My first husband and I were married rather young and settled on a nice life. Then tragic took him from me. A year or so later I was lucky to have met another man and after dating eight months we were married. For six years we tried to have a child without luck. Right after thanksgiving I was tested only to be told I would never be able to have children. We were not to be disappointed we looked into other methods. Most too costly although we both had comfortable jobs. So we went on with our lives. But time wore on and he wanted children so we separated. Of course he met another woman who had three boys of her own and was fully capable of reproduction so he filed the final papers.
Pushing back my reddish brown hair behind my ears, I look at the papers sitting on the table among the Christmas cards that I purchased. Tears welled up as I look the final papers and the cards. What the hell was the point? I felt empty and incomplete and lonely. He was about to start over and get everything he wanted. While I had the kitchen table with the final papers and some Christmas cards waiting for me to sign them and stuff them into waiting colorful envelopes. I really felt like I had nothing in my life. Only work and home to an empty house.
I thought about just skipping that holiday. I looked at the tree that I pulled out of the shed and all the old fading boxes holding Christmas decorations. Maybe I should of just put them back into the shed I thought blowing my nose into a paper towel. After all, isn’t Christmas suppose to be about sharing and togetherness? I didn’t even want to attend my works Christmas party. Looking over at the black slim line floor length dress, tears flowed again. What was the use? I thought picking up the dress and throwing it into the closet slamming the door. I was faced with looking at myself in the mirror, there I stood wearing a white t-shirt with one of his long sleeves white shirts wearing bobby socks. Eyes puffy and red nose… hell I could of lead Santa’s sled.
My thoughts of self pity were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Thumping across the floor in my socks I called out to whoever was out there hello can I help you? But no answer came forth so I put the chain on and opened the door a crack. Hearing the TV playing “It’s A wonderful Life” I thought to myself that I wasn’t going to help any angel get their wings this season. Disgusted at myself and at my life at the moment I looked out the door onto the front porch, but no one stood there. I was about to shut the door when I looked down and there was a box along with a small potted pine tree and one of those paper bag presents with a bright red bow. Carefully I opened the door and retrieved the box looking out onto the street but saw nothing, no one.
Carrying the box to the kitchen I began to inspected it fearing that someone had made a huge mistake that it must have been meant for someone in need. Placing the box on the table I gingerly picked out the small potted pine tree and saw that it was actually decorated. I sat the tree down and looked into the box the paper bag present had a card on it. So I opened it to see who the gift was to go to and on it was my name. I sat down or rather fell back into my chair. What was this someone’s joke on me? I looked into the bag that was light in weight and saw a lot of red and white tissue paper so I took it out. One piece at a time trying to flatten out the crinkles and folds it had acquired being shoved into the bag. An old habit to recycle Christmas paper to be used again.
After pulling out about twenty sheets I didn’t find a gift but instead I found a card. From one of the children at the local children’s shelter. I sat back and read the letter.
Dear Ms. Bleau,
I have no parents and no home and will be staying here at the shelter with a couple others who weren’t picked to spend Christmas with families. I not asking much for myself I am eight years old and I am okay with staying here, but Sara is only four and jack is almost five all they can talk about is Santa. And I know the shelter doesn’t have the money to get a tree or presents. I am just asking if you can help them I have a little money saved up for collecting pop cans if you need help.
Your friend,
Frank Long
All I could do was sit there and stare at that letter, then an idea hit me. Running to the closet I retrieved that silly dress and put it one through on some nylons and heels and pinned up my hair. I walked back into the kitchen and collected the unsigned Christmas cards and signed the final papers. I locked up everything and jumped into my car and drove to my ex’s new home and rang the doorbell. The look on his face was priceless as I handed him the papers and wished him and his new fiancé a very merry Christmas. And jumped back into my car and went to my works Christmas party. Walking up to the office of partiers of 25 people I stood there and in a loud voice I told the about these children then I handed out the Christmas cards I held in the clutches of one hand. I asked people to put in a little money what ever they could spare and hand them back to me before I left the party. Surprisingly enough by the end of the night I had collected almost $350 and some change.
The next day was a Saturday so I went to the mall and bought gifts appropriate for the ages of the children. Then I hunted down a tree as it was already the 22nd the pickings for a tree were slim at best. But I did managed to find a small five foot tree. Kind of reminded me of the Charlie Brown Christmas story and I laughed the sales man must of thought I totally lost it. With packages brightly wrapped and tree on top of the car I headed off to the 5 and Dime store to purchase decorations and lights. My next stop was to the grocery store to get a ham and trimmings for a real Christmas dinner. I took the cards everyone signed and made a wreath from them and a decoration the kids could look at and to know their benefactors.
Since I had off until the 3rd of January I decided my Christmas eve was going to be spent with those children. Having made arrangements with the administers of the shelter bright and early Monday morning I drove over to the shelter making sure to keep the presents from Santa in my trunk of my car I arrived and stopped at the front door of the shelter and was greeted by Mr. Caster along with Frank, Sara and Jack in tow. I let the younger two unload the back seat of my car, while Mr. Caster took the groceries from the front seat of my car. I asked Frank to help me with the tree. He was eager to prove he was older than his eight years. We got the tree into the house and Mr. Caster helped the kids set up the tree and the five of us proceeded to the kitchen and started the simple kitchen dinner of ham, roasted potatoes, corn and rolls from a can. And a cake decorated with a Christmas tree. Once dinner was in the oven cooking it was time to tend to the tree.
Frank and Mr. Caster had placed it into the tree holder earlier and the bottom branches spread down and out. It was ready to put the decorations on and as Frank in his all so grown up eight year voice stated lights must go on first. I brought two boxes of the multi color mini lights. Each string had 100 lights I thought that might be a bit much for a small tree but around the tree the kids took them and with Mr. Caster’s help to get them to the top of the tree. All was left were the glass ornaments, ten boxes of them. Different colors and shapes. One special box I had held back until the last minute after all the brightly color wrapped gifts were placed under the tree. I placed the box on the floor in front of the kids. Frank looked at the long white box and asked what it was.
“It is a train named the Santa express. I figured that you could put it together to go around the bottom of the tree.,” I answered.
The overwhelming delight of chatter went on for another hour. Soon the tree was done and table was set and dinner was ready to eat. We all worked together to place the meal on the table and stood back and looked at the table in admiration of the feast that sat upon it. Each of us took a seat and Frank wouldn’t let us eat until he said we said a prayer.
“God, thank you for bringing Ms. Bleau into our life and making this a wonderful day,” stated Mr. Caster. But it was Frank that surprised us with his additional prayer. “Yeah she gave us a great Christmas and I am always going to remember this day. Thank you Ms. Bleau.” The other two children chimed in a thank you. I just had to add my prayer as well, “I wanted to thank God too for a special gift left on my doorstep that lead me to Frank, Sara, and Jack. And of course Mr. Caster too. Amen.” Then we set about eating the wonderful meal we all helped to make.
After the wonderful meal, I gave each of the children new pj’s and they headed off to take a bath and put them on while Mr. Caster and myself did up the dishes. Cutting a piece of cake for each of the kids and ourselves I pulled out one last thing out of my hand bag. One of my all time favorite Christmas stories. “Twas The Night Before Christmas” the children gathered with their cake at my feet and listened while I read the story. After the story they had heavy eyes I knew that they would sleep well and their dreams would be filled of Santa’s visit later that night. Mr. Caster sense that as well and took the kids off to bed to tuck them in. And I went to my car and got the four gifts from Santa to place under the tree.
A set of cars for Jack, a baby doll for Sara, model airplane for Frank and for Mr. Caster a check. My Christmas bonus of $1800. Heck I wasn’t going to use it anyway but to spoil myself and I think I managed to do that fairly well that Christmas. But the following Christmas turned out to be my biggest spoil to myself I adopted Frank, who has grown into a fine man. And is setting off to start a family of his own, but still remembers to call Mom and say I love you.
