Grown-ups should talk less and eat faster, my opinion during our traditional Christmas Eve supper in 1945. I was eight, too old to believe in Santa Claus, but I was anxious to get to the gifts piled under the decorated tree. I was sure my name was on most of them.
Aunt Frannie, Uncle Hookie and their daughters, Doris and Sis, had joined us to eat Mom’s usual company meal–ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, fruit salad and baked beans. Mom’s parents had died before she married, but her eldest sister and husband loved me like a grandchild. My cousins, who were in their early twenties, were my heroines. Finally, all plates were clean. Mom and Aunt Frannie quickly cleared the table putting the leftover food in the refrigerator and stacking the dirty dishes in the sink. Dessert, homemade vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, would be served later.
The men carried a couple kitchen chairs into the living room and everyone found a seat. I began distributing the presents. I tried to duck between the heating stove and the wall to get to Dad, but my path was blocked. I was flabbergasted. My attention had been riveted on the tree and I didn’t notice the bicycle sitting there.
The two-wheeler had belonged to Doris, which made it extra special to me. Several years ago, her first bike had been stolen from their front porch. Her father replaced it with this one bought second-hand from a neighbor. During World War II, which ended last September, factories produced armaments instead of bicycles.
The girl’s style bike was in perfect shape–no dents or scratches in the blue and white paint with red pinstriping. It had fat, white-sidewall tires and a luggage carrier over the back fender. The horn button beeped and the light on the front fender glowed. Doris pointed to the head badge fastened under the handlebars, a silver, winged H, symbolizing Montgomery Ward’s Hawthorne brand. She said, “That means it’s a great coaster.”
I could hardly wait for the snow on the ground to melt so I could learn to ride my better than new bicycle.
Have you ever received a second-hand gift that you treasured?