The Music Box

The year was 1965, in a small town of North Carolina. A young girl was out playing in the snow, trying to build a snowman. She was only eight years old and had no brothers and sisters. Her Mom was in the house making lunch, and her dad was in Vietnam. 1

It was December, and there was at least seven inches of snow on the ground. Little Jo was exhausting herself to make the perfect snowman. 2

She was almost done rolling the last and biggest part of all. The head she did first, then the tummy and now the large bottom was 3

just about finished. Her Mom would help her put it all together after lunch. She couldn't wait.4

"Little Jo, time for lunch sweetie!" Jo did not hesitate. She knew 5

that the sooner she ate lunch the sooner she would get to finish her snowman.6

"You sure have worked hard on that snowman," her mother said. "Oh yes mommie, he is going to be the most specialist snowman in the world!"7

They ate their soup and grilled cheese sandwiches between smiles and giggles, but only after asking the blessing.8

"Okay mommie, let's go!" Jo said while sliding on her snow boots.9

"I will be out as soon as I am done with these dishes, now you help clear the table before you head out." Always doing as she was told, Jo cleared the table then put her coat, hat and gloves on. Out the door she went.10

Her Mom was not far behind her. "Oh my, it is a cold one." 11

She said as her first breath was stolen by old man winter. "You'll warm up fast mommie working on the bestest snowman in the world." "Well," her mother said, "I sure am glad we don't have to pick up this giant one." Nothing else was said until the head was put on. They packed loose snow around each section to keep them connected. "All right!" Her mother said exhausted, for putting the tummy on top of the bottom was an enormous job.12

"Okay mommie, wait right there. I will go get the parts!" 13

The parts? Her mother wondered. She didn't have to wonder long, for Jo came out with a most unique outfit for her perfect snowman. "Remember these mommie, daddy let me have them before he went to that war?" It was an Air Force hat and shirt. "Of course I do sweetheart." With a tear rolling down her cheek, Jo's mother put the hat on the snowman's head and the shirt around its body. They stuck strong tree limbs in for the arms. They used coal of course for the eyes, and the ever loved carrot for the nose. They used pebbles that Jo had painted, with her mothers help; for the big smile. After Jo placed the last pebble on she happily exclaimed, "The biggest smile for the biggest and bestest snowman ever, my snowman daddy!" Jo's mother took her daughter in her arms and hugged her as tears streamed down her face. They both missed him so much and had no idea when her would return.14

Christmas Eve was upon them and they were decorating their tree. Christmas songs were playing on the phonograph and the smell of fresh baked cookies lingered in the air. "Oh mommie, I sure hope Santa brings me a music box. Like the one we saw at the store." Her mother knew that Santa could not do this because it was gone when she went to buy it.15

"Well, sweetie," her mother said. "No matter what Santa brings you, be thankful and know that you have been a very good girl" She had bought her a larger music box, but it didn't play the same tune and it wasn't nearly as pretty.16

After tucking her precious daughter in, she sat in front of the fire place and read for a while. After she was sure Jo was asleep, she became Santa's helper and laid out all the magical treasures. 17

She smiled and cried as she thought of her husband who was so far away. After she finished filling her stocking she unplugged the tree and all the lights then went to bed.18

Jo woke up when she felt a kiss on her cheek. When she opened her eyes it was her daddy. He had his index finger up to his lips and said,19

"Shhhh we don't want to wake up mommie." "But why daddy, mommie misses you too?" She whispered. "Because I can't stay long, I just wanted to bring you this present. Now, you can't open it until the morning and tell your mommie I love her with all my heart. I love you too my little peanut." Kissing her on the cheek and telling her to quickly go back to sleep, she closed her eyes.20

The door bell woke them both with a start and together they went to the door. It was military men and a member of the clergy. Right away Jo's mother knew what they had come to tell her. 21

It was how it always happened. She broke down crying right away without the gentlemen saying a word. "Mommie, why are you crying?" Jo said with tears streaming down her on face. Her mother told her it would all be okay and asked the visiting gentlemen to just give her the papers so she could explain in private to her daughter. She glanced over the papers and politely said, "Merry Christmas."22

She closed the door and took Jo's hand and they walked slowly to the couch and sat down. "Honey, those men were here to tell us something very sad. Sweetie, daddy's plane crashed and he didn't eject in time. He has gone on to Heaven to be with Jesus." Jo looked at her mother with tears running down her face and said, "But that's not true mommie, daddy was here last night. He kissed me and told me to tell you he loved you with all his heart!" With even more tears her mother said,"Oh honey, that was just a dream. A wonderful dream, but still a dream." "No mommie!" she screamed. Jo got up and ran to her room, she quickly returned to her mother with a perfectly wrapped Christmas gift. "See mommie!" She said as the tears continued to fall. "Daddy gave me this and told me not to open it until morning. Then he told me to tell you he loved you with all his heart." Jo's mother shivered as she asked her daughter to open the gift. 23

Slowly Jo opened the present with her little hands trembling. "Oh mommie, it's my beautiful music box the one we saw at the store!"24