Here’s a seasonal story told to me by a friend I’ll refer to as Bob, that happened decades ago, but which he only recently related.
In their mid-20s. Bob and his wife were living in the East Midlands and a week before Christmas they received a letter from their bank, advising them they were £47 overdrawn and the assistant bank manager wanted Bob to call in ‘at his earliest convenience’ to discuss the matter.
Bob and his wife had just returned from visiting their respective parents in Wales and the cost of buying them presents, together with rail fares, had made them overdrawn for the first time.
Bob’s appointment at the bank was on December 23rd. He was ushered into an office, where, behind a desk sat a living caricature of everyone’s picture of an officious assistant bank manager. Bald, small moustache, gold-rimmed spectacles, scowl.
Interrupting Bob’s explanation for being overdrawn, the bank official absolutely roasted him for being irresponsible, making him feel six-inches tall.
Ordered to repay the overdraft at £6 a week from his weekly salary of £30 (before tax), and with nothing bought for Christmas dinner, they were facing a miserable December 25th.
He went home feeling depressed.
But then, he had an idea.
Christmas Eve morning he walked into town with his only asset, his precious acoustic guitar which he’d owned since he was 16, to try and sell it at one of the musical instrument and equipment shops that catered for the local music scene.
There were seven shops in total and in the first six he’d either been offered £20 or nothing.
When he entered the last store, the proprietor must have noticed Bob’s air of desperation, because he offered him £30. Bob hesitated for a second while he worked out what that would buy him and his wife for Christmas. Then he suddenly heard the shopkeeper say “Okay . . . £40!”
That afternoon, Bob and his wife bought all the food they needed and the last, smallest, Christmas tree in their local Co-op.
You probably won’t believe that it started snowing as they walked home.
But it did!
So, here’s to the guitars we may have to part with, the sacrifices we make, and the joy that comes from the heart.
Merry Christmas to all, and may your holidays be filled with love and warmth, just like Bob and his wife discovered all those years ago.