December 1, 1913
The Dawsons were at the De Rossi's having dinner with them. Jack said, "Rose and I have decided to go to see A Christmas Carol this weekend while it's playing at the local theater. We wanted to ask if you two would like to come with us."
"The theater sounds delightful," said Helga. "But I've never heard of this A Christmas Carol story."
"Me neither," added Fabrizio.
"Well, it's about this old English guy named Ebenezer Scrooge," Jack explained, "who hates Christmas and then he is visited by three spirits that are of his past, present, and future, and then he repents."
"It sounds like something I'd love to see," said Fabrizio.
"And I," added Helga. "We'd love to go with you."
"I'm glad you do," said Jack. "I was told all the costs for the tickets that are sold for it will be going to buy presents for children at the orphanage this year."
"That really is a worthy cause," said Fabrizio.
So that weekend the De Rossis went with the Dawsons to the theater and saw the production of A Christmas Carol while Fabrizio's Mama stayed at home to look after their babies.
As they were coming out of the theater at the end of the performance Fabrizio was smiling as he said, "I loved it! It was so unlike anything I'd ever seen before! Fantistico!"
"I loved it, too," said Helga. "Only one thing is I wonder if Jacob Marley was freed from his chains for saving his friend from the same fate."
"I'd always wondered about that myself," said Jack. "And I suppose he would be set free after what he did to save his friend's future."
"I think I'd like to become an actress in this theater someday," said Rose in a dreamy voice. "They always seem to put on the best shows with the best of talents."
"I believe you can make your dream come true, Rose," said Jack smiling at her, "and I'll help you make it happen."
"Seeing that little boy called tiny Tim reminded me of a boy I once met at work who had a crippled leg," Fabrizio said. "I had to convince the doctors there to let him and his family in before they did. Now I wonder how they are doing now at this time of year."
"Perhaps you could go and check on them to see," suggested Helga.
"I will," said Fabrizio.
It was just then that they were passing by a series of shops and stores. There was a piano in one of the windows. It wasn't very big or fancy looking at all. But it still caught Helga's attention.
"Look at that piano in the window," she said pointing towards it. "It's so beautiful. I'd always wanted to learn to play the piano when I was a child."
"I remember taking a few lessons when I was younger," said Rose. "If we had a piano in our apartment I would gladly teach you how to play."
Helga sighed wistfully. "If only we could afford it."
The words of Rose and Helga stayed with Fabrizio. He wanted to make them happy and he decided he would take a few extra hours at each of his jobs to be able to purchase the piano for them by Christmas.
Later that day he visited with the family from Bosnia with the boy who had been crippled when they came into the States.
"Bouna sera," he greeted cordially. "Remember me? I helped you to find a home when you first came over. I was thinking about you and I wanted to know how you are doing at this time of year."
"We are doing quite well now, thanks to you, and a good doctor by the name of Redfield who helped us to identify our son's condition and thus be able to heal it," replied the mother as she held their new baby girl in her arms. "He is near to well again and now we're even able to send him to school."
"I am so glad to hear that," said Fabrizio. "I have a son of my own now, and he is my life. I would like for you to come to my home and see him someday."
"We would love to," said the father. "Merry Christmas to you and your family."
"Merry Christmas to you too," Fabrizio smiled.
Then as the days wore on and soon turned to weeks Fabrizio began nearly consuming himself in his duties of both his jobs to be able to get his family the piano that they desired to have. As the time went by he began arriving home later and later until he was barely there in time for dinner.
Then finally one evening, just after they had had dinner, Helga put away the dishes and then turned to face him with a rather unnerving expression.
"Fabrizio, we have to have a talk now," she said.
"About what?" he asked.
"About how you are hardly ever home these days," she continued, "I worry about you."
"There is no need to worry about me," he said reassuringly. "It is just I am having to do two jobs in a day and they are very important ones so I must get them done. But I will always come home for you by dinnertime."
"You almost didn't make it this time," she said with an air of frustration. "I'm almost beginning to wonder if you enjoy your jobs away from home more than you enjoy being with your family."
Fabrizio gave her a very surprised look as he said, "No, Helga. That is not true. You are my life, you and baby Antonio are. I couldn't live without you two. I just have to work so much because I want to make you both happy."
Helga sighed and said, "Well, couldn't you at least try to find an assistant or someone like that for one of your jobs. I do appreciate your wanting to make a good living for us, but I'd also appreciate it if I could spend more time with you."
Fabrizio gave her a look of unhappiness before he said softly, "Then I will try to find one."
The next day as he went to his first job at Immigration he thought about what Helga had said to him the night before and he realized how right she really was. Though he still really wanted to get them the piano and so as soon as he could he checked his wages and to his surprise he found he had a little over the amount he needed to get the piano already.
Then at his second job at the homeless shelter he found the young American man who's name was Tony who he had encouraged to be with the young Russian girl who had brought in a few months ago and said,
"You are a good man, Tony. I see how you like to help people around here all the time. And so I'd like to ask you if you would be so kind as to take my job here for half the time. You see, I feel I want to be with my family more often, and also if you were to take this job you could be starting on building for your family."
Tony was delighted. "I'd be honored, Mr. De Rossi. Really honored."
So then Fabrizio arrived home a few hours earlier than he had been for the past few weeks and when he did he told Helga the good news.
"That is wonderful, Fabri!" she said. "And I am sorry if I was maybe to hard on you last night."
"Oh no, no," he assured her. "You have nothing to be sorry about. You were right, you see."
Then when Christmas day arrived a few days later, the piano that he had purchased just in time was delivered to their apartment.
"Oh my goodness! Fabri, you got the piano!" exclaimed Helga when she saw it in the living room. "SO this was the reason you were working overtime."
Fabrizio nodded humbly. "Anything for you, mio amore,"
Then the Dawsons looked on as Helga gave Fabrizo a passionate kiss.
"Well, now hat are we waiting for?" said Jack. "Let's make some beautiful music together!"
So then Helga and Rose sat down on the bench by the piano and Rose began to teach Helga how to play a few Christmas tunes such as Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells. It was once again a very happy Christmas for all of them.
