One generation learns from another. Children
copy the actions of their parents more often than they obey arbitrarily spoken
rules. Stories are passed down in families. This is one of those tales. Amanda Horn, now a successful engineer, shares a story of sacrifice and love while growing up with very little money.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
| Jackie King and Amanda Horn (L to R) |
A true story told to Jackie King by Amanda
Horn
When
I was eleven we didn’t have any money at all to spare. Mama was paying off
doctor and laboratory bills that had stacked up from some medical tests I’d
needed earlier that year when the doctors thought I might have leukemia. So
when she told Bubba and me we couldn’t have Christmas that year, we weren’t
even surprised. Bubba was my uncle who was living with us. He was just a couple
of years older than I was, and like a brother.
Bubba
and I weren’t too concerned about not getting gifts, we hadn’t expected any. Mostly
we felt sorry for Mama, who worked long hours as a waitress to pay our bills.
But we were excited about Christmas all the same. Our thoughts were filled with
our own plans for buying a special present for Mama, something beautiful and
wonderful that would make her smile again. We knew just what to buy—a matched blue
silk-like gown and robe set that just matched her eyes.
Times
had been really hard for us since Mama and Daddy got divorced. I loved both of
my parents, but Mama was the one who took the daily care of me. She tended me when
I was sick and listened to my troubles when I was sad. Because of her closeness
to me, she was the one I spent most of my time worrying about. Daddy had
remarried and had another family to take care of him. I felt as if Mama was the
one who needed a really nice gift.
It
was 1977 and Bubba and I had been making some money by babysitting and doing
yard work for the neighbors. We stashed every penny we earned in an old jelly
jar and kept it hidden under the bed. Finally we earned and saved $22.79, the
exact amount needed to buy Mama’s gift. We bought the lovely blue gown and
robe. We wrapped our treasure in some bright yellow tissue paper left over from
my birthday, and then we were ready for Christmas Day.
“There
isn’t any money for a fancy dinner with a turkey and all of the trimmings,”
Mama said. I could tell it really hurt her to admit we wouldn’t have what
everyone else in town would have. I wanted to say something to make her feel
better, but didn’t know what that might be. I just sat and watched her swallow
hard before she spoke again.
“So
what would you kids like for Christmas dinner? I’ll fix you anything you want
that I can afford to buy.”
This
was a no-brainer for me.
“Bacon
and tomato sandwiches and Pepsi!” I shouted, and Bubba, who was always good
natured and happy to go along with my ideas, agreed. And that was what we had. After
stuffing ourselves with our favorite food, Bubba and I told Mama that we
thought that was the best Christmas dinner ever. Then we took her present from
under the bed where we had hidden this treasure and handed it to her.
Mama
started crying.
“Don’t
cry, Mama,” I begged. Bubba said, “We wanted to make you happy, not sad.”
“But
I couldn’t buy one thing for y’all,” Mama said, wiping away her tears with the
hem of a dish towel she had tied around her waist for an apron. “And you’ve
spent all this money on me.”
Bubba
and I kept hugging Mama and begging her to be happy because we were. Finally
she wiped away her tears and laughed.
“I
am happy,” Mama said. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world and am so proud of
the two of you.” She touched the soft silken fabric of her gift to her cheek.
And I love my beautiful gown and robe.”
Then
Mama made us a promise.
“Do
you two remember the story about when your grandpa told me and my brothers and
sisters that Santa couldn’t come until spring?”
I
nodded and so did Bubba. That was one of our favorite stories.
“Well,
I promise you that we’ll have Christmas in July to make up for this
disappointment.”
***
The
next July Bubba and I came home one day and Mama had a Christmas tree in the
living room—completely decorated and with lights twinkling. Brightly colored
packages were piled under the tree with our names on them. And, best of all, we
could smell turkey roasting in the oven.
“I
promised you we’d have Christmas in July,” Mama said. “It’s sad when Santa
can’t come in December, but in our family he always manages to come—even when
he’s seven months late.
Recipe for Bacon and Tomato Sandwiches for
Three
Six
slices of bread (whatever kind you like best)
Nine
slices of cooked bacon
Two
tomatoes, sliced
Three
slices of Swiss or other cheese (optional)
Three
tablespoons of mayonnaise
Butter
Spread
mayonnaise on bread. Add bacon, tomatoes and cheese. Melt butter in a hot
skillet and grill sandwiches until a golden brown. Serve hot.
Christmas in July was first
published in DEVOTED TO COOKING, Inspiration for the Aspiring Chef in Everyone.
 |
| Stories From the Heart |
