Inexpensive Christmas Box

THE INEXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS BOX. ?

Chapter One.

THE AVARICIOUS BENEFICIARY.

Fiona and Ian D'Alby looked on smugly as their thirteen year old son
Bertram peevishly opened a large pile of very lavish looking gifts. The
boy was sitting under the large Christmas Tree in the opulent living
room of their substantial well appointed Georgian house in the
stockbroker belt of Suburbia on Thames, at nine o'clock on the morning
of December the twenty fifth nineteen ninety two.

"Look at him Ian, it makes it all worthwhile doesn't it seeing ones
only child enjoying opening his Christmas Presents? This is the way
Christmas should be spent with ones family." crowed Fiona with an
imperious smirk "Yes darling he's truly spoilt for choice. Certainly
does one good. Spirit of Christmas and all that, marvellous." rejoined
her haughty but clearly henpecked husband. "Another sodding Compact
Disc Player! Wouldn't care it's only a Goodman, you'd think with the
money Aunt Maude's got she'd have got a Sonny at least. Miserable old
bitch." carped the selfish adolescent. "I say steady on young fella,
mind the jolly old language. You're only thirteen, and don't throw it
like that you'll break it, there's a good chap!" "Ian that's how boys
speak at public schools these days. Besides he's right, your Maude's
always been a bit of a skinflint when it comes to buying presents, look
at the saddle she bought him for his birthday. Well I ask you cow hide
. . . Throw the damned present if you wish darling. You're right it's
... it's... only junk."

Her husband looked upset as he started to speak. "Goodman's a perfectly
good make, they make superb?" "Possibly they are and do, but are they
the most expensive?" retorted Fiona before he could finish. Ian bit his
lip as he continued to watch his son moodily appraising his gifts.
"Poxy stereo cassette radio from Aunty Jane ... Crappy jogging suit
from Uncle George. Crummy trainers from Uncle Robert and Aunty Fran . .
. Get a load of these slippers from Mrs. Odinga and her son Albert.
You're obviously paying the hired help far too much Pater. Besides
who's going to wear Marks and Sparks slippers at Harrow." grumbled the
ungrateful teenager. "Speaking of Mrs. Odinga." interjected Fiona. "The
woman had the impertinence to ask me if she could finish early for
Christmas on account of her son Albert coming home from hospital for
the holiday period. I told her to see you Ian. I do hope you put the
damned woman in her place . . . . Well you did didn't you?" "Er . . yes
. . well I er . . em . . told her she could er?" spluttered Ian D'Alby
looking sheepishly at his feet. "Come on out with it. Stop dithering.
You told her what?" "Well I told her that if she made the time up on
her day off. She could finish early, but only after the lunch was
cleared off and the kitchen was made shipshape. After all we are dining
at Maudes' this evening." "It's right what Mater says you're far too
soft with them Father." chided Bertram with a self satisfied grin.
"When Granny D'Alby shuffles off this mortal coil. As soon she may well
do! You son, will be master of all you survey because she has made it
abundantly clear, that you, her only grandson are her heir apparent.
Did you know she even owns this very house that we live in? Your father
feeds clothes and maintains us, thanks to his mothers niggardly
generosity. So it's encouraging to see that you young man take after
me, and will no doubt. Unlike your father, know how to treat your
servants, and how to keep them firmly in their place." lectured the
boys mother. "I say! Steady on old girl! Don't you think you are coming
over just a bit too strong? He's only a youngster." "Give me the child
and I'll give you the man. Pity Granny D'Alby hadn't been more like me,
then perhaps you wouldn't have been such a pathetic excuse for a man.
You should have told the Odinga woman that she would have to work
double the hours on her rest day for the time she is having off." "How
could I darling she doesn't get double time payment for Christmas." "I
should hope not, but it's so damned inconvenient" Fiona complained
mockingly to her browbeaten husband. "They should be pleased we employ
them. Anyway why don't we send them all back to where they came from."
sneered the selfish over indulged D'Alby junior. "Mrs. Odinga was born
in this country. Her father was awarded the Military Medal for his
bravery in the war." countered his father. "Ian! stop waffling on, and
splitting hairs. Bertram you're right. Ignore your father he's an ass."
"Let's stop all this nonsense it's Christmas. Yuletide spirit and all
that, what ho! Young Berty me lad." pleaded Ian D'Alby in an attempt to
placate both his wife and son. "Pater my name is Bertram! Not Berty.
You make me sound like some inner city oik. One of the chaps at school
tried to call me that, so I chopped the tail off his pet squirrel. He
got the message. By the way how is Towser, your prize dog these days
Pater. About ready for going to stud, is he?" the young man signified
menacingly with a cruel smile. "Ha Ha. Boys will be boys, a chip off
the old block, or should I say a chip off the old stud perhaps" his
mother crowed looking proudly at her son. "My God! He's his mothers son
all right. Did you know son your mother was a servant girl when I first
met her? Yes! Lived in an inner city Thereby hangs a tale or two, oh
yes indeed!" parried Ian addressing the boy, but at the same time
looking menacingly at the woman. Fiona quickly switched her Wicked
Witch of the West demeanour to that of her innocent, virginal Little Bo
Peep posture in the twinkling of an eye, and her haughty voice
sweetened accordingly as she addressed her spouse. "Let's call a truce
for Christmas. Ian. don't fill the boys head with your silly tales.
He's very impressionable, and so very sensitive. Please. Please. Let us
have a happy family Christmas. Bertram darling open Granny D'Albys
Present, yes the one in the very large box." she smiled tenderly at Ian
and their son who both smiled in return.

Bertram gathered up the bulky parcel and immediately began opening it,
his usually sullen face radiant with a grin. "My goodness it is large.
It's a solid box. Gosh it's an IBM. Personal Computer System. Hell It's
only a three eight six system. Why couldn't she have bought a four
eight six. . . . . Greedy old cow!"

As quickly as the sweetness and light ambience had appeared it
evaporated. Ian frowned as he addressed his petulant son bitterly.
"Your Grandmother spends a thousand pounds on you and you call her a
greedy old cow. Bertram you're so ungrateful." Completely disregarding
his fathers anger the lad continued bewailing the imagined meanness of
his Grandmother. "Well a four eight six would have only cost her
another two hundred why didn't she get that. No! too busy counting the
coppers. All the chaps at school have four eight sixes. Miserable old
sod! Just wait until I get my hands on her wealth. Which shouldn't be
too long." "If you get your hands on it!" growled his father. "No!
When, and the sooner the better." Fiona snarled she was enraged at the
fact that her resentful son was being admonished by his normally timid
father.

"Does the truce still hold, or shall I continue with my revelations .
... Darling ?" retorted Ian ominously. "Why don't you both stop arguing
it's spoiling my Christmas I'm having such a beastly time, and it's all
your fault." moaned the churlish youth glaring at his father. "All
right darling carry on opening your gifts. Look there's a one you
haven't opened. Yes that small one. Who is it from?" grovelled his
fawning mother. "To Albert. Wishing You A Merry Christmas. Hope you are
well soon. From Mrs. D'Alby Senior. Its not fair she's my Granny."
grieved the overindulged youngster as he started to rip away the gift
wrapping. His father who was furious called out to him. "Don't open it.
It's not yours1 it's for the Odinga boy. Bertram! .... Bertram! I said
leave it alone or ... . or!" Before he could finish what he had began
saying Fiona butted in. "Or what! . . . . Or you'll spoil his fun? Open
it if you wish darling. Granny should have more sense. Presents for the
servants whelp indeed. Whatever next!"

Bertram tore off the remaining packing and took out the misappropriated
small present and waved it like a trophy. "Oh good! It's a jig saw
puzzle. I'm having that. Here he can have the box the computer came in.
Look I've torn the ram from Bertram. Now it reads to Bert from Granny
D'Alby. He can take these grotty slippers back too. At least he can
live in his box, and wear his slippers. So he'll be housed and shod
when he's repatriated back to where he came from."

Ian D'Alby who was not noted for his honour, and was himself a somewhat
pompous selfish individual, but even he blushed when he saw the way his
only son was behaving or rather misbehaving. The veins on his neck
stood out as he yelled. "Bertram! Stop it at once! I'm ashamed of you!
To think a son of mine would ? behave like this it's? it's ..."

Once again his admonishing of his spoilt, avaricious son was
interrupted by his wife who rudely intervened. "That's rich coming from
a man who was sent down from Oxbridge for stealing ladies underwear off
a washing line." D'Alby reddened and was clearly embarrassed by this
attack. "Now Fiona enough of that. Not in front of the boy." "What do
you mean? Let's not air our dirty linen. Maybe in your case clean
underwear. You make me sick!"

Plainly the sordid conflict had reached a stalemate so Ian being the
more conciliatory decided to draw it to an equitable conclusion,
however to reach this situation he had to deliver a further veiled
threat. "Now now. Remember our truce. People in glass houses and all
that, or in your case people who've been in service. Remember it's
Christmas. Come on let's have a little drink before lunch, and forget
our differences, what!" All three headed towards the dining room, on
the way Bertram tossed the box containing the jigsaw puzzle into a
waste container without anyone else noticing.

Chapter Two.

A CHANGE OF TESTAMENT.

Charlotte D'Albys appearance was how one would expect a typical stern
matriarchal dowager to look apart from the kindness that radiated from
her warm brown eyes. She was chronically and terminally ill but this
was not immediately obvious, her gentle dignified bearing belied the
fact that she was in fact aged seventy five. Maude D'Alby her daughter
was taking tea with Charlotte in the sitting room of the family home
Ardon Court Hall on Sunday the twenty seventh of December nineteen
ninety two.

Miss or Ms. D'Alby as she was so often addressed was in her middle
forties and resembled her mother in so many ways however she lacked the
serene beauty that her mother had obviously possessed at her age.
Nonetheless Maude could not be described as a plain woman because she
had a strident but somehow attractive personality. Possibly a more
appropriate description would be that Maude D'Alby was a handsome
woman.

She had proved to be more than the equal of most in the male dominated
commercial city scene, in fact it could be said that she was enormously
wealthy in her own right, possibly at least as wealthy as her rich
mother.

Maude was her mothers confidant and was privy to the old ladies
business and banking affairs, she was also the only one in the family
who was aware of her mothers ill health and knew that Mrs. D'Alby had
only a short time left to live. Charlotte had asked her daughter to
call back after the Christmas to discuss her will when her daughter had
visited her on Christmas Morning. Maude had suggested this should be
left until after the New Year, but Charlotte had been most emphatic
that it should be earlier than that, hence the reason for this tea time
meeting so soon after Christmas.

Before settling down to the serious matter for which they had met it
was only natural that Mother and Daughter discussed family matters that
had ensued since Maudes' last visit.
"How is your brother and his wife and my only grandson? As per usual
I've not had a word from them. Not even a thank you call. I often
wonder where your Father and I went wrong with Ian. You were both given
the same chances." "Mother it's not your fault that Ian is so remiss,
however it is Ian and Fionas failing the way that boy of theirs is
being raised. He is so absolutely impossible. Christmas Night at dinner
he whined and complained about all of his gifts. He's nothing but an
ungrateful wretch. There's no doubt that they're going to have a lot of
trouble with him before he's very much older unless something drastic
is done."

"Would you like another cup of tea Maude" asked the older woman. "I
know he has his naughty little ways but I'm sure he'll grow out of them
given time." "Mother he's thirteen and he gets worse not better. I had
to call at our Ians' house today before coming here, I went to collect
some Georgian Silver Cutlery which the little rogue had stolen from my
dinner table. His mother denied at first that he'd taken them but his
father admitted that the boy had borrowed them, was the way he put it.
Fiona said it was only a boyish prank or perhaps my maid had put them
in his pocket, and she'd added you know how these servants are. If
anyone should know how servants are she should! I'm sorry. Please
excuse that last remark Mother." "I know how you feel and you've no
reason to apologise, I sometimes feel like that myself about Fiona. She
brings out the worst in everyone. Did Bertram say anything about the
gift I sent for him Maude?" "Mother it was a wonderful gift but he
carped on that you had not bought him a better model. He's my nephew
and it's an awful thing to say about a child but I do not like what he
is becoming. He has the worst attributes of both of his parents and God
knows even their best qualities are bad enough." "If only he'd sent a
short note saying thank you Granny that's all or even a card."

"Speaking of notes and cards Mother I saw Mrs. Odinga as I was leaving
lans' place she gave me this envelope it's addressed to you or I take
it means you it reads to Granny D'Alby from Albert," Maude smiled as
she handed the note to her Mother.

Charlotte tore open the small manila envelope and a radiant smile lit
up her face, as she began reading the childish handwriting aloud to her
daughter. Tears welled into her smiling eyes and ran down the parchment
textured creases in her still fine structured once beautiful face, as
she read the simple note, Maude D'Alby the normally composed hard nosed
business woman was also moved to tears as she heard her Mothers
faltering voice recite the contents of the note.

Dear Granny D'Alby,
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas Box, I have had a smashing time
with it. I have been able to use it for a house, a fort and even as a
garage for my wheelchair there is lots of games to play with it. Mummy
says that she will be able keep my things in it when I go back to
hospital and when the doctors put my legs right I might get a bike and
I could keep my bike in it.
We had a great meal for Christmas Mummy cooked a chicken and I had a
whole leg to myself. We didn't have it at lunch time though because
mummy had to work late we had it at supper time. It was a super
supper.
I'm sorry your Bertram didn't want the slippers but my mum says I will
grow into them and will be able to wear them when I can walk. Once
again thank you Granny for your wonderful Christmas Box a Happy New
Year To You.
Love from Albert Odinga.

Charlottes face was a strange mask of mixed emotions as she folded and
stowed the childish note in her handbag. Maude had to swallow hard to
stop herself from displaying her feelings. Both women looked at each
other and both were totally aware of how the other felt, it was one of
those rare golden moments when the heady aura of sorrow and happiness
go hand in hand. It was at this juncture that Charlotte D'Alby resolved
how she was to endow her substantial estate after her demise.

"Maude isn't it moving to find such simple appreciation?" Maude who was
still too emotional to give a verbal answer nodded in agreement to her
mother who continued as though thinking out loud. "But I only sent him
a jigsaw puzzle. We must ring Ian and find out what it is exactly
Albert is thanking me for. Will you call and get to the bottom of this
Maude?"

The business woman rang her brothers house but the call was intercepted
by Bertram, who not only told his aunty about his misappropriation of
the gift but actually bragged about how he had done it. Maude was so
furious that she slammed the receiver down before her nephew had
finished. Charlotte was furious when her daughter told her just what
had happened.

"Maude I want to see my solicitors tomorrow! I realise they will all be
on holiday, but do not take no for an answer I want someone to change
my will. Ring George Barforth at his home and tell him if he wants to
keep the estate as a client I demand he arranges for someone to meet us
here in the morning. Would you please see to it that your psychiatrist
friend is here too, as a witness of course? I don't want them claiming
I was potty when I'm gone."

Ms. Maude D'Alby carried out her mothers wishes and continued to do so
after her death which occurred a week after their meeting with her
legal advisers. Charlotte slipped away peacefully in her sleep
surrounded by her loved ones. Some of them shed a tear others smiled in
expectation. One little boy cried bitterly when the news was relayed to
him in the private Swiss Clinic where he was being treated.

After the funeral the last will and testament of Charlotte D'Alby was
read by George Barforth. One young man and his parents cried bitterly,
and Aunty Maude the executor of her mothers estate smiled as she
watched her grieving relatives genuine anguish at their sudden loss.
Albert is able to walk now after his treatment in Zurich, he is even
able to ride his bike around his estate the Ardon Court Hall Estate
that is. Ian D'Alby is very fussy about the gardens on the estate after
all he is a gardener there.

Since Granny died Bertram D'Alby has had to attend a local authority
high school. His Granny left him quite a sizeable sum but it is left in
trust and his Aunty Maude is the trustee. She has made it clear to
Bertram that if he ever wishes to get his hands on the money, he will
have to prove himself both academically and morally to her entire
satisfaction. Bertram is already at fourteen showing a marked
improvement in both.

Fiona D'Alby is keen to see both her husband and son prosper after all
she has a vested interest. They all still live in their well appointed
Georgian house in Suburbia on Thames but it is now a tied dwelling. Not
many gardeners and house maids live in such splendour so it is well to
keep their employers happy if they wish to keep their home.

Mrs. Odinga their employer is an extremely benevolent patron but she
does insist that Fiona the maid pays special attention when dusting the
inexpensive Christmas Box which has pride of place in Alberts
Bedroom.

by Don Passmore ?