Jimmy's Christmas Rock

Okay...this might be a bit self indulgent. I don't really have an update on the cancer front but I thought I would share this story that my Dad wrote 32 years ago. It is a true story and I believe the rights to the story are owned by a newspaper but it is a story about me and I don't make any money from this blog so I figure it is fair game.

Jimmy's Christmas Rock
By James W. Carbine

Young Jimmy often visited Grandma, but this particular night was to be the beginning of an unusual event.

It was rather chilly, and a friendly, coal-fed fire crackled in the fireplace. Several large pieces of shining, ebony coal lay on the hearth. The youngster's first encounter with coal soon produced the inevitable question, "What's that?" His father, glancing up from the adult conversation, trying to add a little humor, said, "That's a Christmas rock, and if you're good, you'll get it for Christmas."

The rest of the evening was spent without much thought given to Dad's so-called joke or its absence of laughter.

As the November night grew colder and the fire dimmer, the remaining pieces of coal were added to the fire. Then it happened. Everyone realized Dad's humor had been taken very seriously by at least one person. Dad glanced down to see who was tugging on his sleeve and was met by a heartboken look of a 3-year old. Jimmy, fighting back the tears, said, "Grandpa burned away my Christmas rock."

Grandma soon pacified Jimmy by telling him she would make sure he got another rock for Christmas. She did, however, include one more condition. Jimmy had to kiss her at every meeting in return for the gift. So the evening concluded with everyone happy, with maybe the exception of our would be comic, Dad.

In the week that followed there was the usual excitement for Christmas shared by everyone. But for Jimmy there was a special excitement, as he waited to become the owner of his Christmas rock. Whenever asked the question, "What do you want for Christmas?" the first and often only answer was, "A Christmas rock."

His enthusiasm spread and soon his younger sisgter, Charlene, had made the same arrangement with Grandma, and she too was anxiously awaiting the blessed day.

In a time of electronic gadgetry, talking tooth brushes and all sorts of glittering toys on the market, it amazed people that a youngster could be so fascinated by a black ugly, piece of coal. The same coal used in Christmases past to punish children was now a reward for being good.

Soon the festive holiday arrived, and as promised, there under the Christmas tree lay two beautiful Christmas rocks, strangely resembling two ugly hunks of coal. The tricycles, electric trains, and dolls created almost as much excitement and joy; but when asked which present would be taken as the family visited friends and relatives, there was never really any doubt as to what Jimmy and Charlene would take.

In their travels that day, they beamed with joy when asked what they got. They quickly showed their pride and joy--their rocks.

One cousin, about the same age as Jimmy, felt quite bad that he didn't have a Christmas rock. Grandma again came to the rescue promising yet another piece of coal (however, after dropping his Christmas rock on his bare foot, the cousin lost most of his admiration for it).

Though the newness soon wore off, the pride in ownership remained. Today seven years later, the rock remains proudly perched on a shelf like a trophy. Grandma still collects her kisses, and anyone entering Jimmy's room is immediately shown the rock.

Several months later as Grandma's birthday approached and a present was being discussed, young Jimmy suggested, "Let's get her a Birthday rock!"