Christmas Contrast

Karl reached for his fourth sugar packet, a furtive stretch while Kerry was giving their order to the waitress. Having snatched a packet and he slowly moved his hand under the table. Out of her watchful sight he tore the top off the packet, waiting for an opportune time to add it to his cup. They were eating at Russ’s. Again. While his wife chatted amiably with the young waitress he chanced it and quickly poured the sugar into his coffee. As if the added sugar could sweeten his sour mood.

When she had ordered their dinner Kerry turned back to her husband. She noticed the empty sugar packet tucked under his plate but said nothing. She might mention it when he complained about gaining weight over the holidays. But it was Christmas, and he was her husband, and she loved him.

“Karl, I don’t know why you are so upset about this. People have a right to believe or not believe whatever they want.”

“He just ticks me off, that’s all I’m saying.” Karl stirred his coffee as he spoke, a frost of vanilla creamer swirling in the cup. “Every year he sits out on the Christmas party. Every year he refuses to be part of the gift giving. Every year he gives his little speech on how not everyone believes in Christmas, how we have to be respectful of other people’s points of view.”

Kerri could see he was getting cranky, but she spoke anyways.

“Well, people do have the right to believe what they want, and we should be respectful of their beliefs. He seems to be OK with you believing.

“Oh, I’m respectful,” Karl replied. “If he wants to be an idiot and not believe in Christmas, I can respect that.”

Karl could feel the anger rising in him. He stirred his coffee harder, sloshing it over the side and onto the table. His blood pressure must be up again. Try as he might he just could not understand it; Silas was a normal guy, how could he not believe in Christmas? If he was Jewish or Muslim or something maybe it would make sense, but he said he just wasn’t religious.

Christmas carols played on the overhead speakers. The waitresses wore Santa hats and had Christmas pins on their blouses. Christmas lights were strung throughout the restaurant and a beautifully decorated tree stood in the foyer. The mood of the others in the restaurant reflected a general feeling of good will among men.

Night came early and Silas settled back in his easy chair. He hit the menu button and scrolled past all the Christmas specials and programs. He finally came across a Discovery Channel special on the origin of the universe. He was always fascinated with these types of programs. A bowl of soup and a chicken salad sandwich balanced precariously on a tray on his lap as he settled in to watch. He had picked up a couple of packs of those Christmas Jingles cookies. They were 50% off at the Market around the corner. He planned to have a couple for dessert later that night. That would be the closest he would come to celebrating Christmas.

Karl checked the bill to make sure the amounts were right. Not bad, $16.50 for the two of them.

“Kerri, what’s 15% of $16.50?”

She smiled at him. She knew he was horrible at math, and notoriously cheap.
“Five dollars.”

Karl flinched momentarily, his wallet open. “Seems like a lot. You sure?”
“Yes, Karl, I am sure.”

Karl reluctantly left a $5.00 bill on the table and left to pay the bill. Kerri caught up with him by the register. When he turned to put the change into his pocket she stopped him and pointed to the small canister on the counter. He dropped the coins in the canister and pocketed the bills. Without hesitation she reached into his pocket, pulled out the remaining $3.00 and slipped the bills into the canister.

Silas watched the special, noting the beauty of the pictures and the strength of the theory. He was amazed at minds that could make sense of the complexity, could help understand how such order came about after such a massive explosion like the Big Bang. Having finished dinner he made some tea, then listened to NPR while he nibbled on his Jingle cookies. One good thing about Christmas; he got good cookies. Snow fell softly outside his window. Colorful lights from the neighbor’s house illuminated the banks of snow in his back yard. The quiet and beauty of the night calmed him.

They drove home, their favorite Christmas CD in the player. Kerri snuggled up close, her hand in Karl’s. She quietly hummed along with the music. Snow was falling in soft, wispy flakes. Colorful stockings outlined in white lights hung from each telephone pole along the road. The quiet and beauty of the night calmed even Karl’s sour mood. Don’t believe in Christmas; too bad for Silas. He didn’t know what he was missing. Tomorrow morning they would go to church and listen to the Christmas story. That afternoon the kids and grandkids would stop by. He loved to watch the grandkids eyes as they opened their presents. Karl was notoriously cheap (frugal, he liked to say) but not when it came to the grandkids. Their wish was his command.

Silas read a chapter in his book before getting ready for bed. After a shower and a good tooth-brushing he headed off to bed. Visions of exploding stars and swirling galaxies filled his head as he drifted off to sleep.

Tomorrow was Saturday.

Arriving home Karl and Kerri watched a little TV. Its A Wonderful Life was on again and they sat on the couch together to watch. When the movie was over the switched off the TV and headed to bed. Kerri put on the nightgown she had bought for herself, elegant and soft, and surprised Karl with a kiss in the hall as he headed to the bedrooms. Karl had visions in his head, and they were of more than sugarplums as he followed her into the bedroom. He left the Christmas tree lit so it would greet them the following morning.

Tomorrow was Christmas day.