The Finest Mahogany Bureau

The finest mahogany bureau that I ever saw was the one that sat in the corner of my grandmothers sitting room. It was beautiful and elegant and when she would let me sit at it I felt important. I always thought that it was the symbol of success. It was one of the fine things in life, truly a treasure.

I recall sitting and opening up each drawer to discover lots of treasures to a child of eight. There were family photos of holidays and birthdays and special events that would always make me smile. The mahogany bureau was home to letters that granddad had sent her during the war and sometimes she would read them to me. I revelled in the words that he wrote and the tales that he told of lands far away and wars that I could not fully understand. Sometimes my grandmother would have to stop for a moment and I saw a tear in her eye but she would always compose herself again and carry on. She always said he was a brave man, a good man with a heart of gold. She said I had his eyes and when I looked at the photos of him I could see it too. I never had the chance to sit with my grandfather as he passed away during the war. His letters remain my memory of him.

As I got older I would still sit at the mahogany bureau and do my homework or draw a picture. The dark red wood would be polished to perfection and I watched each year as it darkened over time. I enjoyed every moment I spent enjoying its well crafted elegance. I felt inspired to work harder somehow when I sat there. I would search through the drawers for the perfect pen as I knew my grandmother would always have the best selection. As I thoughtfully laid my work out I would ensure I gave the beautiful wooden surface the respect it deserved. Grandmother would always bring me a hot cup of tea and some biscuits which we would share together.

The years have quickly passed and I am now grown. I go to see my grandmother every Sunday and she always greets me with a cup of tea, some biscuits and the warmest of smiles. We could sit and talk for hours about nothing at all. But today is different. Today there will be no more Sunday visits.

My grandmother passed away but she left to me the one thing that I will treasure more than anything. Now in the corner of my sitting room resides a beautiful mahogany bureau. It is not only filled with photos and letters, but memories that I will treasure forever. Now I sit with my children and watch them draw or sometimes I even share a letter or two from my grandfather. I hope they grow to love it as I do. So that is what makes it the finest mahogany bureau.