The Christmas Tree Story

by Aldo Stern

Hugo Dieter sipped his tea in Donna Leena's sitting room. It was just a little too cool to be taking tea out in the breezeway as they liked to do when the temperature was a bit more pleasant. But it was still nice to have tea and socialize in the sitting room.

And after all it was nearly Christmas. As much as the people of this region liked to live their lives in the open air, at a certain point, one found it slightly more comfortable to retreat indoors.

Hugo thought back to his home where he grew up in Germany. It has been years since he had returned there -- for a variety reasons -- but this was the only time of the year when he felt some longing for that past life.

Christmas: his friends among the southern Italians and the expatriates from diverse lands who had made this region their home all loved and enjoyed the season in their own ways. The local decorations such as those put by Donna Sere, with garlands and oranges and the beautiful, elaborate nativity scenes were quite lovely and charming. But he had to admit he missed the good old German-style Christmas tree, lit with candles, giving off a fresh and clean scent of the forest inside every cottage and manor house in his home town, each of them all buttoned up for the winter, with cold-frosted windowpanes and cheerful glow of the fireplaces.

As a rule he didn't talk much about his past, but for this one exception: he had mentioned missing Christmas trees to Donna Leena some time back. It was during a small get-together they had been having to say farewell to Capitano Zeffirelli, who was embarking on a relatively short trip around the peninsula and up to Venezia. It was not going to be one of his epic voyages -- the Capitano would be back soon most likely -- but his friends on Rocca Sorrentina tended to use any event, modest or major, as an excuse for a social occasion.

Even as he reflected on this, there was a knock at Donna Leena's door, which the serving maid opened to reveal a harbor rat, one of the boys who lived every minute of their lives around the docks, doing odd jobs for the ship's masters and helping the fishermen when needed.

"Per favore, Signorina, would you let the Donna Leena know that Capitano Zeffirelli's ship has returned and he respectfully requests the honor of her presence, and that of Signor Dieter as well, down in the old harbor?

Curious, Hugo and Donna Leena gave the boy some coppers as a gratuity, and set off. As they got to the wharf, they could see Don Lucerio's ship, sails furled, floating at anchor out in the deeper waters of the old harbor. Its whaleboat was already on the rocky beach, where the Capitano was overseeing his crewmen unloading various items. The tall mariner approached them, booming a greeting and then, while winking at Donna Leena, he thumped Hugo on the back in a comradely fashion.

"I've got something for you, my friend." and he motioned to one of his crewmen, the surly-looking fellow known as "Scrofulous Jack," who brought up something wrapped in burlap.

With a flourish, Capitano Zeffirelli drew off the covering revealing a remarkably happy-looking little northern spruce tree, potted in a earthenware vessel.

"For you, my friend...and for everyone to enjoy as well, if you wish. When I was in Venezia, I arranged to have one brought down from the Austrian mountains. Surprisingly not all that complicated. I wish I could tell you I had to move heaven and earth and deal with a score of unsavory characters to get it, but I actually just had to go through a botanist friend who works with some landscape gardeners up there."

He shrugged. "Sometimes things are a bit of a challenge, and sometimes we are pleasantly surprised by how easy they can be. Anyway, I wish you a blessed and happy Christmas, my friend."

Credits: Story written by Aldo Stern, Poses and Props by Lucerius Zeffirelli, Photos and Props by Lady Leena Fandango