Page 10 - EGO Magazine December 2019

local // lleol local // lleol

The Church

Step A Short gesture of a middle finger. singing had caught my attention

‘Ah love and peace to you too ‘, and I was curious. It was then that I
Story By Tony I muttered. I realised then that I recognised her,
‘Mrs Tassinnari, I’m so sorry for
sounded like Ringo Starr.
startling you’
I eventually managed to find
somewhere to park without having ‘Oh, let me catch my breath’. She
Burgess to pay. A tight spot right outside said. Then still clutching her chest
the old and now sadly closed
she continued,
Catholic church. I couldn’t help but ‘You must think I’m a crazy old
notice someone had put flowers woman singing there on those cold
and lit candles on the step right church steps , but this Church has
infront of the door. so many memories for me , its walls
It started to snow as I walked hold the voices of all my family, and
back to the car clutching my frozen when I sing to them I hear them, I
y Christmas from its ominous bruise colour, puff pastry and redcurrant jelly. I see them , I want to be with them.’
Eve afternoon it was cold enough for snow. As I stood and watched the snowflakes Mrs Tassinnari wept softly.
plans of listened further to the Carol service as they danced around the street ‘Here let me walk you home, you
sitting Infront my thoughts were consumed as to lights, they appeared unsure where only live down the road, don’t you?’
of the log what gifts would I bring to a Baby to land. I wondered how many I said,
Mfire, reading Jesus now, today. I just couldn’t get children would be squealing with ‘Do you know I still remember
and breaking open the tin of Roses, past the obvious modern electronic excitement as they watched this that first ever frothy coffee your
washed down with something festive choices and think of something far scene through their windows. husband Enzo made for me in
were thrown into disarray, as a more reaching and philosophical. Children, Christmas and Snow the your cafe, from that huge brightly
stream of swear words emanating Fortunately, I arrived in perfect Trinity I thought, then I polished coffee machine, and
from the heavenly-scented kitchen town at this point so I gratefully heard singing, was it carol singing? he introduced me to egg and
reached my ears. Five minutes later mentally filed that conundrum. It was faint but got slightly louder Mortadella rolls. My doctor would
I was in the car heading for town. A I would perhaps ask family and as I approached the church. It was a have liked to have had a word with
missing packet of puff pastry and a friends over one of the Christmas frail female voice. him’.
jar of redcurrant Jelly were the cause meals for their suggestions. I On the Church step, Mrs Tassinnari laughed and
of such kitchen angst. I switched he drove slowly down the main street, illuminated by the candlelight, spoke eagerly and brightly about
radio on and Carols from Kings had I hadn’t noticed before just how appeared to be a large bundle of the café and her husband Enzo as
just started. The thought of going pretty the councils Christmas street black clothes. The singing stopped; we walked slowly to her home.
into town on Christmas Eve made lights were this year, even the shop the bundle of clothes moved Mrs Tassinnari’s arm was cold
me shudder, all those last-minute windows looked festive and enticing slowly, then unsteadily stood up. and felt as light as a little bird as
present buyers scurrying about, and the large Norway spruce was The bundle of clothes transformed she held on to mine.
the traffic would be head to tail in decorated particularly effectively into an elderly woman dressed What are you doing for
the town centre as everyone tried with hundreds of miniature dazzling completely in black, she crossed Christmas Mrs Tassinnari?
to park almost inside the shops. white L.E.D. lights. I must have herself then turned. She startled ‘Oh, Christmas means nothing
Quick in and out I said to myself, unintentionally slowed down even when she saw me and exclaimed for me now, its just like any other
I turned up the volume and sung more to look and admire this scene “Madonna Mia”, and raised her day but longer.’ replied Mrs
along gustily to the carols. First to, as I was suddenly startled by a driver arms to her chest as if in shock. I Tassinnari.
Once in Royal St David’ City, then behind me blaring his horn and rushed to the step as I thought she Mrs Tassinari took some
good old Ding Dong merrily on high, flashing his lights, I pulled over and might fall, I gently held her arm and persuading, but ten minutes later I
surprisingly the words came flowing shrugged at him apologetically , in apologised profusely for frightening was on the phone to my wife telling
back. The sky had been overcast and return ,as he passed he gave me the her. her to expect a special guest for
dark all day, it had never brightened universally recognisable unseasonal I tried to explain that her lovely Christmas.

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