Winter Season

Basement boogers

Esther stretched waking up from an amazing sleep. The lingering smell of Old Spice hung in the air. She smiled to herself burying her face in the pillow he had slept on. The flush of the commode caused her to jump followed by running water, she realized he was still there. He leaned up against the bathroom doorframe. “If you will go with me, I will look in the basement to see what we can find.”

“I would be delighted.”

“I’ll go change, just come over when you get ready.”

She smiled, “you got it.”

They went through the den down to the basement. He turned on the light and opened a couple small windows to let a little air into the space. He just stood in the middle of the room, “My uncle liked to tinker with models and he would let me help him.” Esther didn’t say a word. She just let him reminisce. He cleared his throat, “my aunt was a stickler for details. I’m sure the container would be labeled Christmas.” They didn’t find one box of Christmas things, they found ten.

“Wow!” Esther sneezed, “either this is a life time of stuff or she loved Christmas.”

“I don’t remember her loving Christmas per say. She had a tree but that’s all the decorations I remember.”

One box was every bit as tall as Oscar. “How much you wanna bet, that’s a tree?” Esther smiled.

“I’d say you’re right.” And indeed it was. It was a very old tree. “This tree is a good thirty years old.”

“Your hearts not in this is it?”

He sat on the steps. “No.” Rubbing his face with his hands, he continued. “It just seems like something I should do.”

She knelt in front of him, “I have a thought.” When he looked up, she was smiling. “Let’s forgo this idea for now. When I moved in with my grandparents, we started our own Christmas tradition. She always told me that she did it with her children when they were little. And the tree between the front door and your garage is perfect.”

“For?”

“Let’s string up some popcorn and candied cherries since cranberries are to expensive now; and make garlan for that tree?”

“I’ve watched people do that in movies.”

She smiled again, “it was great fun. Then again, I was a little kid.” She sneezed.

“Tomorrow, I’ll stop by the store and get the candy.”

She sneezed again. “I’ll have the popcorn ready.”

He smiled, “it’s a date.” She sneezed. “Are you okay?”

“It’s time for me to go. If we come back down here, remind me to wear a mask.”

The next evening when he got home from work, she had attempted to make chicken and dumplins .

“It smells great in here.” Oscar knocked as he walked in.

“If these aren’t any good, I have a pizza as a backup plan.” She smiled, “a white pizza.” She removed the cornbread from the oven. “Oh, before I forget.” She handed him back his key.

“No, keep it.” She was in shock and he noticed. “Please.” He smiled.

“Okay.” She flopped the cornbread on a plate.

He sniffed at the pot, “oh my.” She giggled. He took a spoon from the drawer and tasted.

She pouted, “and?”

He turned her face toward him then kissed her, “delicious, just like you.”

She blushed, “well you know.”

Winter Season