Γιαγιάς Christmas Canes
Mary knocked over her coffee cup as she cleared the table. Her son, Peter, a student of École Socrates-Démosthène had just finished breakfast and she is in a hurry to get him to school and then get to work herself. Christmas is Peter’s favourite time of the year. His face is beaming as he is flashing a sheet in front of his mom Mary, saying with excitement:
Peter: ‘’Mommy, remember, we have to buy a toy for a poor child and bring it to my school. When will we go shopping?’’
Mary: ‘’This Saturday’’, she is happy that he reminded her and answers while wiping the table, ‘’What is it you are supposed to be doing now?”
Peter: Peter answers with conviction: “I know, I know, I have to get my books and my coat on, so I am not late for school’’. He leaves the kitchen and goes towards his bedroom, puts his books into his nap-sac and runs to the door, saying, ‘’ I am bringing my dollar to school today, mommy. Our teacher reminded us yesterday to bring our loonies or toonies to school, to send to the poor. She said that the Social Services of the Hellenic Community need our help to collect money to buy food vouchers for families in need.”
Mary: “Fantastic!” says Mary as she smiles happily, thinking about how kind-hearted he is.
Mary joins him at the entrance of their small apartment to get her coat on as well. Peter admires the Christmas tree that is adorned with lovely ornaments and shining brightly in the living room. He remembers how he always decorated the tree with his grandmother every year. Last year, she had brought home some ornaments that she had made at the Hellenic Social Services with some of her friends. She had confided in Peter that she really liked making the decorations and that it made her happy to help others. She had told him that she knew he was going to grow up into a very good and generous man one day. The attractive holiday canes, made of blue and white acrylic beads, were made with a lot of love and care. Peter had placed them on the tree last year, quite strategically, with the help of his grandmother. He loved spending time with her. The canes were her favourite decorations and Peter quite liked them, too. He remembers how his grandma hugged him tightly after he helped her hang them up and he announced to her that they were his favourite too! She had promised to bring home some red and white ones next year and to show him how to make them. Peter sadly looks at his mom
Peter: “Mommy, can we stop by the Social Services office after school to buy some red and white canes for our Christmas tree? Γιαγιά had told me that this year she was going to bring home some red and white ones! Can we go and buy some? Please Mommy, please?”
Mary’s eyes fill with tears as she remembers her mother’s handy work and generosity with her time always helping others; making these holiday canes had kept her mom’s mind off her illness and made it possible for her to make many new friends, while at the same time having to go for her treatments at the hospital. Mary was glad to have shared some very close and special moments with her mom at the hospital, even though sometimes they were quite difficult to bear. She smiles at her son, grateful that Peter definitely has his grandmother’s positive energy. She hugs him tightly and says,
Mary: “You miss Γιαγιά too, don’t you? Yes, we can stop by after school today”.
Peter: “Promise?”
Mary: “Promise!” By Eleni Fakotakis, Director of SSHQ
If you would like to make a donation please call Eleni at 514-738-2421 local 120
If you would like to join our decoration workshops or to volunteer your time during Christmas, please contact Mary at 514-738-2421 local 121 or 135 (Montreal) or Chryssa at 450-688-2088 (Laval)