Tillie and Hank

He had no idea where she came from. One minute he was sailing down the street on his skateboard when all of a sudden he felt a thump and the next thing he knew he was laying on his side on the street. He moaned and then heard an echoing moan coming from somewhere close by. He opened his eyes and looked around. He blinked and looked again. There sitting on the ground nearby was a funny looking lady. She reminded him of Mary Poppins with her black hat askew on her head; her hands behind her, and palms flat on the ground like she was trying to keep herself from falling backward. And the startled look on her face told him she was trying to figure out what happened as well.
“Are you all right?” He asked as he hurried toward her.
“Yes, thank you. At least I believe so. You were really sailing along. How do you make that thing go so Fast!” Her voice was a bit quivery as she spoke.
“I am so sorry. I didn’t see you. Let me help you up.” With that he took her hand and tried to be careful as he helped her to her feet. “I guess I wasn’t watching where I was going. I get distracted lots of times and forget to think about what I am doing.”
“Well, no harm done. I may be a bit stiff in the morning, but a good walk should take care of that. So, what were you thinking about that distracted you so?”
He shook his head. “It’s kind of embarrassing. I was just thinking about Christmas and why I can’t get into the Christmas spirit.”
“I’d like to hear about it, but it is a bit nippy out here, I live right over there in that house. Why don’t you come with me and tell me your story. I just might be able to find a cookie or two for us to nibble on while we talk.”
He hesitated, he didn’t know her.
It was as if she could read his mind. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I know your mom. She won’t mind your taking a few minutes to visit with a neighbor. By the way, my name is Tillie.”
Remembering his manners, he replied, “and my name is Robot. Actually, it is Robert, but nobody calls me that. My dad says Robot is a good name for me ‘cause I go round like a robot. My mind gets busy thinking about something else and soon it’s not in the same place as my body.”
Tillie gave a little chuckle and said, “Yes, I see. Seems to me it had something to do with some of your experiences.”
By this time they had reached the front door of her house. He noticed a FOR SALE sign in the yard but didn’t mention it. Inside the house smelled of fresh baked gingersnaps. Tillie removed her black hat and set it on a table in the hall, then she smoothed her grey hair with her hands, and proceeded in the direction of the wonderful aroma.
“Gingersnaps! My favorite cookie.” Robot couldn’t hide his enthusiasm as he followed along behind her.
Tillie turned toward him and said with a smile, “I know.”
“How did you know that?” Robot looked confused.
“Oh, I know a lot about you. But now, let’s sit here at the kitchen table and you can tell me why you don’t like Christmas.”
“Well, it’s not that I don’t like Christmas. I mean getting the presents, and the Christmas tree and all the goodies and of course, vacation from school. That part I like. But,…..Well, you see I had some embarrassing things happen to me that kind of makes me afraid of what might happen this year.”
Tillie gave him an encouraging smile and marveled to herself at how young boys could talk and eat cookies at the same time.
“You see, it all started when I was small. That year I was supposed to be a sheep in the Christmas pageant at our church. We always have a Christmas pageant, and Mrs. Whitmore always heads it up and she takes her job v-e-r-r-r-y seriously. Well, anyway, the sheep had these caps they had to wear, you know, wooly with ears attached. There was a strap that went under our chin to hold the hat on and our wooly suit covered our hands. Anyway, the cap they put on me was too big and every time I moved my head the cap slid out of place kind of over my eye, so I kept moving my head trying to get it back in place, but the cap kept going the other way and finally it covered both of my eyes. I thought I was walking along beside the shepherd just as I was told to do, but instead I guess I got my directions mixed up and I walked right into Mrs. Whitmore who was looking at her notes. She fell over backwards right into Pastor Steven’s lap. She was pretty flustered about that. Her face got beet red and by the time she got to her feet and someone got my cap turned around and the congregation stopped laughing. Well I think you get the picture. It just wasn’t a very good pageant.”
“But everyone has some embarrassing moments.” Tillie was trying to be empathetic.
“Yes, but that’s not all.” Robot said sadly.