The Gift

The Gift

It was the night before Christmas. All the houses were decorated with lights and reeds, bells and flowers and not forget Christmas trees! William sat near the window playing with the buttons of his shirt, his eyes shined hazel in the light of the fire, from the fire place below the mantle.

“Will! Will…have you packed the presents?”  Asked Mr. Heronoald, the owner of the house William lived in. William Carstairs, young gentlemen of 16 years. He worked as a servant or rather a care taker for James Heronoald. James or Jem was the son of Mr. Mrs. Heronoald. Jem was a small boy, 10 years of age.

Tonight was Will’s last night with the Heronoalds, because Mr. Heronoald was shifting to China with his wife and his son. Will had been working for them since 4 years. He had to leave school because his parents died in an accident, when the poor boy was only 11 years. That’s when Mr. Heronoald found him. He gave him food and shelter and encouraged him to continue his schooling. Mr. Heronoald had always helped him financially and morally. Mrs. Heronoald was no less than a mother to him. Will had always been protective about Jem. He loved him as small brother.

Over these years Will had developed a special bonding with the Heronoalds, though he was their servant…they never treated him like one. The thought of going away from them was very agonizing. Sometimes the horror of this thought threatened to overwhelm him and plunge him down into a bottomless darkness from which there was no return. Will wondered about how he would live his life without the Heronoalds. Mr. Heronoald had already arranged a small apartment for him and a job to earn his living. But, he was going to miss something very important in his life…now he would not have to clean and polish Mr. Heronoald’s coats…he would not have to drop and pick Jem from school…he would not have to look after Mrs. Heronoald’s rose garden…now there would be no one he could play with, no one to trouble him, no one who would give him hand knitted sweaters every winter, no one who would help him in his studies…

He just sat by the fire… though it warm in the room he felt peculiarly cold, he was pale with moist eyes…soon all these memories rolled down his eyes in the form of tears. He heard someone clomping down the stairs, he quickly wiped his tears off his face and took on a stoic expression, while the Heronoalds came down for dinner.

The room was well decorated with lights, flowers, bells, the Christmas fragrance of the candles filled the room…it was all Red and merry and vibrant!

But, they all seemed impassive, the dinner went on without a sound… all of their hearts were filled with sadness and agony, Mrs. Heronoald could not hold back her emotions but, she just winced…Jem and Will had dinner together in one plate…Mr. Heronoald  just smiled at them.

No one slept well that night…the night seemed cold and long, Will knew this will end at some point and then the rising sun will mark the departure of the Heronoalds from his life…

The next morning Will waited patiently at the entrance, to bid his last good bye to the Heronoalds. The Christmas morning, was the morning where Will usually got his gifts from them…but, today no gift could bring him that joy which would help recover his deep sadness. Mr. and Mrs. Heronoald walked out wearing gray and black. Jem was dressed in a navy blue shirt and light gray trousers. “It’s time for your gift, Will”, said Mr. Heronoald with a smile, Will managed to smile a little. “I and Rose have thought about your gift a lot, and we came to the conclusion that…” he stopped abruptly… “Your coming with us Will car!!!” echoed a cheerful voice, which was none other than Jem!

Will was overwhelmed with joy, his happiness had no limit! It seemed as if everything was perfect and was going to be even better than before… “Come join the family my son!” said Mrs. Heronoald with the biggest smile she could give! And pulled all of them in a warm family hug…

This was possibly the best gift ever…the greatest gift anyone can get… a FAMILY! You know, that they will always be there for you, no matter what…they support you in your bad times and celebrate with you in your good times! A gift you treasure forever…your family :)

-Gauri Kadam