“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” – Agnes M. Pahro
LADISLAUS LOUIS D’SOUZA
It was late that evening when the phone rang. “Your mother seems extremely disoriented,” said the voice at the other end, adding, “Perhaps a visit from you might help – it’s difficult for me to say anything more than that,” before hanging up. Out rushed the son, who, revving up his car, made a dash for the Old Age Home [OAH]. Though visiting hours were long past, the Administrator allowed Alderin (All names changed for the sake of privacy) into the room of his mother, Christabelle, where he found her slouched in her chair, quite disenchanted. Perking up on hearing her only son call out, “Hey Mum!” she feebly asked, bursting into tears, “How come? Haven’t seen you in months!” “Been a bit busy, Mum! So sorry!” embracing her warmly.
It was a while before Alderin was able to calm her down before saying, “Now tell me, Mum - what can I do for you to make up for
the lapse?” “Hmm..., well—I’m dying of heat - maybe you could just replace that ceiling fan! It squeaks and squawks, disturbing my sleep. In fact I think most of the fans in this place are like that. I feel so bad for the other inmates.” “Issue resolved, Mum!”
At ten the next morning, Alderin was at the OAH with a dozen new fans and an army of electricians who in a couple of hours, had all the fans in the facility replaced. “Well Mom! Howzzat for a change!?!” Beaming from ear
to ear Christabelle gave him a thumbs-up! “What else would you like me to do for you
or for the Home, Mom?” “Hmm. . .how about
a fridge stocked with variables—ha, ha, hah!! I’m joking, son. But honestly, there have been times when I’ve gone to bed hungry because I’d had no appetite for what was being served and there was nothing in the small kitchen fridge for me to pick and eat.” “Done!” he said before zipping out again. It was nearing Tea time when Alderin was back, this time with two king-sized Refrigerators! By the time Christabelle and the rest of the inmates had trooped in for their cuppa, the fridges, both well stocked with stuff that he felt the old might like to dig into at will, were already functional, one in the refectory, the other in the kitchen!
Later, after tea, when mother and son settled down on the wonky sofa in her room, Christabelle got pretty emotional as Alderin asked, “Mum, why didn’t you tell me all along? You’ve been here five years but never once complained and so I wasn’t even aware of your difficulties...” “Well son, when did you last come anyway? I waited for you last month, certain that you’d come to wish me for Mother’s Day
– but you didn’t! I looked for you last Sunday, hoping you’d accompany me to Dad’s graveside for Father’s Day – but no! All the inmates here had a son or daughter visiting and spending time with them – except poor me,” she trailed off, teary-eyed. Unable to contain his emotions, Alderin dug his face into his palms, muttering over and over again: ‘Sorry Mum! I’m Sorry! So sorry....!” As their sobs softly receded, Mother sat upright and, cupping son’s face in her palms, said, “It’s not for my helplessness that I grieve, Alderin, but for how you will manage when your children have you and Sonal admitted here in your old age.” Alderin swooned as the lesson instantly sank in.
In time, Alderin’s frequent visits with
family cheered old Mum up. In fact, in the months leading to Christmas that year, unbeknown to her, Alderin and his wife
Sonal, had very graciously taken the OAH Management into confidence well in advance concerning their plans to take Christabelle
back home at Christmas for good. Incidentally, Christabelle was a name coined by her own dear grandmother of happy memory amidst
the excitement of her birth on Christmas Day, 25 December! And so it was that, unbeknown
to her, the family was feverishly working on
an extra-special Christmas present for her— making her designated room in their new, palatial house as comfortable as they could, complete with a decorative ceiling fan as well as air-conditioning, not to mention a decent-sized refrigerator stocked with the choicest delights, apart from curtains in her favourite pista green!
Come Christmas and the house looked scintillating! The couple’s 14-year old daughter, Meena and 10-year old son, Selwyn decorated the Tree and set up the Crib besides choosing the fairy-lights to illuminate the entire house and its front lawn. Visiting her two days before Christmas, Alderin asked, “Mum, what would you like as a Christmas present this year!” Smiling wistfully she replied, “What better present than the Christmas Night Mass at the Cathedral!” Recalling how she loved to sing in the Cathedral Choir, Alderin instantly replied, “Done! The Mass is at nine tomorrow night.” “You mean you’ll take me there?” “Of course, Mum! I’ll pick you up at seven for the long drive to the Cathedral! Is that okay?” “Sure Alderin!” said she, hugging him gratefully.
Conscious of how elegantly Christabelle always dressed, particularly on occasions like Christmas, Alderin and Sonal picked up for her one of the finest Christmas dresses they saw at Spencer’s. It was at 6 on Christmas Eve that the family marched into her room, holding aloft her Christmas dress to her utter delight—the start of a Christmas she’d never forget! The delight evident on the face of the lovely old lady was to be seen to be believed, what with the Cardinal- Archbishop recognizing her and stopping by her chair to bless her! Christmas Mass was followed by a drive up the hill where the kids hurried
out of the car to stand at the gate and sing their Nana a welcome song they had composed to the chiming of tiny Christmas bells!
“Wow! It’s like entering wonderland!” exclaimed Christabelle. “WELCOME THEN TO WONDERLAND, your home forever!” chirped Sonal. Mum, not quite trusting her ears, said, “We’re gonna be late to return to the Home, dears!” “Not at all!” They chorused together! Ascending the steps to the main entry of the house with her, the kids said, “Nana, we have a surprise for you! But you must close your eyes
as we lead you in, okay?” “Okayeee!” Moments later, standing before her room, the kids said, “Now open your eyes!” And as she did so, Alderin and Sonal standing on either side of the door, together with the kids chorused: “Welcome to your new home on your birthday, Mama/Nana!” The final meltdown was the framed poster from her former house above the doorpost that said: What is home without a Mother!
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