If this Town could Talk

I started collecting houses and businesses for my perfect little town about 20 years ago. It has been named Pihotaville, where all the people no matter race, religion, sex, mental or physical disability are all welcomed and loved the same. They are some of the most loyal citizens and neighbors any where on earth. How do I know this you ask? Well, because they have kept many stories to themselves. Never have they told of what it is they have witnessed through out the years.

They have watched for many Christmas' the love, kindness, peace, kaos, sadness, joy and heart ache that has been felt by those they share their world with. From the carolers on the steps of Town Hall to the shoppers on Main Street down to the rummies on the dock, all have stories to tell.

The carolers asked to go first and want to share the love they have witnessed through out the years. The first sighting was many years ago a husband and a wife with their 2 little kids. The wife wrapping presents and placing them under the tree, to the night before Christmas watching the kids putting cookies out for Santa. Christmas morning would come with smiles and laughter and the love could be seen and felt by all. Now the rummies down by the dock recall Christmas' when it was just the woman. They would watch as she stressed always wondering if it would be a good Christmas. Then when Christmas morning came and the children would wake their mother excited and smiling, yelling Santa came Santa came. There was always complete joy in the eyes of the children.

The people in the village recall a couple of Christmas' when there was hostile attitudes and name calling. A few even recall the mother crying cleaning up a mess she did not make all with the hopes of keeping some kind of peace in the house. There was hope for next Christmas said the towns people. The next Christmas came and was worse than the last, they remember that to be the Christmas of the earthquake, when the house shook some falling from the hill and the businesses all closed their doors waiting for the tyrant storm to pass. With luck next will be better they thought, and they were right there may have only been the mother with the kids who were getting older now but they were much happier times.

The people welcomed another new comer that sat with the woman and wrapped presents and laughed together. The people liked him and thought he should stay and so he did. Times were good. There was work there was the joining of families. The womans son and the mans son joined a union and formed a bond. A friendship that would have lasted a lifetime. It was that Christmas Eve that will never be forgotten. The year when the mans son accidently shot himself in the head and had to watch helplessly as he fell to the ground. Only moments prior all were festive the woman wrapping presents in her room awaiting the arrival of her grand children. The man in the living room with the two young men, laughing sharing a beer and enjoying each others company. All seemed perfect until the sound of the gun firing off just one shot. All of the town watched in horror as the man held his son and the woman scrambled to call 911 and retrieving towels. Christmas came and went that year but not for us they all explained, and it was with fear they heard the woman say I will never put this town up again, as all she could see was the mans son laying on the floor by the village as he clung for life. There was no hope that he could be saved and 2 days after Christmas he flew to heaven.

The following Christmas came and the woman found away to gather up the town and find some joy and peace from Christmas. The kids were all there as it was from Christams' past with the addition of two new little ones. They brought the joy and excitement of Christmas, they helped along with us too say the kids of the town to make the day easier, The town thought it will be different from the rest but Christmas would still come and there would still be presents and cheer. Away went the town until next Christmas except next Christmas never came. The woman didnt take us out and place us through out the village with care. No one understood what it was they had done not to have been brought out to share Christmas, so they waited and next Christmas cane and went also. We just were grateful for all the Christmas' past they got to be a part of as they were sure their days were finished.

To all of their surprise the woman brought us all out of the attic and very carefully set up the village, and placed us all where she wanted us. The carolers, the rummies the kids and all were so very pleased to be sharing Christmas with the woman and her kids again. It wasnt until Christmas day that they learned the truth of why they werent invited the last two Christmas'. They were wondering were the son had been as he was always in and out but not this year. There were whispers of him being in jail again but no one was sure. Christmas eve came and the two new kids were there and there were some smiles but there were tears also. Why are they crying ? they asked. No one had an answer, they said tomorrow when the girl comes we will find out. Like clock work the womans girl was there in the morning and so were the two kids and the one they called mom was also there. This is when the whispers really started. Where is the boy? I havent seen him. The people were all scurrying around and then the woman began to talk and like when EF Hutton speaks everyone was listening. The woman began to cry and saying she was sorry to all gathered round. In a small shaky voice, with tears falling she called his name, "Joey"but he didnt answer. She looked towards the heavens and cried out again "Joey". It was then and there the people all realized and felt the pain of realizing the son, like the new mans son had died also.

The town felt blessed and grateful of the fact that they were even there sharing Christmas with the only other family they knew. The woman found her way of bringing all out again and allowing us to be a part of their holiday. We need to give her the best gift we all can think of for next year. The people wondered and tossed around ideas all year long as they lay waiting to go to their beloved town and to stand where ever she placed them. The people just didnt know what they were going to do about giving the woman something for Christmas. While she was lighting up the streets and the homes and businesses of Pihotaville and after we were all very carefully placed through out the streets and yards and the park that they all heard the woman talking to them. She began to say with a tear rolling down her face that she was grateful for each and everyone of us. That her heart loved each one of us and was grateful for us being a part of her Christmas' for so many years. She went on to say that she didnt know how so many times she would make it through and told us it was us that helped her through. That we were the best Christmas gift she ever had, that each of us the carolers, the kids in the park the rummies down on the corner and all the others helped her find the joy and peace that comes with Christmas. We gave her the best gifts ever and never even knew it.

So now this Christmas we all stand a little steadier, we know of the pain and the heart ache that the woman has lived and we know that we all have purpose. So it is with love, joy, and peace we stand and watch the woman as she goes through the motions of Christmas, knowing they have been the best gift ever. So Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.