The Final Christmas Tree

Walking the long way back to her seat from Mr. Robertson’s desk, Catherine glanced outside the tall thin window to see if it had started snowing yet. Living in the Selkirk mountains you’d think the children would tire of the deep snow, but to the contrary each new downpour was celebrated. It was almost Christmas vacation and the student’s were eager for long days romping and cavorting through the snowy yards and neighborhoods. At nine, Catherine was a slight girl, the shortest in her class. Short yes, but not in confidence. She and David Stewart, who was of similar stature, constantly vied for the moniker “Smartest Kid in the class.” Though never conferred as such by the teachers, they compared every grade and test and constantly asked for extra work to stay ahead. Both David and Catherine were well behaved and often called upon to be the teacher’s helper. On this particular day they were racing each other to finish the most times table worksheets. Though only third graders they had cajoled the teacher into giving them multi digit multiplication worksheets and each worked diligently trying to finish the most problems correctly. When the lunch bell rang, these two stayed put finishing their final problems until the teacher grabbed their work and sent them off to get lunch. “It’s snowing!” excitedly called a first grader from the eastern corner of the large one room schoolhouse. The first and second graders had the best view outside as their classes faced the large playground and they had larger windows. Everyone rushed to finish their homemade lunches, eating at their desks and then cleaning up quickly. It was a race to get outside and make the first footprints in all the fresh snow! The snow banks were already taller than the tallest children and the untouched snow, though there wasn’t much of that, was at least 3 feet deep. And now more was coming down rapidly.

The children had a full hour to eat and play. It was glorious, and after donning their snow gear everyone rushed outside. Tag and snowball fights were the favorites but there were also several groups of kids working on perfecting the world’s greatest snow forts! This was where Catherine and David could be found each recess. “Push!” grunted David as several kids rolled a tremendous snowball to the front of the fort. “Help,” they called just 5 feet shy of the planned destination. Several of the taller boys threw their shoulders into the mammoth boulder, “Heave, Ho, Heave, Ho!” they shouted laughing as half of the snowball broke off and the rest rolled smoothly into place. Lifting the broken part they carried it over and patted and stuffed it into the open space between snowballs. Catherine was crouched inside the fort building up a massive supply of snowballs. At afternoon recess they would be ready for a quick and deadly battle!

Noticing lunch was almost over, David headed to the front doors to line up. Also wanting to be first inside, Catherine abandoned her ammunition and hurried to the front of the school. Afterwards, neither could have told who started it or why but when Mrs. Burkhart poked her head out the door to check on everyone there was David in his thick winter work boots stomping as hard as he could on Catherine’s feet and she, not to be outdone, was pounding her feet onto the top of his boots! Back and forth this had been going on with quiet insults tossed almost embarrassedly back and forth until the teacher grabbed each by the arm and marched them inside to sit until lunch was over. They were still sheepishly hanging their coats when the bell rang and everyone else came rushing in. “What was that about?” asked a very surprised Mr. Robertson. David looked sideways at Catherine and she looked down and they both shrugged almost on cue. “Well, you can both stay inside for afternoon recess and work on making copies for me.” And he turned to go back to his desk. “Sorry.” whispered David. “Me too.” Catherine replied. Neither had ever had a detention before. And let it be said, that neither ever had one again.

Friday was the last day of school and everyone was restless and excited for Christmas break. Even the teachers. There was an all school gathering around the giant Christmas tree that stood in the center of the school. The school was one large room with each corner set up for a single grade. Kindergarten and First grade were beside each other on the eastern half of the building and the western side contained the second and third graders. The students sat in a circle around the tree each in the section that housed their grade. As the school day drew to a close, Mrs. Lyons, the Second grade teacher led the children in softly singing the old German Carol “O Christmas Tree”

“O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

Your leaves are so unchanging

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

Your leaves are so unchanging

Not only green when

Summer’s here

But also when it’s cold and drear

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

Your leaves are so unchanging

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

Much pleasure you do give me

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

Much pleasure you do give me”

“Now children, you may retrieve any decorations from the tree and take them home with you for your own trees,” she finished. “And Merry Christmas to everyone!”

“Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas!”

As the children pulled their decorations and gathered their things preparing to rush home, Catherine stood back watching and thoughtful. After the room had quieted and most of the students had left, she approached Mrs. Lyons. “I was wondering, what happens with this tree now?” Mrs. Lyons seemed surprised at the question. “Well, we will finish undecorating it and then the janitor will take care of it sometime over the break.” Catherine didn’t move. She seemed to want to ask something more. “Did you have another question?” the teacher asked not unkindly though she clearly wanted to clean up and go home. “Well,” Catherine paused, “We aren’t having a Christmas tree this year,” she hesitated looking up at the tree that was at least 2 and a half times as tall as she was. “I was wondering if I could take this one home. So my family could have a tree this year.” The teacher seemed taken aback. “Um, It’s rather large. Um. Let me check with the other teachers. Do you mind waiting here a minute?” “I don’t mind.” She sat down looking way up at the tree with a hopeful smile. She didn’t have to wait for long. Soon her teacher came over. “You don’t have a tree this year?” he asked, grabbing a chair and sitting next to her. “No. My parents said we wouldn’t be able to get one this year. I was thinking how surprised they would be if I brought this beautiful tree home.” “Well,” Mr. Robertson smiled. “Do you think you can carry this giant tree all the way to your house?” “Oh yes. I’m sure I can.” She jumped up excitedly. “I’ll run and get my stuff on.” And she ran to the coat room. With a shrug and a somewhat tender smile he removed the tree from its base and dragged it to the front door. “OK, let me get it outside for you.” The small girl grabbed a hold and helped heave the cumbersome pine through the coat room while the other teachers held the double doors. Straightening her hat the girl then hoisted the trunk onto her right shoulder gripping the lowest branches with her left hand and pulling them around to the front of her. She waved goodbye with her right hand briefly before wrapping it around the base of the trunk and heading for home. “Thank you so much.” she called behind her. The tree left a wide swath of pine needles and an interesting pattern in the snow the entire two blocks to the little brown house with the closed in front porch and the best treehouse in the neighborhood! The place she proudly called home.

As she came in the front walk the tree squeezed through the opening in the hedge which was on either side of their front walk. “I’m home!” she called loudly from the front yard, so proud and excited. “And you’re not gonna believe what I brought home!” She dropped the tree and ran inside to find her mother and younger brothers. “Come quick.” she called to them grabbing her brother’s hands and leading all three of them to the front porch. “I brought us a Christmas Tree!” Her brothers jumped up and down and her mom paused very thoughtfully. “You said, we wouldn’t be able to have a tree this year, so I got us one.” “Wherever did you get a tree?” her mother asked, still seemingly unsure. “I told them at school that we couldn’t have a tree this year and asked if I could bring this one home.” She was grinning almost from ear to ear. “You mean they let you carry this enormous tree all the way home? And you did it by yourself?” Her mom seemed quite incredulous. Catherine nodded, still smiling. “Well I was not expecting this. Can we wait till dad gets home to set it up?” “Mhmmm.” She ran inside beaming, putting away her shoes and hanging her coat on the little rack by the door. After a snack Catherine and her two younger brothers got dressed back in their snow clothes and went out to play in the yard. “Keep an eye on Evan,” her mom admonished as she buttoned up the snow suit on her three year old brother. “We will,” and Catherine took his hand and led him out into the front yard where they made snowmen and snow angels until their dad got home.

That night, dad measured and cut until the tree was small enough to fit in their living room. Even at that it was the biggest tree she ever remembered them having. Their mom must have wrapped presents while they were out playing because by the time the tree was ready to decorate everyone had gifts to place underneath it. The warmth of family and the coziness of this particular Christmas tree gave the evening a feeling of resplendence that she tucked away in her collection of treasured memories.

This was the last year the family had a Christmas Tree and the final time they celebrated this holiday or any traditional holidays. The parents had not yet fully explained to their children that they would now eschew holidays for their dubious origins and materialism. Replacing them instead with quality family time without the commercialized trappings. Catherine was able to embrace this new ideology and it was not until her youngest child turned 6 that she once again welcomed a Christmas tree into their home as a grand and welcome surprise.