Meiling was so excited. After all it was Christmas Eve. Getting up at 4.30 am to sell eggs with her mother in Marabella market did not bother her. She was too excited to sleep. She leapt out of bed as she heard her mother’s movements in the kitchen. She heard her father coughing outside and she was sure he was smoking a cigarette as usual. Her parents knew it was a good day for shopping and that they would sell out their stocks like last week.
Very soon, they were on their way. Meiling sat in the back seat and she looked at her parents talking to each other. Her father was born in Canton City China and her mother was from Tabaquite. Although her parents were not rich, they were very humble and wanted the best for their children. Very soon they arrived at the market. There were so many last minute shoppers that very soon Meiling and her parents were headed back home to prepare for Christmas Day
Christmas was always special at our house. Whatever they went without during the year, needing anything, her parents made sure that at Christmas they had everything… even if it meant being creative. This year was no different, as they did not have enough money for decorations her mother made everyone get into the act. For three months before Christmas, every time a family member used an egg, it was broken in a particular way. Each eggshell was saved to be painted later on. Her father went out to the garden and got a tree branch. The leaves were taken off and the branch was spray painted “white” by the neighborhood mechanic for a few dollars. Her father then put the tree in a five pound KLIM pan that was wrapped in gift paper. It was Christmas Eve night and her siblings helped in putting up the string of lights they got from their aunt. They carefully ran a thread through each egg shell and hung it on the tree. Meiling stood back in amazement and thought it was the best tree ever.
Her father was busy in the kitchen. Maywan was helping him as she was the only one who could cook like him. Every year he made sure they had a feast on Christmas Day. Her father was making roast pork and he had the pitch-oil tin oven on top of the fireside. His annual dishes included Peking roast duck and shark fin soup. The duck was home grown and the shark fin was bought and cleaned from a fisherman. The aroma came from the kitchen and already Meiling’s belly was grumbling thinking of all the tasty Chinese dishes. The monotonous sound of the sewing machine sounded like music to Meiling’s ears. With the smell of fresh paint and polish soon the rooms will be transformed…making it almost magical.
Next morning, she heard David cry out with excitement. Santa had brought a racing car for him, he told Meiling. Meiling smiled, for she knew who Santa really was! How hardworking they were to make their children’s dreams come true. It was also a Christmas tradition at their house that the children would go to church on Christmas morning, her mother insisted on it, and when they came home, the family would then have breakfast and once that was done, open their presents.
Meiling could hardly contain herself throughout the Mass. At last it was finished and she and her siblings rushed home. The table was already laden with a whole array of food. She looked around at her family as they recited prayers of gratitude. They may have been poor but there was a sense of happiness. For Meiling was taught that the best gifts are “gifts of time and love”. No expensive gifts or brand names. Gifts of time and love are gifts that make you remember “the best Christmas ever”.
