Here's a little Christmas story I just wrote as a final postscript for my City Dump Chapter. This happened today.

Christmas at the Derby Dump

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the dump
Santa was being played for a chump
So here's my advice, for what it is worth
Don't expect your reward down here on earth.

    Today was the last day for the Derby Dump. I dropped by to wish Ralph and John a Merry Christmas. I came bearing gifts. They were out of incense and myrrh at Heavenly Donuts so I bought a dozen doughnuts for the guys and swung by the dump to pay my proppers.

    When I pulled in through the chain link gates, I could see nothing was the same. The long line of discarded refrigerators and air conditioners that lined the fence across from the check-in shack were gone, as were the leaning wicker benches that were placed invitingly to welcome visitors. The plastic tree that had been planted by the gate had been torn out and had met its doom in one of the large trash bins, all but one of which were no longer to be seen. The only bin remaining was the rusty blood-red container sitting right in the middle of what had been the driveway. One thing hadn't changed. John still called out a welcome from the window as I got out of my car.

    "Hey John, How's it goin'?" I called out. A broad grin spread across his face and he reached out his hand in greeting.
    "You come to pay your last respects?" he asked.
    "I just dropped by to wish you and Ralph a Merry Christmas. Is Ralph around?"
    "Nah, Ralph's got pneumonia. He hasn't been in for a couple of weeks. Today is the last day."
    "Yeah, I know it's your last day, that's why I brought these" I said, handing him the box of doughnuts.
    "Thanks," he said. "I got some buddies around here who can help me eat these."
    I handed him a Christmas card and said, "I brought one for Ralph, too. I guess there's no way of giving it to
    him now."
    "Yeah, I don't know his address, or you could mail it to him" John answered. "He lives in Shelton, but I don't
   know his address." "You know the dump is closing for good today at three o'clock?"
   "No, I didn't," I answered. "So where do I take the rest of my sand?" I asked.
   "You'll have to haul it down to the Shelton dump."
   "Where's that? I asked
   "It's way down by Sikorsky," he answered.
   "Sikorsky? that's a good six or seven miles from here. Do they pay for your mileage?" And I mourned the   
   closing of our dump. Another good dump, dead and gone.

    Santa may know who's been good or bad, but I guess his powers are limited. I shook John's hand again and he said, "See you soon." I drove over to the rusty blood-red dumpster and threw a couple of things into it as a final offering. I half expected to see one of Santa's boots sticking up out of the trash.

    When I was a child I thought as a child, as if I was looking through an old, dark mirror tossed away at the City Dump. But now I see as a man/child of God and I know.

    "One thing I know, and this for certain
      All will be well no matter what the future holds
      He will be there to share our every burden
      And there's a sweet, quiet peace in my soul
                                          Sweet, Quiet Peace by Jerry Rasmussen

    John and Ralph will be allright. Their New Year will be filled with Good News.

Merry Christmas

Jerry