Christmas Presence

Diane changed her outfit four times on Sunday. This was the first time she was going to meet any member of Harry’s family. He was not close to them, and rarely spoke of them. She had no idea what to expect. Harry said he grew up poor, but did that mean his family was still poor? Should she dress down a little? She finally opted for a casual ensemble, a nice burgundy wool sweater and black wool pants. Plain black boots at the bottom. Matching burgundy wool cap at the top. Burgundy scarf. Black leather gloves on the hands. She looked elegant, yet not too flashy. She figured this would pass in just about any situation except formal.

Diane sat at her kitchen counter, drinking coffee and waiting for Harry to arrive. She was a nervous wreck. Images of her own family dramas kept intruding on her mind. All she could imagine was meeting this unknown family member in the middle of a hysterical fit, dodging fruitcake flung from across the room; a lecherous old man sitting by the tree, staring at her chest and laughing hoarsely, coughing from too many years of smoking. She shuddered.

“I can’t do this. I can’t do this.” She picked up the phone to call Harry and cancel. As she pressed her fingers on the numbers, her doorbell buzzed. Diane hung up the phone and got up to peer through the peephole. Harry was standing there, waiting for her to open the door. She was panting, unable to move further. She wanted to pretend she wasn’t home.

“Diane? Open the door, please. I hear you breathing,” Harry said.

Diane opened the door and backed up to let Harry enter.

“I can’t do this, Harry. I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Harry grabbed her coat from the rack and walked around behind her.

“Left arm first,” he said in a soft voice. Diane put her left arm in the coat. “Now the right arm.” Again she complied. Harry grabbed her purse and put it on her shoulder, then slid his hand down to the small of her back and guided her out the door. He took the keys from her hand and locked the door behind them. Harry steered her into the elevator, then down to the street. He opened the door to his car, and his robotic date stepped inside. Harry knew she was freaked out by the whole holiday thing, but this numbness was really uncharacteristic for her. He resolved to act just like it was any other date, hoping that would loosen her up.

“Oh, lucky day!” Harry exclaimed when he found a parking place directly in front of their destination. “Diane, that’s a good sign, you know?”

No response.

Harry gently pulled her to a standing position outside of the car. “Okay, Diane. I need to know that you are okay. This silence is beginning to concern me.”