THE CHRISTENING

The postman tooted his horn. The mail had arrived later than usual. I casually walked out to the mailbox and unlocked it. Today's bundle was quite big. I scanned through the letters, which I knew were only bills. It is strange how bills seem to come at the same time as each other.

I noticed a larger but colourful envelope. I was excited because the mail was from an old friend in Greece .

We both had so much fun as children did. The mischief we got into, the practical jokes we played on our parents and neighbours and sometimes inside the classroom. They were normal things that children did. After all we did not have television or video games, like the children of today. We had to use our imagination, to Invent our amusements.

I carefully opened the envelope and read the letter with joy. Thalia, my friend, had written, "do you remember when..." but there was an event I had forgotten and that was a Christening. It was very special, especially to ten years olds.

Thalia had a beautiful doll with bright rosy cheeks and a rosy set of lips to match. She had the most wonderful dress made out of lace and taffeta. I remember the colour was a sky blues. The doll had fair hair like I back then, but in large curls neatly placed upon the next curl. She looked like an eighteenth century characters from the French palace of King Louis the sixteenth.

The particular day was going to be her big day. Thalia and I dressed in our Sunday best, while her younger brother dressed in black robe and imitated our local priest. The ceremony had begun. I was the doll's godmother and Thalia had called her, Thekia, after me. Several years have gone by and I am still touched by that.

"Do you remember Thekla's Christening? Thalia wrote. Yes, I do remember as if it were only, yesterday. It is one of my favourite memories. I like to share with my children.

In 1979, I returned to my birthplace Athens , Greece . I visited this friend of mine. Thalia took my hand and made follow her to the study. She told me she had a surprise for me. In fact, I would never have guessed what this surprise was in million years. She made me close my eyes before she opened the door. I could hear the door being pushed away from us. Thalia led me into the room.

"Now open your eyes slowly." I could hear the excitement quiver in her voice.

As I motioned my eyelids upwards, I started to focus on something blue. The picture became clearer and clearer. Oh! What a surprise, indeed! It was our Thekia, just as she was on her Christening day, sitting magnifi­cently as she did so.

Tiny drops of tears did roll down my face. I know it is only doll, but to ten-year-olds she had represented the strong friendship between Thalia and I, for these years.

Memories are sweet thing to have especially when are getting older with grownup children of your own and grandchildren. Memories, good memories, can make you feel like a ten-year-old, for that moment.

Thekia Scarcetita