It was a white Christmas with family and good food
In the last installment, I learned Mom’s plan to play a trick on my Dad with his present, and then we walked uptown for last minute Christmas shopping at Sam’s liquor and jewelry store.
“Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!” Sam said, as he picked me up and held me close. “What can I do for you pretty ladies?”
“I don’t know what to get my Daddy for Christmas. Can you help me find something?”
“Oh, I’m sure we can find just what he needs. He likes Jim Beam, but you’re not old enough to buy that.” He looked at Mom and winked. “Hmm,” he said, thoughtfully, stroking his chin, “I’ve got just the thing.”
He took me over to a glass case. Inside were men’s and women’s watches and jewelry. He opened it and picked up a small box. Inside was a keychain made from an old buffalo nickel.
“I like it, Sam.” I turned to Mom. She nodded. I handed my small, red, patent leather purse to Sam and whispered in his ear, “Is there enough here for me to get that agate necklace for Mom, too?”
Sam counted out the money. “Just enough, with a little change to spare. Take your Mom over to that other glass case and show her the horses, while I get these ready for you.”
“Bye Sam! Merry Christmas!” I shouted as we walked out into the darkness. I clutched my bag close, and we headed back in the direction of the bar.
Doc Baines was sweeping snow off his front steps as we walked by the Koffee Kup. “How about a hot chocolate?” Mom asked me.
“Oh goody!” I sang happily.
Doc held the door open, then followed us inside. “Come on out, Woman,” Doc commanded, back into their apartment behind the kitchen, “We’ve got paying customers!”
Bonnie came out, tying an apron around her waist, while the long ash end of her cigarette threatened to fall off onto the floor. Doc set a cup of black coffee in front of Mom while Bonnie mixed up my chocolate. “We might get another foot of this stuff,” Doc grumbled.
Mom added, “It’ll be a white Christmas this year.”
Bonnie went back into the apartment, then came back with a small wrapped present. “Here, Honey,” she said thickly with the smell of whiskey on her breath. “Put that under your tree.”
“Thanks! Bonnie.” I held up my bag. “I just got a keychain at Sam’s, for Daddy’s present.” I put her box in my bag and drank my chocolate.
“Let’s go, Sugar. It’s time to fix dinner.”
“Bye Doc! Bye Bonnie! Merry Christmas,” I shouted as we walked back into the cold.
We stopped by the bar to see when Daddy would be home for dinner. “Soon as Jens gets here,” he said. It wan’t busy, just Long George sitting at the bar. “Merry Christmas, George,” I called. “Same to you, Kitten,” he said.
On Christmas Eve, Mom and Dad made lefse together in the morning; Mom rolled out the potato dough paper thin, and Dad watched them on the griddle in the middle of our grand O’Keefe & Merritt gas range, turning them over when the bubbles started to brown; I was the official tester. When Dad left to open the bar, Mom stayed home with me, getting everything ready for dinner. Then at 5 p.m. we went uptown to help Dad close the bar. There were always a few stragglers, like Worry Paulson, who never wanted to leave, but after some effort, we were able to go home.
Dad started cooking the potatoes and then the lutefisk, while I changed into my nightgown. Mom turned off all the lights in the living room, except for the Christmas tree, and put a Frankie Carl Christmas record on the record player. She had already set the table with her fine filet tablecloth and our best dishes. We sat down to eat.
“Mmmm,” I purred as I buttered my lefse and poured the melted butter on my plate of fish. “I love lutefisk and lefse!”
To be continued.