“SNOW! SNOW!” were the shouts echoing in the study hall at Russellville High School as all the occupants, including the teacher, Mr. Kirby, headed to the tall windows on the Summer Street side to watch the flakes that were falling as big and fluffy as feathers from a goose down pillow.
Two hours later the rollicking snow was continuing to plummet when the dismissal bell rang. It was the Friday before Christmas. There would be no more school in 1956.
The boy pushed his way through the students who were gathered on the front steps, lighting up Marlboros and talking excitedly about their plans for Christmas. There were to be a dance at Teen Town, private parties, gifts to be purchased, visits to be made.
When the boy spotted the girl who stood shivering on the Sixth Street sidewalk, he practically leapt down the 13 steps, brushing against his fellow Panthers. “Hey,” Mike yelled, “you get that bracelet yet that you asked me about?”
The boy didn’t answer as he zipped up his older brother’s R-LETTER jacket and headed toward the waiting girl. “HOLD UP, Vann,” he exclaimed.
The snow was swirling faster, showing no signs of letting up. The girl took a step toward him, then hesitated, still shaking from the cold.
“You look like a snowman….er, snowgirl,” the boy spat out, brushing a big flake from her nose.
“I should have listened to Mother,” Vann answered; “she said the weather was gonna get colder and that I should wear a heavier jacket.” She shuttered. “She didn’t say anything about SNOW!”
“That’s okay. Want to head to Duncan’s for a hot chocolate? Pete makes the best in town, after my grandmother, of course.“
“I need to know who that very attractive girl I saw you talking to near the principal’s office is?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you? That’s my cousin Martha Moody; she’s came by to pick up a transcript.”
“Okay, just checking; but I had better go home. I’m getting wet. I don’t want to catch a cold right here at Christmas.”
“I’ll walk with you part way. Something I want to tell you.”
They walked and talked, ignoring the snowballs that were thrown at them by the excited students. “Remember when I had you write down a couple of things you wanted for Christmas?”
“Yeah. I’m getting one of them right now. SNOW!”
“Correct, Vann. And the other was a Spidel Identification bracelet, the one so popular now with your name on the front and a place for a picture inside. And, maybe, a boy’s name on the back.”
“Yeah. But I don’t know about the name on the back. I’m afraid Dad would think that was too personal.”
The boy hesitated. “And when you asked me what I wanted……”
She laughed. “You said ‘whatever makes you happy.’”
“Correct. But I’ve been thinking. I think we could each put the $5 limit we set on buying each other a present to better use.”
He was holding her cold hand in his. He felt her grip tighten. “You haven’t bought me anything yet, have you?”
“No,” she sounded exasperated. “I was going to do it tomorrow.”
“Well, listen to this. You know I’ve been working some at Guion’s Market as a stocker and bagger.”
“Yes.”
“The other day Mr. Guion asked his employees if they wanted to contribute to one of his favorite charities, Christmas dinner for the homeless in Nashville. He goes over there every week to buy fruits and vegetables.”
“So?” She seemed puzzled.
“Vann, wouldn’t it be in the spirit of Christmas if we each pitched in our $5 for Mr. Guion to give? We would be providing dinner for 10 homeless people.”
She let go of his hand and brushed snow from her hair. “That would make me very happy. You’re so thoughtful.”
He took her hand again. Wet. Cold. “And I would be happy. I would get my gift from you.”
“I guess that would be ok. I can give you $5 tomorrow.”
“How about tonight? The City has already blocked off Stadium Hill. Kids will be sledding up there all night. I’ll bet your little brother will want to come.”
“Yeah, I guess I could do that. If my brother wants to go sledding, Dad won’t mind. And no school. We could stay late.”
They were already on Rhea Blvd. “That’s the plan then. You know, I should head over to Miss Robbie’s art studio and shovel her sidewalk so she can walk her dog Winston.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a call about tonight.”
He leaned forward, dropping her hand and placing it on her shoulder. “How ‘bout a kiss to seal the deal?”
“How ‘bout we rub noses likes the Eskimos?”
“Excellent idea. Your nose looks like old Saint Nick’s. It’s red as a cherry.”
They rubbed noses. He hurried in one direction, and she in the other.
After shoveling Miss Robbie’s sidewalk and refusing the dollar she offered, he made his way to Duncan’s Drugs Store. He looked forward to a cup of hot chocolate and a pack of Nabs. Shoveling snow was hard work.
He was just finishing his second cup of Pete Simmons’ hot chocolate when his friend Shorty burst in, rubbing the snow from the front of his sweater. He wasn’t dressed for the sudden change in the weather either.
“Haydad,” he replied when he saw the boy. “I peeked in Worley Jewelry’s window a while ago. I see you won second prize in their Christmas giveaway.”
“I did? Honest injun?” He stuck out his pinky finger and Shorty gripped it with one of his own.
“Right as rain…er, snow.” Shorty assured him.
The boy put his empty cup on the counter and headed for Worley’s.
A.B. Worley, a loupe firmly on one eye, was repairing a wrist watch. When the boy entered, the white-haired man glanced up. “Oh, it’s you. I wondered when you were coming in to claim your prize.”
“Thank you, Sir. Here I am. What did I win?”
“You won a very popular item, big ticket item this Christmas.” He took the loupe from his eye and placed it and the watch on the counter. “You are now the proud owner of a Spidel I D bracelet. I had to save it for you. It’s the last one in the store.”
“Oh, WOW!”
“And I’ll put some lucky girl’s name on the front. Spell it out for me so I get it right. You can pick it up Monday.”
The boy took the paper Mr. Worley placed on the counter and printed in big letters V A N N.
Christmas morning Vann was in for quite a surprise, he thought, as he headed home.
That night Vann was washing up the supper dishes when her mother came into the kitchen. She had an open box in her hands. “Vann?” she asked. “Do you know anyone who might wear this sweater.”
Vann dried her hands and turned to her mother. “What sweater?”
Her mother pulled a green fleece sweater from the box and held it up. “Your dad received this sweater last year from a cousin in Memphis, but it’s too small for him. He hasn’t even tried it on.”
“I might,” Vann answered. “What size is it?”
“It’s an adult small, too large for your little brother. I was just thinking….”
A Christmas sparkled over Vann’s head!!!
“I’ll take it, Mom. I know the perfect person to wear it. In fact, green is one of his favorite colors.”
“Okay.” She put the sweater back in the box and handed it to Vann. “It’s all yours. I hate to see nice things go to waste.”
“Is it okay if I go sledding on Summer Street hill? Do you think Dad will mind?”
“I’m sure he won’t. I think your brother will want to go, too.”
Vann took the sweater upstairs to her bedroom and placed it on the bed.
“Will he be surprised! He didn’t say anything about a gift that didn’t cost me anything. This is turning out to be a PERFECT CHRISTMAS.
AND IT WAS!! And so was the sledding which lasted until after midnight.
Merry Christmas, Everyone