The Scene

Christmas came faster then you ever expected it to. You came home and the weeks just flew as you finished last minute details for Christmas day. Before you knew it Christmas eve was here.
It was snowing softly as you quietly slipped out, finally you had been able to escape from all the crowded house.
The earth was deathly silent as you trudged along. The trees along the path made strange shadows and you felt yourself shiver uncontrollably.
Very soon you were far from your home alone. The last few months had made you forget what being alone was like. Alone and silent.
You could hear your heart beating, your breathes, the crunching rubbery sound of the snow underneath your boots. There wasn't even the sound of birds to break the spell on this winter evening. Your ears hated the sound of silence.

Finally you came to the clearing. The cottage was transformed, the outside didn't look so lonely and bleak as before. But there was so much lacking inside. No lamp shining through the window, no cheerful laughter, no brightly decorated Christmas tree, no nativity.
You felt a little ridiculous being sorry for a house, after all it's not like a house has feelings, maybe I should stop reading fantasy books you thought to yourself.
Something drew you to the window, you blew on it and then took your sleeve and rubbed it clear. You stared into the house, not sure what you were looking for and knowing you couldn't see anything at all.

The house should be full of people, her descendants. She should be rocking slowly in a chair with a small baby in her arms. 
As you spoke changes took place. You could see through the window into years past.


Loud laughter, talking and singing came from within. As you looked through you could see her sitting on a rocking chair she had a smile on her face as she gazed down at a little baby asleep in her arms. There were whisps of gray in her hair and her face was wrinkled from smiles and laughs of the past. 
It seemed like dozens of children ranging from all ages ran around the house or played silently in the corner. There was a large amount of adults in the house too, but strangely despite how crowded it looked no one snapped at each other. They were happy. 
There was a lightly decorated tree with dozens of packages underneath. Women worked busily in the kitchen finishing the last touches of dinner or preparing something for the next days meal.
They also were laughing gaily and talking amongst each other, it seemed as if they hadn't seen each other for a long time.
Once in awhile one of the women would call out to her, calling her mother, wondering to do such and such. 
She got the job of keeping track of the children, for the men were far to involved in their conversation. 
A little girl came up to the rocking chair and spoke.
"Grandma would you sing this?"
She smiled down at the bright eyes, unable to refuse. 
She sang the first verse in her low and steady voice and by the second verse she was joined by all.


"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him, born the King of angels:
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.


Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing all ye bright hosts of heav'n above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest: 
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.


Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n; Word of the Father now in flesh appearing: 
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord."


You took one more glance at all the happy faces and then turned away. Leaving them finishing the song. You didn't look back for fear it would have all disappeared. You would so much rather leave the cottage with a smile on your face and warmth inside then reality and you did.