A Very Vietnam Veteran’s Christmas

By Shaun Treffry

There’s a Christmas Party in the park for the families of local Vietnam Veterans. Dad’s hovering around guarding the BBQ like the other Vets and they’re getting into the beers. The kids are drinking sarsaparilla and lime spiders through straws. It’s a surprisingly cold day for December and we sit around the fires waiting for the sausages to cook. Wind comes off the bay stinging our arms and legs. Once we’ve eaten the BBQ, we hear a fire truck approaching from the road, decked out in tinsel. There’s a big Aboriginal Santa Claus sitting at the back who we know is one of the Vets. He has a beer in one of his gloved hands and yells ‘Ho Ho Ho’ to the kids who’ve gathered excitedly around the truck. His helper is his wife, and she makes sure everyone gets something.

When we’ve finished with the presents, we play British Bulldog. My little sister is fast, and the big kids and adults can’t catch her. Some of the parents are drunk now and not very good at running. She’s the last man standing and gets a bag of Freddo Frogs as a reward for winning. At the end, in the twilight, we pack away all the presents, pull down the banners and flags, stomp out the fires and start to pack the car. We say our goodbyes and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Dad’s still a bit drunk so he heads home through the back streets hoping he doesn’t crash. We don’t but we do stop at Top of Town Pizza to get a takeaway family size half Aussie half Hawaiian that we take home with us where we watch Young Talent Time then Carols by Candlelight. A feast fit for a King.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shaun Treffry is a local who loves literature and learning. He is the proud father of two teenage daughters who also share his passion for music, film and especially books. He hopes to one day be a writer of modern classics.