting, it is hard for me to celebrate knowing that a tree just lost it's life). I liked the way you turned this around to re-use the string again in your story in a positive way.

[Marie Harrison]

Your short story warms the heart and uplifts the soul. What a tender write to read

[Dom Macchiaroli]

Love the piece Chris, and very tricky of you that it's fiction. You had me on that one. Good job.

[Susie Q]

This is such a powerful poem. It makes one think that love and memories go on after death. Thanks for sharing. Mom.

[Luke]

wow this really got me interested, it is really heartwarming and endearing it really came within

[Miss Coral]

More of what seems a passing memory than a story (even if fictional), but still absolutely wonderful. Sweet and simple. Great write. :)

[E. L. Foley]

The word 'heartwarming' was used before to describe this, and I think it's completely appropriate. The piece is short and bittersweet. The simple style works--describing the emotions without bathos. If you have other stories on similar topics, I think that this could be great in a collection.

[Sean Allen]

Well, it ought to be true, because I was going to tell you that the best stories are the true ones. Anyway, good Christmas stories all become true over time, so perhaps 50 years from now some grandmother will be reading this to ther grandchild whose cat was just hit by a car around Christmas time, and it will be true!

[ChristianM]

Very emotional story.
You tied the story together nicely.
I'm very close to my parents, especially my dad, and know when they go, it will be very hard.

[Ed Hart]

a real heart grabber, that...and what good fortune you had in your mother