As I peer through the glass of the present into the past, the vision has a lovely haze that softens the view into something so perfectly Rockwell... and I'm just fine with that. As for the ending, well, the ending hasn't happened yet. So in this space, it can be as I dream it. Enjoy.
A single, little stool in front of the glass counter swings from side-to-side as the wispy blonde of four upon it twists her center of gravity to and fro. Her eyes are on a thing of beauty beneath the glass: shining gold. An oval - she'd just learned the name of that shape and she loved it! Pretty swirly things all around the edges. Her dad had said that they were looking for a necklace for her mom and this... locket. He called it a locket as he spoke to the man behind the counter. When she'd pointed to it, he said he thought she'd found the perfect Christmas gift for her mom.
They were going to put her name on it. Right in the middle of all of those pretty, swirly things, it would say "Lucy." How long would it take? The grown-ups blurry words drift through her mind as she studies the shiny chain and thinks with excitement about giving it to her mom.
The ride home is about how to keep a secret. No Telling until Christmas. The year had been a difficult one for mom. Little brother's arrival had not been easy. Mom had gotten sick, and had to stay in the hospital, even though the baby had come home. She'd had to stay at grandma and grandpa's longer. She got to see her brother one day - just long enough to hold him and dad to take a picture —then Other Grandma took the baby back and it was up the road again — back to grandma and grandpa's.
She'd watch daddy come to grandma and grandpa's every morning: up the dirt road on the tractor. She loved grandma, but she missed home. She missed mom, and she was ready to be a big sister! Hadn't she waited long enough for that baby to come out? It seemed forever, but the day did come, and the family was all together.
Mommy was sad for awhile. She was tired. She'd been sick. Daddy thought she should have something extra nice for Christmas. Daddy said the locket was just the thing.
And it was.
Mom loved her present! Loved her husband and kids. Mom placed a picture of her girl on one side of the locket, and her new son on the other side.
As the years went by, the wispy blonde took notice, every time mom wore the locket. It was most striking in the winter, when she wore it over her sweaters. Beautiful mom, all ready to go to the big family Christmas, put on the locket to complete her look. Her daughter thought she was her loveliest every year at this time: walking into grandma's all dressed up and carrying her dish to pass. Of the grown-up women, she has the prettiest voice, the best laugh. Hand the baby cousins to mom when they cry and they settle down every time.
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The locket is in mom's jewelry box. She doesn't wear it anymore. The chain is broken. Time has faded it. The family has grown. The children have children. Seven of them!
Her hair isn't so blonde, and she isn't so wispy. His hair is gray, and he isn't as tall. Yet once again, here they are, dad and daughter, conspiring to allow a delicate, golden clasp attempt to contain all of their love and appreciation for the woman who'd given them each other. The idea was perfect, and weird... and somehow that made it more perfect.
They'd have the chain repaired for Christmas. She'd know they were doing that. What she wouldn't know was that birthstones would light the new chain. Eight of them: four on each side of the locket. It worked out perfectly, as some of the family share birth months, so too they could share a stone. Just as this new generation of children had brought new color and life to the world, an array of color to light the way to the locket, and the beginning of it all.
Mom loved her present! The locket once again had it's place around her holiday neckline. Just as before, it's the perfect accent to her sweaters, and to her.
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Ten days before Christmas, they venture out on the coldest day of the month so far. He has the locket in his pocket. They haven't had much time together. Her work is keeping her busy, and the kids... wow! The kids are in everything and the car is racking up miles in record time. He's retired, to some degree. His son owns the farm now. The four youngest grandchildren are in and out of the house and barn regularly. The youngest of the four is a wispy blonde: middle name Lucille.
It's not such a task as adding eight stones. Today, just one, smaller stone is needed. There are January great-grandbabies to be accounted for. The locket has been worn recently, and rests in a prominent place on the dresser. It must be returned, or mom would be on to her husband and daughter.
Off to the jewelers, and to lunch. She has to work until 2, there is time. We'll have fun, and get some things done! One last stop at the store, and home we will go - victorious!
Mom finds them in the candy aisle. Guess who got out of work early? Oh dear! We're getting dog food, mom, see you at home!
Oh dad, we have to check out fast and get the necklace back on her dresser! She'll figure it out! Straight to the checkout they go. Of all the times to run into the neighbors... who have realized they've rung up quite a bill! The neighbors decide to apply for a credit card to save 10% and as dad and daughter wait under a facade of patience while exchanging incredulous glances, mom speeds through the checkout aisle right beside them. Ooooh the goose may be cooked!
Finally, the transaction is complete and they are headed home! Surely, they cannot beat her there, but OH!! She stopped at a drive-thru for a cup of coffee. Daughter wonders if mom is just giving them time to complete their mission. She knows... darn it! She always knows! You cannot trick her, and you — a grown woman — are still a horrible liar. Dad's not so concerned. She may have an idea what we are up to, but she doesn't know what we've done.
The necklace is back in it's place. The new gem will be added when the perfect opportunity presents itself. The family timeline happening along mom's neckline remains beautifully current.
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More stones are added as the years come and go. More great-grand babies, more color along the chain. With every child comes another mission of love for dad and daughter. Lucy's locket brought more joy and love with every cycle of it's being stolen, enhanced, and gifted anew.
The youngest granddaughter is now a lovely woman in her own right. Beautiful, independent and spirited with a sense of mirth and mischief that brings so much life and laughter into her grandmother's world; she sits beside Lucy and hears the tale of the locket. They laugh over the adventures of dad and daughter, whom every time thought they had pulled the wool over mother's eyes, but she always had a sense of their plotting. They really weren't very good liars at all, neither of them.
The time has come, Lu. The mission is now ours. Let's go to the jewelers.
They go and give their instructions.
They return to collect three boxes. This Christmas, it's their turn to bring the element of surprise to the family affair.
The daughter opens one of the boxes. A bracelet? With the stones - the stones of her family. The son watches his wife open her box. A bracelet, with the stones, all the stones of their family.
The locket, you ask? Why, it has a new chain, and a new neckline to dazzle. Lively Lu carries the childhood pictures of her aunt and her dad. Her sparkling eyes reflect the glow from her grandma's face.
Grandpa sends the littlest of the littles with a small box for grandma. Her slightly bewildered look is well worth the price of the bracelet inside...
