Igor, the Boot’s Open! Stop the Car, Stop—Marina Shouted, Realising It Was All Lost: Gifts and Delic…

Edward, the boot! cried Alice, panic in her voice. The boots come open, stop the car! But before the words had fully left her lips, she realised it was too late. Their belongings had already begun tumbling from the back, scattering along the roadside, and the cars behind them, so close in the holiday traffic, likely never even noticed.

Gifts, treatsthe lot theyd been saving their pennies for over the past two months! Jars of strawberry preserves, a fine side of smoked salmon, a carefully chosen ham, all manner of special things reserved only for the grandest occasions. The bags with these treasures had been placed carefully atop the others in the boot, hoping to keep them from getting squashed. Theyd packed more than was sensible, off for all the holidays in the country, visiting Edwards gran.

The road out of town was busyeveryone seemed to have the same idea, crawling along bumper to bumper. But even at this slow pace, no one could stop at once. Anything that spilled onto the tarmac was surely a lost cause.

The children in the back, Elizabeth and Sophie, started to fret at the sight of their mothers distress, and soon their tears joined her silence. Alice did her best to calm them while Edward found a gap, pulled onto the verge, and they finally stopped. There was a flicker of hope still, a thought that perhaps their belongings had come to rest safely on the grassy edge. They walked back along the verge. Alas, the boots contents had vanishedno sense searching, only more time to be wasted.

Leave it, love, Edward told her, noticing how dejected Alice looked. Whats gone is gone. Well buy something else, or better yet, make do. Come on, no point fretting over things. He glanced at the darkening sky. Besides, look at that snow coming down, itll be night soon and roads are a bother.

Alice was silent the rest of the way. No sense blaming Edwardthe car was old, the latch never did hold properly. She tried not to dwell on the loss, but her mind wandered back and forth, and now and then she had to blink away tears. Shed scrimped and saved for those extras, and now they were gone. Why was it always her luck for things to go awry? Of course, she knew others had it worse, but her heart still achedespecially when she remembered the lovely, soft blanket shed picked out for Edwards gran, white as a snowdrop and warm as summer. That too had been in the boot.

It was nearly midnight when they finally reached the village. They’d half expected Gran Mary would have gone to bed, but the porch lamp shone bright, and out dashed Gran with her friend Mabel, both wrapped in shawls.

Oh, thank heavens youve made it! cried Gran Mary, embracing them one by one. Edward, my dear, wheres little Elizabeth and Sophie? There you are, my precious onesall safe, thank the good Lord!

Were alright, Gran, no need to worry, Edward said as he hugged her back. Lets get inside, theres a proper chill and your coats as thin as paper. Why the worry tonight?

Gran waved her hands. Dont mock, now! Weve been saying prayers for you half the night, havent we, Mabel? She turned earnest eyes to Edward. You see, I drifted off after lunch and had a most vivid dreamthe kind that chills you. I saw your car at the edge of the road, trouble coming. Woke up in a sweat, feeling uneasy all day. Then in comes Mabel to ask if youd arrivedtheyre all in safe, and Im beside myself, barely able to speak.

Mabel nodded solemnly. It felt an ill omenand I said to Mary, we must pray harder, for what if its not too late to ask for protection? So the two old dears prayed earnestly all evening, calling on St George and anyone else who might hear, for the journeys safety.

Well, you see, here you all are, safe and sound. Perhaps our prayers did help, Gran finished, cradling her grandchildren. If anyone finds your parcels and they bring someone else joy, then its better that way. Maybe they needed it more.

They welcomed New Year together, all around a long table weighed down with Grans own vegetables, pickled onions, roasted chicken, and those legendary hand-raised pies. Elizabeth and Sophie spent the evening pinching warm pasties from the pan, and no one could have wanted for more. By day, they played on the sledging hill with neighbourhood children. That night, eyelids drooping, they waited to see Father Christmas leave gifts under the tree.

Gran Mary, beaming, hugged her grandchildrenher own and Mabels both. What happiness, to have everyone under one roof! Thats the truest gift, she said.

But far off, in a nearly forgotten village with only a handful of cottages, two old sisters, Hope and Faith, and their neighbour, old William, made out as best they could. Theyd survived another winter, bundled together against the cold, sharing what little they hadnever completely alone. William had brought in a small fir tree and a decent meal was spread between them. Food was humble, yet still, it filled the table.

That afternoon, William went out to collect some firewood from the woods, bundling the dry sticks onto his old sledge. There, poking out from a drift by the lane, something caught his eye. It was a bag. He peered inside and found salted salmon, ham, a jar of preserves, and at the bottom, that snowy white fur-lined blanket.

Looking around and seeing no one, William set the bundle atop his firewood and brought it home. He spread the soft blanket before Hope and Faith, stoked the fire, and helped them set the table.

You know, said Faith, her eyes shining, I never thought Id taste real ham or such lovely things again.

Nor I, Hope replied with a soft smile.

I reckon, said William, the Lord saw fit to bless us with a little bounty in our old age. Perhaps we have a few more days joy ahead of us, to see the good He does.

Some losses, they all agreed, are worth letting go. After all, it may be Providences way of sparing you from something worse. Better by far to count your blessings, for often, what is lost makes for a richer joy elsewhere.