The Wooden Photo Box

"I've got to make one stop before we go to your parent's house," he said firmly just in case she argued back.

She rolled her eyes at him and sadly shook her head saying, "oh, no not this again. You've been doing this for the last ten years."

"So, I haven't talked to her in the last ten years either. It won't hurt if I try."

"But you're so upset afterwards, and this year with the baby I thought it would be different."

"This year with the baby it's even more important. I thought you would understand that."

They rode in silence except for the Christmas songs playing on the stereo.

Once in a while the baby stirred from the car seat behind them.

He pulled onto the property where her RV sits.

"Looks like people have been here." He said out loud.

The property has been for sale for about six years. His mother drove the beast here about eleven years ago and hasn't moved since. He likes knowing the property owner; her best friend, has been around. It means someone has checked on the old girl.

He pulled in and put the car in park. He sat for a moment. Not in a million years did he ever think shit could ever get so out of control. Stupid nonsense put both of them at odds years ago.

"Nonsense," he muttered.

Not in a million years did he think he really wouldn't see her again.

His wife spoke up, annoyed with him, "um, whatcha gonna do just sit here? My parents are waiting for us you know."

"Yeah, I know babe. Damn."

He shifted in his seat, put on his gloves and popped the trunk.

He walked to the back of the car and pulled out a box beautifully and elegantly wrapped. Big red ribbons flowing, shiny silver and red velvet wrapping.

From the tiny window she can see it's him again. She kinda expected him. He has been leaving gifts for her for a decade now.

Her only child. My how he's matured in the last ten years. So handsome.

He's carrying a box to her door. It's beyond beautiful, she feels a tug at her chest. He's tried every year at Christmas since they stopped talking.

Through the glass she can see his wife saying something. She could tell by the look on her face she's not happy with him. Pouting she's sitting, waiting in the front seat. Wait, she sees her reaching back adjusting something.

"Oh, my goodness." The older woman gasps. "A child. My grandchild."

Tears come to her eyes.

"Dear Lord, what have I missed? They had a child."

She watches as she tenderly holds the infant in her arms. Looking down at him so lovingly.

Where has all the time gone she thinks as she pulls back from the window.

"Momma, I know you're there."

The old woman's dog gives a bark.

"Bentley, Bentley old boy where's momma boy?"

The dog barks again.

The old woman stiffled dare not make a sound.

The place is a mess. Dingy and dusty, nothing updated since he had been here last. Has ten years really gone by, she asks herself.

Quietly she moves to the other cut out room that she separates with a thin wood panel. Seems to keep the heat in on the coldest nights and the cool air in on the warmest days.

Outside he stands looking around for a place to set the gift.

He knows, like years before, she will let it set. She won't take it in. And in a month or so he'll drive by and pick it up. Little does she know he's been saving the unwrapped gifts all these years in a tote in his garage. He know one day when, perhaps they both have grown up, that he will give these to her again.

From the front seat, the girl hollers, "come on, put it down. You're wasting your time anyway. My God, you do this every year."

The old woman shifts, suddenly uncomfortable with herself. Wanting to jump up and defend her only child. She stands as she hears him speak through the thin metal door.

"Momma, I know you can hear me momma. I had a beautiful baby boy momma. He's so handsome and so healthy. You would be proud momma. I never wanted it to be like this. Please momma the gift out here is different from the rest. I made this. It's got pictures of the baby and baby pictures of me. I want you to bring this in right away, please momma. I built the box myself. I love you always momma."

And with that he turned away and walked back to his car.

The old woman opened the panel and came to the tiny window looking out.

The dog sat on the dashboard of the old RV and barked and barked at the car backing out on to the street.

She waited until the car was out of sight and the dog calmed down before she put her tattered robe on and opened the metal door.

The dog was instantly excited and shook relentlessly at her feet.

She attached his collar to his tie out and away he went.

His first instinct was to smell the foot prints and he let out an excited whimper.

She hobbled down the stairs and for the first time in ten years she connected with her only child.

She was taken back with the beauty of the wrapping. The long red ribbon. The shiny silver and the plushness of the soft, red velvet. The box was heavy.

Much heavier than she imagined and was extra careful carrying it up the wobbly stairs.

She called out to the dog but he just stared back in defiance.

"Then freeze your ass," she said and closed the metal door.

She stared at the beautiful present for hours.

Not sure what she would find, but knowing the importance of it all.

Long into the night, she sat quietly, she heard a car pass by slowly.

Bentley was up in a flash begging out from the warmed room.

He quickly perched upon the dashboard and began barking and wagging his tail.

Too paranoid to look, the old woman let this visitor pass too.

But she soon heard voices coming from the direction of the main house.

Her friend is home for the holiday from Texas. The weather will be the first to greet her.

"And in the morning so shall I."

She took the big red box and slowly undid the flowing red ribbon. She rolled it up gentley intending to save it forever.

She slowly unwrapped the wooden photo box her son said he made for her. It was dark stained and etched.

His name across the top, her name on the side, and his son's name emblazoned in the front. The hand carvings were very intricate and detailed. The box was impressive. She loved it. She would cherish this gift forever.

And with a very deep breath she dove into the hundreds of photos inside.

Photos of the last decade of every occasion she missed. Photos from when her child was a child. Photos of them together, with his father. Photos now of his father holding his grandson tugged at her heart.

Within in minutes her world was spinning and the weight of the last decade of nonsense had been lifted.

"So much time wasted," she cried out loud.

She gathered up the photos and the gift wrapping and put them gentley into the wooden box.

She slept that night the deepest in years. She had dream after dream of when her boy was an infant, when he was a child, and celebrations of Christmas's past.

She woke up and dressed in slacks abit too small and a sweater and walked across the field.

Bentley leading the way could barely keep from running. She held fast the wooden box to show her friend and when they got close enough she let the leash go.

Her friend heard the barking and came quickly to the door. Bentley greeted her with sloppy kisses and she laughed and petted his head.

She waited til the older woman came to the top of the stairs and then helped her in from the the snow.

And at the same time Bentley and the old woman shook off the cold and every one burst into laughter and sounds of joy.

The photo box was passed from family member to family member. Every one admired her son's craftsmanship. The woman showed off pictures of her only grandson with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

And then it happened.

The front door bell rang.

Every one grew quiet.

And within moments a miracle happened and to her surprise her son come bursting into the living room with her grandchild in his arms.

They made way to each other and she wrapped her arms around the two of them and the last decade disappeared.

"I love you momma," he whispered in her ear.

"I love you too son. I'm so so sorry." She whispered back.

The End.