| The clock in the hallway sounded 12 times; | | | | for the comfort of their bed. Their party had |
| midnight, Christmas Eve. Playing softly through the | | | | been marvelous but it had left them both |
| speakers mounted above the nurses' station | | | | tuckered out and the thought of sleep was |
| Christmas music filtered into those rooms with | | | | welcome. |
| open doors. | | | | Mason, too, had enjoyed the party, entertaining |
| The older lady sat in her chair by the window. A | | | | guests. Seeking out and giving affections. |
| thick comforter wrapped around her frail frame. | | | | Bestowing sloppy kisses on the children, and for |
| Colors flashed and spun along the walls of her | | | | the adults Mason proffered his paw. It was the |
| room from the gaily lit Christmas tree in the | | | | closest he came to giving them a hug, without |
| walkway, just outside her door. | | | | fear of knocking them down. |
| Lora gazed past the chilled windowpane, at the | | | | Kelli and Tyler had stopped telling their guests that |
| snow flurries dancing on an errant breeze. But the | | | | Mason would fetch them a Christmas ornament |
| vision that filled her eyes was that of a certain | | | | from the tree. For in the two Christmases that |
| yellow Lab who had become her most treasured | | | | had passed, Mason did not comply. It seemed this |
| visitor. | | | | particular "gift" was given to one person |
| His name was Mason and he had once been | | | | only--Lora. |
| Lora's life companion. When she became too ill to | | | | As the couple made their way up the stairway, |
| care for him, her neighbors, newlyweds Tyler and | | | | Mason followed close behind, his long tail wagging |
| Kelli, had volunteered to take him in. Mason had | | | | happily. A smile on his face, he panted, tongue out |
| always nurtured a fondness for the couple and | | | | to the side of his muzzle. An expression of utter |
| quickly became a member of their family, while | | | | joy on his furry face. |
| spending many hours with Lora. Happy hours they | | | | As Kelli and Tyler settled in for the night, Mason |
| were, sitting in Lora's garden as the sun warmed | | | | circled three times, then snugged down into his |
| them both. Or in Lora's den, a fire crackling in the | | | | soft bed on the floor, at the foot of their bed. |
| hearth as both canine and human napped in its | | | | Christmas morning arrived as the winter sun |
| cozy glow. | | | | splintered through the blinds of the bedroom |
| Lora had been in the retirement home for nearly | | | | window. Tyler groggily stumbled toward the |
| three years, and Mason always visited her on | | | | bathroom and stopped short. Something was not |
| Christmas day. She looked past her reflection in | | | | right... He turned 'round and his eyes fell on the |
| the window glass and smiled. Not too long now | | | | sight of his wife at Mason's bedside. Tears wet |
| until she'd get to see Mason. | | | | her cheeks as she sobbed, Mason's head held |
| Closing her eyes she snuggled into the warmth of | | | | gently in her hands. Mason was limp, his once |
| the comforter, her mind playing back well | | | | animated face now lifeless. |
| remembered scenes. Mason loved to fetch and | | | | Tyler swallowed back a lump in his throat. He |
| come every Christmas he would gingerly pull a | | | | walked numbly over to his wife and Mason, |
| glass ball off their tree, trot over to her and drop | | | | dropped down on his knees and wept into |
| his treasure in her lap. Lora never knew why he | | | | Mason's soft fur. |
| was fascinated with the Christmas ball | | | | ~*~ |
| decorations, but she had come to anticipate this | | | | Lora was awakened due to the persistent nudging |
| loving gesture from Mason. | | | | of her hand by a cold, wet nose. Whiskers tickled |
| Christmas, the year before, when Mason came | | | | her wrist and she smiled as she opened her eyes. |
| with Tyler and Kelli to visit, he had proudly | | | | There in her lap lay a multi-colored glass ball. And |
| presented her with a shiny red ball. Moments | | | | staring at her was the happiest face she could |
| after he had brought the decoration to Lora, a | | | | ever remember. That of Mason's. Lora gingerly |
| nurse padded through the doorway, a searching | | | | cupped the ornament in one hand as she stroked |
| expression on her face. Lora held up the glass ball | | | | the broad yellow brow of her beloved Mason. She |
| and the nurse had smiled and shook her head. | | | | bent down over her friend and whispered, "Merry |
| Mason grinned and everyone laughed. Mason had | | | | Christmas, Mason." |
| plucked it from the Christmas tree in the hallway. | | | | The nurse padded quietly into Lora's room to find |
| Comforted by her rememberings, Lora fell asleep | | | | the woman, lifeless, still wrapped in the comforter. |
| as the snow tapped softly on her windowpane. | | | | In her lap was a glass ball--the one she noticed |
| ~*~ | | | | missing from the Christmas tree earlier that night. |
| Their guests had left an hour ago and it was just | | | | Outside the frosty windowpane, the wintry sun |
| after midnight when Kelli and Tyler had headed | | | | sparkled on new snow. |