Truman Capote

A Christmas Memory is a touching short story by Truman Capote published in Mademoiselle in December 1956. The story opens on a nostalgic November morning in a small-town kitchen, where a seven-year-old boy, Buddy, and his peculiar and loving distant cousin, an older woman with a childlike spirit, embark on the annual tradition of making fruit pies. Bound by an endearing friendship, the two pick pecans, plan the purchase of ingredients and share little adventures, including visits to eccentric places in town. As the story progresses, it evokes the warmth of Christmas traditions and the power of shared memories while subtly revealing the contrasts between childhood innocence and the difficulties of adult life.