An unusual guest for Christmas lunch(Vassilis Papaioannou) An unusual guest for Christmas lunch

By Vassilis Papaioannou


“Grandma, grandma...”, shouted Jonathan, running downstairs and into the kitchen, “Good morning grandma! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, grandma”.
“Merry Christmas, Jonathan. Merry Christmas, my love!” replied grandma, giving Jonathan a huge hug and a kiss.
“Grandma, look, look! It’s snowing!”.
“Oh yes, so it is, Jonathan. How wonderful! It feels so much more like Christmas when it is snowing. I can’t remember when we last had a white Christmas – I had quite forgotten how marvelous it feels!”.
The two of them rushed to the window, pressing their noses against the glass, peering out at the huge falling flakes and the snow piling up along the pavement, covering the street, the trees and the cars.
“Oh my goodness, look grandma” shrieked Jonathan, pointing to the other side of the street. “Over there, in the entrance to the shop across the road. It’s Gabriel!”
“Who? You mean that old coat and pile of blankets is a man?”
“Yes, grandma. He’s called Gabriel. He usually lives in the park, but today he’s moved here… Oh, look grandma, he’s moving! He’s waking up!”
“Oh yes, Jonathan, I can see him now. Very clearly. Poor thing. How do you know his name, Jonathan?” asked grandma.
“Well, grandma, he often watches me and my friends playing football in the park. Once the ball hit him on the head and he roared with laughter! As he threw the ball back to me, I called out to thank him and asked his name. He told me it was Gabriel, and I told him my name too.”
“Oh the poor man”, cried grandma, “all alone on Christmas Day”.
“Grandma, grandma, I have a great idea! Let’s invite him to come and enjoy Christmas lunch with us!” exclaimed Jonathan, jumping up and down with excitement.
“I don’t know, Jonathan. I really don’t know…”, said grandma, shaking her head. “I really don’t know if we have enough chicken for three. He’ll also need a bath and clean clothes…he probably needs a shave, too.”
“Oh please, grandma, please. Gabriel is a nice person and he seems so alone. We could give him one of grandpa’s suits to wear, and a nice clean shirt too!”, pleaded Jonathan.
“Your grandpa’s clothes, Jonathan? I really don’t know at all… But he is watching over us from up in heaven, and I think perhaps it might make him happy to see Gabriel with us today, of all days.”
“Exactly, grandma! He would be so pleased if we invited Gabriel to join us for Christmas lunch. Please, grandma, please. It is Christmas, after all.”

Two hours later, Jonathan, Gabriel and grandma were sitting at the Christmas table, having chicken soup. It was hot and creamy, steaming hot in fact. Gabriel enjoyed it enormously. And the chicken was the best he had ever tasted!
“Well now, Gabriel, tell us something about yourself”, said grandma, with a warm smile on her face.
Gabriel had a clean, white face, with warm blue eyes and long blond hair. Dressed in a neat suit that had belonged to grandpa, and a crisp white shirt, he was in a wonderful mood.
“Thank you very much for welcoming me into your lovely home”, said Gabriel. As he spoke, in a warm voice, the light from the candles on the table gave him a wonderful aura, filling the room with the feel of a small chapel.
“Well”, started Gabriel, “what has stuck in my mind over the past year is the way people always seem to be in a hurry. It’s as if they are running around all day long. And I ask myself, why? People seem to be quarreling and shouting at each other all the time – for no particular reason. And I ask myself, why? I see elderly people struggling to walk from place to place, without anyone to help them. And I ask myself, why? I see people turn their backs on others and ask myself why? I see very rich people that want to be richer. And I ask myself why? But I also see children of all colours and creeds, running about and playing together, singing, dancing and laughing. And that fills me with joy and hope. Hope for the future. As long as they keep their human hearts! God would be so happy if people understood what life is really about – love, care and compassion for one another.”

Jonathan and grandma had stopped eating, listening to Gabriel in amazement.

The snow continued to fall, thick and fast, and a strong wind was whipping up. Gabriel gazed out of the window and whispered: “I must leave you now. My time on earth is over”.
“Why now? Please, Gabriel, stay a little longer and tell us some more. Please, oh please”, wailed Jonathan, with sadness in his voice.
“Thank you for your kindness, your warmth, your care”, replied Gabriel, “God will stand by you both, forever”.
And so, Gabriel left, slipping out of the door…

Jonathan ran to the window, pressing his face up against it to watch Gabriel appear out on the street. He waited, and waited and waited. Minutes went by, and still nothing. Gabriel had disappeared, as if into thin air!
Grandma crossed herself.
“What happened to Gabriel, grandma? Where has he disappeared to?” asked Jonathan, his voice shaking with excitement.
“I think, Jonathan, that he is back on high, where he belongs. God bless him.”

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