An old Packard and a Christmas guest

FWST ^ | 12-24-08 | TIM MADIGAN

[Dysart]

Several years ago, a Bedford businessman named Dan Cordrey got into a story-writing mood, dashing off his memories of growing up in Fort Worth, the son of an immigrant who sold used cars from a small lot near Henderson Street.

Twelve years ago, Cordrey faxed his latest story to his son, Danny.

"I cried," Danny, who lives in Chicago, said this week.

In the years since, Danny has read his father’s story at Christmas parties and family gatherings, always to great effect.

"I think it’s a story of hope and redemption, and that good things happen to good people," he said.

So this year, Danny decided to share it with the Star-Telegram.

His father, now 75 and married to his wife, Virginia, for 53 years, is the 12-year-old narrator.

"He assures me that it’s a true story," Danny said.

A Christmas Story

The old man sat looking out the window at the only possibilities he had to put money in his pocket. Flat broke, five o’clock on Christmas Eve. His bride of 50 years at home waiting for the only man she had ever loved to come home. After all, it was Christmas Eve.

His thoughts were of earlier years when fine brick homes and expensive furniture were the norm, and gifts for all he knew and loved were commonplace. Something special for Mama was never overlooked. "Time giveth and time taketh away," he thought as he watched the few snowflakes try to cover the six old cars he had for sale.

"Come on, Dad," I said. "Let’s shut ’er down before the cold makes the batteries so weak that we can’t get one of these junkers started."

"Not on your life," Dad said. "Someone’s gonna show up and need a car."

"Dad, be reasonable," I said.

[Dysart]

Virginia and Dan Cordrey have been married 53 years. Dan, a Bedford businessman, has written stories of his Fort Worth upbringing. CORDREY FAMILY

[Krankor]

I don’t get the story except for the fact the guy’s father was selling junkers that might not even start.

[Dysart]

Really? That’s all you took away from it? Well, seems to me the now old man in the story, who apparently once saw much better days, has returned from whatever misfortune life visited upon him and is reclaiming his life and his wife on Christmas Eve. I thought it was kinda sweet. But I’m a softy...I don’t care what anyone says. ;)

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I don’t get the story except for the fact the guy’s father was selling junkers that might not even start.

I thought it was a great story, bookmarked it.

As I understood it, the Packard car was sold to the Dad by the niece of a little old lady who was living alone and waiting to die. Niece was going to put the old lady into a nursing home.

Dad had no money on Christmas eve, and he wasn’t going to close his car yard even tho’ it looked like nobody would buy. Then a tall stranger came along.

The tall stranger bought the Packard car from Dad for $1000. The stranger was the estranged husband of the little old lady, and he was going to be with her, so she wouldn’t have to go into a nursing home.

Dad and the kid had money to buy a tree and turkey for Mom.

I think that’s how it went, anyrate.

[BnBlFlag]

The old man was the old woman’s (in the big house) husband who was returning home after a long absence. He went home with their car and vowed that he would see to it that she never went into a nursing home. Touching story.

[Krankor]

So he left the wife years ago but never told her about the large sum of money he left in the car- which she might have been able to use at some time in her life? And then he over pays for the car by $800 and yet he was gonna go back to his wife and see that she didn’t have to go into a nursing home. Was he a millionaire or something?

[Dysart]

Perhaps he left not of his own accord? And maybe he was indeed wealthy— if you want him to be. I just think the old man’s gesture was in keeping with the spirit of giving. That’s one important theme of the season.