Christmas Stocking Surprise by Leonie Jarrett, a cup of eggnog

It was Christmas 2020 – the year that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on our world. We had had draconian lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia but the lockdown was lifted in time for Christmas. A Christmas gift for the good, compliant behaviour of us Melburnians.

 

I called my 80-year-old father. “Dad, thinking ahead about Christmas, we’d like you to take a COVID rapid test before you come for Christmas lunch.”

 

“No. Not doing that,” he retorted.

 

“What do you mean you’re not doing that?”

 

“I don’t have COVID. Not taking a test.”

 

“But Dad, we’re doing it to protect you and the other grandparents. You all have underlying health issues. And Christmas is not for another two weeks so you don’t know whether you’ll have COVID then.”

 

“Not doing it. Probably won’t come. You’re being over the top as always.”

 

Dad hung up but he came on Christmas Day for lunch.

 

I am quite sure he did not take a COVID test.

 

I called my Mum.

 

“Mum.” (I should mention that my parents are divorced). “We’d like you to take a rapid test before you come for Christmas lunch.”

 

“Oh…ok.” Mum sent me a photo of her negative COVID test on Christmas morning. When she arrived for Christmas lunch, she waved her negative COVID test at my front door. Like it was show and tell.

 

“Sally,” I said to my sister. “We’d like you to take a rapid test before you come for Christmas lunch.”

 

“Not doing that. That’s stupid.”

 

“Sal, you work in a medical clinic. You’re surrounded by random, sick people all the time.”

 

“Not doing it.”

 

Sally didn’t come on Christmas Day.

 

We all sat around the Christmas tree to exchange presents. My Dad presented me with a Christmas stocking. My Dad hadn’t given me a Christmas stocking for many years. I was over 50 after all!

 

I reached into the stocking and felt a box. Excitement building, I pulled the box out of the stocking.

 

It was a box of COVID-19 rapid tests.

 

I turned to Dad, confused.

 

Without a hint of irony, he said matter-of-factly, “Well, you’re mad on those things so I bought you a pack.”

 

About the author

 Leonie Jarrett lives in Melbourne, Australia with her Husband of more than 3 decades, 2 of her 4 adult children and her 2 Golden Retrievers. Leonie is a lawyer and has owned several businesses. Now that she is semi-retired, Leonie is loving writing rivers of words. 

 

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