Christmas stories. Anna Hamillon & greg Smith

I’m grateful}

To my husband, thank you for your understanding and my aunt for ideas and inspiration. To the artist Anna Alena Soboleva. City of Derby. England.

1. Spices and meeting

I’m walking through my favorite park in Derby. By taking a deep breath of cold air you can catch a scent of grass and leaves. Golden autumn is comes closer and the entire park turns into a riot of autumn colors. Such landscapes inspire me. I sketched out my melody in a music pad and put it in the pocket of my favorite tweed coat. I put on gloves, turned on Lindsey Stirling headphones and went to the street next to my house.

My nose caught the smell of cinnamon buns wafting from Auntie Basse’s coffee shop. Approaching the coffee shop I saw a display window that my aunt had begun to decorate with a spruce garland. And on the chocolate-colored wooden door hung a Christmas wreath with red ribbons and fir cones.

The bell signaled the opening of the front door and Basse looked out of the closet. She was a fifty-five-year-old woman, about my height, five feet six inches, with reddish-gray hair and blue eyes, she was wearing a gray knit dress with a matching apron and small heels. She cooked amazingly well and was the kindest person I knew.

– Oh, Anna, come in, do you want some cinnamon buns?!

– Certainly.

“My favorites,” – I thought.

Basse came out of the pantry with a large wooden tray containing many cotton bags, and when she placed them on the table each one smelled delicious in its own way.

“I bought new seasonings for Christmas,” – Basse said smiling.

– It’s less than two months before it.

– Considering the weather outside you can start baking Christmas recipes earlier, this year I decided to try a second mulled wine recipe, what do you think?

– Good idea, are these bags for it? – and I began to sniff each bag.

–And not only!

– Today’s weather suggests that it’s time, look how flushed you are.

I touched my cheeks which were very warm and probably very pink. With my green eyes and long brown curly hair I always thought I looked like a tomato in such moments.

– Come on, eat buns and drink tea, - said aunt Basse, moving a cup of tea with buns towards me.

– It’s very tasty as always, - I said chewing the first slice and noticed that Basse had started adding a mixture of fragrant nuts to the buns which meant the coming of Christmas and cold weather.

– I need more flour, - said Basse raising her finger up.

She went back into the pantry again and I continued enjoying the buns with fragrant tea. The puddings, buns, and cookies made by Basse were famous in Derby especially during the autumn-winter period. So on Fridays I helped her with the dough because her assistant had gone on maternity leave and more dough was needed for Saturday deliveries at home than on weekdays.

For this I could get a little pocket money, drink tea with buns for free and take two meals a week when I didn’t have music lessons. And at my sixteens I felt like I’m an adult teenager who takes care of herself.

Finishing with the tea I picked up my backpack, said goodbye to Basse until Friday and left the coffee shop towards home.

My house is a classic two-story building made of red-vinous brick on one of the oldest streets in Derby. There were three apartments in the house and ours consisted of two small bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and one bathroom with a steep wooden staircase leading upstairs. This old apartment belonged to us from my grandmother whom I hardly remembered. After my mother’s death stepfather Simon Walter received custody over me and said that we would stay here. But every time he fell into depression accompanied sometimes by alcohol intoxication or, as he called it treatment,he cursed this staircase to the toilet and cursed the architect who built this house. Over time, I realized that this architect had also taken care of the quality of the wood for the staircase which withstood these curses. Nevertheless, our house in the most beloved holiday of Christmas transformed with dozens of lit bulbs and became one of the favorite locations for tourists. And when there was hoarfrost I still thought as i thought in my childhood that I lived in a fairy-tale town.

Over five years of depression my stepfather several times underwent treatment with the help of social services. They sympathized with him very much and enrolled him in all social programs. They helped with clothing which rarely was new and free medications for the depression.

Because of this, the minimal income that Simon Walters had barely covered the bills and food. And Simon Walters who was half Frenchman, brunette with blue eyes and wrinkles on his high forehead, was a sensitive person which indicated his creative nature as a restorer.

The incident that occurred a year ago became a turning point in our relationship. Coming home from school, I saw a broken violin that had been given to me by my mother. On the second day after that Simon knocked on the closed door of my room. He asked forgiveness, said that my playing the violin reminded him of my mother and in a state of deep sadness he committed this terrible act. The thought of reporting to the guardianship frightened me for fear that I would be taken away from my home.

Instead of this, for my forgiveness I demanded that he stop drinking. It was at that moment that I received an offer from Basse to help her in the coffee shop. This could bring me to my senses during those difficult days for me.

So tonight, at home Simon Walters came tired, took pills on schedule, defrosted fast-food dinner and sat down in front of the TV in his favorite rest of this cold evening I transferred my notes, recorded today in the park, from the notebook to the study folder, thinking that Mrs. Cooper would definitely like it.

***

– Anna, this is wonderful. When did you write it?

– Yesterday, while walking in the park.

– Keep it up, and you’ll have great material for the exam. I always say that walks in the fresh air are beneficial.

– I’m glad you liked it.

– Let’s add another reprise here, - Mrs. Cooper signed with a pencil in my folder. - Try it out in this version?

– Yes, okay.

– Well, I have to go, - said Mrs. Cooper putting on her coat and scarf. - And you too because now there will be a guitar class. Don’t you want to drink tea? We can talk about the news that I found out along the way.

– That’s a good idea, - I answered with a smile.

Mrs. Cooper was a music teacher. With Spanish roots and appearance, she was a teacher who sought talent in each child and if they abandoned music as they grew older she took it hard. She could play three instruments and even while typing on her laptop could hum something to herself. She was from a family of musicians like her husband and ,of course, her children.

Her phrase “A person will overcome everything with music” became my motto in life. She could be caught listening to rock ‘n’ roll and Beethoven. Mrs. Cooper was attentive, fair and kind. She registered me for all the school and city competitions. I was very grateful to her for this and my fear of the audience disappeared without a trace.

During the conversation, Mrs. Cooper told me that in the new year in January there would be a review of the most talented students at our school. The best ones would have the opportunity to study at other educational institutions where they could learn more about music. With this news, I gained hope of getting a new place. My thoughts about leaving the house that I loved so much but lived in with great sadness clouded my hearing so much that I missed part of Mrs. Cooper’s conversation.

– Anna, look, a new restaurant has opened called “Derby.”

“Try our appetizers for free,” was written on the advertising sign.

– Isn’t it tempting, let’s go in?

– Sure, - I quickly read the name of the familiar place “Derby” and thought that I could allow myself to have a cup of tea.

A new restaurant opened instead of a pub with minor changes in the interior, where I dined with my mother under the previous owners. The late Mr. Joe died and his nephew sold the premises on one of Derby’s busy streets. Cafes, pubs and restaurants here have been passed down from generation to generation and bookstores and souvenir shops are very popular among tourists. But due to the crisis, even the most valuable traditions sooner or later begin to change. “I wonder what their menu is now. Mister Joe had very tasty cutlets and sausages,” – I thought.

Mrs. Cooper sat down at a table by the window and a waitress approached us, she was a little older than me with the name Zhuzha on her badge.

– Is it true that you have free aperitifs? - Mrs. Cooper clarified.

– Yes, but you must order tea or coffee and pay for it.

– As I thought. Anna, would you like some tea?

– Yes.

– And two teas. Well, it’s very nice and cozy here,” Mrs. Cooper said, looking around the cafe.

– “I remember when my mother brought me here for the first time, I saw the head of a reindeer hanging on the wall and burst into tears. And Mr. Joe and his friend Hugh calmed me down, saying that this was not a real stuffed animal but a good toy.

–Did you know the previous owners?

– Yes, they were friends of my mother.

– Oh, sorry, Anna.

–It’s okay, I was the first to talk about the past. And here is our tea and aperitifs.

– Looks so delicious, said Mrs. Cooper.

– You can vote which ones you liked best.

–Definitely,– I said. - But, in my opinion, it all smells very tasty.

– Well, let’s try it, – Mrs. Cooper said and took a piece with pickles.

I started with a chocolate one. It was a cherry in a chocolate sponge cake, a small piece covered in spiced chocolate. It was amazingly delicious and I couldn’t remember if I’d ever tried such a combination of flavors. The vanilla sponge cake was with orange and other spices. But I haven’t really tried it with pickles and mushrooms.

– What do you say, Anna?

– Mrs. Cooper, the one with chocolate and cherry is magical.

– Yes, I agree. But the pickles are also very tasty.

– This is a very tasty dessert for Christmas,- and I thought that Aunt Basse should definitely try it.

The waitress Zhuzha approached us.

–Are you ready to choose the best one and vote?

– Chocolate sponge cake is divine, - I said.

– I’ll still vote for pickles,- said Mrs. Cooper. - May I know the name of your pastry chef?

– We only have a cook and his assistant. The cook’s name is Henry Williams.

– Tell them that everything is very tasty.

– Fine. Bon appetit.

I tried to remember this taste of chocolate biscuit and caught myself thinking that in my sixteen years I had never tasted anything tastier.

– Anna, I need to hurry already, there’s so much chores at home this evening! You can drink tea and enjoy your time.

– Okay, Mrs. Cooper, thank you for the walk.

– See you, Anna.

– Goodbye, Mrs. Cooper.

I followed Mrs. Cooper with my eyes out and noticed that it’s raining outside. I ordered another cup of tea to wait out the rain. Looking at the weather outside the window, I thought about Mrs. Cooper’s words: the best will receive a list of educational institutions where they can completely devote themselves to music and learning new musical instruments! I thought about the house, about my mother’s house, which was so difficult to live in now. I was thinking about Basse. But more than anything else I want to study music and dedicate my life to it. My thoughts were interrupted by a man who was dressed in a chef’s jacket, with an antique watch on his hand, brown eyes and a completely bald head.

– Are you okay, young lady?

– Yes, I’m good, thank you. I’m waiting out the rain and drinking tea. Your chocolate cherry sponge cake is simply magical. You’re talented, - I said with a smile, remembering the magical taste.

– Unfortunately, not me, but my assistant.

– I haven’t tasted anything tastier in my life.

– Well, young lady, I can tell you that the young man who made this biscuit is also your age. I will pass on your praise to him. I forgot to introduce myself - I’m Henry Williams.

– I’m Anna Hamilton.

Henry shook my hand, said he was glad to meet me, walked up to another guest and came back to the kitchen.

Wow, at that age the guy bakes so deliciously, he’s definitely a talented guy. Without Basse, I wouldn’t even dare add the seasonings and toppings myself. My talent as a cook ends at omelettes or pasta with cheese. I put on my coat and went home. The rain turned to freezing drizzle. The whole of Derby was shrouded in a dull gray color, and only the lights of the lanterns and the light of the windows made it possible to see at least something on the way home. Every year in the fall Derby is flooded with rain, but I don’t remember that the rain was so freezing.

My head was spinning this evening from the news. We need to think it over and tell Basse everything tomorrow.

At home in my room I was putting on warm pajamas when Simon knocked on my door.

– Anna, we’re having a meeting with a psychologist on Friday.

– I work at Basse’s on Fridays and you know it.

– Yes, but I hoped that you could stay an hour?

– No, it’s better to reschedule the meeting for tomorrow, I don’t have a music lesson on Thursday.

– I think Basse can wait?

– Let me call the psychologist and arrange a meeting myself.

– Okay, call her.

Simon closed the door and I exhaled, he is even afraid to ask to reschedule the meeting with the specialist. I dialed Miss Miller, a young woman in her thirties, who worked as a psychologist for social services, and made an appointment for the next day. I thought to myself if there was any point in our visits to her.

Before going to bed, I thought about the day, about music, about my mother and the chocolate biscuit that I want to eat again.

***

Leaving school the next day, for the first time in my life I grumbled about the weather. It was very cold and raining. My favorite plaid coat had to be replaced with an unloved jacket, and the upcoming meeting with a psychologist in the company of Simon did not make me happy at all.

I decided to run to Basse first and share the news. All the tables in the coffee shop were occupied, and I hurried to my aunt, who was at the counter. While I was telling her about the news, the guests had left, she looked at me for a long time, and tears welled up in her eyes. Basse lowered her head, pretending to count the money,she was silent for a long time.

– Well, I know that you are a talented girl, sooner or later you will live your own life.

Basse’s tears began to flow and I hugged her.

– My dear Basse. I’m not leaving anywhere yet.

– I know you will leave. But you know, your mother, – she wiped her nose and eyes with a handkerchief that she took out of her apron. Your mother would be proud of you, very proud.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

- Oh my darling, my girl, everything is right.

A new guest entered the coffee shop. Basse wiped away my tears.

– Basse, I need to run to the bus, Simon and I have a psychologist today.

– Sure, my dear.

I kissed Basse, put on my hood so that the coffee shop guest wouldn’t notice my wet eyes and went outside.

Tears flowed all the way to the bus stop. I understood that Basse was right, if I had to leave, it would be mentally difficult not only for me.

Surprisingly, the meeting with the psychologist was not as long as usual. I didn’t want to talk about the upcoming competition absolutely but I had to. Since my hearing was clouded with thoughts about the competition and Miss Miller and Simon were wondering where I was mentally.

That evening I wrote the continuation of my music in my small but cozy bedroom, which my mother had furnished once. I still felt her presence. My room was my refuge from the outside world. I remember how we chose colors for the wall by the window. I chose the floral wallpaper myself at a Christmas sale. There was a rose on the window, which my mother carefully looked after. There were dozens of books on the shelf. The oak bed was covered in pillows and a cozy blanket. And, of course, my favorite closet in which I hid as a child. And on winter and cold autumn evenings I remember our fireplace, the only one in our apartment.

I heard the stairs creak and Simon knocked on the door.

– May I come in?

– I thought about your words and I want to say that this is your home and you don’t have to leave anywhere.

I don’t know what I would like to hear from him on this matter, but now I couldn’t answer him. He left the room and it took me a couple of minutes to turn my thoughts to the music. After adjusting my blanket and pillow, I returned to the notes, reminding myself that I must have a strong immunity to the words of this person. Closer to midnight, I fell asleep with music sheets in my hands and only turned off my desk lamp in the morning.

***

– You should definitely come with me to Derby and try this biscuit.

– Okay, Anna! Let’s go on Monday, I’ll close the coffee shop early, there are few guests on Mondays. So, it’s old Joe’s nephew who sold the Derby after all?

– It’s so.

– Their grandfather owned this pub.

– I’m sure you’ll understand why I was so delighted with this dessert.

– And I’m interested to look at this young creature who is preparing this chocolate dessert.”

I looked at Basse with all my smile, knowing that she did not trust young chefs.

–Although the young pastry chef may seem quite good,- said Basse and looked at me with a sly look.

– Basse.

–Well, at your age I really loved the attention of boys.

– And at my age, all boys play computer games.

– Yeah, these are the times! But there were times when my grandmother, being your age, slept in a cap, wore a petticoat and was happy that she was engaged for the whole weekend.

I laughed for several minutes as my imagination tried on a cap and petticoat on me.

– So let’s try some new seasonings.

– Alright.

We prepared three types of dough on a wooden high table, and throughout the kitchen there were seasonings, jam, dried fruit, cookie cutters and muffins. I loved this kitchen process. Despite the fact that we cooked until late, these were magical moments of dough swelling, the smells of jam and cinnamon, nuts and apples and dozens of other spices. There were crumbs of flour on the floor, and even in the process of rolling the dough, Basse taught me to think about pleasant things, and so turned out that music was playing in my head and sometimes I didn’t hear what she was telling me.

The kitchen was made in the middle of the last century with supporting beams painted chocolate color, and the major renovation that Basse did only gave this kitchen a fabulous coziness and convenience. I especially liked the kitchen floor. It was in “Alice in Wonderland” style.

It was already eleven in the evening when we arrived at Basse. On Fridays I always stayed with her, since she lived above her coffee shop and I didn’t have to go to the next street late.

Basse’s apartment was small. Two small oak beds, covered with warm blankets, and a small wardrobe looked very cozy in the only bedroom with cute rose wallpaper. And Basse’s favorite floor lamp illuminated the bedroom with warm light. On the wall hung oval wooden frames with a picture of her son, who lived in Ireland and was a teacher at the university. He worked hard and she was very proud of him. In the distant past, after the death of her husband, she decided that she needed to have her own business, and together with my mother they opened this coffee shop.

***

– I have one address left, at the end of the street, - said Basse.

– Let me see, it’s next to the “Derby” restaurant. Basse, maybe we can go there today, do you have urgent business?

– There are no urgent matters but I need to get to the grocery store before it closes.

We took the last of our delivery orders and headed to “Derby”. Surprisingly, there was no rain today, the sun was shining and it was plus ten Celsius, I was in a good mood.

– Look, they just painted the door and put flowers, but everything is still the same,” Basse said when we approached the Derby.

– Yes, not much has changed inside either, now you’ll see.

Zhuzha met us at the cafe and offered us a table near the window.

– Yes, you’re right, almost nothing has changed, but the upholstery of the chairs has been changed. You know, it’s better without the deer head and all the hunting accessories, - said Basse, looking at the interior.

– Yes, it’s cozy here.

– Your menu, – Zsuzha said.

– We would like to try only a chocolate dessert today, remember, I voted for it three days ago, – I said with a smile.

– Yes, of course, I remember.

– And two teas, - said Basse.

– Fine.

– Well, now let’s try what you advertised,- said Basse, smiling.

Basse had already put the third piece of cake into her mouth, and I knew that she was carefully studying the taste.

– What do you say?

– I will say that you was right, my dear. It’s really, really tasty.

– Tell me, have you tried any dessert tastier than this?

– It’s definitely difficult to say so, but I agree – it’s divine.

Henry Williams came into the cafe, he saw us and headed in our direction.

– Hello again, young lady!

– Hello, Henry. We came to try a portion of your wonderful chocolate sponge cake and this is Basse, my aunt.

– We know each other, – Basse said with a smile.

– Right, young lady, your aunt once said that my stubbornness will help me in this life.

Basse laughed.

– I’ll tell you this little story later.

– What do you think about the dessert, Basse? – Henry asked.

– It is wonderful. I really liked the dessert. I think it will bring you fame.

– This is my assistant’s dessert.

– Can I meet him?

– Of course, he’s here today, now I’ll change clothes and introduce him to you. In the meantime, one more portion at the house’s expense.

– Thank you.

– I didn’t know that this stubborn guy bought the “Derby”.

– Basse, where did you meet him?

– He is the son of my classmate. We are both from Scotland. I have known him since childhood. His mother worked in the kitchen as a helper. Since childhood, he organized such games at her workplace that his mother changed jobs three times. Once, in the pantry of the restaurant where his mother worked, he saw a red bag on the top shelf and thought, maybe there were gifts from Santa Claus, and he climbed up. The rack fell down with all the goods and Henry. And in the bag there was expensive almond flour. His mother had to pay good money for it. He has been coming up with recipes since childhood, and more than one of his stoves burned down.

We laughed together and then I enjoyed another chocolate dessert.

– Basse, I need to go to the toilet, but you wait for the young chef.

– Fine.

I dried my hands, looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I was very flushed. Oh my cheeks. It seemed to me that I was starting to feel insecure because of them, since they were blushing from the sun, and from the rain, and from laughter. And against their background, my green eyes stood out even brighter. Okay, nothing can be done.

Approaching the table, I saw two chefs sitting at the table with Basse and talking. When I approached, they stood up, one of them, a young man, turned around, and there was a pause in my attention. He had unusual-colored hair, very attentive brown eyes, he was a whole head taller than me, and it seemed to me that he definitely didn’t look his sixteen years old.

– Anna, this is Greg, my assistant,” Henry said.

– It’s a pleasure, Greg Smith.

At that second I could not answer because I was analyzing his voice with my musical ear, it did not sound at all like a boy, and his handshake turned out to be unusually strong for me.

– And after all, Anna, I have to answer,” I said to myself.

– Very nice. Anna Hamilton, nice to meet you.

– Have a seat, – he pushed my chair back.

And for the first time in my life, I felt awkward.

– Well, Anna, this dessert that delighted you so much was invented by this young man.

– This is very tasty,–I said said and looked again at Greg.

– Thank you.

Greg and I sat on one side, and it seemed to me that he could now see my cheeks, which were probably already the color of a tomato from embarrassment.

– If you work with the same soul, young man, you will have a lot of success ahead, – said Basse.

– Thank you .

– But you don’t look sixteen.

– I’ll be seventeen in a week.

– Well, I’m very happy for you, young people, and I was very glad to meet you, Greg. Anna and I have to go, I need to get to the grocery store before it closes.

– Thanks for coming, Basse, – said Henry.

– Oh, dear Henry, I was glad to see you too, and I’m glad that such a serious man has grown from that tomboy.

– Thank you, Basse, you are very kind.

– Come see us again, – Greg said and looked at me with an attentive gaze.

I put on my coat, overcoming the unruly sleeve, and we left the Derby, heading to the grocery store. While I listened to Basse, who listed what she needed to buy, a new acquaintance could not leave my mind. His chocolate-red hair color and matching eyebrows set off his brown eyes, which were as attentive as if you’re reading a book. Strong, warm hands. He is almost seventeen years old. “But he’s kind of an adult,” – I thought. – “He doesn’t look like the boys in my class, but some of them are his same age.”

– Anna, do you hear me?

– Yes, Basse.

– Do you have your head in the clouds?

– Just nothing, I have some thoughts.

– Do you need to go to the grocery store?

– Yes, I think I need some tomatoes.