Christmas Phone

It was Christmas Day. The tree was decorated with lights, ornaments, and tensil. Four stockings hung above the fireplace with their names on them. Colored lights and blow-up characters illuminated the outside of the house. Snow covered the rooftops in the neighborhood. The sunlight glared off the snow on the ground.

Eight-year old Mary, woke up to the sun shinning through her curtains. She rubbed her eyes and said, "It's Christmas." When she jumped out of her bed, she ran to her parent's room to wake them.

They laid there sound asleep.

"Mom, Dad," Mary shook them to get up. "It's Christmas Day."

Sara, her mother, stretched her arms and yawned. "Alright sweetie. We will be down in a few minutes."

Mary grabbed her dad's hand, pulling him out of the bed to his feet. "Come on, Dad." She coached him. "Let's see what Santa brought."

Sara looked at David, "I'm going to make us some coffee."

Mary still had a hold of her daddy's hand while leading him down the stairs to his chair in the living room. He plopped down in the chair, yawned and began to doze off.

Sara went into the kitchen and began making a pot of coffee. When the aroma reached the living room, David's eyes opened slowly. The stronger the smell got the more her parents woke up.

"Where is Randy?" Mary asked about her older brother who spent the night at a friend's house. "Are we going to wait on him?"

"Do you want to wait until he gets here around lunch time?" Sara asked Mary.

"No, I'm too excited. I can't wait to see what Santa brought."

Dad spoke up, "Why don't we open one gift until Randy gets here."

Although somewhat disappointed, Mary understood.

***

Afterr Randy returned home, they opened the remaining gifts as a family. They weren't rich by any means, but they did have a decent Christmas and were grateful for what they did receive. Their mom finished cooking dinner for her family. When they sat down at the table, they each took turns stating what they were thankful for and prayed for those who were no longer living.

They spent the rest of the day together as a family playing games and enjoying the items they got for Christmas. Once everyone got tired, they watched Christmas movies until most of them fell asleep.

Something under the tree caught Mary's' eye. It was a small, red, velvet box with her name on it, from Grandma. She quietly took it to her bedroom and hid it under her bed. She was scared to open this gift because her grandma Sally, had passed away last year. She never met her dad's parents. They died in a car accident when he was very young. She didn't know where this present could have come from.

After thinking about the gift and all the possibilities, she opened the lid. On top of a smaller box was a note that read:

My Dearest Mary, Enclosed is a phone. You have until midnight on New Year's Eve to use it. At midnight it will disappear forever. You may use this phone to contact three people who have died. I love you and hope to hear from you soon. Love, Grandma Sally

Trembling, Mary slide the box back under her bed. She quickly crawled into bed and covered her head. Once she relaxed a little, she got more comfortable and stretched out. For the next couple hours, Mary tossed and turned, unable to think of anything else but the letter. Finally, she decided to get up and finish opening the gift from her grandma.

She opened the velvet box lid and placed it to the side. Then she dumped out the smaller box and opened it. Inside was the odd-looking phone that Grandma Sally talked about in the letter.

Mary looked the phone over, trying to figure out how it worked. It didn't have any buttons to push or antenna to reach the outside world. She held the phone to her ear. "Grandma Sally. Are you there?"

"Yes darling. I'm here. Oh, how I have missed you but have enjoyed watching you grow up. In your mother's room, there is a necklace I want to give you. It is a gold, heat-shaped locket sitting in her jewelry box. How about you go get it."

Mary quietly went to her parent's room and grabbed the necklace. "Ok, Grandma, I got it."

"Now this necklace is yours. Do not lose it."

"I won't Grandma. I promise."

"I've got to go now. I love you precious."

"Ok Grandma. I love you too."

***

A couple days later, Mary's mom was in Mary's room putting away laundry when she noticed the necklace hanging on the wall.

"Mary." Sara hollered.

Mary came running upstairs. "Yes, Mother."

"Where did you get this necklace?"

"Grandma gave it to me."

"Quit telling stories. We don't lie in this house."

"I'm not lying. I talked to Grandma Sally, and she gave it to me."

Sara snatched the necklace and took it back to her room. She turned to Mary, "this was your grandma's necklace. Do not touch it again."

"Yes, ma'am." Mary returned to herr room and closed the door. She began to cry.

Sally appeared before her. "Don't cry my child. I will get the necklace back for you." She left the room going through the wall. When she returned, the necklace was in hand. "If your mother has something to say, she will have to deal with me."

"Thank you, Grandma." She lightly pinched Mary's cheek before leaving. Mary looked down admiring the heart-shaped locket. Inside were two pictures, one of each of her grandparents from when they first met.

Sara burst into Mary's room, scaring her. "Where is the necklace?" Oh, you are wearing it." She huffed. "I told you not to touch it again."

"But Mom, I didn't get it this time, Grandma did."

"We don't tell lies in this family."

With tears streaming down her face, "Grandma Sally said that if there was a problem, you could take it up with her."

Sara took the necklace back, slammed Mary's door shut and stormed down the stairs.

"Sara."

She recognized the voice of her mother. When she looked up, Sally was standing in her way. Flabbergasted, Sara was speechless.

"You give that necklace back to Mary. She didn't lie to you, so you need to apologize to her. I went into your room and got it this time."

"Mom..."

"Dear child, I love you and I'm always with you."

Before Sara could say another word, her mom was gone. She sat on the stairs and cried for a while before talking to mary again. She couldn't believe what she had just experienced.

Sara turned around and went back to Mary's room, and lightly knocked on her door. "Can I come in?"

"Yes, mother."

She walked across the room and sat on Mary's bed. "Come sit." She patted the mattress beside of her. "I saw Grandma..."

Mary interrupted. "I told you I wasn't lying."

"I know that know baby, I am sorry I didn't believe you."

Mary reached under her bed and pulled out the red, velvet box. "I got this for Christmas from Grandma. I don't need it anymore. You can use it."

Sara opened the box and pulled out a phone.

"You have to read the note first, Mom."

After reading the note, she asked, "how do I use it?"

"I just asked for Grandma Sally, and she was on the other end.

"Thank you darling. Again, I'm sorry that I didn't believe you. Here is the necklace back." Sara placed the necklace around Mary's neck.