Episode 30: Holiday Swap

On this damp and breezy November day, you are cozy under the covers, reading a book as you enjoy a slow morning in bed. You have a cup of chamomile tea with a bit of honey steeping on the nightstand next to you, and your comforter is gathered around your legs and hips, keeping you nice and warm as you read propped up on your pillows. You hear the soft ticking of the radiators in your home, bringing heat from the furnace in the basement and trading time with your grandmother’s clock, as you take a slow breath.

Your phone chimes, and you see a message from Grace, saying, “We’re heading over to the holiday swap in a minute. Do you want to join us?”

You text back, “Yes, I’ll meet you there. I’ve got a cup of tea and one more chapter to finish.”

Grace replies, “Enjoy! See you soon.”

You let your phone fall into one of the soft valleys of your comforter, and you return your attention to your book, which is a history of the Pennsylvania Railroad. You test your tea and find that it’s now the perfect temperature for drinking, the local honey bringing a welcome tang to the brightness of the tea. In no particular rush, you savor the rest of the chapter you are reading, along with your chamomile. You place your bookmark, and close the book with a theatrical flourish. You pad across your bedroom in your bare feet, stepping into your bathroom, and you draw a steaming hot shower to get yourself ready for the rest of your day.

The Union Hall is teeming with people and stuff when you arrive, carrying a few items you are donating to the swap. The Jessica who originally showed you around the Union Hall is standing by the main entrance, holding her clipboard. She sees you and smiles warmly, calling out, “Hello, You! Are you ready to do some swapping?”

You answer, “Hello, Jessica! Yes, I suppose I am. How does this work?”

She laughs and says, “It’s mostly chaos, and I love it so much. Toys, sports, and baby gear on the ground floor here. Tools and hobbies on the second floor. Third floor, by the sewing shops, is for clothes. The fourth floor is decor stuff, like picture frames. Books in the cafeteria up on the roof. Anything you brought to donate, just drop it off in the correct area. The volunteers will handle the rest.”

You nod and say, “Got it. Now… I didn’t bring very much with me. Is there a limit on how much I can take?”

Jessica looks at you strangely and says, “Oh, gosh, no! Feel free to take as much as you want. The swap is basically so you can do your Christmas shopping. Anything we don’t give away here gets reviewed by the lending libraries to see if they want it, and after that, we donate it all to a recycler. Please, don’t hesitate to take what you wish.”

You say, “Okay, got it. Thanks for doing all of this!”

Jessica replies, “You’re welcome. I got into helping with the spring and fall clothing swaps when my kids were babies, and they were outgrowing their clothes every couple months. I’m so glad we started this one for holiday gifts. Sometimes you just need to give somebody a glow in the dark bowling ball, y’know?”

You ponder this for a moment and say, “I reckon.”

Someone comes up to Jessica looking for help, and you give her a quick wave goodbye. You walk slowly through the lobby of the building, tracing your fingers along the edge of a long plastic folding table piled high with children’s toys, and you feel the pebbly surface of the table beneath your fingertips. You notice the shaggy lineup of travel cribs and high chairs along one side of the room, and you take a deep breath.

You make your way to the elevators, heading for the rooftop cafeteria, where you want to drop off the books you have brought along to donate. The cafeteria is an oasis of calm and quiet compared with the bustle of the other floors below. You see Matthew, your neighbor from across the street, browsing a table of books diligently. As you walk over toward him, he looks up from the books and smiles at the sight of you.

Matthew says, “Hello, You. Are you in need of any cookbooks?”

You say, “Yes, always. What have you found?”

Matthew holds up a colorful book on baking and says, “I have an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe that’s been in my family for generations, but I might need to tinker a little bit.”

You tell him, “If you need someone to sample your work, I can help.”

He looks at you intently and says, “Good. Yes. I will definitely need some help. Now tell me: What kinds of books do you enjoy the most?”

You sigh and say, “Just about all of them. But I really enjoy memoirs and biographies. I also love novels written by journalists, and nonfiction journalism written by novelists.”

Matthew takes this in and says, “Ah, you like good observers. So do I.”

The two of you stand side by side, looking over the tables of books, in a comfortable silence. You smell onions grilling in the kitchen, mingling with the earthy scent of the many old books laid out before you. You feel a deep sense of ease within your heart, radiating from the center of your chest, and you take a contented breath.

Matthew asks you, “Have you ever celebrated Jolabokaflod before?”

You tilt your head and say, “I don’t even know what you just said.”

His eyes twinkle as he asks, “Will you be here over the holidays?”

You say, “Yes. My Mom is coming to spend Christmas with me.”

Matthew says, “Oh, I’m glad to hear it. We’ve really enjoyed getting to know her, just as much as we’ve enjoyed getting to know you.”

You reply, “The feeling is mutual.”

Matthew smiles shyly and says, “We knew from the start that you belonged in this place. You really are one of our favorite neighbors, and we feel so lucky that you’re here.”

You duck your head, suddenly self conscious, and you tell him, “I feel lucky, too.”