Christmas 1952

I imagine that this was someone's favorite aunt, visiting for Christmas at the home of her sister in Irvine, California. Of course I have no idea whether this is true or not. Dressed in a smart suit with pearls and a special brooch that may have been reserved specifically for Christmas, she sits on the tapestry davenport and casually smokes in front of the spangled tree. Aunt Irma, we'll call her, has travelled by bus from St. Louis and will return just after the New Year, 1953. For Christmas she received a new apron, a set of napkins and napkin rings, a book of poetry by Robert Frost, a drawing from Niece Beatrice, and a fruitcake made by Sally in the Palmer tradition.

This is a fictional account.